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[First Impressions: Gods & Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/first-impressions-gods-and-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/first-impressions-gods-and-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/first-impressions-gods-and-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I've seen the gameplay in Gods & Heroes before. I've played games that were built on the same idea with similar lore, and I've definitely tried games that featured the same kind of quests. I've seen a lot, to say the least, so I really like it when a game surprises me a bit. I'll be really honest and say that I don't really even like the ancient Rome setting. It's not fantasy enough for me, sort of like MMOs set in World War II. Or Canada.

Still, I was asked to take a look at Gods & Heroes, and so I did. Up to that point, I had heard a lot about it, but most of it was negative. It's buggy, they said. It's ugly, too. So you can imagine my surprise when I felt surprised when I logged in. Granted, there was plenty of blandness in certain areas of the game, but the estate system and NPC groupmates made me think that this team might just have something.

Click past the cut and I'll tell you more.

Continue reading First Impressions: Gods & Heroes

MassivelyFirst Impressions: Gods & Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mytheon from Petroglyph Games is a title we've mentioned in the past, as it's a different take on the type of games we cover at Massively. Essentially it's an MMORTS, and as such may be comparable to titles like Dreamlords the Reawakening or even Atlantica Online. As its name implies, Mytheon is rooted in ancient world myths, which could be a nice departure from the numerous pure fantasy games on the market. At launch Mytheon will have content based in ancient world Greece and Egypt.

The game mechanics seem to be heavily tied in to power stones, which provide different benefits to the game's three classes. According to Petroglyph: "The collection and casting of Power Stones is the backbone of Mytheon. Power Stones initiate every in-game effect possible, from summoning minions and structures that fight for the player, to conjuring fireballs and lightning bolts and healing a party." Mytheon can be played solo, but will also have group and PvP gameplay options. The game's first trailer might give you a better idea of what to expect. It's embedded on the new game site, and offers some of the first glimpses at Mytheon's gameplay as well as the setting of Hades.

Continue reading Mytheon site launches with trailer, game to release in Q1 2010

MassivelyMytheon site launches with trailer, game to release in Q1 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient-worldegyptf2-fantasyfree-to-playgreecehadeshistoricalmicrotransactionsmmortsmytheonnew-titlespetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespower-stonestrue-gamestrue-games-interactiveThu, 25 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Professor: Epic drops have epic literary origins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/professor-epic-drops-have-epic-literary-origins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/professor-epic-drops-have-epic-literary-origins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/professor-epic-drops-have-epic-literary-origins/#commentsFiled under: ,

The conventional game mechanics of today's WoW-like MMORPGs are thousands of years old -- at least dating back to the Ancient Greeks. That's the thesis of Classics professor Roger Travis of the University of Connecticut in an article he wrote for The Escapist, called "Achilles Phat Lewtz."

He compared the excitement he experienced when gaining a rare drop in The Lord of the Rings Online to similar instances in Greek poet Homer's epic war story The Iliad. He also located examples of quests, guilds, character classes, grinding and boss fights in Homer's work. Check out the article; it's insightful and entertaining.

Travis also runs his own blog on the subject of relating games and ancient literary epics called "Living Epic: Video Games in the Ancient World." The various posts there are substantial and fascinating. Give it a look-over.

MassivelyProfessor: Epic drops have epic literary origins originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achillesancientblizzarddropsepicgreecegreekhomerliving-epiclootlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroprofessorroger-travisthe-escapistthe-iliadthe-odysseyturbineuniversity-of-connecticutworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 16 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST