Massively

GDCO 2010: UTV True Games wows with three new titles

Beau Hindman — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, Previews, PvP, PvE, Free-to-play, Browser, Massively Interviews, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage

One of the most thrilling aspects of this job is visiting game studios. It's essentially like stepping into a toy factory, complete with strange noises and funny personalities. Nerf guns are a staple, and each desk or station is decorated with all types of toys, posters, and other trophies from Nerd-dom. UTV True Games is no different, so when we were asked to sit down with three (count 'em, three) different teams to preview some new titles, we knew we were in for a good time.

Of course, our professionalism prevented us from actually clapping and going "sqqquuueeeee!" every time a new product was shown, but it's very possible that the teams would not have cared anyway. So what did we see? What do we have to look forward to from the same people that brought us Mytheon? Well, click past the cut and let's take a look!

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GDCO 2010: UTV True Games wows with three new titles originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Land of Chaos Online goes loco for spell info

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Free-to-play

As we saw at GDC10, Land of Chaos Online is certainly an unusual species of MMO, blending fantasy elements, Defense of the Ancients-style matches and third-person shooter action. The title is still deep in closed beta, but fans wishing to know more about the nitty-gritty details of LOCO can now feast their eyes on The Spellbook of Laair Hathy. Apparently, Laair Hathy is a wizard with a big mouth who likes to share top secret information on her rivals.

Unlike many MMOs, LOCO players assume the role of one of several predefined characters, each with their own unique array of skills and spells. Each section of the Spellbook covers one of these characters, providing us with background information, pictures and skill descriptions. This adds up to over 120 spells and skills that are now on display for inspection and discussion.

If LOCO piques your interest, then head on over to flip through the Spellbook, and sign up for closed beta while you're at it!

Gallery: GDC10: Land of Chaos Online preview screenshots

Land of Chaos Online goes loco for spell info originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: A first glimpse at The Secret World

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Puzzle, Galleries, Screenshots, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, Interviews, New titles, Opinion, The Secret World, Crime, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage

I bet you thought we were done with news from GDC 2010, right? Well, not exactly. The embargo on our demo of The Secret World lifts today and we're oh-so eager to tell you all about what we saw.

While Creative Director Ragnar Tørnquist's team at Funcom has been doing an excellent job of teasing us with just enough information to keep us excited (although they'll deny the websites are from them), there are still many aspects of the game we have yet to discover. This GDC demo doesn't even scratch the surface on what we can expect from the released game, but it gives us quite a bit more to chew on until that time comes.

Follow along after the jump for our impressions of what we saw in the game's combat, in-game cinematics, storyline and a brief Q&A with Ragnar himself. Plus, be sure to check out the screenshot and concept art galleries below for some gorgeous eye candy.

Gallery: The Secret World

Gallery: The Secret World Art

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GDC10: A first glimpse at The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare talks Warhammer Online's forthcoming expansions

Kyle Horner — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Warhammer Online, News items

In a recent GDC 2010 interview with UGO, BioWare's Dr. Ray Muzyka said of Warhammer Online, "Right now it's [a] really profitable business unit within my group." Muzyka went on to say they've actually seen more people come into the game since enacting the free-to-play model on the game's earlier levels, and that he personally felt they were working.

In fact, by the sounds of it, Warhammer Online is due for some interesting announcements in the future. Another of Muzyka's comments on the title was, "We have new content planned and all kinds of cool expansions for it." We don't know how much more clear cut a message can be than that. And hey, it's good news! We're looking forward to our playable Skaven and Lizardmen, Mythic and BioWare.

BioWare talks Warhammer Online's forthcoming expansions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: Massively's picks for the best of GDC

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Opinion, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage

GDC 2010 has come and gone and as we recover from the insanity a bit, we thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on our favorites from last week. Although the Game Developer's Conference isn't usually made to be as flashy as E3 or PAX, it is mostly catered towards students looking to break into the industry, panels and summits interesting to only other developers and a few demos.

This in mind, we compiled a short list of what made the biggest impact on us, pertaining to MMOs. Although there were plenty of other exciting demos, booths and panels, we're keeping these awards strictly to MMO-related topics. Follow along after the jump for our complete list.

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GDC10: Massively's picks for the best of GDC originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Digital Continuum: Catching that All Points Bulletin fever

Kyle Horner — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, Opinion, The Digital Continuum, All Points Bulletin, Crime

I knew it would happen. GDC 2010 came and went, leaving behind a brand new trial of All Points Bulletin information that's making me want to play it more than ever before. I've written about the game a few times before, each instance knowing a little bit more about the title. This year's GDC brought us hands-on reports, interviews, the news of a North American beta and even a nine minute video presentation via shakeycam.

Now my knowledge feels mostly complete and aside from actually playing the game I've got a pretty good idea of why it's potentially going to be something no videogame fan -- let alone MMO fan -- will want to miss. So, let me share a few of them with you.

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The Digital Continuum: Catching that All Points Bulletin fever originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: Hands-on with TERA Online

Shawn Schuster — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, New titles, Opinion, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, TERA

New MMOs are becoming a dime a dozen. We here at Massively are constantly flooded with press releases claiming that Company A's new game is not only an MMO, but it's the best darn MMO you've ever seen. Despite this, we try to hold back the cynicism and keep a sharp eye open for the true diamonds in the rough.

At GDC 2010, we saw what could be considered at least an emerald in the rough. TERA had a huge presence at the conference, with fliers everywhere you looked and an impressive demo booth with four playable stations. Since Seraphina and I both spent some quality time with the game, including a developer demo, we decided to pool our thoughts for one big article on what we saw. Follow along for our impressions of TERA.

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GDC10: Hands-on with TERA Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: An in-depth look at Black Prophecy

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, News items, Black Prophecy

Space: the final frontier. Space: in it, no one can hear you scream. Space: it's been looking at us the wrong way lately, so let's take a laser cannon to it and readjust its attitude.

If you haven't been feeling a ball of growing excitement in your tummy over Black Prophecy's development (over four years at this point), then we feel pity for you. It might be another spaceship MMO, but while EVE Online has a heavy focus on the economy and political intrigue, and Star Trek Online boasts a slower, tactical approach to combat, Black Prophecy is all about fast, sweaty, double-fisted fighter action in the depths of the cosmos. And it doesn't look half bad while doing it, either.

At GDC, Massively got under the hood of this title with Black Prophecy's Falko Böcker to find out all we could about this promising free-to-play MMO. Check your oxygen levels and then hit the jump to hyperspace for more!

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GDC10: An in-depth look at Black Prophecy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: Massively set to appear on live Internet TV

Kyle Horner — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, News items, Massively Event Coverage

Massively's own Editor-in-Chief Shawn Schuster will be appearing on Internet television today at 12pm PST live from GDC 2010. That's right, Gamebreakr with Gary Gannon is going to do a live streaming web show and this particular blogger thinks it'll be worth catching -- even if only so Shawn knows that countless people are staring at him while he's on air.

Actually, the show's had plenty of interesting people from the gaming realm on already including CCP's Nathan Richardsson, President of SOE John Smedley and Christina Norman of BioWare. And, as our leader extraordinaire, Shawn will most definitely make for an interesting guest. We can't wait to see it!

[Edit: see the recorded video after the jump]

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GDC10: Massively set to appear on live Internet TV originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: The future of Champions Online

Kyle Horner — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Bugs, News items, Champions Online

We had the opportunity to sit down with Bill Roper at GDC 2010 and discuss the general future of Champions Online. There are two themes to Bill's answers during our talk: just about everything is free and listening to community feedback.

First of all, melee powers like Might are getting reworked based directly from player feedback. The goal is to make players feel as though they're on par with ranged powersets in PvP situations. Generally, people have been saying they felt "gimped" and the goal is to fix that. There's a complete reworking of the supernatural set coming as well, which will separate the previously single powerset into two new ones.

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GDC10: The future of Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get your Champions fix on Facebook

Beau Hindman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Champions Online

Recently we spotted an interesting post from Bill Roper, Design Director for Cryptic Studios' MMO Champions Online. On his Facebook page he showed a slightly blurry picture of a developers booth with the simple caption "GDC 2010: The developers of our Facebook Game." Sure enough you can now play a Mafia Wars style Facebook game while wearing your tightest spandex! It runs in your browser and hooks up to your Facebook account so that you can choose to announce level ups and achievements. You can also invite friends to form a superteam, customize your secret base and even attack other players.

Developer Lolapps claims to have "over 40 million active users per month, and has the largest network of social games and applications on Facebook." It looks like they know what they are doing, so it is definitely worth a look. Head over now, make your hero and get to stopping crime!

Get your Champions fix on Facebook originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: A chat with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Craig Zinkievich

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, Star Trek Online, Champions Online

As two of the most public figures at Cryptic Studios, Bill Roper (Champions Online) and Craig Zinkievich (Star Trek Online) are typically at the forefront of controversy, adulation and speculation. At GDC 2010, Massively sat down with the pair to discuss what it's like working for Cryptic, how they deal with the ups and downs of being game developers, and the pressure of handling the future of two hot MMORPG franchises.

Massively: How do the Champions and STO teams collaborate between each other?

Bill Roper: I think it's really good the way the company interacts back and forth -- "Hey, this worked for us, you guys should do that too." "This totally didn't work for us, don't do that, do something different."

Craig Zinkievich: "Hey, you know, about three-and-a-half weeks after launch, don't have a free 90-day promo! Don't do that! That didn't work well!" [Laughs]

Continue reading GDC10: A chat with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Craig Zinkievich

GDC10: A chat with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Craig Zinkievich originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: Welcome to Poisonville

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, Poisonville

Fast stolen cars, brutal gang warfare and a large city to explore and conquer -- sounds like Grand Theft Auto, does it not? Actually, it's Poisonville, a new browser-based 3D MMO where you'll jump into a gangster's shoes (it's okay, the former owner totally didn't need them) and join one of four gangs struggling to control the titular city.

After a gang indoctrination ceremony, Massively was allowed in Bigpoint's hideout to talk about Poisonville with CTO Jan Wergin and media consultant Erik Reynolds. Bigpoint, the same developer that recently announced their upcoming Battlestar Galactica MMO, claims that Poisonville is the most expensive browser MMO built to date, with a budget of over $2 million.

While browser MMOs sometimes get a bum rap, this one looks to be fairly impressive, allowing up to 4,000 players to experience fast-paced twitch battles in the same instance of a city.

Gallery: GDC10: Poisonville

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GDC10: Welcome to Poisonville originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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