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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV beta phase 1 and 2 - FATEs and dungeons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xiv-beta-phase-1-and-2-fates-and-du/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xiv-beta-phase-1-and-2-fates-and-du/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xiv-beta-phase-1-and-2-fates-and-du/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

That withdrawal is a very real thing. I'm missing it.
Do you smell that on the wind, my friends? It smells like June is fast approaching, and more importantly it smells like soon we'll be able to welcome the third phase of testing with open arms. Which is good, since I am currently going through withdrawal. I wake up in cold sweats, try to change my class in other games, start up the Final Fantasy XIV beta client in the hopes that someone "accidentally" turned the servers back on... you get the general idea.

To help alleviate this, I'm going to talk about the two pieces of the game from the first two beta phases that are in need of the most polish. While there are places to improve elsewhere, FATEs and dungeons have issues that might need a bit more hammering to fix. Or they might be fine and we just haven't yet seen enough of the game to know everything. Either way, let's get started with the big addition to the game, the system that had no predecessor in Final Fantasy XIV's first version: the FATE system.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV beta phase 1 and 2 - FATEs and dungeons

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV beta phase 1 and 2 - FATEs and dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetasconsoleconsolesdungeonsdynamic-eventsfantasyfatesfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfull-active-time-eventsgroup-contentmog-logopinionraidssquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 18 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Allods posts a preview of the upcoming Pyramid dungeon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/allods-posts-a-preview-of-the-upcoming-pyramid-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/allods-posts-a-preview-of-the-upcoming-pyramid-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/allods-posts-a-preview-of-the-upcoming-pyramid-dungeon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

That robot looks great now, but the first time it gets a scuff mark it's going to just be ruined.
Pyramids aren't just for ancient pharaohs or Mayans. In Allods Online, a pyramid is the site of one of the game's newest dungeons coming out with the upcoming Lords of Destiny expansion. Of course, this pyramid is also covered in magical runes and filled with the sort of enemies that require a strong level 55 raid to defeat, but isn't that always the way? Pyramids never wind up being summer bungalows for retirees.

All joking aside, the Pyramid is a construction of the ancient Tep, a necromancer who studied the essence of life itself and tried to capture it inside of his stronghold. His work led to the origin of the Arisen, but he still waits within his stronghold as a vengeful shade intent on harvesting more life. Allods Online players can find more information on the dungeon layout and bosses in the full rundown on the official site.

MassivelyAllods posts a preview of the upcoming Pyramid dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allodsallods-onlineastrum-nivalbackstorydungeonendgamef2pfantasyfree-to-playgala-netgpotatogroup-contentlords-of-destinyloremail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamesraidraidsFri, 01 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic's guide to the group finder]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/a-guide-to-questions-about-star-wars-the-old-republics-group-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/a-guide-to-questions-about-star-wars-the-old-republics-group-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/a-guide-to-questions-about-star-wars-the-old-republics-group-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Not included, a guide to getting all of your DPS to focus fire appropriately. Which is sometimes more difficult.
In a perfect world, all Star Wars: The Old Republic groups would be composed of several friends working together. But sometimes your friends aren't online or just have other things to do, and for those times, there's the Group Finder tool. But why is it that you can select a role you can't perform? Why do you queue up as healing or damage but always get picked for healing? How does the whole daily reward work? For answers to these questions and more, production team member Toni Phillips has put together a rundown of some of the Finder's more esoteric features.

Phillips explains that daily rewards require you to complete the final step of the Flashpoint mission rather than simply clear the last boss, which usually involves clicking on an object at the end. Role selection, meanwhile, is determined by what your advanced class can do rather than what you're currently able to do, and if you select multiple roles, the finder will tend to pull from the rarer roles first. For more information and a more thorough breakdown, take a look at the full guide.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic's guide to the group finder originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredaily-rewardsdungeonseaelectronic-artsflashpointsgame-featuresgroup-contentgroup-findergroupingguideslucasartsofficial-guidesoperationssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictoni-phillipstorThu, 12 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Exploring dungeons with Higiri]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/choose-my-adventure-exploring-dungeons-with-higiri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/choose-my-adventure-exploring-dungeons-with-higiri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/choose-my-adventure-exploring-dungeons-with-higiri/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Well, I was bound to eventually find an Elin animation I like.
Rielene's poll last week pushes her toward BAMs, but for now we're moving on to focus on our other adventurer in TERA. Higiri is not venturing across sunlit fields and enjoying the open air; no, she was bound for the darkest realms, places where monsters gather and plot the destruction of joy in private. But in order to get her into dungeons, I had to get her through a fair bit of leveling first, enough to enter the first dungeon of the game.

I spent a lot of time questing with Higiri this past week, since that's easily the most efficient way to level, and as a result I had some further insights into the nature of questing in the game that build off of my insights last week. But running the dungeon was the centerpiece, and my runs through were... memorable, yes, but probably for the wrong reasons. And no, not in the "crazy, horrible party" sense.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Exploring dungeons with Higiri

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Exploring dungeons with Higiri originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studioschoose-my-adventurecmadesigndungeondungeonsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicsgroup-contenthands-oninstancesopinionpollpollsreaders-choiceteravotevotingWed, 27 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Perfect World's RaiderZ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/pax-east-2012-hands-on-with-perfect-worlds-raiderz/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/pax-east-2012-hands-on-with-perfect-worlds-raiderz/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/pax-east-2012-hands-on-with-perfect-worlds-raiderz/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Raiderz - giant frogger boss
TERA isn't the only upcoming MMO to feature big-ass monsters and action combat. Perfect World Entertainment showed us a demo of RaiderZ at last weekend's PAX East, and producer Mark Hill was pretty enthusiastic about the game's level of polish. He also made a point of highlighting the amount of free gameplay the company will be making available to fans later this year.

"We really want to blow people away with how much free content they're getting out of a really top-notch game," he said. Join us after the cut to see what RaiderZ has to offer.

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Perfect World's RaiderZ

MassivelyPAX East 2012: Hands-on with Perfect World's RaiderZ originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoconconventiondemoeventsexpof2pfeaturedfree-to-playgroup-contentgroupinghands-onmark-hillmonster-huntingpaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expoperfect-world-entertainmentplayer-skillpreviewpreviewspweraiderzreal-world-eventsskillsMon, 09 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe Online's upcoming game update is all about easier grouping]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/dc-universe-onlines-upcoming-game-update-is-all-about-easier-gr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/dc-universe-onlines-upcoming-game-update-is-all-about-easier-gr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/dc-universe-onlines-upcoming-game-update-is-all-about-easier-gr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The proposal for Super Wimp Raids, where the enemies just stare at you menacingly, was summarily rejected.
If you've been enjoying DC Universe Online ever since the game switched business models, odds are good you're looking toward the endgame by now. Game Update 9, which is coming soon, will make getting into that endgame even easier via the addition of Novice Raids. This new difficulty setting still allows players to experience all the storyline of Fortress of Solitude, Kahndaq, and the Batcave, but the difficulty will be notched down so that players can get a better feel for what they're doing.

Of course, if you're not into the endgame rush, you've still got something to look forward to with the new role-optional alerts system. In essence, players will now be able to queue for Alerts without needing to put together a balanced group; in the event that a role is missing, a team buff will be applied to ensure that the area can still be cleared. That means that even with nothing but Damage characters, you can still explore all of DC Universe Online's group content, something that should allow for some novel player approaches once the update goes live.

[Update: SOE has also issued a statement about plans for the game's PvP in 2012. The full quote is after the cut.]

Continue reading DC Universe Online's upcoming game update is all about easier grouping

MassivelyDC Universe Online's upcoming game update is all about easier grouping originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alertsdcdc-comicsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoendgamef2pfree-to-playgroup-contentgroupingnovice-raidspatch-previewspatchesraidsrole-optional-alertssoesony-online-entertainmentMon, 30 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get into a RIFT Instant Adventure faster than watching this promo video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/get-into-a-rift-instant-adventure-faster-than-watching-this-prom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/get-into-a-rift-instant-adventure-faster-than-watching-this-prom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/get-into-a-rift-instant-adventure-faster-than-watching-this-prom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

RIFT
"Players are in for good surprises," Trion Worlds' devs promise. "It's like nothing you've ever seen in an MMO before."

What's all this about? Why, it's the upcoming Instant Adventure feature for RIFT, where players can jump right into massive group content without having to sit in a queue or worrying about group composition. This "nonstop excitement" is hyped via a new video diary in which the feature is quickly demonstrated while the devs hit all the talking points in less than a minute.

Instant Adventures are designed to deliver quick group quests without having to pull together specific roles or wait for world events to occur. By clicking on the Instant Adventure button, players are brought to either Stillmoor or Shimmersand and a special encounter is launched that scales up and down with your group's size.

Give it a look and see if this is as good as the devs' word -- the adventures start (instantly) after the jump.

Continue reading Get into a RIFT Instant Adventure faster than watching this promo video

MassivelyGet into a RIFT Instant Adventure faster than watching this promo video originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diarydeveloper-diarygroupgroup-contenthal-hanlininstant-adventureinstant-adventuresrifttrailertriontrion-worldsvideovideo-dev-diaryvideo-developer-diaryWed, 07 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: PvE like a boss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/wasteland-diaries-pve-like-a-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/wasteland-diaries-pve-like-a-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/wasteland-diaries-pve-like-a-boss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I have slain a rat
Fallen Earth PvE can be anywhere from laughably easy to downright frustrating. I guess that's a good thing since you get a gamut of difficulty levels, but much of the leveling span leans toward the easy end of the scale. I tend to get bored with PvE combat fairly quickly in MMOs (not just Fallen Earth). Other people love to struggle against the environment. Some even refuse to do anything remotely akin to PvP. I'll only throw the term "carebear" at those who think all PvPers are maladjusted psychopaths. I'm not talking about them; I'm talking about regular hardcore PvEers: players who would rather play against the NPCs than against other players.

Many of my posts center around PvP. If I didn't PvP (and since I'm not a big roleplayer), I doubt I would still be playing Fallen Earth. That's just what I spend most of my time doing in the wastelands. So I tend to write a lot about it. But all PvPers have to PvE. PvE has its own set of challenges for the player. Granted, these challenges are quite static, and once you find a way to overcome them, you are done. But they are challenges nonetheless, and knowledge is power as much in PvE as it is in PvP. In this post I will give you some tips and tricks that might help you get through that next tough mission. Much of this stuff is common sense, but it may not occur to you until it's too late. So click past the cut and let's get started.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: PvE like a boss

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: PvE like a boss originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesammunitioncombatconsumablesdeath-penaltydpsfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedgamersfirstgroup-contenthealingmeleeMissionsmobsnpcspistolpveregeneration-ratesrifleskillsFri, 23 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Groupthink]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/the-soapbox-groupthink/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/the-soapbox-groupthink/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/the-soapbox-groupthink/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

More cats make everything better. True story.
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.

I can pinpoint exactly the moment that the luster of World of Warcraft's big old-game-changing expansion wore off for me. And it didn't take very long, just long enough for me to pick up a quest named It's Raid Night Every Night for my Dwarf. It was an unremarkable quest in every way, with the only really clever-ish bit being the title that slyly winks at players about one of the game's criticisms.

Except that it's not exactly an unfair criticism. If you were at the level cap and wanted to keep playing the game with anything approaching forward motion, it was raid night every night. The joke left a bad taste in my mouth.

Of course, this isn't an article about WoW except in passing and by association. It's about the temptation and tendency to have group content as the panacea, as the overwhelming focus of any new content. It's about why we get so much content that focuses on large group efforts, and why that isn't necessarily such a good thing -- for the players or even the developers.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Groupthink

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Groupthink originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentcontent-designcultureendgameendgame-contentfeaturedgroup-contentgroupinggroupsopinionpartiespartyparty-contentscaling-contentsoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 06 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What was your favorite experience as a healer?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-experience-as-a-healer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-experience-as-a-healer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-experience-as-a-healer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're going to play a game in which your allies will rush forward into their imminent death despite your best efforts, someone's going to need to take the task of keeping them from death. Sometimes the healer is up on the front lines like the Warrior Priests of Warhammer Online, but most often your job in the healer is to stand back and keep everyone alive in spite of their determination to stand in fire. It's not a glamorous job, but boy is it ever important.

From games like World of Warcraft that require a dedicated healer to games like City of Heroes where your "healer" may have no direct healing spells, the third part of the holy trinity sees the least direct action but still tables a lot of responsibility. So what's your favorite experience from taking on the role of the walking band-aid? Were you stuck in a group with members who couldn't keep themselves alive at all if not for your healing? Or is there a particular game that always made healing feel more fun than any other task in the game?

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 was your favorite experience as a healer? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesgroup-contentgroupshealershealingholy-trinityopinionpartiesparty-contenttdgthe-daily-grindWed, 03 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Into the depths of Toto-Rak]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/30/the-mog-log-into-the-depths-of-toto-rak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/30/the-mog-log-into-the-depths-of-toto-rak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/30/the-mog-log-into-the-depths-of-toto-rak/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aw, jeez. Not only do I have an extant interesting question posed to me by a reader, I had another interesting question posed to me over the course of the last week. They're both questions that deserve a lengthy answer, with the full complexity and subtlety of a column devoted to them.

But I'm not going to be talking about either of them this week.

See, I had the good fortune to run through the Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak while it's still pretty much new content. And there's some confusing stuff going on in there, some awesome moments, and more to the point no hard written information in a central space to refer back to. So I figured this would be as good a time as any to put together my notes about Final Fantasy XIV's lower-level raid for public viewing, so that other players can hopefully assemble a more definitive guide over time. And besides, who wouldn't want to talk about a dungeon that sees you exploring the Empire's chthonian machinations?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Into the depths of Toto-Rak

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Into the depths of Toto-Rak originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncontentdungeondungeon-mechanicsdungeon-walkthroughfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.18final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgroup-contentnew-contentopinionraidsquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logwalkthroughSat, 30 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: The next internet fad will be tires edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/ask-massively-the-next-internet-fad-will-be-tires-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/ask-massively-the-next-internet-fad-will-be-tires-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/ask-massively-the-next-internet-fad-will-be-tires-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tires are round bits of rubber that are placed upon the wheels of vehicles in order to facilitate spinning or something. Also, sometimes your parents might string some rope around one because they're too cheap and lazy to buy you a decent swingset. Anyhow, the next thing on the internet will be tires. I'm calling it right now. Don't look at me like that. We're talking about the same people who made Rebecca Black and Happy Cat famous. Just... tires. Rolling or... whatever.

It's time for Ask Massively this week, as you could probably tell from the introduction about half a step away from a schizophrenic rant. This week, we've got a question about scaling instance difficulty and a couple of questions from our forums, none of which has anything to do with tires. If you'd like to ask a tire-related question, leave one in the comments or mail it along to ask@massively.com. I guess I can answer MMO questions, too.

Continue reading Ask Massively: The next internet fad will be tires edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: The next internet fad will be tires edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aikaask-massivelydungeon-scalingfeaturedgroup-contentgroupslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromxoopinionpolishqualityriftscalingthe-matrix-onlineThu, 21 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New DC Universe Online trailer pits players against Brainiac Batman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/new-dc-universe-online-trailer-pits-players-against-brainiac-bat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/new-dc-universe-online-trailer-pits-players-against-brainiac-bat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/new-dc-universe-online-trailer-pits-players-against-brainiac-bat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The DC Universe has a bit of a Brainiac problem. Actually, the universe of DC Universe Online has several problems -- it sort of goes hand-in-hand with a superhero milieu -- but the overarching threat has been Brainiac since the beginning, and the newest group raid just makes that more apparent. An earlier Facebook posting showed off the trailer for the newest piece of group content, featuring Brainiac taking over one of the more immediately recognizable parts of the game's setting -- the Batcave.

Cited by the narration as "a crucial location in digitizing Earth," the Brainiac Sub-Construct features players facing off against a number of mechanical enemies as well as the Dark Knight himself. Yes, Batman has been infected and brought under the villain's control, and it's up to the players to force their way through the infected cave and bring things back to normal. DC Universe Online fans can check out the video embedded just after the break.

Continue reading New DC Universe Online trailer pits players against Brainiac Batman

MassivelyNew DC Universe Online trailer pits players against Brainiac Batman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanbrainiacdc-universe-onlinedcuoendgamegroup-contentnew-contentnew-raidsraidsoesony-online-entertainmenttrailertrailersupdatesvideovideosWed, 06 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive Dev Diary: Designing the task forces for City of Heroes Issue 20]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/31/exclusive-dev-diary-designing-the-task-forces-for-city-of-heroe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/31/exclusive-dev-diary-designing-the-task-forces-for-city-of-heroe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/31/exclusive-dev-diary-designing-the-task-forces-for-city-of-heroe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

City of Heroes traditionally packs quite a lot into its large content patches, and Issue 20 looks to be no exception. Aside from the two new Incarnate Trials meant for endgame players, the update is going to see two new mid-level task forces added for players between levels 20-40. With one force for heroes and another for villains, everyone will have a chance to enjoy some new storytelling about the war against Praetoria outside of the earliest invasions.

But of course, new task forces don't just materialize out of thin air. It takes some hard work and a solid set of design principles to make them rewarding, something that Paragon Studios has been steadily improving since launch. John Hegner, Lead Mission Designer for City of Heroes, took the time to share with us what went into the construction of these new task forces and what they should mean for the player, so click on past the break for our exclusive developer diary on the design of the new content.

Continue reading Exclusive Dev Diary: Designing the task forces for City of Heroes Issue 20

MassivelyExclusive Dev Diary: Designing the task forces for City of Heroes Issue 20 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcoh-issue-20covcoxdev-diariesdev-diarydevelopmentfeaturedgroup-challengesgroup-contentincarnate-systemincarnatesissue-20john-hegnerlorencsoftnew-contentparagonparagon-studiospraetoriastorylinestrike-forcetask-forceThu, 31 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A smattering of topics from Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/a-smattering-of-topics-from-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/a-smattering-of-topics-from-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/a-smattering-of-topics-from-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fridays mean new updates for fans eagerly waiting on Star Wars: The Old Republic, and while last week saw the kickoff of PAX East and a hands-on demo (which we played), this Friday sees discussion on a wide range of different aspects. For starters, the latest Fan Friday feature has been posted, showing off new concept art and a fansite spotlight as well as a few new Sith avatars for forumgoers.

A new developer diary is also available, which discusses cinematic animations, one of the major selling points for the game. Certainly the motion capture helps, but as the diary notes, it's not quite as simple as suiting up some capture actors and getting their raw data. Even for a simple scene, there's some fairly elaborate work necessary to make the animation and overall environment feel convincing.

The end of the entry is devoted to several community questions regarding flashpoints, fresh in everyone's mind after the aforementioned demo at PAX East. If you're curious about how loot will be balanced in a dungeon with multiple storyline options, take a look at the full entry to get a clearer picture of how the system will be implemented in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

MassivelyA smattering of topics from Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationbiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorcinematicsdungeonseaelectronic-artsfan-fridayflashpointsgroup-contentlucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmotion-capturepreviewsstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republicFri, 18 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Embark Beach and Mercenary Heroes coming to Guild Wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/embark-beach-and-mercenary-heroes-coming-to-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/embark-beach-and-mercenary-heroes-coming-to-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/embark-beach-and-mercenary-heroes-coming-to-guild-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Do you play Guild Wars with nothing to lose and nothing to prove? Then you might wind up dancing with yourself in the newest update to the game, which will add a new system of Mercenary Heroes -- turning other characters on your account into special heroes just for your use. And since this update also gives players the option to have a full party of seven heroes, there's plenty of reason to improve alts and play with them even on other characters.

Of course, that's the least of the features packed into the new update, and you may not even need the new heroes with the introduction of the group-focused Embark Beach. Allowing players transport to a multitude of locations and missions, the outpost serves as a waypoint for players to find groups and get right into the action of a mission without any trouble. It's also a hub for services, making it an ideal place for players to congregate and look for any needed assistance.

That's not even touching upon the new daily quests in Pre-Searing Ascalon, the changes to the Survivor title track to make it earnable on an existing character even after that character has died, and a new Minion UI feature. In short, Guild Wars players have plenty to dance about in the new update, whether by themselves or with others.

Gallery: Guild Wars Core Gallery

MassivelyEmbark Beach and Mercenary Heroes coming to Guild Wars originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetawardsbreakingembark-beachf2pfree-to-playgallerygroup-contentgroupingguild-warsguild-wars-propheciesgwheroesmercenary-heroesncsoftnewspartiesparty-formationpatchesplayer-culturepropheciesscreenshotscreenshotssubscription-freetitle-trackstitlesupcoming-patchesupdatesThu, 03 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes offers an Issue 20 overview and development journal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/city-of-heroes-offers-an-issue-20-overview-and-development-journ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/city-of-heroes-offers-an-issue-20-overview-and-development-journ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/city-of-heroes-offers-an-issue-20-overview-and-development-journ/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

PAX East is just around the corner, and it marks the second east coast appearance of the Paragon Studios team. Last year the developers had an upcoming expansion to preview, but this year nevertheless promises to still have plenty of revelations for the City of Heroes fans, starting with the new Issue 20 overview page available today. Aside from the two known Incarnate Trials, the page also previews two new task forces for characters in the 20-40 range as well as more respec trials available for heroes or villains who change alignment.

If the overview alone isn't enough to get you fired up for the upcoming Issue 20, the latest installment of the Intrepid Informer previews one of the new areas designed for the patch: a fortress made of lashed-together ships. Gilbert Martinez, one of the game's art leads, explains the process that led to creating an evocative new piece of scenery. City of Heroes players have plenty to look forward to in the near future, not the least of which being an upcoming patch with some pretty interesting content.

MassivelyCity of Heroes offers an Issue 20 overview and development journal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcoh-issue-20covcoxdesigngilbert-martinezgroup-contenti20issue-20ncsoftnewsparagonparagon-studiospatch-previewpatchespaxpax-eastpax-east-2011raidsstrike-forcetask-forceTue, 01 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Let's talk about EXP, baby]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/12/the-mog-log-lets-talk-about-exp-baby/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/12/the-mog-log-lets-talk-about-exp-baby/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/12/the-mog-log-lets-talk-about-exp-baby/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If there was one thing I always hated about Final Fantasy XI, it was the leveling process. Not the grouping for levels, which was fun and often a good distraction from the monotony of camping and grinding. (It was obnoxious trying to level Dragoon, sure, but that was excellent motivation to spend more time as a healer.) No, it was something much simpler -- the actual speed of the level-to-level process, or more accurately, the earth-shattering lag between levels that only increased as you got higher.

Both Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XI are on the horns of an experience change, with the former having happened and the latter still to be seen as of this writing (I'm working fairly far ahead, so watch the patch drop this week). Seeing as how leveling is kind of a big deal until you've reached the level cap in everything, the changes are worth examining for what they add to the game and for whether or not the changes are actually worthwhile and useful.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Let's talk about EXP, baby

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Let's talk about EXP, baby originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>experiencefeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgroup-contentgroupinglevelingleveling-curveopinionsolo-contentsquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 12 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alter-Ego: A quick and dirty guide to Area 51]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/12/alter-ego-a-quick-and-dirty-guide-to-area-51/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/12/alter-ego-a-quick-and-dirty-guide-to-area-51/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/12/alter-ego-a-quick-and-dirty-guide-to-area-51/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

When it comes to taking your first steps in DC Universe Online, the sheer amount of different types of missions and objectives can be a bit daunting. "What is this Alert thing sitting in my quest log?" you might say. "What does it do? It is PvP? PvE? What's the point of doing an Alert?" Well, to help demystify some of DC Universe Online's content for you, I wanted to offer up a basic overview to the very first in-game Alert: Area 51. However, knowing that some of you have already run this instance, I also wanted to make it useful for those who may have popped in but not spent a great deal of time in the zone. That's why this post not only contains a first-timer's overview of this Alert but also gives more advanced players a handy guide to all the Investigations, Player Briefings and Collections -- as well as a couple of other things I found in the Area 51 zone that might have been missed otherwise.

Ready to dig in and help beat Brainiac back from trying to take over? Curious about what kind of extra goodies can be gained? Join me after the break as I take some of the mystery out of the notorious Area 51!

Continue reading Alter-Ego: A quick and dirty guide to Area 51

MassivelyAlter-Ego: A quick and dirty guide to Area 51 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alertarea-51bluebrainiaccadmuscadmus-research-findingscollectioncollectionsdc-universe-onlinedcuoglobal-briefingglobal-investigationsgreengroup-contentguideinstanceinvestigationinvestigationsinvestivationlevel-10normalplayer-briefingplayer-briefssoesony-online-entertainmentwalkthroughwelcome-to-groom-lakeyellowSat, 12 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Neo Steam opens realm vs. realm combat and new dungeons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/neo-steam-opens-realm-vs-realm-combat-and-new-dungeons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/neo-steam-opens-realm-vs-realm-combat-and-new-dungeons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/neo-steam-opens-realm-vs-realm-combat-and-new-dungeons/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The two kingdoms of Rogwel and Elerd are finally facing off on the territory of Rope Isle for control of the neo steam! Yes, realm vs. realm combat is finally being enabled on the Neo Steam servers, letting players go at it for control of new stretches of land and the dungeons that dwell beneath. Players will be able to both fight on foot and in siege engines for the glory of their kingdom!

However, realm vs. realm combat in Neo Steam works a bit differently than most MMOs. For one, it's actually timed. Currently you can only engage in RvR once every weekend. Once a side wins the battle, the areas are locked until the next week.

Continue reading Neo Steam opens realm vs. realm combat and new dungeons

MassivelyNeo Steam opens realm vs. realm combat and new dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlus-onlinedungeonsgroup-contentneo-steamneo-steam-the-shattered-continentpvpraidsrealm-vs-realmrvrschedulescheduled-pvpTue, 04 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST