Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 gets all social before the beta weekend [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/guild-wars-2-gets-all-social-before-the-beta-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/guild-wars-2-gets-all-social-before-the-beta-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/guild-wars-2-gets-all-social-before-the-beta-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Or you could just hang out by the punch bowl and not talk to anyone. That's also an option.
There's no shortage of players waiting eagerly to jump into Guild Wars 2 beta testing this weekend, but that's still several days away. It's very possible that you really need a steady shot of Tyria a little earlier than that. Fortunately for you, there are options open as the community team pushes interaction in a big way. The game's Facebook page is the center of a rather art-centric promotion: As the page nears half a million Likes, the team is releasing a new piece of art for every 10,000 new fans.

Not your cup of tea? That's all right, as the team has also set up a Pinterest page to show off the best game-related fan projects. There are also boards set up on the same page where you can show off screenshots of each race, whether you're opting for the diminutive Asura or the towering Norn. It's a good chance for everyone to get involved in the Guild Wars 2 community before the weekend gets underway, even if it won't make the test start any faster.

[Updated with clarification regarding the picture forums.]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 gets all social before the beta weekend [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-testingbeta-weekendfacebookfantasyforumforumsguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftnewsofficial-forumspinterestsocialsocial-mediatwitterMon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Setting up for success]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/flameseeker-chronicles-setting-up-for-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/flameseeker-chronicles-setting-up-for-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/flameseeker-chronicles-setting-up-for-success/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Community Team Lead Martin Kerstein updated the ArenaNet blog a few days ago with some information about his team's plans for the Guild Wars 2 community. The two big bits of news were that there will be official forums (to the evident skepticism of the Guild Wars 2 Guru mods) and there will not be a typical fan site program. The most interesting bit, to me, is this:
"Our goal is to use a scalable, inclusive ecosystem instead of a rigid fan site program that doesn't scale well and excludes large parts of the fan base."
What I'm hoping this means is that the team members are opening themselves up to a lot more flexibility in which fan sites they support. This is great if it means that small blogs and niche communities can be more easily promoted; we already see this happening, as the Guild Wars 2 twitter feed is usually full of retweets pointing out various fan creations and posts. The flip side of this is equally true. In his article, Kerstein talks about wanting to promote a mature and helpful community, so hopefully the lack of a rigid structure in fan site support means the team members don't feel pressured to include and support toxic communities just because they've hit standardized milestones.

I have high hopes for this scalable community engagement style, and I hope to see it pay off for a lot of smaller fan sites and projects. If the folks at ArenaNet want to demand more of the quality of their community, more power to 'em.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Setting up for success

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Setting up for success originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcommunitydynamic-eventsfailurefantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesforumsguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-is-scalygwgw2Martin-Kersteinncsoftopinionravious-makes-a-good-pointscalable-contentTue, 20 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: New tools for the community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/eve-evolved-new-tools-for-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/eve-evolved-new-tools-for-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/eve-evolved-new-tools-for-the-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Earlier this week, CCP Games released a much-needed complete overhaul of the official EVE Online website. Having been in operation for nine long years, the old website had become a mismatch of marketing information aimed at new players and tools for the existing player community. The overhaul split the page into two awesome websites, with a new community site to cater to existing players and an impressive new main page to attract future players.

The main page uses HTML 5 to deliver incredible interactive views of the EVE Online galaxy and dozens of in-game ships right there on the website. The community website houses all of the news, devblogs, knowledgebase articles, fictional chronicles, and support tools that existing players use, but with a much neater layout than the old website. In web developer CCP Alice's recent In Development video, she revealed that the team would be working on new community tools following the launch of the new websites. With the community site completely de-cluttered, there's now room to incorporate a lot of the tools players want or currently use, opening up some interesting possibilities.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I discuss the new EVE Online website and community portal and speculate on awesome new community tools we might possibly see in the future.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: New tools for the community

MassivelyEVE Evolved: New tools for the community originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescorpcorporationdotlanefteveeve-evolvedeve-fitting-tooleve-onlineevemonfeaturedforumforumsgame-designguildguild-forumshtml5icscincarnamapmarketmarketingopinionsandboxsci-fitoolswebsiteSun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: A community guide to League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/the-summoners-guidebook-a-community-guide-to-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/the-summoners-guidebook-a-community-guide-to-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/the-summoners-guidebook-a-community-guide-to-league-of-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Greetings, summoners, and welcome to the first installment of the Summoner's Guidebook! For a new player, the Guidebook is a one-stop-shop to gaining familiarity with the various elements of League of Legends. For the more advanced players, we'll also be covering ways to improve on weak areas of your play and how to deal with the toughest of matchups.

I was a new player once, and I remember being extremely daunted by the number of things I needed to learn to be competitive in LoL. Although the journey from newbie to expert was long and difficult, I learned a lot about common mistakes and how to reduce them. If you're looking to step up your game or if you're just getting into the League, the Summoner's Guidebook is the place for you to learn without being treated like you're a noob.

This week, we're going to cover the community resources available to you. There are a lot of websites dedicated to League of Legends, and it would be foolish to assume that this column is the only place to get advice on the game. If there's something I haven't covered yet or there's a topic I'm unfamiliar with, you can be sure that one of these places will have the info you're looking for. This article can't possibly cover all the League fansites on the internet (there are probably hundreds), but I can focus on the ones with the best information.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: A community guide to League of Legends

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: A community guide to League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>counter-logic-gamingf2pfacebookfansitesfeaturedforumsfree-to-playguideleague-of-legendslolmobamobafireofficial-websiteriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteam-solo-midtribunalyoutubeThu, 09 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EverQuest Mac
While many players are celebrating the announcement of EverQuest's upcoming free-to-play transition, there is one EQ community that was crushed by the news. The small but dedicated fanbase of EverQuest: Macintosh Edition found out that with F2P, EQMac and its one server would be sunsetted on the same date.

EQMac fans have begun to stage a campaign to save their favorite game, but it looks like there will be no budging SOE's mind on the matter. SOE President John Smedley took to the forums today to answer specific questions about the shutdown. "It breaks my heart to have to do this," he laments, before admitting that it's a done deal. Smedley cites the fact that the codebase is so ancient that only one SOE programmer knows how to work it, the player population is too small, and SOE was never that "proud" of the version.

However, Smedley promised that he will run a poll to see if there's enough interest in a Mac port of the current version of EverQuest. If the response is big enough, he says, the company will consider doing it. Meanwhile, the game will be available for current players free of charge until the March 29th shutdown. SOE has a celebration planned for its final hurrah.

EQMac came out in 2003 and was unique for remaining "frozen in time" in the years since, receiving no further active development or expansions. We will be covering this game and its shutdown more in-depth in a future Game Archaeologist column, so stay tuned.

MassivelyEverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleeqeq-forumseqmaceverquesteverquest-macintosheverquest-macintosh-editionf2pforumsfree-to-playjohn-smedleymacmac-editionmac-portmac-versionpollshutdownsmedleysoeSony-Online-EntertainmentsunsetsunsettingTue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online website revamp detailed in new video devblog]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/eve-online-website-revamp-detailed-in-new-video-devblog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/eve-online-website-revamp-detailed-in-new-video-devblog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/eve-online-website-revamp-detailed-in-new-video-devblog/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Online title image
EVE Online has undergone countless changes and iterations since its first release in 2003, with major graphics overhauls and new gameplay systems arriving every year. In contrast, the official EVE website hasn't changed much over the years. With background information, screenshots, video, forums and knowledgebase articles, the EVE website now juggles content designed for prospective players and existing community members alike. CCP aims to change all that with a complete overhaul that will split community tools like the forums, knowledgebase, and account management from marketing designed to attract players.

In a new video devblog, web-developer CCP Alice shows off some of the features of EVE's brand new website. Built using HTML 5, the new page will feature a full built-in renderer able to show prospective players the EVE Online universe map and interactive renderings of every ship in the game. "Now that we have a better eveonline.com, the focus after this one is to focus on the community," says CCP Alice, hinting that new community tools will soon be on the way. In a follow-up devblog today, Community Manager CCP Guard confirmed that players will soon be able to start their own corporation forums hosted on CCP's servers. Check out the full video after the cut.

Continue reading EVE Online website revamp detailed in new video devblog

MassivelyEVE Online website revamp detailed in new video devblog originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-aliceccp-gamesccp-guardcommunitycommunity-sitecorporationcorporationsdevblogeveeve-onlineforumforumsguildguild-forumsguildssandboxsci-fivideoWeb-DevelopmentwebsiteTue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Emperor is stuck in a queue? BioWare shall redouble its efforts!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/the-emperor-is-stuck-in-a-queue-bioware-shall-redouble-its-eff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/the-emperor-is-stuck-in-a-queue-bioware-shall-redouble-its-eff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/the-emperor-is-stuck-in-a-queue-bioware-shall-redouble-its-eff/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR
Is it a wonderful problem to have when your MMO is so popular that everyone trying to crush through the door at the same time is causing painful queues? Or is it a problematic wonder? Either way, the BioWare live team has been struggling to keep up with demand for Star Wars: The Old Republic access -- but the team may be getting closer to winning the war on wait time.

BioWare's Greg Zeschuk stopped by the forums to assure players that the company is "redoubling its efforts" in tackling the issue. As a result, players should already be seeing quicker access to SWTOR:
We've also being doing our best to get every little bit of possible performance on our servers to increase capacity: We've "turned them up to 11" to do our very best to get you in and playing as quickly as possible. As a result - you should now be seeing significant improvement versus waiting times at the end of last week.
The team is also working on a way to hold players' places in the wait queue in the event of a disconnect.

MassivelyThe Emperor is stuck in a queue? BioWare shall redouble its efforts! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-live-teamea-biowareforumforumsGreg-Zeschuklive-teamqueuequeuesserverserver-capacityserversstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorturn-it-up-to-11turned-up-to-11wait-timeFri, 23 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare defends its decision to not have individual SWTOR server forums]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/bioware-defends-its-decision-to-not-have-individual-swtor-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/bioware-defends-its-decision-to-not-have-individual-swtor-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/bioware-defends-its-decision-to-not-have-individual-swtor-server/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR forums
With the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic came a new and improved forum system for the community, and everyone lived happily ever after. Right? Yeah... not so much. It turns out that BioWare neglected to include individual server forums for its many, many, many shards, and this omission has rankled some players who were looking forward to talking amongst their new communities on the site.

TOR-Talk got in touch with BioWare to ask about why the individual server forums were cut down to four ruleset forums. Senior Community Coordinator Allison Berryman says the decision was a matter of practicality as there would be too many forums and not enough moderators to go around: "Generally speaking, server forums for many MMOs tend to be largely un-moderated and can become unpleasant to visit."

Instead, BioWare hopes that server communities create and moderate their own server-specific sites and forums. "This is also a great opportunity for the community to come together in their own ways - on fan sites and through other resources," Barryman said. "Of course, we want people to visit the official forums, and will use them to provide information that's of specific interest to the community, but we also love to see the community coming up with cool stuff on their own."

MassivelyBioWare defends its decision to not have individual SWTOR server forums originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Allison-Berrymanbiowarecommunityeaea-biowareforumforumsinterviewstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortor-talkWed, 21 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare updates fans on staggered SWTOR launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/bioware-updates-fans-on-staggered-swtor-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/bioware-updates-fans-on-staggered-swtor-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/bioware-updates-fans-on-staggered-swtor-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

RAWR GIEF EARLY ACCESS NAO! says the Zabrak
If you're still not in Star Wars: The Old Republic's early access phase, you're not alone. In fact, BioWare's Stephen Reid took to the forums today to update impatient fans on just how the staggered pre-launch will continue to roll out over the next few days:
Today, we invited people who had pre-ordered up to the very beginning of October (roughly). Tomorrow, we're going to be inviting the same number of people again; that will take us up to the last week or so of November. On Friday, we'll be inviting even more, and we'll give you an update on that tomorrow.

You'll see more servers coming online tomorrow, and almost certainly there will be some queuing. That was always expected. As a reminder, our plan here is to maintain healthy server populations post launch, and during the excitement of launch that will mean queues. That said, we'll be working hard to keep those queues reasonable.
That's good news for those who pre-ordered late and who otherwise might have thought they'd have a much longer wait.

MassivelyBioWare updates fans on staggered SWTOR launch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaearly-accesselectronic-artsforumforumshead-startheadstartlucasartsrolloutsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstephen-reidswtorthe-old-republictorWed, 14 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lock and (re)load: BioWare preps us for The Old Republic's launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/lock-and-re-load-bioware-preps-us-for-the-old-republics-launc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/lock-and-re-load-bioware-preps-us-for-the-old-republics-launc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/lock-and-re-load-bioware-preps-us-for-the-old-republics-launc/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWTOR
With 15 days to go before Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch, it doesn't seem like there's much time to get everything stocked and ready before the year's biggest release happens. Fortunately, BioWare's helping us to run down the preparation list with a series of informative forum posts.

First on the list is to make sure that SWTOR players have the latest version of the client installed on their computers. BioWare says that if you played the game prior to November 25th, you'll probably need to install a completely new client; if you played since, you should be good. There are instructions on the forums as to how you can check which version you have.

Pre-orders are wondering about early access, which BioWare says is the same between the three editions of the game -- it only matters when you added your pre-order code, not which edition you purchased. More information about the early access program is coming later this week.

Finally, BioWare is preparing to make major changes to SWTOR's forums following a December 10th outage, during which all posts and PMs will be erased (as will infractions!). New forums, including those covering crew skills, story, lore and PvP, will be added, and guild forums will be expanded significantly. Those just starting to learn about the game will appreciate the new player help forum and community blog that's coming with the update.

MassivelyLock and (re)load: BioWare preps us for The Old Republic's launch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclienteaea-biowareearly-accessforumforum-wipeforumshead-startinstallpre-orderreinstallstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorMon, 05 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you engage in forum PvP?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-daily-grind-do-you-engage-in-forum-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-daily-grind-do-you-engage-in-forum-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-daily-grind-do-you-engage-in-forum-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chalmun's cantina with lots of scum and villainy
Ahh, gaming forums. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. OK, that's not terribly nice, but it's also not terribly inaccurate in many cases. While you can find lots of worthwhile discussion, handy gameplay tips, and archived patch notes and dev posts, you normally have to wade through a lot of invective to get at the good stuff. The happy gamers are busy playing, conventional wisdom says, while the malcontents are busy making threads and threats, amirite?

For today's Daily Grind, we're curious about where you stand and whether or not you feel strongly enough about your MMOs of choice to brave the turbulent waters of their out-of-game communities. Do you engage in forum PvP?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you engage in forum PvP? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredforum-pvpforumsgame-discussiongamer-discussiongaming-forumsmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsonline-forumsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindThu, 01 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The best complaint is an empty seat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/the-soapbox-the-best-complaint-is-an-empty-seat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/the-soapbox-the-best-complaint-is-an-empty-seat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/the-soapbox-the-best-complaint-is-an-empty-seat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Unless you're protesting a lack of seating options. But that's a different blog.
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

This is a public service announcement for you. Yes, you, with the post open for the message board and your finger hovering over the "post" button. I can't see what you've got written there, but I'm willing to bet some form of "turning the game into World of Warcraft" is there if you're posting about another game. Or possibly FarmVille. Hopefully I'm getting warm.

Look, the point is that I now you're about to post this hateful diatribe about threatening to leave. But I've got a better suggestion for you. How about you delete that post, unsubscribe, and then head outside for a walk with some friends. Play a different game, maybe an offline one, for a couple of days. Don't whine and just leave.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The best complaint is an empty seat

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The best complaint is an empty seat originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancellationcomplainingculturedepartingfeaturedforumforumshumorleavingofficial-forumopinionpostssoapboxthe-soapboxunsubscribingwhiningTue, 22 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you in favor of SWTOR's 'legacy' surnames?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/the-daily-grind-are-you-in-favor-of-swtors-legacy-surnames/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/the-daily-grind-are-you-in-favor-of-swtors-legacy-surnames/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/the-daily-grind-are-you-in-favor-of-swtors-legacy-surnames/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

SWTOR
Though you may have missed the announcement amidst all the NDA-lifting frenzy, last week BioWare revealed the Legacy system for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Essentially, it allows players to choose surnames for their characters, but in a lore-friendly (if not RP-friendly) twist, you'll be restricted to one unique surname that will be shared across all of your characters on a single server.

Two hundred pages of posts later, players are still voicing deep concerns about the system. While most fans seem content with being rewarded for "legacy levels," roleplayers are baffled at the idea that their Twi'lek Consular and their Mirialan Smuggler must share the same last name and that gamers RPing family members across different accounts cannot share surnames. Some have suggested this is merely a ham-handed "handle" and not a true surname at all as seen in countless MMOs since the days of Ultima Online's free-form naming system.

What do you think? Should BioWare scrap this system and allow characters independent last names, or do you think the system suits the game just fine as proposed?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you in favor of SWTOR's 'legacy' surnames? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebrianna-royce-tdgeaElectronic-Artsfamilyfamily-nameforumforumslast-namelegacy-levelsopinionroleplayersroleplayingrpstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsurnameswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorMon, 21 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat, November 13-19, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/global-chat-november-13-19-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/global-chat-november-13-19-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/global-chat-november-13-19-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Glitch
Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

This week's Global Chat is about our love of games, even those we didn't think we'd be so crazy for, and that ever-interesting topic: what we spend our gaming funds on. Hit the jump and see what our readers had to say last week!

Continue reading Global Chat, November 13-19, 2011

MassivelyGlobal Chat, November 13-19, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commentcommenterscommentsdeadlyaccurateforumsglitchglobal-chatmassively-forumsopinionpcgneuroticthreecubedSun, 20 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Into the flames of the official forums]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-into-the-flames-of-the-official-forums/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-into-the-flames-of-the-official-forums/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-into-the-flames-of-the-official-forums/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ember Isle Fire
Over the summer at a game convention, I was having a conversation with a friend who asked me about RIFT. But curiously, he didn't ask me the usual questions about gameplay, souls, or invasions. He wanted to know whether the rumor was true that the official forums were just full of sound and fury rather than productive discussions. In the initial weeks after launch, I had to admit, the forums were a lot like the wild west. On one hand, you had post after post from people arguing about whether the game was good or bad, whether it was too much like World of Warcraft, and even whether the game would survive more than a year. On the other, you had grizzled veterans showing disdain for newer fans by posting curt replies to their questions about the game. There were some good discussions on the forum, but they often got lost in a sea of emotion, and as a result, I ended up avoiding the forum in the months that followed.

For this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I've decided that it's time to don my flame-retardant suit and wade back into the forums to see if things have settled down at all. I've always been a believer that forums are an important part of that community feel in MMOs, and I'm channeling a bit of Jef's Community Detective to see how things fare today. Read on for my findings and for some helpful threads that I encountered in the process!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Into the flames of the official forums

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Into the flames of the official forums originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityelrarenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedforumforumsjames-nicholskaren-bryanriftrift-forumsrift-planes-of-telaratalk-of-telaratelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 09 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: A two-minute read could save you 15% or more on nerdrage insurance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/captains-log-a-two-minute-read-could-save-you-15-or-more-on-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/captains-log-a-two-minute-read-could-save-you-15-or-more-on-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/captains-log-a-two-minute-read-could-save-you-15-or-more-on-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot - Star Trek Online
Captain's Log, Stardate 65340.3...

Hello, computer (and players)! Welcome to this week's edition of Captain's Log, brought to you by "Geko" Insurance. (And let's just say, you may want to purchase a policy). If you are a Star Trek Online player who watches Cryptic's official forums, you know that the game experienced an Occupy movement of its own this past weekend. Even if you don't frequent the forums, you may have seen some of the concerns raised through the #STO Twitter feed.

Over the weekend, players lashed out against some of the recent changes that have made their way to the Tribble test server. It may be surprising to some of you reading this, but the commotion was not related to the economy changes. The main concern is that some of the items for purchase in the C-Store are going to be changing from account-wide unlocks to per-character transactions. While I was a little perturbed at the thought too, I was happy to see that some of the misconceptions were cleared up once we got an official statement from one of the devs. But since there is a lot more to the story, let's take a look.

Ensign, warp 10! And don't forget to buckle your seatbelt...

Continue reading Captain's Log: A two-minute read could save you 15% or more on nerdrage insurance

MassivelyCaptain's Log: A two-minute read could save you 15% or more on nerdrage insurance originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>al-riverabalanceboycottc-storec-store-pointscaptain-gekocaptains-logconsumablescraftingcrypticcryptic-pointscryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdoffduty-officerduty-officer-systemExchangef2pfeaturedfeedbackforumsfree-to-playhereticlivestreammarketingpatch-notesperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarshipsstotrek-onlinetribbletribble-test-servertwitterunlock-statusThu, 03 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World beta coming 'before Christmas,' forums erupt [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-secret-world-beta-coming-before-christmas-forums-erupt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-secret-world-beta-coming-before-christmas-forums-erupt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-secret-world-beta-coming-before-christmas-forums-erupt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- The Secret World
Conspiracy theories abound on The Secret World's official forums due to a video released by the Montreal Gazette in which Funcom Canada CEO Miguel Caron mentions that the studio is aiming to open beta testing "before Christmas." Caron also goes on to mention that subscription fees for the game will be somewhere between $15 and $17.

Needless to say, the forums are in a flurry over this new information. What does this mean for The Secret War, which was intended to grant guaranteed beta access to high-ranking players? Why begin an open beta a whole four months prior to launch? And for the love of all that's sacred, what about those Sanctuary of Secrets tokens we got months ago?

Well, no one knows! Funcom has been tight-lipped on the matter, but stay tuned and we'll be sure to let you know as more news develops. Meanwhile, head on over to the official forums to join the fray, or jump past the cut for the video.

[Update: Funcom has responded to these rumors and says open beta will not begin before Christmas of this year.]

Continue reading The Secret World beta coming 'before Christmas,' forums erupt [Updated]

MassivelyThe Secret World beta coming 'before Christmas,' forums erupt [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betachristmasforumsfuncomfuncom-canadamiguel-caronopen-betaseriously-funcom-what-are-these-sanctuary-of-secrets-tokens-forthe-secret-warthe-secret-worldtswThu, 03 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Every day I'm tribbleing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/captains-log-every-day-i-m-tribbleing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/captains-log-every-day-i-m-tribbleing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/captains-log-every-day-i-m-tribbleing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot - Star Trek Online
Captain's Log, Stardate 65322.9...

Hello, computer (and players)! For the past several weeks, Star Trek Online players have been checking out the latest F2P beta builds on the Tribble test server. While there have been a few patches on other days, more for stability fixes and minor tweaking, Thursdays seem to be the designated day for us to receive the largest pushes of new content. The latest round of updates has brought further economy changes, new events and ships, and even more heated debates. Since we seem to be a ways out from the seeing the updates ported to the Holodeck live server, there is still plenty of time to check it all out and provide your feedback to the devs.

I would like to dedicate this entry to those who are helping test the changes. This week's Captain's Log serves as a checklist of sorts on what new content you can test and where you can provide feedback about it. As you read through, I suggest that you read a particular section, jump into game to check out the particular change, formulate an opinion, and head to the linked forum where you can leave your feedback. No matter what you think, it's important to let the devs know -- they will make changes based upon a collective opinion.

Ensign, warp 10! It's time to create our own party rock anthem...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Every day I'm tribbleing

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Every day I'm tribbleing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilityc-storeconsolecraftingcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaily-eventdevdev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-blogdeveloper-diarydevsdilithiumdoffduty-officerduty-officer-systemevent-calendarf2pfeature-testingfeaturedfeedbackforumforumsfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgame-systemsgeargozerhereticklingon-academylivestreamloglore-missionspatchespath-to-f2pperfect-world-entertainmentpowerpwesci-fishipsspecial-task-forcespecial-task-force-missionsspecial-testingstst-onlinestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarfleet-academystephen-dangelostfstf-updatesstostormshadetest-servertrek-onlineuiui-tweakupdatesThu, 27 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: More on the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/captains-log-more-on-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/captains-log-more-on-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/captains-log-more-on-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot - Star Trek Online
Captain's Log, Stardate 65303.9...

Hello, computer (and players)! As I discussed last week, heated discussions surround Star Trek Online's change to a F2P hybrid model and planned game mechanics updates. While new updates are being pushed to the Tribble server for testing and feedback, many aspects are in a state of flux as such feedback is collected, evaluated, and implemented. The biggest area affected is the economy. While everyone has his own thoughts on the matter, Cryptic is leaving no feedback forum post unread -- the players will help shape these changes.

Last week, we saw the push of another patch that seems to have made some giant strides toward solving some of the biggest concerns, including significant reductions in prices for most items and the return of free ship tokens for most ranks. Stephen D'Angelo, acting Executive Producer and Emergency Executive Producer Hologram (EEPH), explained: "Based on how rapidly we're getting data and revising the game, we're still probably two more weeks away from having the economy in a state that is close to good enough." Since he said a lot more in his recent dev blog post, I thought I should take some time to expound on it.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's take a look at what else the EEPH had to say and break it down...

Continue reading Captain's Log: More on the economy

MassivelyCaptain's Log: More on the economy originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housec-storec-store-pointsconsumablescrypticcryptic-pointscryptic-star-trekcryptic-studioscurrencycurrency-exchangedangelodev-blogdilithiumdoffduty-officerduty-officer-systemeephenergy-credit-systemenergy-creditsExchangef2pfeaturedfeedbackforumsfree-to-playhigh-end-gearlivestreamperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpvpspecial-task-forcest-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarshipsstephen-dangelostfstotop-end-geartrek-onlinetribbletribble-test-serverThu, 20 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warplanes turns off the 'no forums' lights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/world-of-warplanes-turns-off-the-no-forums-lights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/world-of-warplanes-turns-off-the-no-forums-lights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/world-of-warplanes-turns-off-the-no-forums-lights/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warplanes
While you can't yet throw yourself into the cockpit of a World War II-era fighter and take off for the stratosphere, at least now there's nothing stopping you from talking about it with like-minded pilots.

World of Warplanes, the upcoming fighter plane MMO from Wargaming.net, has launched its official forums. The categories are quite extensive, ranging from developer feedback to a place to write poems about flying. There are even several sub-forums that cover the history of aviation if you're looking to brush up on your basics.

The title is the third in the "World of" series, and is currently in closed alpha testing. By having the forums up, Wargaming.net hopes that it'll be useful for refining the testing process and to balance the title before it's ready for the masses. World of Warplanes covers combat aviation from the 1930s all the way up through the 50s. Potential pilots are encouraged to read our conversation with Wargaming.net about the game from GDC earlier this month.

MassivelyWorld of Warplanes turns off the 'no forums' lights originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testingcombat-aviationf2pfighterfighter-planesforumforumsfree-to-playgdc-2011poemspoetrywargaming.networld-of-warplanesworld-war-iiwowpwwiiThu, 20 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine forums down, security breach rumors rampant]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/turbine-forums-down-security-breach-rumors-rampant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/turbine-forums-down-security-breach-rumors-rampant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/turbine-forums-down-security-breach-rumors-rampant/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online
A Casual Stroll to Mordor reports that Turbine has brought down the Lord of the Rings Online official forums due to a "potential issue in the forum system." But of course, in the MMO world, you can't just bring forums down without starting a few conspiracy theories.

Rumors abound that the forum outage may be linked to some sort of security breach. Of course, we repeat, and please do listen when we say, this is only a rumor and in no way has it been verified. If and when it is verified or dismissed, we promise to let you know. Until then, please remain calm and carry on. That is all.

MassivelyTurbine forums down, security breach rumors rampant originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoracstmforum-outageforumslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrorumorrumorssecuritysecurity-breachturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 12 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Veteran EVE Online pilots share wisdom with new players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/veteran-eve-online-players-share-wisdom-with-new-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/veteran-eve-online-players-share-wisdom-with-new-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/veteran-eve-online-players-share-wisdom-with-new-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EVE Online - rookie frigate
If you're looking for an excuse to visit the recently revamped EVE Online official forums, you could do a lot worse than a newbie help thread started by CCP Fallout. Whether you're an actual New Eden rookie or a veteran looking to dispense advice (note we didn't say good advice, since it's EVE), it's worth checking out.

The thread is also good for a bit o' the ol' nostalgia, as Fallout specifically mentions silly mistakes she made back in the day, and she invites other players to share similar stories. The thread is fairly modest to this point (i.e., it's definitely not approaching threadnaught territory), but we suspect it will swell a bit as more vets weigh in with stories, pointers, and trolling attempts.

MassivelyVeteran EVE Online pilots share wisdom with new players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceccpccp-falloutccp-gameseveeve-onilneforumsnew-edennew-forumsnew-playersnewb-not-nubnewbiesnewbssandboxsci-fistoriesFri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online's new forum is back online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/eve-onlines-new-forum-is-back-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/eve-onlines-new-forum-is-back-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/eve-onlines-new-forum-is-back-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EVE title image
Back in April, EVE Online received a brand-new forum with a revamped search tool, the ability to "like" posts, and other useful features. Unfortunately, players quickly found several serious security problems in the new forum software, including the ability to inject arbitrary HTML (but not script) into any thread via a modified forum signature.

It also became known that the forum was a modified version of open source software Yet Another Forum, with the authentication system tied to CCP's own login service. A cookie exploit was discovered in this login system shortly after the forums went online, allowing users to post as anyone they wanted -- even as developers. The new forum was temporarily disabled pending a security review and the old one reactivated.

After a complete security revamp and a period of rigorous testing, the new forum returned to service today. This forum is tied into CCP's web platform EVE Gate, which provides quick access to your character's evemails while not in the game and has integrated social networking features. The old forum will be officially decommissioned on Friday, September 9th and left as a permanent archive.

[UPDATE: We've been informed that the previous injection exploit involved only HTML and not script. The post has been modified accordingly.]

MassivelyEVE Online's new forum is back online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-gateeve-mmorpgeve-onlineforumforumsnew-forumssecurityTue, 06 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online Incarna patch 1.1 coming September 1st]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/eve-online-incarna-patch-1-1-coming-september-1st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/eve-online-incarna-patch-1-1-coming-september-1st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/eve-online-incarna-patch-1-1-coming-september-1st/#commentsFiled under: , ,

EVE Online
It's been a couple of months since EVE Online released Incarna, and players have been itching for the next step on their galactic grand conquest tour. Happily, this Thursday will see the game move forward with Incarna's 1.1 patch, a smaller-sized update that will usher in a whole new era of EVE player socializing.

With the patch comes an update to EVE Gate, with nifty features like activity notifications to keep you abreast of the news and personalized backgrounds. The forums are getting an overhaul as well and will include search options, the ability to "like" posts, utilize quick replies, and other essential tools. The soon-to-be old forums will be locked and archived for future posterity.

While 1.1 players won't be able to leave their captain's quarters just yet, the screens and menus in the room are being spruced up and a few other bugs quashed. Other features included in the patch are customizable API keys, the ability for third-party applications to access contract updates, and numerous tiny (but important!) fixes to the game.

MassivelyEVE Online Incarna patch 1.1 coming September 1st originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.1apicaptains-quartersccpcustomizable-api-keyseveeve-forumseve-gateeve-onlineforumsincarnaincarna-1.1patchpatch-1.1updateMon, 29 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: I'm very sorry about the events of last Friday edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/ask-massively-im-very-sorry-about-the-events-of-last-friday-ed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/ask-massively-im-very-sorry-about-the-events-of-last-friday-ed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/ask-massively-im-very-sorry-about-the-events-of-last-friday-ed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I do not think of myself as an overly proud man, and as a result I would like to apologize to my neighbors, the local fire department, the men and women of the FBI, and the ACLU for my actions on Friday, July 8th. You may not have heard about it, but per the advice of my attorney I will decline to go into details. Just know that I am extremely sorry, that I had no idea the chinchillas were rabid, that several of the motor vehicles involved in the incident were in fact made in the United States, and I really thought the wall would hold.

Assuming we can put all of this behind us, it's time for this week's edition of Ask Massively, in which we take on the question of why we can't just play an MMO offline whenever the urge strikes us. If you have a question that doesn't involve the incident mentioned above, mail it off to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below.

Continue reading Ask Massively: I'm very sorry about the events of last Friday edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: I'm very sorry about the events of last Friday edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelydevelopmentfeaturedforumsofflineoffline-modeoffline-playopinionThu, 14 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[38 Studios opens Reckoning/Project Copernicus forums]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/38-studios-opens-reckoning-project-copernicus-forums/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/38-studios-opens-reckoning-project-copernicus-forums/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/38-studios-opens-reckoning-project-copernicus-forums/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Forum lurkers rejoice! There's a brand-new board for you to haunt, and it's kinda sorta related to an upcoming fantasy MMORPG. Curt Schilling's 38 Studios has just published its community portal for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, and while the title isn't massively (or particularly multiplayer), it is affiliated with 38's secretive Copernicus MMO.

When we say affiliated, we mean that the two titles share the same fictional world, so lore junkies will want to bookmark the new boards and set about discussing histories, race lore, and anything else pertaining to the realm of Amalur.

There's also the requisite community chat section in case you feel like a bit of the ol' ultraviolence with your fellow Amalurian forumites, so head to the official Reckoning site and register right away!

Massively38 Studios opens Reckoning/Project Copernicus forums originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosamalurcopernicuscurt-schillingdiscussion-boardsfantasyforumskingdoms-of-amalurnew-forumso-boardsofficial-boardsThu, 30 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: The lower decks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/captains-log-the-lower-decks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/captains-log-the-lower-decks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/captains-log-the-lower-decks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 64977.3...

Spock, Riker, Kira, Worf, Chakotay, and T'Pol. What do they all have in common? They are the notable men and women who served under their Captains as First Officer. Joret, Sito, Alyssa, Taurik, Sam and Geniveve. What do they all have in common? No one knows who the heck they are. In the world of Star Trek, these "unknowns" are the members of the lower decks, people whose work goes unnoticed, whose accomplishments are unacknowledged, and who are often killed off at the end of the episode when you finally do get to know them.

While the ships in Star Trek Online currently seem to be manned only by the Captain, his or her Bridge Officers (BOff), and some random crewmen walking around the ship, this is about to change. In the next couple months, get ready to welcome new members to your ship's lower decks. The Duty Officer (DOff) system will be adding a new form of gameplay to STO and give players even more ways to level characters and become immersed in the universe surrounding them. While there are a ton of random pieces of information about it floating out there, I think that Captain's Log is the perfect place to put it all together and give you a more concise picture of how it will work.

Ensign, warp 10! It's time to attend your new favorite class, DOffs 101...

Continue reading Captain's Log: The lower decks

MassivelyCaptain's Log: The lower decks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assignmentsBOboffbreenchakotayclasscommendationcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdefaridepartment-headsDOdoffduty-officerduty-officer-systemengineeringfeaturefeaturedfirst-officerforumsHereticholodeckkiraklingonklingonslivestreamrarityrikersciencespeciesspockst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotacticaltcgtpoltrading-card-gametrek-onlineworfThu, 23 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Missed dev transmissions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/captains-log-missed-dev-transmissions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/captains-log-missed-dev-transmissions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/captains-log-missed-dev-transmissions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 64940.2...

Hello, computer (and players)! As we have explored in past logs, the developers working on Star Trek Online are extremely transparent with the community, and this, surprising to some, is actually by design. Since Dan Stahl took over as Executive Producer a year ago come July, he made it his personal mission to make sure that fans of the game knew where the game was heading at all times and what was currently being developed. Due to the success of this open communication, Cryptic as a whole has made a shift to this philosophy for its other announced projects. New details often emerge through several different official sources: the monthly Ask Cryptic and Engineering Report as well as a plethora of interviews.

While the previously listed outlets are often marketed and widely known about, there are several channels that I would like to bring to light, ones that seem to fall under the radar. As Twitter is one of the biggest social media crazes, developers are using it to get information and work-in-progress screenshots out to the public. Also, some devs seem to be sacrificing sleep, as we will often wake up to posts in the STO forums that were posted near the midnight hour of Cryptic's time zone. Many feel that the most interesting and drool-worthy information is found in these "leaks," so I would like to share some of them with you.

Ensign, warp 10! You might want to grab a towel to wipe up your mouth...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Missed dev transmissions

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Missed dev transmissions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcaptains-logcraig zincCraigZinccrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdan griffisdan stahlDanGriffisdaniel stahlDanielStahlDanStahldstahlduty officerduty officer systemDutyOfficerDutyOfficerSystemfawfeaturedfire at willFireAtWillforum-postsforumsgozerground combatGroundCombathereticinterviewjheiniglivestreammatt highisonMattHighisonmhighisonmidnightocdpriority onePriorityOnestostormshadethomasthecattwilighttwitteruniformswipwishstonework-in-progresszincThu, 09 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When do you start getting involved with the community?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-start-getting-involved-with-the-com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-start-getting-involved-with-the-com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-start-getting-involved-with-the-com/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When a new game is on the horizon, people start gathering. It's inevitable, really; long gone are the days when you learned about a new game by seeing it on store shelves. MMOs are frequently announced years in advance, and players will start gathering in anticipation long before a release date is confirmed. Games like Guild Wars 2 and Star Wars: The Old Republic already have large and active communities despite not yet being playable or even purchasable by the many fans eagerly following the news.

Obviously, getting involved with the community earlier means getting your name recognized faster and getting an earlier feel for how the game's playerbase will shake down. But there's a downside, too -- if you're in from day one, the game might develop into something you don't wind up liking, be delayed, or be canceled. You also run the risk of burning out from community drama and general debates about a game you aren't yet playing. So how early do you like to get involved in the community of MMOs you're anticipating? During closed beta? Open beta? Release? Or do you like to wait for a couple months to see who sticks around?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: When do you start getting involved with the community? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycommunity-dramacommunity-involvementculturedramafansforumsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindFri, 27 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Back to the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/captains-log-back-to-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/captains-log-back-to-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/captains-log-back-to-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 64884.1...

Hello, computer (and players)! Guess what's back? That's right! Hailing frequencies are now reopened -- Captain's Log is no longer on hiatus. Over the past few weeks, there has been some great news released about the Star Trek Online universe: the winner of the Design the Next Enterprise Contest was announced, the May Ask Cryptic was released, the dev team revealed the 500-day veteran rewards, and the Featured Episode reruns began. While everyone has had his or her own opinions on these stories, there is one piece of news that everyone can agree on: the awesomesauceness of the latest Engineering Report.

As first announced earlier this week, Executive Producer Dan Stahl dropped his latest report, which describes the updates to the game coming in Season Four. As usual, aside from the imminent new content, Dan foreshadows the future for us. Captain's Log is no stranger to talking about the future of the game, so I am excited to share some more details about the upcoming updates with you. Since Season Four is right around the corner and I believe it will be the "game changing update this game has needed since launch," let's get on to this week's Log entry.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's talk about Season 4 and beyond...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Back to the future

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Back to the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academycaptains-logcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdan stahldaniel stahlDanielStahlDanStahldpsdstahlduty officerduty officer systemDutyOfficerDutyOfficerSystemfeaturedforum-postsforumsground combatGroundCombatGunsIdeasklingonofficial-forumspostssalami_infernoseason 4season fourSeason4SeasonFourshuttlestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-gameplaystarfleetstarfleet academyStarfleetAcademystosto-gameplaytutorialVivoxvivox-voice-chatwishstonewishyThu, 19 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Time to move on?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/the-anvil-of-crom-time-to-move-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/the-anvil-of-crom-time-to-move-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/the-anvil-of-crom-time-to-move-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Welcome back to The Anvil of Crom, Conan fans. This week I'm going to tackle something a bit off the beaten path. I've been messing around with the Refuge of the Apostate on various toons, and our Choose My Adventure Bear Shaman is holding in his late 30s as I attempt (so far in vain) to get some dungeon time in before moving on to the Field of the Dead.

Something's been on my mind lately, though, something that's not entirely unique to Age of Conan but is nonetheless a significant part of the overall fan experience. In a nutshell, I'd like to discuss AoC's community, and at the risk of offending (or more likely, inciting) portions of it, why it's so unfortunate.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Time to move on?

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Time to move on? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromaocbad-communitiescommunityfantasyfeaturedforumsfuncomglobal-chatmove-onopinionthe-anvil-of-cromtrollingtrollswhinerswhiningSun, 01 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Big ol' FAIL]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/global-chat-big-ol-fail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/global-chat-big-ol-fail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/global-chat-big-ol-fail/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I'm taking the opportunity to indulge this week by adding a Global Chat quote from a Massively writer. Justin's Perfect Ten column this week touched on overused forum terms, striking a familiar chord with pretty much everyone who's ever spent more than 30 minutes in an MMO forum.

Of course, "fail" was in there -- how could it not be? Justin's commentary on this was both accurate and hilarious:
It's annoying just how much the MMO community's co-opted this term to sling at anything that meets its disapproval. Oh, don't tell us why you're upset; just belch out a big ol' "FAIL" and call it a job well done. Bravo.
Let's move forward to the business at hand: some of the cool things our readers had to say this week. So follow along after the jump and enjoy this week's Global Chat in between the Easter MMO festivities of your choice!

Continue reading Global Chat: Big ol' FAIL

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Big ol' FAIL originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allodsallods-onlinecommentscommunityfeaturedforumsglobal-chatHelltrekjustin-olivettione-shotsopinionprime-synergypurkitteraSun, 24 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMO forum terms beaten to death]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/the-perfect-ten-mmo-forum-terms-beaten-to-death/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/the-perfect-ten-mmo-forum-terms-beaten-to-death/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/the-perfect-ten-mmo-forum-terms-beaten-to-death/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If there's one aspect of MMO culture that I have difficulty saying anything positive about, it would have to be the official forum. No matter how well-moderated and well-intentioned studio forums may be, they're essentially giant signs broadcasting "COME WHINE HERE!" When you witness a 500-page thread that's responding to a badly spelled rant about a nerf we'll all forget about in a month's time, it's hard not to break down and weep at the time and energy lost to such trivial stupidity.

And with the forums -- and to a lesser extent, comments on blogs, Twitter, and telegraphs -- comes a shocking array of linguistic conformity. You see, when people are upset or eager to prove a point, they have no time to sit down and calmly think of a way to fully communicate their perspectives. No time! Instead, they reach deep into the well of the same overused words and phrases, give them a hearty kick in the direction of their post, and feel as though they've conjured up a masterful work of literature.

So today I'm going to exorcise 10 of the most overused, abused, and tired forum terms seen daily in your local MMO forum. Then I will move on with my life and suggest you do the same.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO forum terms beaten to death

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO forum terms beaten to death originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancedcan-i-have-your-stuffcarebearscharlie-sheendirectx11dyingfailfanboisfeaturedfirstforum-termsforumshatersmmo-forumsmmo-termsofficial-forumsperfect-10perfect-tenridiculous-clamsirslap-in-the-facethe-perfect-tentldrtoo-long-didnt-readtwitterunbalanacedwinningworld-of-warcraftwow-killerThu, 21 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Warp trails through deliberation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/captains-log-warp-trails-through-deliberation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/captains-log-warp-trails-through-deliberation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/captains-log-warp-trails-through-deliberation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 64806.6...

Hello, computer (and players)! It has been said that the development of a MMO and the direction it takes can attributed to those who were not afraid to speak out and gather followers who are in support of abstract ideas. As I have preached about since I took over the helm of the Captain's Log, the community has been at the forefront of the Star Trek Online universe. Bolstered by numerous fan sites and thousands of fleets and cemented by transparent developer posts and interviews, STO wouldn't be where it is today without such a passionate community. A lot of this passion takes its form through posts in Cryptic's official forums.

Whether the residence of your most beloved troll or the dwellings of your favorite developer, a game's official forums are a place to come together to rant, rave, and be that person who stands out and speaks up. The STO forums are no different. While the past few columns of mine have been about what the developers have said are coming in the future, I thought we should set a course this week for the forums and blaze a trail through the vast expanse filled with wants, desires, and demands. Shields up. Red alert.

Ensign, warp 10! What are the players asking for this week?

Continue reading Captain's Log: Warp trails through deliberation

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Warp trails through deliberation originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-logcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosfeaturedforum-postsforumsGunsIdeasklingonofficial-forumspostspreorder-bonusshuttlest-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-gameplaystosto-gameplaythomasthecattrek-onlineThu, 21 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT world event fizzles, Trion reevaluates approach [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/rift-world-event-fizzles-trion-reevaluates-approach/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/rift-world-event-fizzles-trion-reevaluates-approach/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/rift-world-event-fizzles-trion-reevaluates-approach/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What could have gone out with a bang turned out to be a mild whimper. RIFT's first world event, River of Souls, moved into its final phases today but experienced several difficulties. Players in both Europe and North America reported lengthy queue times to access the game. These queues were possibly exacerbated by the additional trial players joining for the weekend, although Trion Worlds claimed that subscribers had priority access. On top of that, some servers saw the second and third phases pass by so quickly that many players simply were not there to see it, while other servers experienced unexpected intermittent outages.

As you may expect, player discussion about RIFT's world event has heated up in the forums, blogosphere (NSFW), and elsewhere. In the middle of the event rollout, Scott Hartsman wrote a forum post in which he addressed some of these issues. Hartsman promises that those who missed out on the final portion of the event would be compensated: "Since we are very likely to end up in a situation where we have people queued who could not participate, and people who could not make the finale at all, we're already making sure we have a way to reward people appropriately after the fact."

Trion assured players that it is using the lessons from this world event to shape upcoming ones. "We're already taking what we've learned over the last week and today into account as we work on the next set of world events, and will be designing them such that full-server-population flashmobs aren't quite as likely to occur -- both for fun factor and performance," Hartsman said. "Equally importantly for the future, we'll be ensuring there are more phases that each last longer, and a more clear progression, to maximize everyone's chance of participating."

Let us know your own experience with this event in the comments below!

[Update: Scott Hartsman posted a follow-up to the event as well as a list of compensation rewards for those unable to participate.]

MassivelyRIFT world event fizzles, Trion reevaluates approach [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alsbethalsbeth-the-discordantblogosphereforumsqueuequeuesriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsSat, 16 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Evaluating events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-evaluating-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-evaluating-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-evaluating-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If there's one color that sums up my RIFT experience lately, it's purple. Purple loot, purple dye for my armor, and of course, the purple glow of a death rift on the horizon. One month after launch, players are faced with the decision of whether to subscribe and continue the pursuit of purple or leave Telara's struggles to another Ascended.

Of course, Trion was all-too-ready to help influence that decision. With a one-two punch, the devs unveiled two big events this past weekend: The River of Souls world event and The Allies of the Ascended weekend. The world event highlights RIFT's first major game update, and it unfolds in a series of phases over the next couple of weeks. Allies of the Ascended was essentially a "recruit-a-friend" trial weekend, and players were given codes to pass along to their friends and guildmates. It's probably not a coincidence that these two events were launched together at a time when MMOs normally start to face a dip in population.

So did these events deliver? Read on for a closer look!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Evaluating events

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Evaluating events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allies-of-the-ascendedfeaturedforumsotherworldly-sourcestoneriftrift-invasionsrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsriver-of-souls-eventtelaratheorycraftingtriontrion-worldsWed, 06 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Prophecy blasts off in Europe today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/black-prophecy-blasts-off-in-europe-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/black-prophecy-blasts-off-in-europe-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/black-prophecy-blasts-off-in-europe-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

T-minus three, two, one... and that sound you hear is the latest space-based MMORPG lifting off the launch pad, heading for the stratosphere and the stars beyond. At least, that's what gamigo and Reakktor are hoping when it comes to Black Prophecy, which officially takes a bow in Europe today.

Beta characters, clans, and clan sectors will be wiped for the kickoff, and Black Prophecy will initially feature both an English and a German server. Snowcrash (no, not that one) has posted a note informing customers of impending forum downtime and has also let us know that game updates will be available via the launcher application while the launch-day forum restructuring is in progress.

"This is not an end. It's a beginning; the foundation is laid and we will now move forward with the continued development of Black Prophecy after its release," says assistant production manager Chris "Snowcrash" Schutt. While you're waiting to log in -- or stuck at work -- check out our coverage roundup after the cut and get caught up on the biggest Black Prophecy news items from the past few months.

Continue reading Black Prophecy blasts off in Europe today

MassivelyBlack Prophecy blasts off in Europe today originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betablack-prophecycharacter-wipechris-schuttdowntimeeuropean-launchf2pfeaturedforumsfree-to-playgamigolaunchlaunch-dayreakktorreakktor-mediaReakktor-Media-GmbHsci-fisnowcrashMon, 21 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT adds Coin Lock to improve security... probably]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/rift-adds-coin-lock-to-improve-security-probably/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/rift-adds-coin-lock-to-improve-security-probably/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/rift-adds-coin-lock-to-improve-security-probably/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Getting your account stolen in an MMO is generally accepted to be about as much fun as having your car's engine fuse into a solid block of melted parts or getting bamboo slivers shoved under your fingernails. RIFT's newest patch, 1.02, includes a new feature designed to fight precisely that dreaded eventuality, with the new "Coin Lock" system restricting use of a character if the parent account logs in from a different location. While locked, the characters cannot access the auction or trade functions until the player verifies his or her identity.

While the system is a great idea in theory, several players are reporting that the coin lock system is not working as intended, with supposedly "locked" characters remaining accessible and capable of using all features freely. There are also several threads devoted to claims that account hacks are still taking place, although as with any account security issue, culpability is difficult to determine. While RIFT's Coin Lock is an excellent idea, it remains to be seen whether it's actually accomplishing the stated goals.

[Thanks to Simon for the tip!]

MassivelyRIFT adds Coin Lock to improve security... probably originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountaccount-hackingaccount-securitycoin-lockforumshackingpatchpatchesriftrift-planes-of-telarasecuritysecurity-measurestriontrion-worldsupdatesFri, 18 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI and XIV open official forums]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv-open-official-forums/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv-open-official-forums/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv-open-official-forums/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When Final Fantasy XI first launched in North America, official forums were not ubiquitous. Some games had them, and some didn't, but their absence from the launch wasn't odd. Final Fantasy XIV's launch late last year, however, came well after an official board became standard practice. Square-Enix has moved with the times, resulting in an event that many players had likely expected to never see happen -- the official forums for both games are now open, with a welcome letter available for each.

While each forum is still considered to be in a beta state, players can log in using their Square-Enix IDs and begin posting immediately (any player of Final Fantasy XI still using a Playonline ID alone will need to get a Square-Enix ID and link the two). The shift is being accompanied by a change from game announcements being posted on the main page to postings on the forums, which should help fans of FFXI and Final Fantasy XIV more easily discuss updates and pending changes in a community atmosphere.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI and XIV open official forums originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityconsole-gamesconsolesdiscussiondiscussion-spaceffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivforumsnew-forumsplayonline-idsquaresquare-enixsquare-enix-idTue, 08 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New EVE forums available for testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/new-eve-forums-available-for-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/new-eve-forums-available-for-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/new-eve-forums-available-for-testing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Last month, CCP Alice from EVE Online's web-development team revealed that the official EVE forums would be getting a complete revamp as part of the ongoing Incursion expansion. The new forums will have several advanced features, including a powerful search feature, a "Like" button next to posts, and the ability to subscribe to an RSS feed of search results. The new forums are nearing completion and, in true CCP style, developers have released them for public testing and feedback-gathering before they go live.

Developers need your help to make sure the forums are everything you expect. Head over to EVE Gate and sign in to give the new forums a test. If you've noticed anything wrong with the new forum, or even if you just have a suggestion for a change you'd like to see made, leave your feedback in the New Forum Feedback Portal. The web-development team is adding highly supported ideas to a review list for further development. When the new forums come in, the old forums will remain as a locked backup in its current location on the EVE website.

MassivelyNew EVE forums available for testing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-aliceccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-gateeve-mmorpgeve-onlineforumforumsincursionsocialsocial-networkingFri, 25 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST