Massively

SWTOR Game Update 1.6: Ancient Hypergate goes live December 11th

Larry Everett — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Patches, PvP, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Ready your PvP gear and strap on your lightsaber because Star Wars: The Old Republic pushes its sixth update to live servers on Tuesday, December 11th. Update 1.6: Ancient Hypergate focuses on the PvP warzone of the same name but also offers a few other changes to PvP.

The latest warzone is advertised as an answer to the fans looking for death-match PvP. Combatants will score points by defeating members of the opposing team and causing a slowly creeping explosion to draw all players to the center of the map.

Players can also look forward to earning new Elite War Hero PvP gear to show that they are still the best at PvP. And as our latest Hyperspace Beacon argues, this gear is a step toward slowing down the infamous power creep.

The servers go offline at 1:00 a.m. EST and will return six hours later at 7:00 a.m. EST. Let us know what you think when the update goes live!

SWTOR Game Update 1.6: Ancient Hypergate goes live December 11th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Repopulation's September update discusses housing and grouping

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Housing

If you're wondering what's been changing for The Repopulation through the month of September, look no further than the just-released September update from the developers. Last month saw the introduction of two major features for the game: instanced housing and a new auto-grouping system. The latter is fairly straightforward, allowing players to automatically group with others when entering an engagement area instead of competing with other solo players for content.

Instanced housing, on the other hand, is meant to cater to solo players and those who aren't interested in open PvP via the nation wars system. While your own personal housing lot won't have as many options as the full city interface, it will provide an option for players who do still want to enjoy some of the fun of building up a settlement.

The past month has also seen updates to the game's armor system, loot distribution mechanics, and missions. If you want to know all the particulars, take a gander at the full rundown.

The Repopulation's September update discusses housing and grouping originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

TERA patch opens up GvG on PvE servers and improves daily quests

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, News Items, Roleplaying, TERA

TERA has been out on American shores for just about a month now, and that means the game is due for a patch. While the latest update isn't a huge patch, it certainly does bring some big changes, starting with the addition of the guild vs. guild system to PvE servers. Guild masters will be able to toggle their guilds as pacifistic or battle-ready, and new players joining a guild will be informed if the guild is embroiled in war.

Not up for the PvP road? That's all right -- there are a lot of other little additions in this patch. Daily quests for Hands of Velika have undergone some revisions, with slightly higher numbers required to clear but a greater individual reward. High-end BAMs now also drop Tier 13 crafting materials, with named monsters having a higher chance at drops. The patch also adds the ability to type custom emotes and several bug fixes, both of which should improve the quality of play in TERA.

TERA patch opens up GvG on PvE servers and improves daily quests originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Perpetuum rolling out Gamma Frontier tomorrow

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Galleries, Patches, Previews, News Items, Perpetuum, Sandbox

Home is where you hang your hat, but in Perpetuum, home is also where you ensure that your mining operations remain stable with the aid of several high-powered turrets. The next major update to the game, Gamma Frontier, is all about making sure that your home is the best it can be. Player corporations will be able to make use of the game's new Modular Private Colony system, setting up static buildings and defenses for large-scale industrial operations, helped by the addition of 24 new teraformable islands.

Obviously, player-run structures are a pretty big deal all by themselves, but the update also includes a new rendering engine for land and sky textures. There's also a new public test server available so that players can take the measure of future updates before they go live. If you're a longtime fan of the mech-based game, you can tide yourself over a little longer by taking a look through the several new screenshots of the update below.

[Source: Avatar Creations press release]

Gallery: Perpetuum gallery

Perpetuum rolling out Gamma Frontier tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Final Fantasy XIV launches patch 1.22

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

Feel as if the last major Final Fantasy XIV patch just had too much to absorb at once? Well, you're going to be a bit stuck today if that's the case because patch 1.22 has just gone live and brought with it another host of improvements, updates, and changes. The good news is that this patch doesn't contain the same number of system changes as the previous patch, but that's because of the sheer amount of new content included.

The patch adds another four ranks to the Grand Companies, another set of quests, the new Garuda battle, the first of the hamlet defense points, and more besides. Players will also be able to obtain new items from crafting, gathering, and victory in the Garuda fight, and they'll be able to see the first hints of what will happen to the world as the era draws to a close. Servers are expected to be back online later tonight, and players will no doubt have plenty to explore once they can log in again.

[Thanks to Alex for the tip!]

Final Fantasy XIV launches patch 1.22 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What was the best patch ever?

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Patches, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

There are three responses to every patch released by every game, no matter what the patch does or doesn't contain. There will be people who decry the patch as something horrible, those who act indifferent, and those who enthusiastically gush about how wonderful it is. But there are some patches that stand out as being real game-changers, from Star Trek Online's enormous Season patches to the various content-and-system upgrades doled out regularly for World of Warcraft.

If you've been playing long enough, you can reflect on the patch history for your favorite game. What was the best patch that you can think of in terms of its individual impact? Was it one of the major overhauls introduced to Final Fantasy XIV? One of the story updates for Lord of the Rings Online? Or some of the large epilogues added to Guild Wars? What has your nod as the best patch ever, and why?

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 was the best patch ever? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

PlaneShift releases patch 0.5.9

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play

Ever played an MMORPG and thought that you could do a better job making it than the developers? PlaneShift is more or less completely built around that idea. It's an open-source, community-developed game that's still not at full "release" status but does allow players and developers alike plenty of participation in the process. While the development cycle is slow by necessity, the game has just recently released its 0.5.9 patch, bringing with it a large variety of improvements and refinements for the engine and the game itself.

The game's art has received several sweeping overhauls; the biggest changes have been aimed at the game's engine in the form of fixing bugs and improving support for a variety of graphics cards. There are also updates to the game's AI scripting, allowing NPCs to act in a more organic and unified fashion. If you're an old hand at the game, the patch is no doubt worth checking out -- and if you've never heard of it, perhaps this is enough to pique your interest.

PlaneShift releases patch 0.5.9 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Newest letter from Naoki Yoshida outlines the plans for Final Fantasy XIV's next patch

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

Patch 1.21 has just gone live, but many fans of Final Fantasy XIV are already looking ahead to patch 1.22. And it's understandable -- the game is kicking into the final stretch before the major relaunch, and that means new conflicts and new quests as the era draws to a close. Producer Naoki Yoshida recently released a new producer's letter detailing the list of features slated for inclusion with this next update, including the hamlet defense feature that was trimmed from patch 1.21.

This penultimate patch before version 2.0 will also see the conflict between Eorzea and the Empire escalate further, illustrated by the presence of a new Imperial stronghold for players to assault. There will be new Imperial weapons as a result, along with new quests and new Grand Company ranks. Currently slated for the end of April, this patch can be expected to deliver a number of improvements to the game, even if it may wind up being delayed a bit in the end.

Newest letter from Naoki Yoshida outlines the plans for Final Fantasy XIV's next patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vindictus brings out a dragon with accompanying ink

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Vindictus

In any fantasy game, downing a dragon is what you want. Sure, there might be other monsters that are technically stronger, but nothing else has quite the feel of straight-up slaying a dragon. Nexon realizes this, which is why the strongest foe in Vindictus' latest game update, is the massive dragon Elchulus. Players will need to have quite the team to bring down this massive foe, as a full raid of 24 characters at level 40 are required to slay the beast.

The update also adds a lower-level raid for levels 20 and 30 as well as some brand-new tattoos to help signify your battle against the scaly menace. You can buy new tattoos, or you can face off against the new bosses and have a chance at winning one for free. Not quite convinced? Then take a look at the dragon in action just past the break, and see if you don't have a sudden urge to put a flying lizard in its place.

Continue reading Vindictus brings out a dragon with accompanying ink

Vindictus brings out a dragon with accompanying ink originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Mog Log: Point two one

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log

So patch 1.21 has finally come out, after what feels like a wait of several thousand years. It's the biggest patch since the last one, certainly, and headlining the whole thing is the introduction of the Job system. Final Fantasy XIV players the world over can finally experience the game as one of the iconic classes that have pretty much been the other shoe waiting to drop since the game's launch. But there's also chocobo barding, new dungeons, new functional improvements, private rooms... the usual confluence of many separate elements in a single patch. It's the biggest one since the last one, in other words.

The problem this patch faces with its marquee element, of course, is that jobs are something players have anticipated for so long that there's no right way to do them. However jobs get put into the game, some players will be happy and some won't. The best outcome has never been a perfect implementation so much as an implementation that's done consistently and hits the right notes. And that's arguably what happened, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'll agree that this was the best implementation possible.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Point two one

The Mog Log: Point two one originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Final Fantasy XIV unveils the full scope of patch 1.21

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

The time is now -- Final Fantasy XIV's sweeping patch 1.21 is going live. That means players can experience the new Job system, do battle in two new instanced dungeons, and relax in their new private rooms. The patch notes make it clear that as with most of the game's patches, there's a lot going on even beyond the headlining features for the update, including intra-city teleportation services, new achievement categories to explore, and new ways for players to spend guild marks.

Patch 1.21 also brings along a revision to the food and medicine of the game, with food serving universally as a small long-term buff and medicines working as short effects or buffs with a big impact. The team has also revised accessories, doing away with the previous mechanic of slot costs. And that's not even touching upon new missions for provisioning from the Grand Companies, the introduction of chocobo barding, or any number of other smaller features added with the list. It's a lot of stuff to absorb, and it should keep adventurers happy for quite some time.

Final Fantasy XIV unveils the full scope of patch 1.21 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vindictus has the beatdown, and so do other players

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Vindictus

Vindictus has long given players a variety of ways to smash enemy creatures into the ground, and it's had plenty of players. But remarkably, the game has been missing ways to smash those players into the ground, an oversight that the game's new PvP patch is addressing through obvious means. Having just hit the live servers, the new patch allows for a variety of skirmishes between players as well as offers the obligatory rewards for settling disputes like violent, heavily armed men with poor impulse control.

The game offers two options for PvP. Capture the Relic is... well, replace "relic" with "flag" and you probably have a good idea. Monster Brawl, meanwhile, pits two teams against one another with each team fighting alongside a boss monster -- keep your monster alive while killing the other team's beast and you win. Players can also unlock powerful rewards in the form of buff items, a nice incentive for those not already motivated by the simple joy of smashing another player's face in.

Vindictus has the beatdown, and so do other players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Blizzard continuing to make big mechanical changes to Diablo III

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, News Items, Miscellaneous

While there's still no release date set for Diablo III, it seems the release may be further off than some players were guessing, judging by the latest round of sweeping system overhauls. A new post by game director Jay Wilson goes over several major changes being made to the game, starting with the fact that Scrolls of Identify are gone. You have a short casting time to identify and item and that's it, with no need to carry around a separate item.

The latest changes also remove the Mystic artisan, the Cauldron of Jordan, and the Nephalem Cube. The latter two were removed due to the inclusion of a Town Portal button, making trips back and forth far easier, while the Mystic artisan lacked a sufficiently defined role amidst other item modifications. There's also a major stat overhaul, which reduces the core attributes to Strength, Dexterity, Intellect, and Vitality. They're far-reaching changes, and only time will tell how much their impact might slow the game's release as the team tests the altered systems.

Blizzard continuing to make big mechanical changes to Diablo III originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Newest patch notes Star Wars: The Old Republic highlight bug fixes

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Bugs, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Bugs are frustrating, and inevitably some of them seep through to launch with a new MMO. Star Wars: The Old Republic produced a fairly polished end product, but there were still issues, most notably certain memory problems with Taris and some harvesting nodes that couldn't be harvested. As a result, the game's first patch has been rolled out following this morning's maintenance, and the first set of patch notes have gone live detailing the bugfixes and minor updates provided.

Aside from the two obvious changes, there has been a handful of balance adjustments. Slicing has seen a slight downgrade to bring its rewards more in line with those of other gathering professions, and the Mandalorian Raiders flashpoint has seen several enemies lose their immunity to crowd control. Players can look forward to more steady adjustments as the game continues, but some quick fixes to noteworthy issues are always good to see -- especially so close to the holidays.

Newest patch notes Star Wars: The Old Republic highlight bug fixes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Class adjustment philosophy previewed for Final Fantasy XIV

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

The next major patch for Final Fantasy XIV has been discussed in broad strokes, but the upcoming changes for said patch have only just started to be revealed. Today saw the unveiling of the abstract for patch 1.20's class revisions, aimed at making each class more unique and interesting to play without changing the fundamental cross-class system in place. To this end, every class will see significant overhauls, and the Armoury system as a whole will be undergoing some streamlining.

Among the bigger changes is the abolition of the current system for setting actions, replaced by a much more straightforward setup. All class actions will be automatically added to a players' bars, with players able to equip more actions from other classes as they increase in level. Traits are also being revised to be class-exclusive and automatic, helping to differentiate the classes as you obtain more via leveling. The full rundown is even more extensive, but it looks to be aimed at keeping classes more fun as a whole in future updates.

Class adjustment philosophy previewed for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

EVE Online expanding API functionality

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, News Items

Amidst all of the scandals and player controversy, it's important to remember what really matters in EVE Online -- API development. Well, maybe not for every player, but there's certainly a burgeoning community that's quite happy to hear about major updates to the game's overall API structure. And there are indeed two large changes discussed in the newest devblog -- the addition of customizable API keys for players and the inclusion of new contract functionality.

If you're not familiar with the programming side of the API, naturally, the developer blog is largely going to read like so much arcane nonsense to you. The takeaways for all players are that there is greater flexibility in setting access keys with limited durations, and calling contract information is now easier than it was before. On the other hand, if you are a part of the game's programming community and want to know more about the changes, the blog should provide a great deal of more in-depth and useful information for improved functionality.

EVE Online expanding API functionality originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Face of Mankind under new management, adding new features

Jef Reahard — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, Roleplaying, Sandbox

If you've ever played Face of Mankind, you may have gotten something of a blast from the past in your inbox this morning. The sci-fi sandbox MMORPG is under new management, and the team at Nexeon Technologies sent out an email blurb advertising the fact that the game has undergone significant changes (and has a new website and forum to boot).

Nexeon provides a list of all the tweaks that have occurred in recent months, including frequent patches and bug fixes, account portal integration, a new tutorial, and the implementation of famous New York City locales including Brooklyn and Ground Zero.

The press release also hints at major updates still in the planning stages, including an item shop, additional colonies, customizable apartments, and more. Face of Mankind is notable for being one of a very few MMORPGs to emphasize roleplay, community, and player-driven politics as primary gameplay systems, and you can read more about the title at its official website.

Face of Mankind under new management, adding new features originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mythos Europe adds PvP features and new levels

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, News Items, Mythos, Free-to-Play

"Lamentation" is a word that isn't associated with PvP as often as it ought to be, with the lyric "QQ" generally taking its place. But the latest update for Mythos is bringing back lamentation in style with the new Lamento PvP system in place. Players at level 50 or up can fight in 1v1 or 2v2 matches against other players, with the winner obtaining Lamento points that can be used to purchase new level 51 armor and weapons.

What's that? You're stuck at level 50? Well, not any longer -- level 51 has been added, allowing players access to new pieces of equipment and another notch of power. The full list of patch changes is quite extensive, including new rewards for clearing dungeons quickly, improvements to movement speed, and new stats that can be generated when items drop. Amidst all of the new doses of power, it's for the best that PvP is coming out in force. After all, why settle for crushing computer-controlled enemies when you could be hearing the lamentations of your opponents?

Mythos Europe adds PvP features and new levels originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What's your favorite post-launch feature?

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game Mechanics, Patches, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Single-player games can occasionally get major DLC or expansions to change the face of the game, but for the most part MMOs are the field where a game can change between two patches. Champions Online recently made a major change with the addition of hideouts, adding in a form of housing to the game that hadn't existed at all when the game launched. It's a recent example, but it's hardly the only time that a game or a expansion has gone live and later had a major addition to its features list.

Sometimes features are added in shortly after launch as promised features not quite ready at the time the game went gold, but far more frequently an entirely new feature is developed and added. So what's your favorite feature that was introduced after the game's launch? A player-generated content system a la City of Heroes or Star Trek Online? The addition of instanced PvP such as World of Warcraft's Battlegrounds? Let us know!

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's your favorite post-launch feature? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New producer's letter planning for future upgrades to Final Fantasy XIV

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 21 May 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

Almost immediately after taking the helm of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida posted a large list of planned changes and updates to the game over the near future. In his most recent letter to the community, Yoshida both highlights the goals already achieved as well as adding a variety of additional goals besides. It's a large list of updates that the community should welcome, along with the announcement that everything on the list (including major battle revisions, chocobos, and the item-enhancing Materia system) should be ready by the end of summer.

Yoshida also discusses the overall goal of the battle system revamps, echoing several parts of the document posted earlier regarding the revamp's details. As he puts it, the goals with the changes are to reward skill and interactivity while removing tedium. Final Fantasy XIV players have a great deal of improvements to look forward to over the next several months, and the newest letter helps make it clear exactly how those improvements will be coming down the pipeline.

New producer's letter planning for future upgrades to Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lord of the Rings Online releases Update 2

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, Endgame, News Items, Free-to-Play

If you've been waiting for the next installment of the epic story behind Lord of the Rings Online, today is your day. Update 2 is now live, containing among other things the beginning of Book 3 for the current story. Along with the revisions to make the preceding Volume II much easier to solo, players who love delving into the game's story and lore will have plenty to be happy about in this update. But there are improvements for the endgame as well.

Aside from the previously mentioned removal of radiance, the update features two three-player instances, two six-player instances, a new 12-person raid, and three new scaling skirmishes from the depths of Mirkwood. Add to that the revisions made for monster players, class revisions for Hunters, Burglars, and Minstrels, and a variety of improvements to quality of life, and the most recent Lord of the Rings Online update should bring plenty for everyone.

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Core Gallery

Lord of the Rings Online releases Update 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Player poll results and future plans for Final Fantasy XIV

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

After a week of silence, it seems the new development team has finished putting together data from Final Fantasy XIV's start-of-year player poll. Naoki Yoshida makes as much clear in the first few lines of his incredibly dense producer's letter, which contains a broad outline of what the team is targeting first in the game's development, as well as the results of the first poll. The results alone merit a great deal of discussion, with the responses charted out for ease of viewing and Yoshida devoting much of his letter to his interpretation of the results.

Among the more interesting takeaways are the plans to implement official forums starting in early March, with Yoshida stating he will be posting regular updates on the front page until the forums launch. Several items are under close examination, including jumping, increased stack sizes for several items, and the addition of an auction house -- all of which are very real possibilities for the near future. There's also plans to add in more story-based quests and mini-quests, the addition of public companies (no word on how this will interact with the previously promised company system or if it replaces it), and so many changes that it's hard to summarize. Final Fantasy XIV players should take a look at the full letter, which boasts a lot to get excited about.

Player poll results and future plans for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Wars Galaxies looks to the latest update and beyond

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Patches, News Items, Star Wars Galaxies

The most recent update to Star Wars Galaxies was a big one all around, adding in the Wookiee Life Day event for the holiday and new content for the Witches of Dathomir. So it's no surprise that the newest producer's letter from Teesquared focuses on several sides of the multifaceted update -- but it doesn't stop there. The letter also addresses some of what players can expect to kick off the next year, as well as notes that the Rebels have regained control of the ongoing Galactic Civil War.

For starters, players can expect the long-awaited update to Officers and the Galactic Civil War 2 update, with the latter bringing space and player cities into the ongoing struggle for the galaxy. Players can also look forward to some new old structures becoming available -- according to the letter, the models have existed in the game files but haven't ever been quite finished and implemented before now. And the update promises to give characters more ways to access Rare Loot System chests that don't rely upon the more frequent method of combat. Star Wars Galaxies players should take a look at the full letter and start getting excited about the new year -- it's not so far away.

Star Wars Galaxies looks to the latest update and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Champions Online unveils the eight free-to-play archetypes for launch

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Business Models, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, Champions Online

It's an interesting road ahead for Champions Online as it prepares to go free-to-play. To facilitate the change and give subscribers a reason to keep paying regularly, the game is rolling out rigidly enforced archetypes that take away power selection but still allow for some personal customization. We've seen the initial description of how the archetypes will work, and the team at Cryptic Studios has just unveiled the eight archetypes that will be available to both free players and paying players when the conversion goes live.

Each archetype has a strictly defined role, along with several powers meant to enforce that role. Tanking, DPS, and healing are all represented by the available choices, meaning that even players who haven't spent anything will be able to take on whatever role best suits them in the game. Players should take a look at the official listing to see exactly what powers will be available and at the lore description for an idea of where each archetypical concept fits within the Champions Online framework.

Champions Online unveils the eight free-to-play archetypes for launch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Issues 20 and Incarnates previewed for City of Heroes

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items

If you were one of the lucky fans at the recent City of Heroes meet-and-greet, you were treated to a wealth of information from Paragon Studios about the future of the game. If you weren't, however, you still get a fair slice of luck with today's reveal on the official site about the Incarnate system, complete with lore illustrating the start of what promises to be a far-reaching storyline in the game. We've also gotten a look at the event's presentation on future content, which should give fans plenty to look forward to.

The Incarnate system is kicking off with the Alpha Slot in Issue 19, which will be focused on wide-ranging enhancements to all of a character's powers. Unlike Enhancements, Incarnate abilities can be slotted and removed without destroying them. Each slot will have several branches that players can explore as well, allowing for a great deal of character customization. Moreover, the most powerful Incarnate abilities allow characters to improve their effective level in battle past the cap. You can head to the official site for more details on the next major system of City of Heroes -- or you can take a look at the gallery for a preview of what's coming and the slides which give us a sneak peek at a new warehouse map, new costume pieces, and the trials of Issue 20.

Gallery: City of Heroes updates preview

Issues 20 and Incarnates previewed for City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nexon changes everything about MapleStory in one Big Bang!

Larry Everett — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, MapleStory, Events (In-Game), Patches, Free-to-Play

When darkness has covered the world, whom do you call? When everything you have seen on Victoria Island has been changed, is there a hero to save it? When the Black Mage unleashes his evil on the unsuspecting innocents, can he ever be defeated? Will the balance of power be shifted back to good? Will you, the greatest hero, stand up against the destruction and chaos?

What are we talking about? Well, it is Nexon's side-scrolling, free-to-play MMO MapleStory, of course. Continuing a five-year tradition of constantly giving players new content, the developers will literally change everything you know about the world of MapleStory this winter in the game's newest story arc, Big Bang. In addition to crafting the new plot, the developers have seen fit to it to better the user interface, game resolution, and graphical textures. On top of that, players should expect a higher experience curve, updated maps, and brand-new character classes.

Begin your new adventure by clicking after the break. We have stolen a glimpse of the exciting upgrades with a video trailer of Big Bang. Maybe you can be the one to save Maple World!

Continue reading Nexon changes everything about MapleStory in one Big Bang!

Nexon changes everything about MapleStory in one Big Bang! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Demonflame now available for Champions Online

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Champions Online

It was promised for this month, and Champions Online players can rejoice that the promise was true. Demonflame, the second adventure pack for the game, has just moved from the test servers to live. Following in the footsteps of the previous adventure pack, Serpent Lantern, the adventure can be undertaken by any size group from level 11 onward, scaling in both difficulty and complexity according to the number and level of participants. Not to mention that it includes new rewards for players of all levels, including new costume parts of an equally violet hue.

In addition to the new adventure, the newest patch also included the pet revision, which might be even more interesting for you depending on your level and power build in the game. While there's no official list of patch notes, our resident columnist did a good job summarizing both the pet changes and the new adventure pack in the weeks leading up to their release. So if you've been holding off on logging in to Champions Online in anticipation of the new patch, now is the time.

Demonflame now available for Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Ryzom patch enhancing PvP and other social functions

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, Ryzom, News Items

PvP is a tricky matter to balance in a game with players in all sorts of different gear levels, not to mention accounting for different player skills. Ryzom has tackled the age-old bugbear with its latest patch, attempting to extend and expand the PvP system in the game to everyone. The system has modified the rules for attacking, flagging, and supporting other players, with a small chart in the patch notes explaining who is allowed to do what to whom and when.

In case skewering other players isn't your thing, however, you can invite them into your personal apartment now as well as take advantage of the newly added variable tags for the chat system. There are also enhancements to the apartment customization focusing on getting involved with the community team and as usual a smattering of bugfixes and general performance improvements. If you're part of Ryzom's dedicated audience, take a look at the patch notes to see what 1.10 brings to the game.

New Ryzom patch enhancing PvP and other social functions originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NYCC 2010: The City of Heroes Issue 19 panel

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Events (Real-World), Patches, Previews, News Items

It's the end of the convention season, and City of Heroes fans on the East Coast managed to get one last treat -- another chance with the development team that had long been anchored firmly on the other side of the country. The team's panel in March at PAX East saw the revelation of several new facts about the game, including the first announcement of Kinetic Melee and Electric Control, and the panel that closes out the year at New York Comic Con contained several interesting new facts as well.

Melissa Bianco, David Nakayama, and Jesse Caceres were all in attendance, with the panel overseen by community representative Tia Parurahi. With Going Rogue having been out for nearly two months, this panel focused on the upcoming Issue 19 and what the changes mean for the game, as well as how much the development team is ramping up production to improve the game all around.

Continue reading NYCC 2010: The City of Heroes Issue 19 panel

NYCC 2010: The City of Heroes Issue 19 panel originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What changes were you worried about that turned out fine?

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Patches, Previews, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Whenever a new feature is put into a game, there's a portion of the playerbase crying foul before it even hits the test server, and not without cause. Nearly every fan crying out that this change will cause huge problems has evidence, both anecdotal and otherwise, that will be pointed to as an obvious reason why the change is a bad idea. The developers listen, nod quietly, and push it live anyway. And as it turns out, the sky remains where it is, cats and dogs do not begin living together, and the hysteria is remarkably contained.

To claim that we don't all have our pet causes is ridiculous -- we all have certain things that we know will break the game beyond a shadow of a doubt. But sometimes these game-breaking changes go live after all, and as it turns out they aren't actually such a big deal. So when have you been frightened of a major game change that turned out to not be all that important? Was it a class redesign, a major mechanical change, or an apparent simplification that wound up making the game more fun to play in the end?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: What changes were you worried about that turned out fine? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

City of Heroes previews the coming Issue 19

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Game Mechanics, Patches, Previews, News Items

We've known about the bare basics of Issue 19 for a little while now, but City of Heroes players have just been treated to a new explosion of information about the game's next major content patch. And it promises to be quite a big update, with two new task forces, new events in Praetoria, and some alternate animations and auras that had not been previously announced. Several powers will now have a number of locations that can be used as a launching point, so you could fire your Radiation Blasts from your eyes, one hand, both hands, or other possibilities. More tip and morality missions are being added, as well as the option for characters who were not from Praetoria to enter the city.

It couldn't come at a better time, as Praetoria's infiltration and invasion are the center of the two new task forces. Overseen by Apex and Tin Mage, two important lore figures, the chains have characters face off against Praetors and uniquely Praetorian enemies to keep their world safe from Emperor Cole's designs. There are also new live events being added in Praetoria, such as a mass protest that heroes can take part in or help shut down. With the previously announced first Incarnate slot and the move of Fitness to inherent (with a slight clarification of unclear wording), the update promises to be an infusion of both content and systems for City of Heroes, so take a look at the official rundown for more.

City of Heroes previews the coming Issue 19 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Atlantica Online unveils Sheriff Christine

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Classes, Patches, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, Atlantica Online

Atlantica Online has given us a rather appealing bit of information -- a new mercenary is moseying into town tomorrow. And true to form, she's promising to bring some interesting new wrinkles to the gameplay for anyone interested in laying down the law. Sheriff Christine is the latest addition to the game, offering players a variety of abilities to help control the flow of battle and interactions with the enemy party, using stuns and control-like abilities to turn the tide.

Among her arsenal of stuns and control abilities is her new Arrest ability, which freezes an enemy unit for two turns. She also brings area damage into play with her Revolver Rush skill, or single-target damage with her self-buffing skill Steady Stance. We've also been given a few exclusive screenshots of Christine in action, so check them out in our small gallery, and keep your eyes open for Christine's full launch in Atlantica Online tomorrow.

Gallery: Atlantica Online's Sherriff Christine

Atlantica Online unveils Sheriff Christine originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

September version update live for Final Fantasy XI

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Consoles

It's a good day to be in Vana'diel, as Final Fantasy XI's much-awaited September version update is now up and running on the live servers. That means another increase in the level cap, new missions for Wings of the Goddess, and many other improvements to the game. The full list of changes may be found in the official patch notes, which also include a few pieces of information not previously disclosed.

As expected, the majority of the changes center around the increase of the level cap to 85, complete with levels for the previewed new abilities and traits. There are also several smaller quality of life improvements, and the usual array of bug fixes across the board. Players waiting for the update to download (which can take quite some time, as any Final Fantasy XI veteran can attest) can peruse the full list of changes and get ready for some interesting new experiences.

September version update live for Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fallen Earth opens test server, details upcoming content

Jef Reahard — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Fallen Earth, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items

Icarus Studios has just announced the formation of a Public Test System for their post-apocalyptic sci-fi MMORPG Fallen Earth. Interested players can download the test server client and "let the devs know what you like and what sucks!" Specifically, you'll get early looks at forthcoming game updates including item overcharging/decay, revisions to the conflict town of New Gallows, a new dueling system, and a new companion pet for those lonely wasteland nights.

In addition to content sneak previews and the ability to make your voice heard, players will be able to "play alongside the developers...or kick their asses!" Check out the full announcement as well as the client download.

Stay with Massively over the next few days as we'll be meeting up with the Fallen Earth team at PAX East in order to bring you all the juicy details.

Fallen Earth opens test server, details upcoming content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mabinogi fuses science and magic with new Alchemist update

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Patches, Free-to-Play, Mabinogi

In real life, alchemy was an early scientific movement that wound up stumbling upon a few concepts important to modern science. In Mabinogi, it's at the heart of the most recent update as a mixture of both science and magic, allowing characters access to new skills and abilities through research and magical prowess. The Alchemist update for the game has just been released into the wild, and brought with it a new form of gameplay, the aforementioned Alchemist abilities, and not one but two different holiday events for players to enjoy.

Within the new zone, Taillteann, players will be able to explore both the Alchemist's House to research components of the new skills, or take part in the game's new Shadow Missions. If taking part in the missions and the new storyline isn't as appealing for the moment, however, there's also an event running for both Valentine's Day and the Lunar New Year, with both offering players a few carrots if they take part in the festivities. Mabinogi has been keeping a steady stream of content updates for some time, and this newest update promises to give players even more to explore within the world of Erinn.

Mabinogi fuses science and magic with new Alchemist update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chaotic prelude in new EverQuest II game update

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events (In-Game), Patches, News Items

It's easy to become complacent in an MMO, and it's always good news for the players (though not so much the characters) when things get shaken up dramatically. Cue the most recent game update to EverQuest II, in which all sorts of madness is breaking loose. Two of the game's most central cities, Qeynos and Freeport, are both suffering from major disruption. Deathknell Citadel has vanished over Freeport, queueing up an almost immediate elimination of the city's tenuous peace with the Overlord's disappearance. Qeynos, meanwhile, is having information and the lineage of the royal family assaulted, preventing them from doing much beyond surveying the chaos in Freeport.

There's an excellent trailer for the event that should help get players ready for what's coming in the near future. The update itself is a prelude to the upcoming Sentinel's Fate expansion, which launches early next year. While a great deal of the patch has been devoted to relentless bug-squishing, it's hard not to get into the energy of an update that attacks a very core part of the game, so if you're playing EverQuest II what are you waiting for? Log in and start helping to restore order... or attacking everything in sight and spreading chaos. It's really up to you.

Chaotic prelude in new EverQuest II game update originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments