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The Daily Grind: Would you get married in-game if you could?

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

In-game marriages are largely a thing of the past. Outside of outliers like RIFT, MapleStory and Final Fantasy XIV, most games don't and won't feature the option to tie the knot inside your game of choice. Which might be seen as a bit sad, but it also raises the question of whether or not you'd use the feature even if it were available.

Maybe you enjoy roleplaying, maybe you want to have a tongue-in-cheek ceremony, or maybe you play with your spouse and want to be married on multiple levels. Or maybe you think the idea of being pretend married in a pretend game is kind of hopelessly silly to begin with. So today we ask -- if you had the option of getting married in your game of choice, would you take advantage of it? Or do you think it's more or less the apex of unnecessary fluff features in games?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Would you get married in-game if you could? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What obscure fluff feature would you like to see in other games?

Jef Reahard — Thu, 30 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Warhammer Online, Opinion, The Daily Grind

The other day I was thinking about Warhammer Online. I've no idea why. I haven't played the game in ages and to be perfectly frank, I didn't much care for it when I was playing. One thing I fondly recall, though, was that nifty feature that let you display medals and assorted military-style decorations on your avatar.

I can't recall seeing that in another MMO, and it's one of those quirky quality-of-life things that I wish every game would implement. What about you, Massively readers? Is there an obscure fluff feature out there you're particularly fond of and that you'd like to see become a standard?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: What obscure fluff feature would you like to see in other games? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neverwinter shines the light on kobolds

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, Neverwinter

Kobolds in Neverwinter aren't quite as pathetic as you might think. Sure, they're fairly weak in a stand-up fight, and they tend to run from any engagement unless they've got the advantage of numbers. But they can build up those numbers very quickly when they need to, and they're not as stupid as you might think. The latest Monster Manual entry shines more light on these diminutive reptilian creatures and what players can expect when they hear kobolds in the distance.

Draconic worship is the order of the day for kobold clans, and while the dragons barely deign to notice their minions the kobolds treat their masters as incarnate deities. Their spellcasting Wyrmpriests direct the lesser members of the group to find more treasure for their chosen dragon, and they can also turn a dozen ragtag kobolds from a joke of an encounter into a fighting force to be reckoned with. They're not as intimidating as ogres, but get enough of the kobolds together and you should still be very afraid.

Neverwinter shines the light on kobolds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What MMO trend could you do without?

Jef Reahard — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

I'm something of an immersion nut when it comes to MMOs (and gaming in general), but strangely I'm not a fan of voice-acting. I don't know whether it's the fact that I enjoyed games long before voice-acting was even possible or if it's just annoyance at the fact that VO takes precious budget dollars away from actual game functionality. Whatever the reason, I simply don't dig it.

What about you, dear readers? What current MMO trend could you do without?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: What MMO trend could you do without? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Why is fluff considered fluff?

Jef Reahard — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Culture, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Yesterday's news of the World of Warcraft player who leveled to 90 without a single kill generated some interesting comments. A couple of them got us to thinking why MMO fluff is considered fluff, and why video gaming in general is so heavily focused on combat.

Combat is probably the easiest answer when it comes to progression and monetization-based design, but shouldn't MMOs be something more than sticking the pointy end into the other man over and over again?

So how about it, Massively readers? Why is fluff considered fluff?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Why is fluff considered fluff? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What are your favorite fluff items?

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

If you ever happen to be grouped with me, be warned! The second we pause for a small break, bio or otherwise, you better believe I will be busting out every last piece of fluff that I have stashed in my bags for such an occasion. I'll be shooting off fireworks, unleashing pets, throwing down campfires, setting loose fireflies, jamming to my new boombox, and generally breaking every noise pollution ordinance on the planet.

Because I love my fluff. Do you? Love your fluff, I mean?

Sometimes we find or craft items that have no greater purpose in the game to amuse us, and sometimes we carry those around for special -- or everyday -- occasions. Today I want us to stop being so gear-focused and instead just jaw about what fluff items are our favorites. The discussion will commence starting... now.

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: What are your favorite fluff items? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Anvil of Crom: Three features Age of Conan needs right now

Jef Reahard — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Anvil of Crom

Well, I'm still dodging buckets of boiling oil and flaming arrows on account of my last column. Before I embark on another bit of shoddy journalism, irresponsible cronyism, and revisionist history -- known colloquially around these parts as an opinion piece -- I'd better take a few moments to clear the Occupy Massively folks off my front lawn.

OK, all set. They're crusading against the man in another comment section, so won't you join me after the cut for a look at some missing (and essential) Age of Conan features?

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Three features Age of Conan needs right now

The Anvil of Crom: Three features Age of Conan needs right now originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you grind for fluff items?

Jef Reahard — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Daily Grind, Anniversaries

Lord of the Rings Online's anniversary festival has another six days to go, which just might be enough time for me to grind out the tokens necessary to complete my map collection (and the spiffy Eriador Cartographile title that comes with it).

I say "grind" here pretty loosely, as the horse-races, fireworks displays, and dwarven beer-brawling are highly enjoyable even though I've done them dozens of times each at this point.

What about you, dear readers? What's your tolerance when it comes to grinding for fluff items? Do you do it, and what's the best (or worst) such grind you've ever experienced?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Do you grind for fluff items? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Producing info

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Business Models, Interviews, MMO Industry, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Humor, Wings Over Atreia

Betcha thought this Wings Over Atreia was going to be about 3.0. Well it's not... and it is, sort of. It is related to Aion's upcoming expansion, but it's not the focus. Instead of gunning for specific features, my real focus is on information dissemination -- or lack thereof.

Here we are closing in on the biggest change in Aion's history, but players still have very little idea of what to expect. How will the change affect them? What will be different? heck, what items are going to be in the cash shop? Inquiring players want to know! And so far, NCsoft is not being very forthcoming; the offered "information" is all fluff with little to no substance. And Daeva cannot live by fluff alone! (Unless it's marshmallow, but that's another story.)

Case in point: this week's producer interview. Juicy reveal or disappointing tease?

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Producing info

Wings Over Atreia: Producing info originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required: A Mortal Online interview

Jef Reahard — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, PvP, PvE, Mortal Online, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox, Crafting

I recently had the opportunity to fire off a few questions to Henrik Nystrom, and the Star Vault CEO was kind enough to provide some interesting insights into the firm's Mortal Online fantasy sandbox.

Though Mortal is thus far renowned for its full-loot PvP ruleset, it's also got a number of nifty features that you may be unaware of, with more on the way. Join me after the cut for a lengthy discussion of the new Awakening expansion as well as a glimpse into Nave's future.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A Mortal Online interview

Some Assembly Required: A Mortal Online interview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR Friday update talks warzones, EA pooh-poohs launch-day demand concerns

Jef Reahard — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Dungeons

Electronic Arts boss Frank Gibeau says that fans shouldn't fret about the possibility of missing out on Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch day. The only trouble is that he doesn't say how, opting instead to float a few lines of fluffy marketing speak during a conference call this week.

"We're looking at a rollout plan that is fairly ambitious. We don't feel like we're going to be leading too much demand behind at launch but we definitely are going to be very cautious and thoughtful about how many people we bring on and in what order," Gibeau says. So, how exactly does that allay our launch-day left-at-the-altar fears? Yeah, your guess is as good as ours.

Moving on to more useful SWTOR news, the official site has pumped out its traditional Friday update, and today's reveal isn't so much a reveal as it is a concise collection of information about the game's warzone functionality. Head over to the site for some verbiage and videos about Voidstar, Huttball, and Alderaan.

SWTOR Friday update talks warzones, EA pooh-poohs launch-day demand concerns originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda's Recursive Colony launches

Brianna Royce — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Patches, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Global Agenda, Dungeons

Fans of games that tread the line between MMORPG and FPS will be pleased at this news: Today brings the launch of Global Agenda's Recursive Colony expansion, a free update and the "largest content update in the history" of the game, according to Hi-Rez Studios' official website. Chief among the new additions is a new mid- to high-level open zone with a storyline and quests meant to provide an alternate leveling experience for more RPG-minded players. The expansion also includes new daily repeatable quests, a new PvP map called Push Dust, new tutorials, quality-of-life enhancements, crafting tweaks, and a slew of pets, dyes, and other fluff.

To kick off patch day and show off the highlights of the update, Hi-Rez has released a brand-new trailer with a satisfying blend of explosions, robots, and yellowy post-apocalyptic zones. Find it after the cut!

Continue reading Global Agenda's Recursive Colony launches

Global Agenda's Recursive Colony launches originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Festivals and you -- a love story

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Events (In-Game), Free-to-Play, The Road to Mordor

It's a shame that Lord of the Rings Online's fourth anniversary will probably be remembered more for being a mismanaged festival event than for the achievement that reaching four years signifies. But things are as they are, and the "Grindaversary" has now gone down in LotRO's history of what not to do for an event.

If you're only tangentially tuning in to the LotRO news these days, last week Turbine launched its first anniversary celebration in the game (previous anniversaries were marked only by gift tokens dropping in the world). The celebration was a lesser type of festival that borrowed elements from previous events, namely, the horse races and the beer brawl. Players were challenged to participate in both to gain tokens to acquire special rewards, such as a new horse mount, housing decorations, and cosmetic outfits.

The problem was twofold: The tokens were gained so slowly that it took a long time to get enough for even one moderately priced reward, and the only endlessly repeatable activity (the beer brawl) could be failed if you were knocked out of the area by another player. As a result, players heavily protested what should've been a fun time and Turbine ended up with egg on its face.

In participating myself, talking with friends, and reading through the many, many responses to the event, I got to thinking about how Turbine's approached festivals over the past year or so and how the studio can learn from this to avoid another stumble.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Festivals and you -- a love story

The Road to Mordor: Festivals and you -- a love story originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Anticipation, part deux

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST

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

A bonding experience. Love ya man, really.

Last week's article seems to have struck a nerve. I feel like I know more of you now on a more personal level. And that's not just because I skulk around Atreia spying! The thoughts and comments you have shared have reaffirmed how universal our experiences are; what we think is a slightly unique situation is really just like so many others (OK, maybe not the legionmate who walks around in a duck suit, but others). You know the saying "You are unique dear, just like everyone else." Whether we have Black wings or white, whether we're a PvPer or even a carebear, many of our hopes for Aion are really quite similar.

But I digress. As promised, this week I continue with my happy rave (it's better than a rant, yes?) about some of the treats promised us in the upcoming 2.5 patch. And just like I would with a proper dessert, I saved the best for last. Or at least my favorite! This week, we look more in-depth at additional pets, additional instances, and additions to legions.

Relive that yearning experienced when anticipating Christmas mornings of yore and join me past the cut to sneak a peek at our hopefully-soon-to-be unwrapped update goodies for Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Anticipation, part deux

Wings Over Atreia: Anticipation, part deux originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST

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

OK, OK, maybe Shakespeare is a bit melodramatic, but the idea of taking on a role and playing it out on a stage is not a foreign idea -- even in Aion. It just so happens that this stage is not under your feet but in virtual space instead. Besides, I happen to love Shakespeare, so props to me for mentioning him in a gaming column!

Now, I am the first to admit that NCsoft doesn't make it easy for a gamer to roleplay in Aion; there are scant few tools to support this style of play. But that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Despite this dearth, there is in fact a whole community comprised of legions both large and small as well as individuals. These players use personal connections and a player-created chat channel in-game as well as external tools such as the Aion Roleplayers website to bind themselves together and support the community as a whole.

So what exactly is roleplay, and how viable is it in the world of Atreia? Exit stage left (past the cut) to define RP, debunk some RP myths, and explore RP in general Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion

Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: Earthrise's Atanas Atanasov on PvE, banking, chat, and more

Jef Reahard — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Screenshots, Interviews, New Titles, News Items, Earthrise

Earthrise is a title shrouded in a certain amount of mystery. Massively began covering the game way back in January of 2008, and since then, the information flow from Bulgaria-based Masthead Studios has alternated between a vacuum and a trickle. Recently, thanks to a wave of interviews and screenshot releases, interest in the game has started to simmer, and comparisons to older sandboxes like Star Wars Galaxies are commonly heard.

Masthead boss Atanas Atanasov was kind enough to grant us our second interview exclusive in as many months, answering several of our burning questions. Join us after the cut as we talk about everything from the game's friendliness towards PvEers, to skill progression clarification, to universal banking and more.

Also be sure and check out the latest pair of Earthrise screenshots in the gallery below. They feature two new creature types: the burzun (one of Enterra's top predators) and the leapers (ape-like mutant pack-hunters who love to ambush their prey).

Gallery: Earthrise

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Earthrise's Atanas Atanasov on PvE, banking, chat, and more

Massively Exclusive: Earthrise's Atanas Atanasov on PvE, banking, chat, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Heat wave

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST

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

Just when summer gave way to autumn in the northern hemisphere, spring slipped away from Atreia and has been replaced by a sizzling summer. Commemorating the release of Aion's most recent expansion this month, NCsoft has launched a live player event called Scorching Heat, which heralds the onset of summer on the lands of Atreia and offers Daeva a plethora of goodies throughout the month-long event simply for being logged into the game.

From Wednesday, September 15th until Wednesday, October 13th, Daevas can acquire summer-themed rewards such as bathing suits, diving gear, candy that transforms them into a giant Inquin, sunglasses, and beach hats, as well as items that are useful within the game such as platinum, gold, and silver coins. Even more significantly, unlike past events in which rewards were one-per-account or soulbound, this event awards items that can be openly traded. Whether you are a fluff-lover or not, this fact alone is money in (or out of) the bank; fortunes are being made or lost on swimwear in the open market, as those who don't care so much about the fluff charge obscene amounts of kinah to sell it to those who do.

However, just as some features to this new event have Deavas smiling into their ice-cold mela juice, others have them cursing. For instance, excessive server lag can be attributed directly to this event, as players remain logged in whether they are playing the game or not.

So overall, are Daevas enjoying the scorching heat? Or just getting burned? Swim past the cut and check out the ins and outs of Aion's latest live event.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Heat wave

Wings Over Atreia: Heat wave originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A year in the life of Aion

MJ Guthrie — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Expansions, Reviews

Grab yourself a glass of mela juice and join me in an anniversary toast! September 22nd marked one year to the day that Aion was released into the hands of hungry Daevas-to-be in the Western market. And what a day that was! Heralded by NCsoft as its biggest launch to date, Aion saw a record number of players attempt to dive into the world of Atreia and prepare to spread their wings.

Aion has come a long way since that first day, when two-plus hour queues thwarted many a prospective Daeva from experiencing the rich new world. While some of us admittedly didn't survive the initial nightmare queues at launch (cough, cough), we nonetheless found reasons to return after a couple days, a couple months, or even longer. The introduction of two free updates in the past year -- 1.9 and Assault on Balaurea -- have addressed and ironed out some of the kinks that plagued the game and frustrated players. Adjustments to leveling, population, PvP, monetary rewards, and new content, along with a sprinkling of some fun elements, have enriched an already beautiful world and improved gameplay. If you have been away for a while, come on back and join the party. There is cake!

As Daevas scatter petals about, meander past the cut and onto memory lane where we look at how Aion has evolved over the course of the past year.

Continue reading A year in the life of Aion

A year in the life of Aion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: First impressions of the assault

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Aion, Opinion, First Impressions, Wings Over Atreia

With the launch of Aion's long-anticipated expansion, Assault on Balaurea, NCsoft has laid out a spread of goodies, from tasty little morsels of fluff to meatier content fare. What all did this free expansion bring to the plate? Solo instances, pets, ground assault PvP in new zones, higher-level materials and crafting, and new travel methods are just a few of the goodies that awaited Daeva when they first logged in last Tuesday.

Hungry Daevas have had almost a full week to either nibble at or just plain dive into the buffet of new offerings in the world of Atreia. Even with a glitch (seriously, is there something in the MMO rulebook that says a launch cannot go off without a hitch?), a number of Daevas have been scarfing up everything they can get their wings on. The release even brought back many old faces, who stopped in to sample the new goodies.

So how did all this taste? Grab a napkin and munch your way through the cut to savor the new flavor of Aion for yourself.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: First impressions of the assault

Wings Over Atreia: First impressions of the assault originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion: The 411 on 2.0 pets

MJ Guthrie — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, News Items

Now that Assault on Balaurea has rolled around, the most-asked questions in Aion's LFG chat revolve not around the new zones, the new solo instances, or even the new event quest (which hasn't been started yet, by the way) -- but around pets! At times, the spam gets on the nerves of Daeva who watch the same questions pour in over and over and over again as new players log in throughout the first days. To help answer these questions, NCsoft has updated its PowerWiki with a very informative article on the pet system to complement the pet FAQ.

With just a click, you get the who, where, and what of starting your adventure in Aion pet ownership. Taking the guesswork out of adopting your newest companion, this article is broken up into easy-to-access sections answering the major questions, complete with step-by-step instructions. Pets are categorized depending on function, and each pet has a labeled picture to show you exactly how it looks.

Even those who think they know enough about pets can find gems of important information within this article; one very significant item to note is that, contrary to popular belief, signal pets will not alert you if the attacker is in hide mode. Another hidden gem is that pets are now available as daily quest rewards. To answer more of those burning questions about Aion's newest furry -- and even the not-so-furry -- friends, visit the new PowerWiki article PowerWiki article.

Aion: The 411 on 2.0 pets originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Player-generated content please

Jef Reahard — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, The Tattered Notebook

Ahhh. You hear that? That is the sound of relief, as the obligatory free-to-play reaction column is safely in the rearview mirror. It feels great to be talking about EverQuest II again as opposed to its payment model. MMORPGs are of course big business, and I don't begrudge developers and executives from trying to take their products to the next level, but damn am I ever tired of reading (and thinking) about subs versus RMT and yada yada blah blah.

It sometimes seems as if the industry is putting all of its considerable talent and brainpower behind payment model innovations rather than gameplay innovations, and I for one would love to see stakeholders actually improving and expanding their products rather than devising new ways for people to pay for their products. Speaking of improving products, let's move forward. As my ratonga wizard makes his way slowly but surely towards level 40, I'm starting to feel more comfortable in the world of Norrath. So comfortable, in fact, that I can safely start talking about what the game lacks and what would potentially make it even more awesome (because, the following mini-rant notwithstanding, EverQuest II is a pretty awesome MMO).

Turn the page for more.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Player-generated content please

The Tattered Notebook: Player-generated content please originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champions' State of the Game: Demons, high heels and super supergroups for all!

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, Previews, Champions Online

While the summer days are hot and those hammocks in the shade are inviting, Cryptic Studios is choosing to spend the season gearing up for hefty content releases. In the latest State of the Game report, Champions Online's Executive Producer Shannon "Poz" Posniewski outlines a number of features, fixes and fluff that's going into the next patch and beyond.

For August, Champions Online plans to implement a number of quality-of-life improvements to the game. These include more supergroup features (such as a better UI and supergroup advertisements), overhauling pet powers, an improved C-Store, and giving Millennium City's Ren Center a much-needed visual update. They're also slipping in a few new costume options, so if you've been waiting for the latest in Champions high heel shoe fashion, then wait no longer!

Moving on to the fall, Posniewski is excited to announce a new adventure pack entitled "The Demonflame." The pack is based on a Champions pen-and-paper module, and involves bad people opening portals to places better left alone. Check out the full point-by-point Poz poetry at Champions Online's site!

Champions' State of the Game: Demons, high heels and super supergroups for all! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part two)

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Interviews, Free-to-Play, The Road to Mordor

Last week we began a tour through the upcoming content Turbine have planned for Lord of the Rings Online, including the new-player experience, instance scaling and the region of Enedwaith. By themselves, those features represent so much exciting content that we could've ended there and been satisfied, but that wasn't the half of it.

Well, it was the half of it, actually. Here's the other half.

Buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy ride on the Buckleberry Ferry!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part two)

The Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part two) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Children of the AFS: useless fluff or big opportunity?

Chris Chester — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Culture, Lore, Opinion, Tabula Rasa

The Tabula Rasa crew has posted a new bit of fiction in their new and improved Story section, located under Game Intel on the front page. The story, which is frustratingly brief for the lore fans among us, focuses on one of the more underserved of constituencies within the Tabula Rasa universe -- the children of the AFS. Or perhaps to be more accurate, it focuses on the soldier put in charge of keeping the children of the AFS in line. Again, the story is a little brief, but it touches on another one of the soft spots in Tabula Rasa's increasingly harried armor -- the lack of lore.

Amidst the criticisms levied at the game for everything from customization to endgame to PvP balance and so on, is a small group of Tabula Rasa fans that have wondered off-hand on several occasions... where is the lore? When the Bane forced the scraps of humanity through that portal from Earth, surely some civilians, some merchants, some politicians remained? The picture of humanity shown while playing Tabula Rasa is strictly military -- there are no large civilian centers (not counting the Cormans, which, as a curious sort of hippie commune, are a special case) that could flesh out the world painted by Richard Garriott and crew. Perhaps this story about children presents an opportunity?

Continue reading Children of the AFS: useless fluff or big opportunity?

Children of the AFS: useless fluff or big opportunity? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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