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Choose My Adventure: Patrolling the park

MJ Guthrie — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Polls, City of Heroes, Opinion, Free-to-play, Choose My Adventure

Yes, Virginia, there is a game after character creation.

With such extensive customization available, it is quite likely that I would have spent the duration of Choose My Adventure without ever actually logging in to play City of Heroes. For all of the hours I spent in character creation with all the options (enough to completely blow a fuse in your mind), it was easy to lose sight of the fact that there was actually a game to go play once I finally made my character. Now I see the real appeal of the VIP pass with all of those character slots; it has even me thinking wistfully of all the alts that could be.

Luckily I have you folks directing me, forcing me past the costume creator and into my role as defender of truth and justice. If it hadn't been for you, I would have never embarked on my journey of flight and fricasseed evil doers in Atlas Park. Or participated in an impromptu street band performance. Yup, it is all your fault! And I'm looking forward to what we do next as we continue our City of Heroes adventures together.

But first, let's take a look at what mayhem I caused... er, put an end to this past week.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Patrolling the park

Choose My Adventure: Patrolling the park originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Galleries, Screenshots, Events, real-world, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Interviews, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous, World of Warplanes

Much like its predecessor, World of Warplanes is not a game with an ambiguous title. This is a game about planes, and not the sort that flies cargo from one point on the globe to another. If flying around and getting into aerial dogfights sounds like an unappealing concept to you, well, you can pretty much just exit stage left when you hear the name.

But the lack of subtlety in the name, however noteworthy, doesn't really say much about the game itself. Is it fun to play? Does it succeed in what it sets out to do? Really, is it just World of Tanks up in the air? I can't speak to the last one, but I can say that it definitely delivers on its stated design goals. This is a game all about maximizing the rush of an aerial fight and striking a balance between crafting an in-depth flight simulation and providing accessibility to those new to the genre.

Gallery: World of Warplanes

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PAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darkness falls on Forsaken World in latest expansion

Matt Daniel — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Expansions, News items, Free-to-play

Y'all better prepare your night-vision goggles because night is swiftly approaching Perfect World Entertainment's free-to-play title Forsaken World, and it's all thanks to the game's upcoming expansion, Nightfall. The recently announced update will take players to the far reaches of Eyrda with new quests, shinier shinies, and -- perhaps most interestingly -- the gift of flight. That's right, when Nightfall hits the live servers, players will be able to soar through the skies to experience "new bosses, dungeons, and events designed specifically for flying."

But maybe you've got more of a PvP bent to your playstyle. Don't worry; PWE is on the case. Forsaken World's Immortal Rift, which previously played host to massive guild wars, is being repurposed as "an all-out land conquering system," which will pit guild against guild against guild in a knock-down-drag-out brawl for territorial dominance. But that's enough chatter from us, so how about you click on past the cut for the expansion's teaser trailer, then head on over to Forsaken World's official site to get in on the fun.

Continue reading Darkness falls on Forsaken World in latest expansion

Darkness falls on Forsaken World in latest expansion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest II adds player wings, yes really

Jef Reahard — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, EverQuest II, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

EverQuest II is one of the most feature-rich MMOs in existence. One of the few things it ~~doesn't~~ didn't have is the ability for players to sprout wings and take to the skies. Oh sure, there are some pretty spiffy flying mounts, and there is even a quest line that grants Fae and Arasai avatars the ability to use their faerie wings for something other than looks.

Today, though, Sony Online Entertainment is raising the bar via new sets of wings that are available to any character (of any race). These aren't just crappy looking social add-ons, either, but slickly animated functional wings on par with those in Aion or Perfect World. The catch is that they're only available in the Station Cash marketplace, and they'll set you back 1,950 points (about 20 bucks). Check out the video after the break for a brief demonstration. Also keep in mind that you'll need a character of level 85 or higher to use them.

[Source: SOE press release]

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EverQuest II adds player wings, yes really originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Attitude of gratitude

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

For Solorius, I expounded on my wish list for Aion, detailing things I wanted to see in game. Now, however, 'tis the season to express thankfulness for that which we have. While contemplating the many things I am grateful for in my life, I also considered the things that I am grateful for in the world of Atreia. Sure, things are not perfect (what world, real or pixelated, is?), and there are problems, bugs, and things I still hope are changed or added, but that does not diminish the fact that Aion still offers many things to gamers in general -- and me in particular.

Originally slated to release during the holiday, this topic was preempted by last week's announcement. No matter -- I certainly don't mind stretching out the season of gratitude. So while it might be more trendy to troll and spread hate, I dedicate this week's Wings Over Atreia to just saying thanks.

Don't believe there are things to be thankful for? Step past the cut (or roll, if you enjoyed as much turkey as I did) to check out my reasons and a chance to express your own.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Attitude of gratitude

Wings Over Atreia: Attitude of gratitude originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Off the rails: Star Wars Galaxies introduces atmospheric flight

Brianna Royce — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Star Wars Galaxies, Sandbox

If you're still on the fence about reactivating Star Wars Galaxies in order to participate in the sunset events from now until December 15th, today's news just might push you over to the dark side... er light side. One of those!

This morning, Sony Online Entertainment published Game Update 21, the highlight of which is atmospheric flight. For real.

With atmospheric flight, you will be able to travel the skies above and see the worlds of Star Wars Galaxies in a new way. To launch into atmospheric flight, or to return to the ground, you can use your ship's icon in your datapad. Whether you are looking to host a peaceful event in your yacht with the Theed Waterfall as a backdrop or prove your piloting skills against another player over the desert of Tatooine, atmospheric flight will offer a unique way to experience Star Wars Galaxies.

The patch notes indicate that players can launch directly into space while piloting through planetary atmosphere, and you'll need some skill to navigate as ships will take damage if crashed into the ground. GU21 also heralds the "Final Battle," which presumably is another stage in the ongoing Galactic Civil War sunset events.

Remember, today is literally your last chance to reactivate and give the game a proper send-off.

Off the rails: Star Wars Galaxies introduces atmospheric flight originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champions Online gives players a full pack of jets

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Video, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online

Even in superhero games, people still have a deep love of jetpacks. There's something innately wonderful about the idea about strapping on a backpack and slipping the terrible dominion of gravity. That's why Champions Online has introduced a new option for travel powers for players of all types -- the jet pack. And as you would expect, it allows you to take to the skies with style and rocket-powered precision as you soar along.

It probably comes as little surprise that the pack is available in the C-Store. That being said, it's only the actual appearance of the packs is for sale -- all users have access to the Jet Pack travel power, which uses the costume parts. So if you have the urge to strap a rocket to your back and take to the air, your time is now -- and if you're not quite convinced, why not check out the video just past the break?

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Champions Online gives players a full pack of jets originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Warplanes debuting at Gamescom

Jef Reahard — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Real life, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Warplanes

If you're curious about Wargaming.net's upcoming World of Warplanes MMO, Gamescom 2011 is the place to be. The World War II-based flight simulator's gameplay will be shown for the first time at the convention in Cologne, Germany from August 17th to August 21st.

World of Warplanes was initially announced during this year's E3, but no media, gameplay footage, or web presence has been forthcoming as of yet.

Wargaming.net will also be holding an open World of Tanks tournament at Gamescom, and the company has plans to announce its newest development project, according to a press release issued this morning.

World of Warplanes debuting at Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Leapers, gliders, and Beastlords, oh my!

Karen Bryan — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Classes, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Tattered Notebook

E3 has come and gone, but EverQuest II fans are left with more questions than answers. Children of War has just launched, and already, players are wondering what's coming down the road. We do know about some of the more immediate changes, such as the rebuilding of the Dragon Ring and Spires live event, new mounts, and the Freeport Revamp. But there were some hints at much bigger changes down the road -- and few details on how exactly it would change the game.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll break out the crystal ball and speculate on whether EQII is growing closer to EQ2X and whether we might in fact see the arrival of Beastlords in game.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Leapers, gliders, and Beastlords, oh my!

The Tattered Notebook: Leapers, gliders, and Beastlords, oh my! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: It's just a game...

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Humor, Wings Over Atreia

Or is it?

I am sure many of you have on occasion heard quips about spending more of your life within a virtual world instead of the one your corporeal form inhabits. It happens. As gamers, we can become very attached -- dare I say addicted -- to our lives in the pixel realm. From scheduling appointments around Dredgion or Beshmundir Temple groups to skipping meals and sleep in a drive to meet that last goal (AP grind, anyone?), aficionados of Aion have had game commitments dictate real life. I am sure everyone here can admit to such an occurrence once in a while, if not more often. But what happens when the worlds overlap -- when the world of pixels invades the rest of your life?

After some poignant experiences in my own life, I became interested in this topic and wondered whether other folks had similar happenings in their lives or I was just that weird (hush now!). So over the past few months, I have asked readers to share their experiences of how Aion has affected their lives by completing the phrase, "You know you have played Aion too much when..."

Fold your wings, grab some popcorn, and settle in past the cut to chuckle over some of these interesting experiences and -- if you are brave enough -- share some of your own!

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: It's just a game...

Wings Over Atreia: It's just a game... originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2011: EverQuest II's Dave Georgeson in 3-D

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Expansions, Game mechanics, Interviews, Free-to-play, Massively Event Coverage

If you're going to fly, why not fly with a little style -- and in 3-D? At E3, we were able to grab some facetime with Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson, EverQuest II's executive producer, as he showed us the next dimension of MMO gameplay while we checked out some of the new aerial races in the game.

"We wanted to do a little more with the flying creatures than to go from Point A to Point B," Georgeson said, referencing EQII's aerial races. "So we put in these flying race courses, which is a good test ground for showing off 3-D."

It's one of those things that has to be seen to be believed. The 3-D effect while flying is, in a word, awesome. The user interface is up close, your character is somewhere in the middle, and the environment is in the background. The effect is very noticeable when you turn, which happens a lot while flying.

Hit the jump to hear more of Georgeson's thoughts on 3-D in EverQuest II as well as a get tantalizing sneak peek at the game's future!

Continue reading E3 2011: EverQuest II's Dave Georgeson in 3-D

E3 2011: EverQuest II's Dave Georgeson in 3-D originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An exclusive peek at EverQuest II's aerodome races

Justin Olivetti — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events, in-game, Expansions, Free-to-play

Flight: It's the dream of every mammal and a few unfortunate ground-bound birds. It's only through technological ingenuity that we have soared to the heavens, and we have the gnomes to thank for that.

Well, at least when it comes to EverQuest II, which is hosting the Gnomish Aerodome Races as part of the new Destiny of Velious expansion. Player pilots are invited to test their luck and skill at three challenging courses: Butcherblock (the most dangerous), Tenebrous Tangle (the longest) and Lavastorm (the trickiest).

Each race track puts players at the wheel (so to speak) of a Gnomish aircraft to maneuver around and through various obstacles in an attempt to net prizes. Winners will receive a special title and the ability to pilot the craft for a short time thereafter (although it cannot be taken out of its respective zone). Check out this one-day event in EQII and make sure to look over the vehicles and courses in our early exclusive gallery below!

Gallery: EverQuest II Updates

An exclusive peek at EverQuest II's aerodome races originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Gelkmaros

MJ Guthrie — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Aion, Expansions, Interviews, Previews

Last week, NCsoft gave us a peek at one of the new zones in Aion's upcoming Assault on Balaurea expansion; today, we tour the Asmodian occupied land -- Gelkmaros. With fissures ripped in the very land itself and areas devastated by ancient battles (including the ancient city of Maravas), the Asmodians will find their stronghold treacherous, but not without surprising new allies.

Stranded in Balaurea since before the Cataclysm, the Reian tribe knew nothing of the war between the Asmodians and the Elyos until recently. These Daevas who stand watch over Subterranea, home of the evil Dragonbound, enter into a tentative alliance with their lost brothers and sisters from Asmodae.

As hostile as the land and creatures may be, the Asmodians must be ever vigilant to defend both the Vorgaltem Citadel and Crimson Temple against the assaults of the Balaur and Elyos forces, lest they lose the ability to travel with in their enemy's stronghold.

Once again, Massively asked Chris Hager, Producer of Aion, NCsoft West, a few questions about this new area.

Fly past the cut and through a video tour of Gelkmaros, then check out Chris' answers.

Continue reading Aion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Gelkmaros

Aion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Gelkmaros originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion gets a post-launch discussion in Game Developer magazine

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, MMO industry, Opinion

With a couple months under its belt and a more stable playerbase, Aion is no longer in the state of just-launched new hotness any longer. You might be one of the game's still-numerous fans, or maybe you stepped away from the game because of the grind. Either way, there were a number of innovative and interesting features in the game, which was designed from the ground up to appeal to gamers on both sides of the pond.

The latest issue of Game Developer magazine has a lengthy feature on what went right and what went wrong from the Aion team's point of view. The CryEngine and the game's overall level of polish are both cited as decisive positives for the game, helping the game feel more vital and engaging. The limited amount of flight early in the game is also pointed out as helping to simplify the learning curve, as navigating combat in three-dimensional space can get overwhelming for first-time players.

On the flip side, the developers also talk about the amount of pressure on the frequently-changing team, as well as the technical and conceptual troubles with working on the Abyss. If you're interested in reading the full article, you should pick up a copy of the magazine, which is only around $4 for a digital copy.

Aion gets a post-launch discussion in Game Developer magazine originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five quick tips for Aion

Brooke Pilley — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Game mechanics, Tips and tricks

For those lucky enough to get past Aion's login queue, we're happy to announce five quick tips that will enhance your gaming experience. You can expect more of these kinds of posts in the weeks and months ahead. Let's get right into it, shall we?

1. Change the channel

The initial rush of new players coming in to Aion can really bung up certain areas of the game. While we're all for being social (see #5), this can lead to some long and frustrating waits for shared PvE content. Or maybe you're on a lower end rig and the massive amounts of players on screen is causing you performance issues. There is a remedy and it's called channel surfing.

Click the menu tab near your skill bar > Click 'Support' > Click 'Change Channel' > Pick a channel from the drop down and press 'Okay' -- You will be teleported to the exact same spot in another channel

You may also need to change your channel to meet up with group mates or rendezvous with another player to make a trade (item, gold, etc.).

Continue reading Five quick tips for Aion

Five quick tips for Aion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's top four upcoming MMOs that let you fly

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, Aion, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, Global Agenda, Champions Online, DC Universe Online

The ability to fly has always intrigued us as humans. Even in Leonardo da Vinci's day, the fascination with flight was so overwhelming that he dedicated much of his life to the discovery of getting us off the ground. Modern(ish) technology has helped us realize da Vinci's vision, through the use of enclosed vehicles or other large mechanical contraptions, but we have yet to truly master the art of personal flight.

This is where games can be more than just a way to have some fun; they can be a way to live vicariously through our avatars. As in-game art gets more and more realistic -- especially in scenery and lighting effects -- we can visit lands that we wouldn't ordinarily be able to, for a much smaller hit to our wallets. In-game flight is becoming very popular lately as we've noticed a certain influx of upcoming games with this feature. Not only can you fly in these games, but you don't need much to do so. Much like Second's Life's wildly popular avatar flight feature, these new games let you take to the skies without the use of a mount.

Follow along after the jump as we showcase four upcoming MMOs that use personal flight as a feature.

Continue reading Massively's top four upcoming MMOs that let you fly

Massively's top four upcoming MMOs that let you fly originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Which version of Aion will be available at launch?

James Egan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Launches

NCsoft is hoping that the pairing of flight and fantasy in Aion will prove to be a hit in both North America and Europe. Gamers who were accepted into the betas have been asking the Aion team about which version of the title the Western markets will see at launch. NCsoft has announced: "Aion is planned to release with version 1.5, the third major game update, bringing the content as up to date as possible. The Aion team strives to keep the game content consistent between territories, and releasing with this game version brings us one step closer to this goal."

Our own Lesley Smith has been writing about her experiences with the game through Aion's various beta test phases, particularly the experience of becoming a Daeva as an Elyos or as an Asmodian; we recommend reading her hands-on series if you're interested in this title. Massively will continue to cover Aion leading right up to the game's September launch.

Which version of Aion will be available at launch? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Hands-on: The first five levels of Champions Online Part 2

Kyle Horner — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, Opinion, Massively Hands-on, Champions Online

Continue reading Massively Hands-on: The first five levels of Champions Online Part 2

Massively Hands-on: The first five levels of Champions Online Part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion interview explores aerial combat

William Dobson — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Game mechanics, New titles

One of Aion's most touted features is its aerial combat, with the game's own website challenging us to abandon our limited two-dimensional thinking to make way for the future. We're not alone in wanting to know more about these flight mechanics, and when asked about them in a recent interview at Ten Ton Hammer, Associate Producer Chris Hager was able to dish out a few details. In Aion, flight time and flight speed are statistics that can be increased through gear or buffs, so players will need to choose how much they want to beef up their flight, as opposed to their other combat stats. The reason that flight statistics should be looked into comes down to the movement and positioning in the game:

Aion's combat is fast paced and movement / positioning are very key. How you move effects your stats in positive and negative ways. In addition to this you will possess skills that will throw your enemy in all directions.

This will certainly give an advantage to skilled players that can deftly maneuver their character, and the clumsier ones will end up harming their own stats. At the same time, aerial combat combined with knockbacks or throws sounds pretty disorienting, and it could get tiresome chasing bouncing targets (or worse, being that bouncing target) through the air. We'll have to see how it all pans out. Check out the full interview for the flight details, as well as some discussion on Aion's system specs and archetypes.

Aion interview explores aerial combat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion producer Brian Knox interviewed

William Dobson — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Interviews, Launches, New titles

Aion: The Tower of Eternity has been kicking ass over in its local territory of Korea, and we're sure that there's a growing throng of folks out in the rest of the world that are dying to try it out. Massive Gamer Magazine recently had an interview with Brian Knox, a producer for the game, and what he said didn't give us much hope for betas outside of Korea -- at least not in any meaningful form. He says (correctly) that gamers are quick to judge a title on its beta, and that they would prefer to have "exclusive preview events" to show off the game at its best instead. Having said that, Korea did have a beta before launch, and hopefully we will too.

A lot of the interview is spent discussing Aion's high level of customization. Knox claims that the character creation system is so robust that it would be possible to "literally create your own race within a race" by tweaking the sliders. As players level up, they will have the chance to equip stones that will change existing skills or grant new ones, further adding to character uniqueness. The other aspect of the game that Knox seemed very keen to talk about is the flying mechanic. Far from being tacked on, flight is intended to be integral to the gameplay in Aion, and its strategic use will be of the utmost importance in combat. To find out more, check out the full interview, which is now available online.

Aion producer Brian Knox interviewed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New movement powers revealed in DC Universe Online

Kyle Horner — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, New titles, News items, DC Universe Online

There hasn't been too much said about travel powers beyond flight and super-speed in DC Universe Online. We already knew that speedsters were going to be able to run up and down walls, but that was it. Chris Cao has taken care of our limited information with a DC Universe Online official blog post that reveals a new travel power and some more details.

The new power in question is acrobatics, which features things like double-jumping and air dashes. Chis also mentions that players would be able to "stick to an underpass" which should give Spider-man fans reason to be excited. Not that anyone should expect web slinging in DCUO, but it sounds like they'll be the next best thing.

But acrobatics and super-speed aren't the only powers getting cool moves. Players with flight will be able to swoop down in a hawk-like maneuver to catch a speedster as he passes by below or hit a quick boost to supersonic speeds to escape enemies in pursuit. There's even going to be powers usable only while in flight. Certainly, it seems like every travel power will have a couple cool tricks up its sleeve.

New movement powers revealed in DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion: Tower of Eternity breaks all beta test records in Korea

James Egan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, MMO industry, News items

While we had some grim news related to NCsoft's dip in profits yesterday, there may be a silver lining to this, in the form of Aion: The Tower of Eternity. A press release from NCsoft states that the Aion beta has surpassed all previous records for a beta test in Korea: "Concurrent user numbers have already jumped to more than 170,000 players, making it the most popular beta event in Korean history." That's a significant achievement, given how mature the market is in Korea. 11,000 people were logged into the Aion beta only two minutes after service began and hit 40,000 players within an hour. The rapid influx of players necessitated NCsoft having 25 servers running to accommodate them.

David Reid, president of publishing for NCsoft West in Seattle said, "The response we're seeing in Korea is incredibly exciting. Our Aion community in North America and Europe is rapidly growing. We've got aggressive plans for the western launch in 2009." On the subject of Aion's launch, the press release lists Korea's commercial launch as being just a few weeks away. As Reid stated, the North American and European Aion launches are set for 2009, but NCsoft hasn't nailed down a specific launch date for these markets at this time.

Aion: Tower of Eternity breaks all beta test records in Korea originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Aion videos give aerial tour of environments and classes in action

James Egan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Aion, Classes, New titles, Previews, Races

Flight in MMOs is often focused on having mounts that let you take to the skies. NCsoft's latest twist on this idea is to give players their own pair of wings in Aion: The Tower of Eternity, which Massively recently got to see at PAX. So far we've seen a video showing off the character customization in Aion and a bit about the game's lore as well. NCsoft is steadily releasing more video footage of the new title though, most of which shows off some gorgeous graphics.

Our friends over at BigDownload are offering up two new Aion videos. One gives a soaring aerial tour of the game's environment an the other is a breakdown of the available classes, showing each of them in action. Check out the footage of both videos below the cut, as well as the links for BigDownload's HD versions.

Continue reading New Aion videos give aerial tour of environments and classes in action

New Aion videos give aerial tour of environments and classes in action originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jumpgate Evolution flight dynamics devlog

Kyle Horner — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Jumpgate Evolution, Previews, News items

It's always great when we start getting solid information about new games, especially ones that aren't the norm. There's a new developer log over at MMORPG.com where NetDevil programmer Steve Hartmeyer writes about flight in the upcoming Jumpgate Evolution. What we find most compelling about the whole read is the talk of two modes of flight; one being the original flight-style from Jumpgate and the other being the new style. For Jumpgate Evolution NetDevil looked back at the original flight model so they could create a better one -- because the old model wasn't very accessible. Sure it worked, but the problem was that the casual player couldn't jump into the game and enjoy themselves with ease.

We were happy to hear that not only does Jumpgate Evolution let you toggle your ship's flight mode on-the-fly between original style and the new style -- which features more drag and therefore control over your ship -- the game is also designed for mouse and keyboard play (as well as joysticks and gamepads). Lore-wise, this toggling feature are the ship's "inertial dampers" which is quite brilliant of NetDevil. Oh yeah and did we mention strafing and flying backwards while shooting at your enemies? You can call us a little excited for Jumpgate Evolution now, go ahead.

Jumpgate Evolution flight dynamics devlog originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Open beta for Zu Online starts tonight

Samuel Axon — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, New titles, Zu Online, News items

If you're looking for a game with a Chinese-wuxia-esque twist, you'll be interested to know that Zu Online will enter its open beta testing phase this evening at 8:00 PM EST. Poke around the official website for the client download (which can even be acquired via BitTorrent, if that's your sort of thing!) and for instructions for the actual launch when it comes. All the old alpha accounts are getting wiped just prior to the beginning of the new phase, so the servers will be a level playing field for new players.

If you're not familiar with the game: it's a Kung Fu MMO which features player flight and group-oriented story quests as major selling points. It also has a really neat, stylized cell-shaded look -- something that when you think about it seems like a really good match for the genre.

Animated, story-driven Wire Fu -- how can you possibly go wrong with that?

Open beta for Zu Online starts tonight originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verbing a noun: introducing new powers

Jonathan Northwood — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: City of Heroes, Game mechanics

When thinking about game powers, developers have to consider four primary questions: what do the players want, do those desires fit reasonably within the framework of the game, how can the powers be balanced for the game, and how can they be coded? For example, when NCsoft's City of Heroes introduced Flight, it was competing with Super Speed, Teleportation and Leaping. How could they build it out to where it was neither overpowered nor useless? Through a series of trial-and-error efforts -- and thankfully providing an additional 10% bump in hover speed in Issue 8 -- they loaded a power set into the game that gave heroes a new way of seeing the city without unbalancing other transportation powers currently in place.

As to verbs that may be more common throughout MMOs, we've all had the opportunity to "run" -- either into battle or away from almost certain peril -- and I doubt there's many here who haven't wished for the ability to "turn invisible" in order to stealth through a difficult mission, but what about some of the more exotic verbs out there? Oh, sure, in most games the alts can backslap one another, gesture angrily, and dance, but these are powerless emotes: they don't actually impact the game play. Take your favorite MMO, though, and think about what game-impacting verb or verbs you'd like to see added. Perhaps it might help to take a look at the thought process currently pushing World of Warcraft's new Death Knight and ask yourself this: if you were a developer, what would you add to the build, and how would you balance it?

[Via Elder Game]

Verbing a noun: introducing new powers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jumpgate: Evolution takes to the unfriendly stars

Mike Schramm — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Jumpgate Evolution, New titles, PvP

Reader Excelsior dropped us a note about an MMO we haven't yet covered that he says is one to watch-- Jumpgate: Evolution is an upcoming MMO from NetDevil, the makers of Auto Assault, and also an "in the works" LEGO MMO. The game is actually an update of the original Jumpgate, also by NetDevil, which purports to be not an MMORPG, but a massively multiplayer space flight and combat simulator, where twitch is just as important as stats. All we've got are screens so far, but they are pretty good-looking, so if you're in the mood for a little hands-on spaceship flying in an MMO universe, Jumpgate: Evolution might be right up your warp route.

They're still taking beta signups on the website, so get your email in now-- as Excelsior says, "the more players in the game, the better." And if you've got a pet MMO you've been watching that you'd like us to keep an eye on, make sure to throw a tip in our inbox. You find 'em, we follow 'em.\

Gallery: Jumpgate: Evolution

Jumpgate: Evolution takes to the unfriendly stars originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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