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[The Daily Grind: Do progression barriers annoy you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - Hobbit fishing (but only 10 dings per day!)
It's been several years since I played Lord of the Rings Online on a daily basis. For the most part, I'm loving my latest Middle-earth rediscovery tour. After the initial honeymoon phase wore off, though, I did re-encounter some of the things that irritate me about the game (in particular, Turbine's fondness for artificially limiting progression).

Now, I'm not a grinder at all, but on the rare occasions when I do want to put my nose to the proverbial stone and check some things off the list, there's nothing more frustrating than running up against the you-can't-advance-that-skill-any-further-today brick wall. This type of arbitrary limitation is somewhat common in LotRO, and whether we're talking about fishing or even the lengthy cool-downs on festival horse races, it rubs me the wrong way to have my gameplay directed in such a fashion.

What about you, Massively readers? Do progression barriers annoy you, or do you shrug it off and do something else?

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 progression barriers annoy you? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial-barriersdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playgrindgrindinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-deedslotro-fishingopinionprogression-barrierstdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 08 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten ways En Masse changed TERA for the west]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/ten-ways-en-masse-changed-tera-for-the-west/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/ten-ways-en-masse-changed-tera-for-the-west/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/ten-ways-en-masse-changed-tera-for-the-west/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

TERA - big-ass monster fighting
TERA's launch day is upon us at last, and in between bouts of action combat we're scouring the web to gauge everyone's reaction to the game. One of the more interesting pieces we've run across thus far outlines all the changes made to the TERA client to accommodate western audiences.

Gameranx.com has a list of 10 things En Masse did differently when it appropriated the Korean version of the game, including controller support, quest rewrites, reputation, and daily quests. The firm also made extensive changes to the game's leveling curve to avoid the dreaded "Korean grind-fest" syndrome that supposedly prevents Asian MMOs from finding success in the States.

En Masse also borrowed EVE Online's anti-gold farming PLEX idea, renaming it Chronoscrolls for the world of Arborea. There's more too, but you'll have to click the source link below to read it.

MassivelyTen ways En Masse changed TERA for the west originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-things-en-masse-changed-about-terablueholebluehole-studioschronoscrollsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasygrindleveling-curveteratera-changestera-launchTue, 01 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The grind is good]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-soapbox-the-grind-is-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-soapbox-the-grind-is-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-soapbox-the-grind-is-good/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tetris
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.

Like many of you, I have fond memories of several important video games that carried me through my childhood and teenage years. Some were deep, some were obscure, some were landmark moments in the genre, and some were Chrono Trigger. It's weird, then, with all that variety, that I have strong fondness for a game that had so little going on in the story or progression department as to be a step away from playing marbles or jacks in the street.

It was a game that I'd sit down to night after night, not to go on any grand adventures or to raise my level 1 fighter up into the ranks of godhood but to just unwind. It was a game that required such a zen-like concentration that it pushed the thinking portion of my brain out and soothed me with its repetitive gameplay and simplistic motions.

That game was, of course, Tetris, a game that was grind personified. It was minimalistic puzzle-solving repeated over and over again, and some days that's all I needed. When my mind was wiped, or when I just wanted to sit back in my chair instead of forward in it, I turned to these silly blocks. When I needed it and wanted it, the grind was better for me than the most complex and innovative video games of the time.

The grind is good, especially when you have the option to do it or ignore it, and I feel that this has gotten such a bad reputation in MMOs that its positive aspects are overlooked. Time to remedy that!

Continue reading The Soapbox: The grind is good

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The grind is good originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asteroidschrono-triggereditorialfeaturedgrindgrindingop-edopinionrantrantssoapboxtetristhe-grindthe-soapboxTue, 24 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you grind for fluff items?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-grind-for-fluff-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-grind-for-fluff-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-grind-for-fluff-items/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindf2pfantasyflufffluff-itemsfree-to-playgrindlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-anniversaryopiniontdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 24 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2012: Publishing heavies weigh in on F2P conversions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/gdc-2012-publishing-heavies-weigh-in-on-f2p-conversions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/gdc-2012-publishing-heavies-weigh-in-on-f2p-conversions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/gdc-2012-publishing-heavies-weigh-in-on-f2p-conversions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

GDC 2012 logo
Like it or not, free-to-play is rapidly coming to dominate every corner of the gaming industry. While that's good on the surface, it also blurs the line between business and design, and it creates a lot of tension for both consumers and developers who are increasingly faced with the challenges inherent in separating monetary decisions from gameplay decisions.

One of the more interesting GDC 2012 round-tables featured Sony Online Entertainment executive producer Dave Georgeson, NCSoft publishing director Steve Levy, Perfect World VP John Young, GamersFirst monetization director Joe Willmon, and Digi-Capital Limited managing director Tim Merel, all of whom convened for a mind-meld on successfully migrating subscription games to F2P.

As you would expect, the panel was heavy on business-speak, but it also featured plenty of insight into the pricing phenomenon that has become the rule rather than the exception.

Continue reading GDC 2012: Publishing heavies weigh in on F2P conversions

MassivelyGDC 2012: Publishing heavies weigh in on F2P conversions originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsconconferenceconventiondave-georgesondesignf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2012gamersfirstgdcgdc-2012grindjoe-willmonjohn-younglootmmo-industrymonetizationncsoftopinionpanelsperfect-world-entertainmentpolishing-a-turdpwesci-fisoeSony-Online-Entertainmenttim-merelwesternizationSun, 11 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Webzen giving away fully geared high-level characters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/webzen-giving-away-fully-geared-high-level-characters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/webzen-giving-away-fully-geared-high-level-characters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/webzen-giving-away-fully-geared-high-level-characters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Webzen - free characters promotion
Have you ever played an MMORPG and thought, wow, this would be fantastic if I could ditch the pesky progression?

If so, Webzen has a promotion for you. It's called Skip the Low, Jump to High, and it kicks off today and runs through March 14th. The company is giving away free high-level characters and items in ArchLord, Soul of the Ultimate Nation, and MU Online. ArchLord players will receive level-60 characters that are fully geared, while S.U.N. fans can look forward to level-90 toons with gear and level-up boxes. Last but not least, MU players will get level-220 characters and +9 weapons and armor.

But wait, there's more! MU is offering double XP during the promotion period, and S.U.N. is bringing a new server online.

[Source: Webzen press release]

MassivelyWebzen giving away fully geared high-level characters originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archlordf2pfantasyfree-fully-geared-charactersfree-high-level-charactersfree-to-playgrindmumu-onlineprogressionpromotionsskip-the-low-jump-to-highsoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunwebzenWed, 15 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What makes you stay with a bad game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/the-daily-grind-what-makes-you-stay-with-a-bad-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/the-daily-grind-what-makes-you-stay-with-a-bad-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/the-daily-grind-what-makes-you-stay-with-a-bad-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EverQuest screenshot
I freely admit that I've played games that I hate, but the incredible thing is that I've kept playing them, sometimes for several years. I remember actively hating EverQuest in its early days, but MMO alternatives were slim, and getting my friends off the evercrack and into something interesting like Asheron's Call was darn near impossible. The truth was that I was willing to do almost anything to hang out with my guild, including spend $10 a month to camp-check and corpse-run.

So I wonder how many of you have played or are playing a game you dislike, and why? Do you do it out of a sense of loyalty to friends and guildies, like I did? Do you suffer from the completionist's compulsion to finish everything he starts? Do you just want to make sure you've gotten your money's worth? Do you hold out hope that the game (or your tastes) will suddenly change? Or is there some other reason?

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: What makes you stay with a bad game? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acasherons-callbrianna-royce-tdgcamp-checkcompletionistcompletistdaily-grindeqevercrackeverquestgrindguildiesguildsloyaltyopiniontdgthe-daily-grindTue, 14 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you buy an advanced character?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-an-advanced-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-an-advanced-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-an-advanced-character/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

UO advanced character
For many years, Ultima Online has offered an advanced character microtransaction. Well, the term "microtransaction" may be stretching it -- originally priced at $30 a pop, it's more like a macrotransaction. The advanced character token allows you to boost the skills and stats of a single character according to a preset template. It won't give you a capped Bard, Treasure Hunter, or Animal Tamer overnight, but it will get you a big chunk of the way there. And for skills that are notoriously hard to train .1 by .1 all the way to 100 or 120, advanced character tokens can be a huge boon to players who've been there and done that and just want to skip the early grind.

UO's not alone in this; other games, such as Dark Age of Camelot, allow players to jump past some of the early game on their alts once they've capped a toon and proven they know the ropes of the game. Of course, those games aren't charging for the pleasure. So what do you think: Would you buy an advanced character from a game company? Or do you think you're cheating yourself and those around you by not grinding up the old-fashioned way?

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: Would you buy an advanced character? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced-characterage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbiowarebrianna-royce-tdgcamelotclassic-mmoconandaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgrindhyborialord-britishmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionpvprvrsandboxskill-systemtdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineUltimaOnlineuoMon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: A look at EQII's dungeon maker]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/some-assembly-required-a-look-at-eqiis-dungeon-maker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/some-assembly-required-a-look-at-eqiis-dungeon-maker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/some-assembly-required-a-look-at-eqiis-dungeon-maker/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - architectural banner
So you're an armchair game designer, eh? Well, EverQuest II invites you to put your money where your mouth is -- at least as it relates to dungeon creation.

While Sony Online Entertainment's venerable fantasy title is no stranger to player-generated content given its spectacular player- and guild-housing mechanics, this winter's Age of Discovery expansion upped the ante a little bit in the form of the new dungeon maker toolset. The system is a bit rough around the edges, but it's nonetheless a fantastic first iteration that adds a lot of fun and replay value to an MMO that was already chock-full of both.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A look at EQII's dungeon maker

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A look at EQII's dungeon maker originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-discoveryarmchair-designarmchair-developerdesigndungeon-makerdungeonseq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgrindnon-combat-gameplaynorrathopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentroleplayroleplayingsandboxsandparksome-assembly-requiredxp-grindFri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should max-level characters give account XP bonuses?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-daily-grind-should-max-level-characters-give-account-xp-bon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-daily-grind-should-max-level-characters-give-account-xp-bon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-daily-grind-should-max-level-characters-give-account-xp-bon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EverQuest II - Tier'dal in Lavastorm
I recently hit EverQuest II's adventuring cap for the first time (yay!), and aside from being surprised that it finally happened, I was also in for a bit of a shock when I logged into the character select screen the following day.

You see, EQII gives each character on your account a 20% XP bonus per max-level character. So all my subsequent toons will enjoy an extra 20% XP across the board, and if I were to get another guy to 90, all my toons would then have a 40% bonus (up to a maximum of 200%). While this is fantastic for players like yours truly who despise the leveling process, it seems like an odd design decision given that a lot of people like to grind. Also, EQII has more leveling content than most MMOs put together, and it's crazy to think how much of it you'll miss if you get even more bonus XP.

Sure, you can chronomage down a few levels and do zones that you blew by, or you can adjust your XP/AA ratio (or turn off XP altogether if you want), but the bonuses still speed up the curve significantly. What about you, Massively folk? Do you think max-level characters should grant bonuses to the rest of your toons?

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: Should max-level characters give account XP bonuses? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonus-xpeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-discussiongamer-discussiongrindlevelingmax-level-bonus-xpmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsnorrathopinionsoeSony-Online-Entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 05 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: A first look at Conquer Online for the iPad and a giveaway]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/mmobility-a-first-look-at-conquer-online-for-the-ipad-and-a-giv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/mmobility-a-first-look-at-conquer-online-for-the-ipad-and-a-giv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/mmobility-a-first-look-at-conquer-online-for-the-ipad-and-a-giv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Conquer Online screenshot
Over the last few weeks, I've been checking out Conquer Online for the iPad. I don't really have anything to compare the game to because I never played the full PC version, but the mobile version I played felt a lot like a "real" full MMO. I logged in, made a character, and ran around the lands doing quests and leveling, just like in a normal client-based game. This should not be that surprising at this point in the world of mobile development. There have been several "real" MMOs made for the iPad and other devices. Celtic Heroes has been trying to achieve that classic look for a while now and has come pretty darn close. There's World of Midgard as well, made by the same developers who are releasing the cross-platform Lords at War very soon.

I was told that Conquer Online should feel a bit like Ultima Online on the iPad, but I'm not sure about that. Yes, it features the isometric view that we are all so familiar with in UO, but I don't think the comparison holds up beyond that.

Click past the cut and I'll break it down for you. Also, if you would like to receive a free super item pack for the game, you'll find it at the end of the article!

Continue reading MMObility: A first look at Conquer Online for the iPad and a giveaway

MassivelyMMObility: A first look at Conquer Online for the iPad and a giveaway originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>91-com91.combeau-hindmanconquer-onlinefeaturedgiveawaygiveawaysgrindIOSipadisometricMMObilitymobilemobile-mmpUltima-OnlineuoFri, 16 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-soapbox-on-gold-farming-and-the-grind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-soapbox-on-gold-farming-and-the-grind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-soapbox-on-gold-farming-and-the-grind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Chest of gold
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.

You're no doubt aware of a certain sci-fi MMORPG that's launching this week. As is the case each time a new major title releases, I'm curious to see how (or if) the developers will deal with the inevitable real-money trade.

BioWare has been fairly quiet about gold-farming and the steps it may take to combat it, which isn't too surprising given the unglamorous and often controversial subject matter. Few game devs mention their anti-RMT plans prior to launch, but plenty of dev teams complain about RMT after their game has been released. And yet, the usual solutions to black market currency trading are continuously ineffective at stopping it.

Continue reading The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind

MassivelyThe Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfun-barriergold-buyinggold-farminggold-sellinggrindgrinding-leads-to-gold-farmingopinionprogress-questprogressionreal-money-traderichard-garriottrmtsci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-grindthe-old-republicthe-soapboxtorTue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bounty Hounds Online closed beta featuring new content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/bounty-hounds-online-closed-beta-featuring-new-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/bounty-hounds-online-closed-beta-featuring-new-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/bounty-hounds-online-closed-beta-featuring-new-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Bounty Hounds Online - mercenary duel
Bounty Hounds Online is talking up its AAA characteristics in the latest press release from Wicked Interactive. According to the blurb, the sci-fi MMORPG "brings triple-A quality to the free-to-play genre" and allows players to choose from five different mercenary class types while directing their avatars through "multiple worlds and environments."

Beginning today, Wicked is rolling out a substantial update to the title's closed beta client. The new content includes five high-level Cambria group instances. There are also new missions and events on tap including objectives in the Wastelands that give both stat and skill point reset items. Finally, earned character titles now unlock unique stat-boost accessories, and XP requirements have been adjusted "so you'll spend less time grinding."

Sound interesting? Head to the official Bounty Hounds website to learn more.

[Source: Wicked Interactive press release]

MassivelyBounty Hounds Online closed beta featuring new content originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabhobounty-houndsbounty-hounds-onlineclosed-betadungeonsf2pfree-to-playgrindgroup-dungeonsleveling-curvenew-contentnew-instancessci-fiwickedwicked-interactivexpTue, 15 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - Trooper with BFG 9000
Hey Star Wars fans, what say we recap my recent beta experiences in The Old Republic? I know what you're thinking (because it's the same thing I thought after BioWare's marketing folks sent along an unsolicited invitation): Here comes a giant anti-themepark rant and zomgwtf call someone who cares!

Surprisingly though, I had a decent time. I managed to get a Republic Trooper off the Ord Mantell starter planet and firmly entrenched in a few Coruscant quest lines, and I logged over 10 hours of gameplay in the process (in the comfort of my own home, mind you, and not under the watchful eye of a PR droid at a convention).

To be frank, TOR's not half bad. It's had a lot of money thrown at it, there's a ton of what passes for modern-day MMO content, and if you're into that sort of thing, you'll no doubt enjoy yourself for a time.

Continue reading A certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta

MassivelyA certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurebeshbetabiowarecodexeaea-biowareelectronic-artsexclusivefeaturedfierfekfourth-pillargrindkill-10-separatistskill-ten-separatistsmassively-exclusivemmo-storynot-the-mmo-youre-looking-forord-mantellrepublic-troopersci-fiscifistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtor-codexswtor-hands-onswtor-impressionsthe-old-republicthemeparktor-impressionstrooperThu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom talks The Secret World at NYCC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/funcom-talks-the-secret-world-at-nycc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/funcom-talks-the-secret-world-at-nycc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/funcom-talks-the-secret-world-at-nycc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Secret World - starring Fox Mulder
MMORPG.com's got the details on Funcom's appearance at last weekend's New York City Comic Con. Ragnar Tornquist and Dag Scheve were on hand to hype The Secret World, and the duo was the main attraction on a panel that fielded fan questions and showed off some new gameplay footage.

Several of the questions from the audience related to The Secret World's progression mechanics, and Tornquist stated that despite the fact that the game has no levels, there will be plenty of activities for grind aficionados. The term horizontal progression was mentioned, as were various skills and gear (the latter of which serves as a gate between different bits of the game's content). Check out the rest of the recap, along with a video embed, at MMORPG.com.

MassivelyFuncom talks The Secret World at NYCC originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comic-conconventionsdag-schevefantasyfuncomgrindhorrorhypemmo-industrynew-titlesnew-york-city-comic-connyccprogressionRagnar-Tornquistreal-world-eventsthe-secret-worldtswMon, 17 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: The voices of reason]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/captains-log-the-voices-of-reason/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/captains-log-the-voices-of-reason/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/captains-log-the-voices-of-reason/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot - Star Trek Online
Captain's Log, Stardate 65284.2...

Hello, computer (and players)! It is often said that the voices of the gaming community are some of the loudest, and most passionate, around. This is especially true within the Star Trek Online community. While some may see particular posts made in Cryptic's forums as trolling or whining, others see passion and dedication for making the game they love the best it can be. There is no denying that there will always be those who love to hate and hate to love, but there are also community members out there who are the voices of reason -- they take their time to carefully examine something and provide appropriate and well-thought feedback on how to make something better.

As STO is preparing to re-launch with its F2P model, many changes are being pushed to the Tribble test server for players to playtest and provide feedback on. Before the test shards ever open, debates based on the patch notes begin. After a few hours of testing on Tribble, players make their feedback posts public in hopes that developers notice and hear their opinions. The great news here is that the developers are reading each post and have vowed that feedback does not go unnoticed. Since I have been following this feedback closely myself, I thought I should share some of it here.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's share some recent community feedback on two of the hottest topics out there...

Continue reading Captain's Log: The voices of reason

MassivelyCaptain's Log: The voices of reason originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c-storec-store-pointscommunitycrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdevelopersF2Pfeaturedfeedbackfree-to-playgold-membersgrindholodeckperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesilver-membersst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestothe-economytrek-onlinetribbletrollingtrollsThu, 13 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: The clock is ticking]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/flameseeker-chronicles-the-clock-is-ticking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/flameseeker-chronicles-the-clock-is-ticking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/flameseeker-chronicles-the-clock-is-ticking/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

GW Pre-Searing
Disclaimer: Today's Flameseeker Chronicles is more along the "observation and thinking aloud" line than the "guide or news" line, so your input is very welcome at the end.

It's been well over a year since the Hall of Monuments was unveiled for Guild Wars 2, bringing with it a large and ongoing influx of new players. These are players who either tried Guild Wars 1 and it didn't stick for them, or players who never tried it in the first place but are here now to prepare for Guild Wars 2.

New players are great -- a bigger community is often a win for everyone involved. But this new playerbase isn't exactly what we've been used to. Follow along after the jump and let's take a look.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: The clock is ticking

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: The clock is ticking originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgrindguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2hall-of-monumentshomncsofttitle-grindtitlesMon, 26 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Alternate advancement explained]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/the-anvil-of-crom-alternate-advancement-explained/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/the-anvil-of-crom-alternate-advancement-explained/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/the-anvil-of-crom-alternate-advancement-explained/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom header - Alternate Advancement guide
Welcome back to the Anvil of Crom, Conan fans. I trust you've been gorging yourselves on the movie and all of the new content that the Age of Conan dev team has pushed out the door over the past couple of months.

This week I'm going to step back and take a high-altitude look at one of the game's mechanical aspects, that being the alternate advancement system that shipped with 2010's Rise of the Godslayer expansion. I say high-altitude because many of the AA tricks you'll learn over the course of your AoC career will be class-specific, and though I'll eventually get to those in my series of class guides, today I'll start with an overview of the system as well as a bit of commentary relating to why you should care about it.

For you free-to-play folk, yeah, Funcom did lock your AAs behind the paywall for the time being, and yeah there is quite a difference between a "fresh" level 80 and a level 80 who has had even a little bit of AA training. Join me past the cut to see if upgrading is worth it.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Alternate advancement explained

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Alternate advancement explained originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaaa-guideage-of-conanage-of-conan-aaage-of-conan-alternate-advancementage-of-conan-unchainedalternate-advancementalternate-advancement-guideanvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-guidesaocaoc-unchainedcharacter-buildingcharacter-customizationf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomgame-mechanicsgrindguideguidesopinionprogressionthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 28 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Why do I PvP?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/wasteland-diaries-why-do-i-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/wasteland-diaries-why-do-i-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/wasteland-diaries-why-do-i-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A break from the grind.
Lately I've been asking myself, "Why do I PvP in Fallen Earth?" The game isn't designed around PvP combat; it's more of a sideshow. The factional conflict was what made me decide to try it out in the first place. But after getting to max level, I realized that there wasn't a true faction conflict. There were just sporadic skirmishes arranged by the same core of players. So what is it that motivates me to do it? What is it that motivates other PvPers to do it? I can think of a few possibilities, but even if I look at my best reasons as objectively as possible, they aren't even remotely good reasons. Yet I keep doing it.

In this post I will take a look at what drives one to PvP in Fallen Earth. What are the benefits? What are the risk vs. reward factors? Are there objectives or goals? When I look at the cold, hard facts, I'm still not quite sure what motivates me (or the others who still hang around). After the cut, I'll go over all the potential reasons to PvP in FE (that I can imagine) and possibly narrow it down.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Why do I PvP?

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Why do I PvP? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blood sportsBloodSportscombat-systemconflict-townsdeath tollDeathTolldynamic-contentfaction reputationfaction-control-pointsFactionReputationfactionsfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfcpsfeaturedgamersfirstGrindicarus-studiosmerchantspvppvp-zonesterritory-controlFri, 26 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion details RIFT, End of Nations, and Defiance plans for Gamescom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/trion-details-rift-end-of-nations-and-defiance-plans-for-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/trion-details-rift-end-of-nations-and-defiance-plans-for-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/trion-details-rift-end-of-nations-and-defiance-plans-for-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

RIFT
Trion is one of many MMO companies gearing up for a big showing at this month's Gamescom, and a new interview with Adam Gershowitz, David Luehmann, and Rob Hill lets fans in on what they can expect regarding the world of Telara.

For starters, there will be a lot of lip service given to RIFT's "Endgame for All" initiative, specifically the new Chronicle instances coming with the 1.5 patch. Gershowitz also mentions the Hammerknell weekend warfront and says its a way for Trion to "spice up the normal warfront grind" via new gameplay and additional rewards. Said new gameplay takes the form of a new mode called escalation, which is essentially the Telaran equivalent of capture-the-flag.

The interview also touches on Trion's End of Nations and Defiance titles, both of which will also be featured at Gamescom (though it's worth noting that Defiance will be restricted to industry previewers as Trion says the title "isn't quite ready for its player debut").

MassivelyTrion details RIFT, End of Nations, and Defiance plans for Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.5-patchadam-gershowitzcapture-the-flagconsconventionsctfdavid-luemanndefianceend-of-nationsescalationfantasygamescomgamescom-2011gamescom-not-gamescongrindinterviewsreal-world-eventsriftrob-hillsci-fitelaratriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsweekend-warfrontsWed, 10 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LEGO Universe update adds progression system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lego-universe-update-adds-progression-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lego-universe-update-adds-progression-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lego-universe-update-adds-progression-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

LEGO Universe has the creative aspects of MMOs and online gaming down pat. After all, we're talking LEGOs (edit: LEGO BRICKS OMG, LEGO BRICKS) here, and if there's one word that's synonymous with the long-running Danish toy line, that word is build.

What's there to do in LEGO Universe when your creativity runs dry, though? Thanks to the game's latest content update, traditional MMO character-building is now a viable option. Player minifigures may progress through 40 levels of content, unlocking points, achievements, and equipment along the way.

That's not all, as the latest LEGO Universe patch also features four new faction kits (Specialized Adventurer, Shinobi, Inventor, and Space Ranger), each of them aligned with one of the game's four Nexus Force factions and each offering players the opportunity to rank up and explore "new gear, powers, and abilities." Last but not least, the new LEGO Universe update brings a new instance challenge in the form of the Avant Gardens, and a big nasty known as the Spider Queen awaits players who are creative enough to make it through to the final battle.

MassivelyLEGO Universe update adds progression system originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avant-gardensbuildingcreativityequipmentf2pfamilyfree-to-playgame-updategeargrindinventorkidslegolego-universelegoslevel-upleveling-systemlevelsminifigure-levelspatchpress-releaseprogressionshinobispace-rangerspecialized-adventurerspider-queenMon, 08 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Double XP coming to EverQuest II this weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/double-xp-coming-to-everquest-ii-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/double-xp-coming-to-everquest-ii-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/double-xp-coming-to-everquest-ii-this-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Citizens of Norrath, mark your calendars! Bonus experience is coming to EverQuest II this weekend and you'll want to be sure to avail yourself of what the EQII website calls a "true double XP promotion (+100% XP)."

The bonus applies to adventure, tradeskill, and alternate advancement experience, so don't leave your crafter alts or level-locked and AA-starved characters out in the cold. Double XP starts at 12:01 a.m. PDT on Friday, July 29th and runs through 11:59 p.m. PDT on Sunday, July 31st. It's also good across all the game servers including the free-to-play EQII Extended shard and French, German, and Japanese realms.

MassivelyDouble XP coming to EverQuest II this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaadventuringalternate-advancementbonus-xpdouble-experiencedouble-xpdouble-xp-weekendeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playgrindgrindinglevelsnorrathsoeSony-Online-EntertainmenttradeskillsWed, 27 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/eve-evolved-the-evolution-of-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/eve-evolved-the-evolution-of-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/eve-evolved-the-evolution-of-microtransactions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Two weeks ago, the escalating drama in EVE Online saw me drained of my normal enthusiasm as I contemplated the very real possibility that my time in the game I love was coming to an end. While the forums were filled with the most vocal and angry players, discussions with veteran players featured mainly disappointment and a distinct sadness. For those few days spent in limbo waiting for the results of the emergency CSM meeting, I and many of my in-game friends remained a hair's breadth from giving up on EVE entirely.

It was a delicate situation based more on perception and poor communication than intent or fact, and I think CCP pulled things back well with formal statements from both itself and the CSM in addition to an in-depth follow-up press conference. One of the big points to come out of the press conference was that while CCP and the CSM are both confident that none of the future microtransaction plans are game-breaking, the company did not restrict itself to vanity goods such as Incarna clothing.

While the CSM was convinced that CCP planned only to produce pure vanity goods, CCP Zulu was careful not to rule out gameplay-affecting microtransactions altogether. Both CCP and the CSM also talked about "game-breaking" sales rather than using a clearer term like "gameplay-affecting" or "non-vanity." It's reasonable then to assume that in the future we might eventually get non-vanity goods that do interact with gameplay but aren't game-breaking in terms of balance, mechanics or interaction with the in-game economy.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I show exactly why options like selling ships would be game-breaking and then let my imagination run wild as I speculate on possible non-vanity microtransactions for the far future that shouldn't disrupt gameplay.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modelscash-shopccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-zuluclothingconvenienceeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfree-to-playfree-to-play-is-here-to-staygrindincarnainterbusloyalty-pointslpMicrotransactionsmissionmission-runningmmo-industryneural-remappingnexnoble-exchangeplexrunes-of-magicshortcutSun, 10 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom Extra: Silirrion on Unchained, buying power, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-anvil-of-crom-extra-silirrion-on-unchained-buying-power-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-anvil-of-crom-extra-silirrion-on-unchained-buying-power-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-anvil-of-crom-extra-silirrion-on-unchained-buying-power-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's been a huge couple of weeks for Funcom and the Age of Conan community. Unchained brought a new freemium business model, thousands of new (and old) players, and new dungeon content to Hyboria. One week later, PvP fans were treated to the opening of the new Blood and Glory servers, with hardcore rule sets that included increased PvP XP, corpse looting, and a return to the game's unforgiving free-for-all roots.

AoC game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison recently took the time to answer a few of our burning questions about Unchained and the game's immediate future. Head past the cut to see what Silirrion has to say about earning Funcom points in game, veteran point allotments, paying to skip the grind, and some spiffy new community-focused server tech.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom Extra: Silirrion on Unchained, buying power, and more

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom Extra: Silirrion on Unchained, buying power, and more originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-interviewsaocaoc-unchainedbusiness-modelsbuy-powerbuying-powerchoose-your-communitycommunity-choiceconveniencecraig-morrisonexclusivef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomfuncom-pointsgrindinterviewinterviewsmmo-industrynew-contentpay-to-progresspay-to-winpaying-to-winsilirrionthe-anvil-of-cromFri, 08 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Surprisingly not all about E3 edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/12/global-chat-surprisingly-not-all-about-e3-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/12/global-chat-surprisingly-not-all-about-e3-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/12/global-chat-surprisingly-not-all-about-e3-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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!

Sure, we spent a lot of time on E3 last week, and it certainly dominated the news scene. Our readers found time to ponder non-E3 general gaming talk in addition to E3 talk, so follow along after the jump to see some of what they had to say this week.

Continue reading Global Chat: Surprisingly not all about E3 edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Surprisingly not all about E3 edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commenterscommentsdungeone3e3-2011global-chatgrindlootopinionrewardswizardry-onlineSun, 12 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Which came first, the grind or the grinding?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/free-for-all-which-came-first-the-grind-or-the-grinding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/free-for-all-which-came-first-the-grind-or-the-grinding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/free-for-all-which-came-first-the-grind-or-the-grinding/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Grinding is an interesting thing. I've thought about it a lot lately in an effort to come to grips with the fact that I just don't play MMOs like my friends do. Oh, don't get me wrong; I can log in and blow away five hours of my life on a title, just like I did last night with the newly relaunched APB: Reloaded. Holy moly, I can play that game forever, especially if I have a friend with me. I can also spend countless hours in other games, exploring and generally acting like some kind of virtual hippie, never touching a sword or destroying a foe. A lot of the time, combat just feels repetitive.

Exploring for hours and driving a car into mailboxes over and over really shouldn't count as grinding though, should it? Grinding is, in my opinion, defined by the repetition of the exact same action (or close to it) for a long time, usually in the pursuit of a single goal. The thing is, the grind has been around since the dawn of graphical MMOs. Hasn't it?

But what started the grind? Was the desire for grind already there? Is the playerbase just better-suited for grinding? Click past the cut and let's chat about it. Grab some tea.

Continue reading Free for All: Which came first, the grind or the grinding?

MassivelyFree for All: Which came first, the grind or the grinding? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apbapb-reloadedbeau-hindmanBlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcity-of-heroescoheaElectronic-Artseqeverquestf2pfeaturedflyfffree-for-allfree-to-playftpgamersfirstgrindgrindingncsoftopinionparagon-studiosrappelzrose-onlinesoeSony-Online-Entertainmentthe-grindUltima-OnlineuoWorld-of-WarcraftwowWed, 01 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Living, breathing world': Martin Kerstein expounds on Guild Wars 2's dynamic events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/living-breathing-world-martin-kerstein-expounds-on-guild-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/living-breathing-world-martin-kerstein-expounds-on-guild-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/living-breathing-world-martin-kerstein-expounds-on-guild-war/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've heard the promises: No more grind. No more quests. A truly dynamic world. But can Guild Wars 2 truly live up to these lofty ideals, or will it come crashing down on us like so many other MMO promises in the past?

Speaking with Rock, Paper, Shotgun, ArenaNet's Martin Kerstein says that no, this is the real deal -- Guild Wars 2 will feature a "living, breathing world" unlike anything we've seen to date: "What we try to do with Guild Wars 2 anyway is to break a lot of the existing conventions, like by getting rid of quests and basically totally focusing on dynamic events. So you just run through the world and happen on stuff, and that stuff has an impact on the world... The good thing is those events run even if there are no players involved -- if there are no players, the enemy will take over and you'll have to get it back before you can actually do anything. That's why it feels more organic and breathing."

Shattering conventions is a favorite pastime at ArenaNet, as the company has made a public declaration that it is not afraid to go against the MMO flow. In the interview, Kerstein also addresses the cycle of dynamic events, World of Warcraft's subscriber decline ("It's an older game as well -- some people are maybe just tired," he said), and Warhammer Online's flawed Public Quest system.

Massively'Living, breathing world': Martin Kerstein expounds on Guild Wars 2's dynamic events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdynamic-eventdynamic-eventseventsgrindguild-wars-2gw2in-game-eventsliving-breathing-worldMartin-Kersteinncsoftpublic-questsquestsrock-paper-shotgunwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 18 May 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How should MMOs appeal to both hardcore and casual players?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-should-mmos-appeal-to-both-hardcore-and-cas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-should-mmos-appeal-to-both-hardcore-and-cas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-should-mmos-appeal-to-both-hardcore-and-cas/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's the eternal struggle between players and the eternal headache of developers: the hardcores vs. the casuals. On one hand, you have a group of gamers who devour content like locusts, min/max in ways that make college professors weep in envy, and spend oodles of time in MMOs as a matter of fact. On the other hand, there are those who lack the drive, the time, or the intense competitiveness, preferring instead to enjoy content at their own leisure, staying within a comfortable zone, and working on large goals in small bits at a go.

With such a diverse range of players, making MMOs appeal to both crowds (and everyone in between) is enough to make one cross-eyed. Recently at WonderCon, several MMO developers were asked about this very topic, but today we'd like to get your opinion.

How should MMOs be designed to best appeal to both hardcore and casual players? Is it a futile task -- should studios simply pick one or the other to go after? Is there a magic formula that games haven't tried yet, one you've figured out? 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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How should MMOs appeal to both hardcore and casual players? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasualsgrindhardcorehardcore-vs-casualhardcoreslocustsmin-maxtdgthe-daily-grindwonderconSat, 07 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom's Age of Conan version 2.2 patch detailed, delayed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/funcoms-age-of-conan-version-2-2-patch-detailed-delayed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/funcoms-age-of-conan-version-2-2-patch-detailed-delayed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/funcoms-age-of-conan-version-2-2-patch-detailed-delayed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yesterday we told you about two new group dungeons in Age of Conan's Paikang imperial city, and later tonight you should be able to experience them for yourself. Yes, it's patch day in Hyboria, and version 2.2 is in the process of being pushed live to the game's American shards. European servers received the update earlier this morning, and there are a few issues, judging by a feedback thread on the EU boards.

What's in the patch other than the previously mentioned Ai and Tian'an District dungeons? Quite a lot of stuff actually, starting with tweaks to the endgame faction grind. Funcom has made a significant number of adjustments to faction quests, faction quest rewards, and Marks of Acclaim distribution.

Combat, in particular crowd-control abilities and counters, has also been tweaked in the 2.2 update, and the official patch notes have a complete breakdown on the changes by class. As of press time, Funcom's Age of Conan launcher indicates that the patch has been delayed by five hours, with an estimated up time of 6:00 p.m. EDT.

MassivelyFuncom's Age of Conan version 2.2 patch detailed, delayed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.2-patchage-of-conanaoccccrowd-controlfaction-grindfantasyfuncomgrindhyboriakhitaimarks-of-acclaimpatchpatch-notespatchesWed, 04 May 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Festivals and you -- a love story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/the-road-to-mordor-festivals-and-you-a-love-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/the-road-to-mordor-festivals-and-you-a-love-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/the-road-to-mordor-festivals-and-you-a-love-story/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4th-anniversaryanniversaryanniversary-eventanniversary-festivalbeer-brawldepantsingDoily-Destriereventfeaturedfestivalfluffgrindgrindaversaryhaunted-houselord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroshrew-stompingskeeballspring-festivaltreadmillturbineturbine-entertainmentwinter-festivalwinter-homeworking-as-intendedyule-festivalFri, 29 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion launches paid transfers and new website]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/aion-launches-paid-transfers-and-new-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/aion-launches-paid-transfers-and-new-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/aion-launches-paid-transfers-and-new-website/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Aion server drama (or two-hour dredgion cues) getting you down? Help is theoretically on the way, as NCsoft's previously announced paid character transfer service went into effect today. The Korean MMO giant is rolling out the process in three stages "to make sure that transfers go very smoothly." Balance caps are in effect to keep server faction populations as even as possible, and NCsoft indicates that it is keeping a close eye on the proceedings.

In other Aion-related news, the official website is live again after an extreme visual makeover designed to bring social networking functionality and game-related content to the forefront. The site's art assets have also been updated to reflect the game's newest patch, so head over and explore the new digs.

MassivelyAion launches paid transfers and new website originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionatreiadredgiondredgion-queuesfantasygrindmmo-industryncsoftnew-websitepaid-server-transferpaid-server-transfersqueuesserver-transferstransferswebsite-redesignwebsite-revampWed, 27 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you care if players get free max-level characters?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-care-if-players-get-free-max-level-chara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-care-if-players-get-free-max-level-chara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-care-if-players-get-free-max-level-chara/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Poor Dave Georgeson.

All he wanted was a bit of discussion regarding the possible (not definite, nor even probable) implementation of free level-90 characters as an enticement for returning to EverQuest II. What he got was a 16-page (and counting) thread full of whining about how it's grossly unfair to those who've "worked" for their levels.

Never you mind the fact that Guild Wars has had a similar system in place for the last six years, or that Age of Conan started giving away free levels (and, essentially, free max-level characters if you subscribe long enough) in 2010. Georgeson ran afoul of that segment of the MMORPG-playing population that loves to grind, and the only thing that certain grind fans seem to enjoy more than the treadmill is forcing other players to partake of it with them.

What about you, Massively folk? Are you outraged that some folks consider the grind an unfortunate (and disposable) fact of MMO life, or are you content to live and let live? Do you care about free max-level characters?

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 care if players get free max-level characters? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocdave-georgesoneq2eqiiEverQuest-2everquest-iieveryone-must-grindf2pfantasyfree-max-level-characterfree-to-playgame-discussiongamer-discussiongrindguild-warsmax-level-charactersmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopinionsmokejumpertdgthe-daily-grindSun, 24 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II's Georgeson mentions free max-level toons, community foams at the mouth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/23/everquest-iis-georgeson-mentions-free-max-level-toons-communit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/23/everquest-iis-georgeson-mentions-free-max-level-toons-communit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/23/everquest-iis-georgeson-mentions-free-max-level-toons-communit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EverQuest II producer Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson recently touched off a firestorm of controversy by asking the fantasy game's community how it would feel about a win-back promotion featuring free max-level characters. Predictably, the howls of protest are still reverberating around the internet, and EQ2Wire has a bit of analysis regarding both the discussion and the high-level flying mount portion of the game's latest expansion that led to it.

Despite the fact that Georgeson was clearly engaging in a bit of speculative thinking with the community (i.e., there are no plans for EQII insta-90s), and despite the fact that Guild Wars has been offering max-level PvP toons since 2005, the EQII discussion quickly turned hostile and demonstrated the minefields that developers must occasionally navigate when engaging their playerbase.

MassivelyEverQuest II's Georgeson mentions free max-level toons, community foams at the mouth originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>90community-discussioncontroversydave-georgesoneq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyflying-mountsfree-max-level-characterfree-to-playgrindmax-levelnorrathsmokejumpersoeSony-Online-EntertainmentSat, 23 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft extends Aion abyss point event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/ncsoft-extends-aion-abyss-point-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/ncsoft-extends-aion-abyss-point-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/ncsoft-extends-aion-abyss-point-event/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aion's recent For War and Glory event hit something of a technical snag yesterday, and as compensation for the resulting server maintenance period, NCsoft is gifting daevas with an additional week of festivities. Originally, the abyss point event was supposed to conclude on April 27th. Now, Aion players will be happy to know that they can keep scarfing down bonus AP from monsters in the Abyss and Silentera Canyon all the way up to May 4th, which should put a dent in the considerable grind required to obtain endgame gear.

The event also halves the AP loss from PvP encounters in the aforementioned areas, so get out there and kill your fellow daevas for fun and profit (or at least, less of a loss). Full details are available at the official Aion website.

MassivelyNCsoft extends Aion abyss point event originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abyssabyss-pointsaionapap-eventeventsfantasygear-grindgrindin-game-eventsncsoftpvpsilentera-canyonthe-abyssThu, 21 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefall dev blog talks skill vs. progression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/firefall-dev-blog-talks-skill-vs-progression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/firefall-dev-blog-talks-skill-vs-progression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/firefall-dev-blog-talks-skill-vs-progression/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you're a bit apprehensive about the balance between progression mechanics and skill-based gameplay in Red 5's upcoming Firefall title, you're not alone. You're also in luck since senior designer Dave Williams has just posted a new dev blog on that very topic.

So what's the answer to this age-old design predicament? That's hard to pin down, and Williams spends quite a few words attempting to wrap our brains about the firm's plans for the game. In a nutshell, we can expect something called horizontal progression -- basically an "enlargement of your toolset" -- as opposed to the vertical progression in a typical RPG that often results in god-mode for players a couple of levels above their opponents.

"At the end of the day we want your ability to place your crosshairs over your enemies and pull the trigger to matter," Williams explains. It's clear that Red 5 also wants to keep players engaged over the long-term, and how Firefall manages the delicate balancing act between grind and fun will be interesting to watch.

MassivelyFirefall dev blog talks skill vs. progression originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dave-williamsdev-blogdev-diaryf2pfirefallfree-to-playgrindmmo-shooterplayer-skillprogressionred-5-studiossci-fishooterskillWed, 20 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft aiming for Aion 2.5 test at the end of April]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/ncsoft-aiming-for-aion-2-5-test-at-the-end-of-april/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/ncsoft-aiming-for-aion-2-5-test-at-the-end-of-april/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/ncsoft-aiming-for-aion-2-5-test-at-the-end-of-april/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aion's 2.5 update has been a long time coming. We first heard tell of the patch in early January and are happy to report that NCsoft is looking to take the wraps off the new content via the game's test servers in the next few weeks.

In a new interview at the official UK Aion website, producer Sean Neil and brand manager Dominic Wai take turns answering player-generated questions relating to the new patch, which Neil says should be "on our player test servers (PTS) at the end of April or beginning of May."

What, exactly, does 2.5 bring to the world of Atreia? Quite a lot, actually, and whether you're talking about the extensive graphical overhaul or the new Empyrean Crucible and Esoterrace dungeon instances, chances are there will be something interesting in the update for every daeva. Getting to endgame should be less of a chore as well, and while Aion still possesses one of the more daunting gear grinds in the genre, NCsoft is introducing a mentoring system in 2.5 that allows "new players [to] level up quicker with the help of a friend."

MassivelyNCsoft aiming for Aion 2.5 test at the end of April originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.5aionaion-2.5ap-grinddominic-waiempyrean-crucibleesoterracefantasygear-grindgraphical-updategraphicsgrindgrindyinterviewslevel-grindmentoring-systemncsoftpatchptssean-neiltest-serverupdatevision-trailerWed, 06 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: Forsaken World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/first-impressions-forsaken-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/first-impressions-forsaken-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/first-impressions-forsaken-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Perfect World Entertainment's latest title, Forsaken World, is made to sound like the polar opposite of Perfect World, the older flagship title that serves as Forsaken World's foundation. When I first heard about this newer project, I was enthused. After all, I wasn't really fond of Perfect World. I thought it was too stale and linear. Still, I have admired Perfect World Entertainment for a long time, mainly because the company knows its audience and does really good work. Its games are flexible when it comes to system requirements, and its titles fit all sorts of different players and age ranges.

Also, the developers claimed that Forsaken World would be a game made for a "Western audience." Of course this means absolutely nothing to me, being that there are easily millions and millions of players for decidedly "Eastern" games like Nexon titles or other large publishers, so I figured that PWE meant to say that it was a game made for those snootier Western players who consider free-to-play games to be nothing but point-and-click junk. Strangely enough, PWE got the WASD movement wrong in Forsaken World. I have no idea how or why this was missed, but the "Western" audience will notice, I promise.

Click past the cut and let's talk about everything I loved about the game -- and a few things I did not.

Continue reading First Impressions: Forsaken World

MassivelyFirst Impressions: Forsaken World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancash-shopcraftingeasternf2pfeaturedFirst-Impressionsforsaken-worldfree-to-playftpgrindperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentperfect-world-internationalpwepwiwesternFri, 01 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan monthly update details new high-level content, faction grind relief]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/age-of-conan-monthly-update-details-new-high-level-content-fact/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/age-of-conan-monthly-update-details-new-high-level-content-fact/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/age-of-conan-monthly-update-details-new-high-level-content-fact/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Good news abounds for fans of Funcom's Age of Conan, and game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison has the details in today's monthly development update. The list of positive changes coming to the dark fantasy MMORPG is a long one, and it begins with two new team instances set in the Khitain capital of Paikang.

First up is the T'ian'an District, which Morrison says is "all about boss encounters." It also features a speed-run component, and doing a full clear of the zone in one attempt looks to be something only the most elite groups will manage. Next is the Ai District which features two set-piece boss battles as well as "the odd secret to be revealed from careful investigation."

The much-reviled Khitai faction grind is also receiving a makeover, though the specifics remain something of a mystery. Morrison explains that faction quest rewards will be substantially increased, but the tweaked content will also bring lockout timers, "forcing some variety into your play sessions." While Morrison doesn't specify the exact nature of the reward increases, he does indicate that we'll be able to see for ourselves very shortly on AoC's test server. Finally, Silirrion reminds PvP-focused players to vote on the Blood and Glory ruleset polls, and provides a tentative release schedule for all of the upcoming content (including the previously mentioned solo instances).

MassivelyAge of Conan monthly update details new high-level content, faction grind relief originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanai-districtaoccraig-morrisondev-blogdev-diarydev-updatefaction-grindfantasyfuncomgrindgroup-dungeonskhitaimonthly-development-updatenew-contentpaikangpatchsilirrionsolo-dungeonstianan-districtupdateWed, 30 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion double AP event looks to temporarily revitalize endgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/aion-double-ap-event-looks-to-temporarily-revitalize-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/aion-double-ap-event-looks-to-temporarily-revitalize-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/aion-double-ap-event-looks-to-temporarily-revitalize-endgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Spend any time at Aion's endgame and you'll quickly realize that everything revolves around Abyss Points (AP). Hitting 55 is really the tip of the iceberg when it comes to PvE progression and the ability to be competitive in PvP, as you'll need plenty of pricey gear and stigmas to stand a chance. AP is so important, in fact, that even PvE mobs in the Abyss and Inggison dole it out.

Unfortunately for Daevas everywhere, the AP gods are undeniably stingy. Acquiring a full set of 55 armor, jewelry, and the weapon of your choice literally takes months (or even years) depending on how much AP you manage to farm on a daily basis. NCsoft is temporarily addressing this problem with a new in-game event dubbed For War and Glory. The event's double AP bonuses (and halved AP losses) kick off today and will run through the server reset on March 30th.

NCsoft is also tweaking the game's rifting mechanic yet again, and defensive buffs in Heiron and Beluslan will be removed until March 23rd (buffs in Eltnen and Morheim remain). Both events are part of the larger Spring 2011 Reactivation Celebration, which runs from March 24th to March 31st and welcomes back Daevas to "train for the greatest battle this planet has seen yet." Check out all the details on the official Aion website.

MassivelyAion double AP event looks to temporarily revitalize endgame originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abyss-pointsaionapatreiabeluslandaevadaevasdouble-apend-gameendgameeventsfantasyfor-war-and-glorygrindheironhow-about-permanent-double-apin-game-eventncsoftncwestriftingriftsWed, 16 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan Dreamworld patch goes live, faction grind reduced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/age-of-conan-dreamworld-patch-goes-live-faction-grind-reduced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/age-of-conan-dreamworld-patch-goes-live-faction-grind-reduced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/age-of-conan-dreamworld-patch-goes-live-faction-grind-reduced/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today's the big day for Age of Conan's Dreamworld engine upgrade, and Funcom has made the extensive notes available as it deploys the update to the live servers. Dreamworld features improved memory handling, loading times, framerates, and network latency as well as several visual upgrades (including the addition of tree wind, god rays, and higher-quality water for DX9 users).

The 2.1.3 patch also brings a few notable tweaks aside from Dreamworld, including minigame class balance fixes and the ability to purchase Khitai faction items (including simple trophies, marks of acclaim, and imperial insignias) with veteran tokens.

Age of Conan's launcher notes that "this is part of the current focus on improving the faction progression in Khitai, which will continue in subsequent updates with a significant increase in the speed of progression for faction." Check out the full patch notes on the official AoC forums.

MassivelyAge of Conan Dreamworld patch goes live, faction grind reduced originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.1.32.1.3-patchage-of-conanaocdreamworldengine-upgradefactionfaction-grindfantasyfuncomgrindgrind-reductionkhitaiminigamesveteran-tokensTue, 08 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST