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: Would you leave your current MMO for its sequel?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 Engineer
With Guild Wars 2 in the offing, long-time Guild Wars fans have an interesting dilemma on their hands. Trading up is probably a foregone conclusion in most cases, but abandoning Guild Wars altogether may sting a bit if you've invested a lot of time and energy into the original incarnation of Tyria.

The same could be said for faithful EverQuest fans when EverQuest II rolled around in 2004, and perhaps again whenever Sony Online Entertainment formalizes its EverQuest Next project. For today's Daily Grind, then, we'd like to know how easily you could leave your current MMO if a sequel were to materialize. We know you'd check out the new shiny, but would you leave the older title for good?

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 leave your current MMO for its sequel? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdaily-grindeqeq-2eq-iieq-nexteq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-3everquest-iieverquest-nextf2pfantasyfree-to-playguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2mmo-sequelsncsoftopinionsequelssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet talks about naming Guild Wars 2's world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/arenanet-talks-about-naming-guild-wars-2s-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/arenanet-talks-about-naming-guild-wars-2s-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/arenanet-talks-about-naming-guild-wars-2s-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
While it's easy to get caught up in the big picture side of the development process, we risk overlooking the smaller but crucial work that goes into gluing the game together. One of these tasks is the naming of the world and all that lies within it. Content Designer Annie VanderMeer Mitsoda wrote an ArenaNet blog post about the challenges and decisions that went with labeling everything under the sun in Guild Wars 2.

Mitsoda said that the team has established a system for nailing down names. After coming up with the name, the team sends the moniker through a "sanity check" that makes sure it's not too hard to spell or say. The team also tries to weed out the more obscure or overt pop culture references, then passes along the names to the team's "loremasters," who check it against an internal wiki for consistency.

She goes on to share a few anecdotes about the naming process, such as the evolution of Charr names, the difficulty of putting a label on an animal that has no Earth equivalent, and how the creepy rat-dog Murellow got its name. It's an interesting read into a different side of the development process that often goes unnoticed, so check it out!

MassivelyArenaNet talks about naming Guild Wars 2's world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetAnnie-VanderMeerAnnie-VanderMeer-Mitsodaarenanetbetacharrdev-blogdev-diaryfantasyguild-wars-2gw2loremurellownamenamesnamingncsoftWed, 23 May 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet confirms no beta for this weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/arenanet-confirms-no-beta-for-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/arenanet-confirms-no-beta-for-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/arenanet-confirms-no-beta-for-this-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2 concept art
In response to increased agitation among impatient fans, ArenaNet's Martin Kerstein graced the Guild Wars 2 Facebook page with a bit of confirmation: There will be no beta weekend event this coming weekend. This stretches the BWE schedule longer than the one-per-month that the team is trying to adhere to, but Kerstein included some explanation that will hopefully keep fans from panicking.
Our BWE1 was super successful, we exceeded our expectations. As some of you might have experienced first hand, this lead to some technical issues. To make sure we are not running into the same situation for BWE2, we recently had a stress test, and we are currently deploying a lot of additional hardware in our datacenters.

We will be able to tell you exactly when BWE2 will take place as soon as all the hardware has been deployed.
While this wasn't met with glee by most fans, the news does allow folks to carry on with their lives and make full use of the upcoming holiday weekend. Moreover, the wait will likely be worthwhile, as additional hardware to support the player flood that will descend on the data centers for the next BWE will mean greater enjoyment for more people.

MassivelyArenaNet confirms no beta for this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-weekend-eventbweBWE2community-team-crushers-of-dreamsfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftTue, 22 May 2012 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Touring the Snowden Drifts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-the-snowden-drifts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-the-snowden-drifts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-the-snowden-drifts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
I pretty much went all Norn for the stress test last week. Alone (like a true Norn), I ventured to the highest, loneliest peaks of Snowden Drifts, swam in the darkest ice caves, and faced the largest metric crap-ton of Sons of Svanir imaginable.

As my Necromancer slid what felt like the nine hundredth Son off of her dagger blades, I took the time to look around soak up the view; there's nothing quite like rallying three times in a fight against a whole passel of renegade Norn to make a girl really appreciate the scenery.

Say what you will (and this being the Internet, many folks do) about whether or not having to zone between maps is, like, the ultimate sign that the game isn't truly "massively multiplayer," but each and every map we've seen so far in Guild Wars 2 is packed to the brim with excitement.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Touring the Snowden Drifts

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Touring the Snowden Drifts originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgalleriesgalleryguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftnornopinionscreenshotscreenshotssons-of-svanirTue, 22 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 202: Rubbernecking at the scene of an MMO accident]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/massively-speaking-episode-202-rubbernecking-at-the-scene-of-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/massively-speaking-episode-202-rubbernecking-at-the-scene-of-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/massively-speaking-episode-202-rubbernecking-at-the-scene-of-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Online
Massively Speaking Episode 202 is hot at the scene of the 38 Studios disaster, and without hyperbole we can say that this is more tragic than Pompeii, the Titanic, and Showgirls combined. Will Curt Schilling's dream team survive this financial crisis? We brought expert analyst Eliot Lefebvre on the podcast to give us his opinion.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 202: Rubbernecking at the scene of an MMO accident

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 202: Rubbernecking at the scene of an MMO accident originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosaction-rpganetarenanetbattlenetbethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrantbrianna-roycecash-shopcopernicuscurt-schillingd3daggerfalldiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiielder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinef2pfamilyfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgothic-fantasyguild-wars-2gw2humorjustin-olivettikid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentmassively-speakingmorrowindmultiplayerncsoftobliviononline-multiplayeropinionpirate101please-dont-suckpodcastpodcastingpodcastsproject-copernicuspvproguelikerpgsandboxskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpwizard101zenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosTue, 22 May 2012 15:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 202Massively.com Staff01:04:42podcasts<![CDATA[ArenaNet president defends microtransactions and in-game RMT in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/guild-wars-2-president-defends-microtransactions-and-in-game-rmt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/guild-wars-2-president-defends-microtransactions-and-in-game-rmt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/guild-wars-2-president-defends-microtransactions-and-in-game-rmt/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
MMOs have to make money; that's a fact of life (and of business) ArenaNet President Mike O'Brien knows quite well. In an interview with VentureBeat, O'Brien explained how the studio is handling the monetization for Guild Wars 2 and blasts RMT companies for their practices.

O'Brien addressed why Guild Wars 2 is being offered not as a straight free-to-play title but as a retail product with an up-front cost. "The answer is we're really focused on creating the highest-quality MMO, not the lowest-cost MMO," he replied. "I think Guild Wars 2 is one of the best values in gaming, period. Where else can you get this many hours of enjoyment, of content, of polish, of replayability, for $60?"

He also took the opportunity to expand upon his own blog post covering microtransactions from a few weeks ago. "Creating a microtransaction system that doesn't upset or alienate your player base is straightforward, once you clearly define what's in-bounds and what's out-of-bounds," O'Brien stated. He says that ArenaNet wants to be "open and honest" with players regarding the in-game store options and promises that these will be "non-essential additions to the game and convenience services" only.

O'Brien also had strong words about the shady practices of RMT companies, practices that ArenaNet is trying to combat by offering its own in-game RMT system. "Where there's a real profit incentive, someone out there in the world will lie, cheat, and steal to make that profit, " he said. "By letting players trade directly with each other, we take the power away from RMT companies and give it to the entire playerbase."

MassivelyArenaNet president defends microtransactions and in-game RMT in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabusiness-modelbusiness-modelscash-shopfantasyguild-wars-2gw2in-game-storeinterviewitem-shopmicrotransactionMicrotransactionsmike-o-brienmike-obrienmonetizationncsoftreal-money-tradingrmtventurebeatTue, 22 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars
As many Guild Wars players know, Guild Wars 2 takes place in the same world and often in the same areas -- just 250 years after its predecessor. Because of this, ArenaNet elected not to wipe the slate clean and start over with 100% new environments but instead to incorporate old locales and landmarks into its upcoming game.

Guild Wars fan Claire became fascinated with this concept and has dedicated a new blog to documenting all of the visual changes in the world between the first and second game. It's called Project Tyria, and each post consists of several Guild Wars locales contrasted with screenshots of the same areas from the sequel.

Claire writes, "I've always loved the graphics of the Guild Wars games and have grown to love the world of Tyria. We were there in the before times, and now we arrive again in the after."

It's fascinating to see how ArenaNet has envisioned 250 years taking its toll on the monuments, cities, and vales of the original game; realizing the importance of keeping the world accurate for the hardcore fans seems to be a noted priority for the team. Head over to Project Tyria to see more on the comparison screenshots.

MassivelyFan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcompare-and-contrastcomparisonfan-blogfan-sitefansitefantasyguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2ncsoftproject-tyriascreenshotstyriaMon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Do you believe that the MMO genre has been stuck in a rut over the past few years? So does Christopher Lye, the global brand director for ArenaNet, who publicly denounced the post-World of Warcraft trend in the industry as stagnant.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Lye stated that Guild Wars 2 is walking the walk when it comes to genuinely challenging the status quo in the industry. "Honestly, I think the problem is that there's been a lack of change in MMO design and that Guild Wars 2 is a reaction to that," he said. "People will call this risky, but we think it's riskier just to churn out the same MMO that everyone has played before."

Lye pointed to Guild Wars 2's scaling dynamic event system and its action combat as examples of how ArenaNet is forging its own path. Observing that player consumption of content is "virtually insatiable," Lye said that the team has developed tools to allow it to implement changes and additions to dynamic events in hours, not weeks.

Is this industry stagnation coming to an end? Lye says yes: "We're finally seeing a point where companies realize that they're not going to create the next great MMO by just copying what's come before."

MassivelyArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatactivisionanetarenanetbetablizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-lyechristopher-lyedynamic-eventsfantasygamasutraguild-wars-2gw2industryinterviewmmo-industryncsoftstagnanttrendwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop earnings call adds to Guild Wars 2 release date speculation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/gamestop-earnings-call-adds-to-guild-wars-2-release-date-specula/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/gamestop-earnings-call-adds-to-guild-wars-2-release-date-specula/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/gamestop-earnings-call-adds-to-guild-wars-2-release-date-specula/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Image
Since players aren't tremendously happy with ArenaNet's answer of "when it's ready" every time the question of the Guild Wars 2 release date comes up, any hint of further clarification is something to be prized. As a game retailer, dates are the sort of thing that come up in GameStop's earnings calls. Covering the Q1 conference call released today, Gamespot has CFO Robert Lloyd stating that Guild Wars 2 has been bumped out of the current quarter, putting its release sometime after July. It's worth noting that as of this posting, GameStop's online listing still had the Guild Wars 2 release date as June 26th.

As has been repeated countless times by ArenaNet devs, no information should be treated as official unless it's directly from them. Don't let that stop you from pulling out your favorite tinfoil hat and cooking up some speculations, though.

MassivelyGameStop earnings call adds to Guild Wars 2 release date speculation originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetearnings-callfantasygamespotgamestopguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftreleaserelease-date-speculationrobert-lloydrumormongersoon-TMThu, 17 May 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Reserve your Guild Wars 2 character name today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/reserve-your-guild-wars-2-character-name-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/reserve-your-guild-wars-2-character-name-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/reserve-your-guild-wars-2-character-name-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Everyone seems to freak out about grabbing his or her special character name at the launch of a new MMO, and we imagine Guild Wars 2 will invoke the same emotions. Instead of leaving this oh-so-important action to Day One, ArenaNet is giving players a chance to reserve their Guild Wars 2 names... starting today.

The way it works is that ArenaNet will be reserving all current Guild Wars names for the launch, and players attached to those names can then swoop in and collect them from the start. Three caveats are attached to this process, however: You have to log into Guild Wars sometime in 2012, you have to claim your names in Guild Wars 2 by launch day, and you can't secure Guild Wars 2's single names (as Guild Wars forces you to make two-word names).

The studio says that there are 20 million two-word names in use at this point, and we suspect that list will grow much longer after today. These names can be reserved at any point from now until whenever ArenaNet decides to compile its master list. After launch, ArenaNet promises to free up the unclaimed names for others to take.

MassivelyReserve your Guild Wars 2 character name today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetacharacter-namecharacter-name-reservationcharacter-namesclosed-betafantasyguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2namename-reservationname-reservationsnamesncsoftreserve-your-namereserve-your-namesThu, 17 May 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-perfect-ten-the-truth-about-lockboxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-perfect-ten-the-truth-about-lockboxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-perfect-ten-the-truth-about-lockboxes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
Call them lockboxes, lootboxes, super packs, gift packs, treasure boxes, mystic chests, or Chupacabra's lunchpails, but these virtual boxes of mystery, fame, and fortune are all the rage in MMOs these days. Few studios have resisted the siren's call of such easy money, much to the dismay of many-a-gamer.

The idea is that a game will dish out to players free locked treasure boxes that require purchased keys to open. The allure of the box's mystery prize is often too strong to resist, especially when there's the possibility of a huge reward inside. The result too often is strong buyer's remorse and studio glee.

There's been a lot of conversation around lockboxes here on Massively, so I wanted to dedicate this week's Perfect Ten to dissecting the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth of these items for you.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcasinoChupacabracity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgamblinggift-packsguild-wars-2gw2humorlockboxlockboxeslootboxlootboxeslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromystic-boxmystic-chestncsoftoddsopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwereal-money-tradingrmtroundupsci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosuper-packsuper-packssuperherosuperheroesthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtreasure-boxesturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player's real-life journey honored in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/players-real-life-journey-honored-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/players-real-life-journey-honored-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/players-real-life-journey-honored-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars player Kelly Wells became inspired to go on a real-life adventure due to her explorations of Tyria and an encouraging TED talk -- and so she did it. Starting from Maine, Wells and her faithful dog crossed America to California by foot, ending the trip with a visit to ArenaNet in Seattle. The developers were so impressed by Wells' journey that they decided to make her part of Guild Wars 2.

In a new ArenaNet blog post, Lead Content Designer Colin Johanson shares how bowled over the devs were when they met Wells and why her epic journey had to become part of Guild Wars 2. "If we all took that perspective on life, deciding to make positive changes and refusing to let anything get in our way, it'd be amazing to see how much we'd all be able to accomplish," Johanson said. The team then collaborated to come up with a similar figure for its upcoming title.

Thus was born Ameranth, a Sylvari explorer who traverses the width of Tyria with her trusty dog, Anna. When players encounter her, Ameranth is known to say, "Ever since emerging from the Pale Tree, I've had the itch to see what the world has to offer. And what better way than with my own two feet?"

MassivelyPlayer's real-life journey honored in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmeranthanetarenanetbetaColin-Johansonfantasyguild-wars-2gw2inspirationaljourneyKelly-Wellsncsoftted-talktyriawalk-across-americawalk-across-tyriaWed, 16 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 writers talk (at length) about MMO story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/guild-wars-2-writers-talk-at-length-about-mmo-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/guild-wars-2-writers-talk-at-length-about-mmo-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/guild-wars-2-writers-talk-at-length-about-mmo-story/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - Human concept art
What's it like to pen the narrative for one of the most anticipated MMORPGs, well, ever? It's quite different from writing a novel or a screenplay, according to ArenaNet's Angel McCoy. She joins Guild Wars 2 lead writer Bobby Stein and Peter "The Explorer" Fries for an MMO story-flavored sit-down with fan site Under the Pale Tree.

The interview is a lengthy one (who knew that writers could be so wordy?), and it covers a bunch of ground including the megalithic sprawl of GW2's narrative, the challenges inherent in writing particular races, and the differences between in-game dialogue and cutscene exposition. There's more to it, of course, but honestly the thing is so huge that we're going to go finish reading it after we've jotted down this here news post.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 writers talk (at length) about MMO story originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetangel-mccoyarenanetbobby-steinfantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-interviewguild-wars-2-storyguild-wars-2-writersgw2gw2-storyinterviewmmo-storynarrativencsoftpeter-friesstoryWed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: RIFT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/why-i-play-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/why-i-play-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/why-i-play-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

RIFT
Is it possible for a top-tier MMO to come out of nowhere and bowl you over? Considering that I follow these games not only for a hobby but as a writer for Massively, I always assumed the answer to that was "no." Until it happened, that is. Until RIFT.

It's not as though RIFT was a big secret or anything, but up until the late hours of 2010, it was very low on my -- and many of my friends' -- radars. I often got it confused with TERA, for Pete's sake! It wasn't until I got my hands on it at PAX that year and then saw how huge the beta got that I realized there was more to this supposedly generic fantasy title than I'd assumed. It truly felt like it came out of nowhere, and before I knew it, I was enjoying what became one of my favorite games of 2011.

So why did I play RIFT, and why do I still log in on occasion today? Trust me, it's not for the Elves.

Continue reading Why I Play: RIFT

MassivelyWhy I Play: RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmenteaeditorialelectronic-artsfantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2lucasartsmassively-metametancsoftnostalgiaop-edopinionpaxpax-primepax-prime-2010riftrift-literift-planes-of-telarasci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictortriontrion-worldswarcraftwhy-i-playworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World
Massively Speaking Episode 201 gets into all of your dirty little secrets -- not to mention Funcom's, as well! We're joined by Jef, who gives us the full scoop on The Secret World now that the NDA's come tumbling down. Will this be another Failcom or possibly a Fabulouscom? Only Jef knows, and he's highly resistant to torture and bribery.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrantbrian-greenbrian-psychchild-greenbrianna-roycebricksbrowserbrowser-basedddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineearthrisef2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomguild-wars-2gw2historicalhorrorhumorjustin-olivettilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromassively-speakingmastheadmasthead-studiosmythologynamastenamaste-entertainmentnamaste-incncsoftnew-englandopinionparadoxparadox-interactivepermadeathpgcplayer-generated-contentpodcastpodcastingpodcastspsychochildsalemsandboxsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedstorybricksthe-secret-worldtswturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtual-worldwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 201Massively.com Staff01:03:33podcasts<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Dynomatic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/flameseeker-chronicles-dynomatic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/flameseeker-chronicles-dynomatic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/flameseeker-chronicles-dynomatic/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 concept art: Centaurs from hell
After the first mostly-open beta weekend event, reaction to the dynamic event system of Guild Wars 2 is mixed. Some people see it as the revolution of gameplay that was promised, others think it's a refreshing and solid system, and others feel that it falls short. All of those are fair, although it mightn't be hard to guess that I don't share all of those opinions.

Some people expecting the dynamic event system to be the trumpet that would herald the arrival of the salvation of the MMO world were rather let down. There've been a couple of bits of confusion about the nature and scope of dynamic events, so let's look into them.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Dynomatic

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Dynomatic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcolin-johansondedynamic-eventsdynomaticfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftopinionpveravious-makes-a-good-pointTue, 15 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 nets 500K Facebook likes, releases Destiny's Edge art to celebrate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/guild-wars-2-nets-500k-facebook-likes-releases-destinys-edge-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/guild-wars-2-nets-500k-facebook-likes-releases-destinys-edge-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/guild-wars-2-nets-500k-facebook-likes-releases-destinys-edge-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
ArenaNet continues to roll out the rewards for being well-liked this week. Guild Wars 2 crossed the half-million Facebook like barrier, and as a result, the studio released a new epic piece of art for its fans.

The picture is of Destiny's Edge, the adventuring group that features so prominently in Guild Wars 2, facing a rather fearsome foe: The Shatterer. According to the Facebook page, this is actually an in-game screenshot that's been "embellished" by ArenaNet artist Daniel Dociu. As with the other pictures that it has released, ArenaNet has made this image available as a high-resolution version as well.

This art release comes at an auspicious time, as Guild Wars 2 is diving into a seven-hour beta stress test starting today at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 nets 500K Facebook likes, releases Destiny's Edge art to celebrate originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetartbetaconcept-artDaniel-Dociudestinys-edgefacebookfantasyguild-wars-2gw2likesncsoftscreenshotstress-testMon, 14 May 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Brace yourself: The Guild Wars 2 stress test is coming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/brace-yourself-the-guild-wars-2-stress-test-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/brace-yourself-the-guild-wars-2-stress-test-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/brace-yourself-the-guild-wars-2-stress-test-is-coming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
The ArenaNet team is rallying the troops for a Guild Wars 2 stress test this coming Monday. While the existence and details of the test were already known, Rubi Bayer has added a note to participants to the game's Facebook page. The goal of the stress test is to see how the servers handle concentrated activity, so she gave a few tips on how best players can help the company during the short test. No simulation or prediction can ferret out as many problems as letting thousands of players loose on a game, so Rubi encouraged players to pile on the servers, find bugs, and be patient as they, well, find bugs.

The test will run on Monday, May 14th, from 2:00 p.m. EDT to 9:00 p.m. EDT, and will be available to pre-purchasers only. One nice treat is that although the company has mentioned character wipes between beta weekend events, players will still have their darling creations from BWE1 to run around with. Get ready to flood the servers on Monday. Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Fly, my pretties!

MassivelyBrace yourself: The Guild Wars 2 stress test is coming originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeta-weekend-eventbwefantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftrubi-bayerstress-testFri, 11 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mike O'Brien: Guild Wars 2's beta weekend 'overwhelming']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/mike-obrien-guild-wars-2s-beta-weekend-overwhelming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/mike-obrien-guild-wars-2s-beta-weekend-overwhelming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/mike-obrien-guild-wars-2s-beta-weekend-overwhelming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mike O'Brien
Mike O'Brien said that the result of Guild Wars 2's initial public beta weekend was "overwhelming in more ways than one." ArenaNet's president took the time to write up a short blog post reflecting on the outcome of the past beta weekend and the reasoning behind this coming Monday's surprise stress test.

According to O'Brien, while the feedback from the event was quite positive, the team had to struggle with unexpected demand for the game. Even after the management temporarily turned off the ability for players' ability to pre-purchase the title through ArenaNet, the game's 48 servers couldn't contain the influx of testers and beta tourists.

It wasn't just a PR stunt, however. "This was definitely a real beta, designed to find problems, gather player input, and learn what work still needs to be done before we ship the game," O'Brien stated.

The team is anticipating a bigger crowd with the next beta weekend, which is why it's running a seven-hour stress test on May 14th to test new changes.

MassivelyMike O'Brien: Guild Wars 2's beta weekend 'overwhelming' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeta-weekenddev-blogdev-diaryfantasyguideguild-wars-2gw2Mike Shanahanmike-o-brienMikeShanahanncsoftpresidentserversstress-testThu, 10 May 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 hosting a surprise stress test next Monday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/guild-wars-2-hosting-a-surprise-stress-test-next-monday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/guild-wars-2-hosting-a-surprise-stress-test-next-monday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/guild-wars-2-hosting-a-surprise-stress-test-next-monday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

IThat monster does not represent performance issues. Probably.
Are you in withdrawal after the last Guild Wars 2 testing weekend? Feeling the need to get back in the game, even if it's just for one night? If so, you're in luck, as the team has just recently announced that the game will be performing a surprise stress test on Monday, May 14th between 2:00 p.m. EDT until 9:00 p.m. EDT. It's a chance to log back in, play for a bit, and get more of a taste for the game over those seven hours.

Worth noting is that the stress test is only for pre-purchasers, but beyond that there are no specific test requirements -- you can continue using the characters you created during the beta weekend. Players may experience some slight performance issues, since the purpose is to try and alleviate issues before the next beta weekend rolls around. So if you've pre-purchased the game, get ready to head back to Tyria in less than a week's time.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 hosting a surprise stress test next Monday originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-testbeta-weekendbreakingfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpre-purchasestress-testsurprise-testThu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 wants you to play with your friends no matter what]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/guild-wars-2-wants-you-to-play-with-your-friends-no-matter-what/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/guild-wars-2-wants-you-to-play-with-your-friends-no-matter-what/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/guild-wars-2-wants-you-to-play-with-your-friends-no-matter-what/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
"Whenever we design a new feature we always ask ourselves how it impacts our players' ability to play with their friends," ArenaNet's Eric Flannum stated about Guild Wars 2. In an interview focused on connecting players together, Flannum made it clear that the team was looking for every possible opportunity to pave the way for social hookups.

Flannum addressed the specifics of how Guild Wars 2's servers work in relation to transfers. While there is a traditional paid transfer service (which can be used only every seven days), all players will have the ability to hop over to friends' servers as a guest. Player team-ups are further made possible by the dynamic level-adjusting system that scales players down to the zone they're occupying.

This process is made easier by ArenaNet's decision to make friend lists and guilds account-wide instead of specific to a server. So while each guild has a home server, other chapters can exist elsewhere. Flannum also said that the team is carefully structuring its PvP system so that it will be free from potential abuse by server guesting.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 wants you to play with your friends no matter what originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetaeric-flannumfantasyfriend-listfriends-listgroupgroupingguildguild-wars-2guildsgw2home-serverhome-worldhookupsinterviewncsoftpc-gamerpvpserverserver-transferssocialteamteamingteamupsTue, 08 May 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Five things to love about Lion's Arch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/flameseeker-chronicles-five-things-to-love-about-lions-arch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/flameseeker-chronicles-five-things-to-love-about-lions-arch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/flameseeker-chronicles-five-things-to-love-about-lions-arch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 concept art
Lion's Arch, the quintessential Tyrian player hub, has undergone quite the extensive renovation for Guild Wars 2. As a special treat for the last beta weekend, the city was made explorable to players for the first time -- and what a treat it was! After the Rise of Orr and the accompanying land shift, Lion's Arch as we knew and loved it in the original Guild Wars was flooded. It has been raised anew, very near the first city, and stands as a monument to piracy, desperation, and inter-species cooperation (not, perhaps, in that order).

So what makes Lion's Arch awesome? It's one of six huge cities that are the thriving populatiion centers of Tyria as we find it in Guild Wars 2, and since it doesn't have one single race to lend it culture and purpose, you can bet it had better be pretty special.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Five things to love about Lion's Arch

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Five things to love about Lion's Arch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcitydiving-boardfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2hublalions-archncsoftnew-lions-archopinionpiratespiratitudequaggantrailertrailersvideovideosTue, 08 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist looks at Guild Wars Utopia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-game-archaeologist-looks-at-guild-wars-utopia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-game-archaeologist-looks-at-guild-wars-utopia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-game-archaeologist-looks-at-guild-wars-utopia/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars Utopia
Aztecs. Chronomancers. Mounts. Halberds. Golems. Dual wielding.

These are all but a hint of what a fourth Guild Wars campaign could have been, a campaign that was under development in the mid-2000s but was scrapped by 2007. Replacing it was the expansion Guild Wars Eye of the North and the workings of a super-secret sequel to the game (which you've probably never heard of). It was the forgotten campaign, swept under a rug while it was still under the rug.

But what if, in some alternative timeline, ArenaNet had gone ahead with this campaign? What if it became an established part of the Guild Wars legacy, as familiar to us today as Nightfall and Factions?

What if Guild Wars Utopia had lived?

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist looks at Guild Wars Utopia

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist looks at Guild Wars Utopia originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetasuraazteccampaignchronomancerclassicclassic-mmosclassicsdestroyersEric-Flannumeye-of-the-northfactionsfantasyfeaturedgame-archaelogistguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-eye-of-the-northguild-wars-factionsguild-wars-nightfallguild-wars-propheciesguild-wars-utopiagwgw2ncsoftnightfallnostalgiaopinionpropheciesSidhesummonersylvariTannecksthe-game-archaeologistutopiaTue, 08 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 fan compares new game map to original]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/guild-wars-2-fan-compares-new-game-map-to-original/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/guild-wars-2-fan-compares-new-game-map-to-original/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/guild-wars-2-fan-compares-new-game-map-to-original/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Enterprising Guild Wars 2 player and Reddit member that_shaman went above and beyond the call of duty by providing a useful tool for the growing beta community: a giant, fleshed-out map of the new Tyria. In it, he fits the current explored player regions of Guild Wars 2 on top of the preexisting Guild Wars 1 world map to show just how faithful ArenaNet has been in staying true to its landscape and outposts.

The full Guild Wars 2 map encompasses around 25 zones, six cities, and some odds and ends. Of course, not all of Guild Wars 1 areas are revisited in GW2 (at least, not yet), and Guild Wars 2 has a few areas that were never explored in its predecessor.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 fan compares new game map to original originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetacommunitycomparecompare-and-contrastfantasyguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2mapncsoftprojectthat_shamanworld-mapMon, 07 May 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Sequelizin']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/one-shots-sequelizin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/one-shots-sequelizin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/one-shots-sequelizin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

One Shots
Massively reader Sharvis, a familiar name throughout our comment section, landed today's One Shots feature with a screenshot from the most recent Guild Wars 2 beta event for pre-purchasers. And it looks like he managed to figure out a way to see the Asura and Sylvari in NPC form, in spite of their absence from the test as playable characters. He writes in,
My Ranger, Leander Delmanos, overlooks the water beyond Lion's Arch in Guild Wars 2. He's accompanied by Snoots, his faithful bear companion, and two NPCs.
We've got more GW2 pics for this special One Shots edition after the cut!

Continue reading One Shots: Sequelizin'

MassivelyOne Shots: Sequelizin' originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbring-back-one-shotsfantasygalleriesgalleryguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftone-shotsreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsscreenshotscreenshotsuser-submissionsSun, 06 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 gem store goes (partially) online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/guild-wars-2-gem-store-goes-partially-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/guild-wars-2-gem-store-goes-partially-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/guild-wars-2-gem-store-goes-partially-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
One of the more controversial aspects of the upcoming Guild Wars 2 is its microtransaction system, the details of which were tightly under wraps until the recent NDA-free public beta weekend. Now that the public's had a look-see, ArenaNet brought its gem store out into the open for all to see.

The browser version of the store, which is also available in the game itself, is only partially functional at the moment. While it does list the categories, items, and icons for its wares, it's lacking any prices, descriptions, or ability to purchase.

It's worth a look if you want a first-hand view of the goods that ArenaNet hopes will power Guild Wars 2's profitability, of course. The categories include style, consumable, support, account, boosts, and minis.

[Update: The gemstore has since been taken down.]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 gem store goes (partially) online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetacash-shopfantasygemgem-storegemsguild-wars-2gw2item-shopitem-storejemmicrotransactionsncsofttruly-truly-outrageous-ooohFri, 04 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Artist plagiarizes Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft illustrators]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/artist-plagiarizes-guild-wars-2-world-of-warcraft-illustrators/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/artist-plagiarizes-guild-wars-2-world-of-warcraft-illustrators/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/artist-plagiarizes-guild-wars-2-world-of-warcraft-illustrators/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Concept art
If you're going to steal, steal big -- or so Romanian artist Iani Papadopol thought. Papadopol put on an exhibit called "UpDate 3D loading" featuring fantastic landscapes and scenery. The only problem? Instead of painting them himself, he ripped off several well-known illustrators, including ArenaNet's Daniel Dociu and Blizzard's Mathias Verhasselt, claiming the pieces as his own.

The fraud was discovered by online fans and local artists after the exhibit was broadcast on TV. Papadopol's works were found to be stunningly similar -- in fact, identical -- to those of famous video game illustrators. Papadopol attempted to sell the prints before he was caught. There's no word yet whether charges will be filed.

"I found out from my friends," Dociu, a fellow Romanian, said on a news channel. "I recognized four pieces of my work immediately. What upsets me is that he's also Romanian with an artistic background. I will not take legal action if he admits what he did."

Papadopol's father, the acclaimed artist Constantin Papadopol, says that this is a misunderstanding. In any case, let this be the lesson to the next lazy art thief: It's perhaps best not to rip off the guy whose work was on the cover of National Geographic.

MassivelyArtist plagiarizes Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft illustrators originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetartart-theftblizzardblizzard-entertainmentconcept-artconcept-artistConstantin-PapadopolcrimeDaniel-Dociufantasyguild-wars-2gw2iani-PapadopolillustratorMathias-Verhasseltncsoftplaigarismtheftwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 04 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Guild Wars 2 gravestone epitaphs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/the-perfect-ten-guild-wars-2-gravestone-epitaphs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/the-perfect-ten-guild-wars-2-gravestone-epitaphs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/the-perfect-ten-guild-wars-2-gravestone-epitaphs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Scooby Doo
The dead tell the best stories, they say.

Outside of Divinity's Reach in Guild Wars 2 is a graveyard. It's the type of place that you run through quickly on your way to more lively settings, unless a zombie attack emerges. It was the type of place that I was running through quickly during the previous beta weekend when I realized that the gravestones could be examined -- and each and every one of them had an interesting epitaph to read. Some crazy ArenaNet writer sat down one afternoon and wrote out dozens and dozens of gravestone inscriptions on the off-chance that any of us would slow down enough to read them. It paid off in my case.

This may be one of the most trivial Perfect Tens I've ever done, so forgive me with being absolutely fascinated by the epitaphs that came up during my explorations. With an absolute economy of words, each gravestone tells a complete story. Some are funny, some are dark, some play into the lore, and some actually managed to be quite moving.

Here are my 10 most favorite that I found. Maybe they'll haunt you as they do me.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Guild Wars 2 gravestone epitaphs

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Guild Wars 2 gravestone epitaphs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetblack-humorcemeterycrankshaftdisney-worldEdward-Goreyepitaphepitaphsfantasyfeaturedfunnygravegravestonegravestonesgraveyardguild-wars-2gw2humorinscriptionslittle-red-riding-hoodncsoftopinionp10perfect-10perfect-tenroundupthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenTirzah-Bauertop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listThu, 03 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Six things SWTOR and GW2 can learn from each other]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/hyperspace-beacon-six-things-swtor-and-gw2-can-learn-from-each/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/hyperspace-beacon-six-things-swtor-and-gw2-can-learn-from-each/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/hyperspace-beacon-six-things-swtor-and-gw2-can-learn-from-each/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: 6 things SWTOR and GW2 can learn from each other
As I'm sure most of you can guess by the title of this piece, I spent a little time in another MMO this weekend. That doesn't mean that I will be trading in my Jawas and Wookiees for Asura and Charr. However, I will admit that Star Wars: The Old Republic does not contain everything I want from an MMO. That's also not say that Guild Wars 2 has all those missing elements. But I believe there are quite a few things that both of these great MMOs can learn from each other to make the overall MMO experience better for everyone.

Before I begin this breakdown, I should state that this is not a comprehensive list of everything that I liked and disliked from either game. At the same time, I want to also state that, besides the 20 or so minutes at trade shows I had with the game, this weekend marked the first time I've spent any serious time in Guild Wars 2. My opinion here is far from complete, and my experience is really based on the first 10 levels of GW2.

Lastly, I'd like to say that Wookiees will always be cooler than Charr!

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Six things SWTOR and GW2 can learn from each other

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Six things SWTOR and GW2 can learn from each other originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ANetanimationArenaNetBioWarecutscenesEAElectronic-ArtsfantasyfeaturedGuild-WarsGuild-Wars-2GW2impressionsjumpingliving-worldLucasArtsNCSoftopen-world-pvpopinionpersonal-storypreviewpvepvpsci-fiStar-WarsStar-Wars-The-Old-RepublicswimmingSWTORThe-Old-RepublicTORTue, 01 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: After beta action report]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/flameseeker-chronicles-after-beta-action-report/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/flameseeker-chronicles-after-beta-action-report/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/flameseeker-chronicles-after-beta-action-report/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 -- you have NO IDEA how long I've been waiting to use my own screenshots
Well there you have it, ladies and gents: The first Guild Wars 2 beta weekend over which people had direct control over their participation has come and gone. It was quite the exciting weekend, and it's amazing to see the volume and content of feedback being provided. If you missed out on a chance to get your hands on the game, feel free to form some vicarious impressions; there's tons of footage out there from oodles of people. Massively has a few streams recorded, and I have a niggling feeling that someone will have plenty of extra footage.

It was great to be back in the game, it was great to get to talk about stuff with people and stream and share pictures, but mostly it was great to see the world populated the way it really needs to be to feel alive and whole. Beta being beta, that brought its own set of challenges and learning experiences -- mostly for ArenaNet -- but on the whole I hope that most people agree that this was, if not a truly delightful weekend (I can't expect everyone to share my taste in games), then at least a solid and informative one.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: After beta action report

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: After beta action report originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-weekendbwe1fantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgroupingguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2multiplayerncsoftopinionoverflow-serverpreviewTue, 01 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking 199: Rusty Hearts reveal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/massively-speaking-199-rusty-hearts-reveal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/massively-speaking-199-rusty-hearts-reveal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/massively-speaking-199-rusty-hearts-reveal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Rusty Hearts
Massively Speaking Episode 199 has our intrepid duo sitting down with Rusty Hearts Game Producer Mark Hill to talk about the game's newest character: Leila! If petticoats and perfume and razor-sharp swords are your bag, then Leila will answer your peculiar personals ad. We also talk about several game anniversaries, the Guild Wars 2 beta weekend, and Cryptic's big boo-boo.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking 199: Rusty Hearts reveal

MassivelyMassively Speaking 199: Rusty Hearts reveal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoanetanimearenanetblueholebluehole-studiosbrantbrianna-roycecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcrypticcryptic-studiosdnden-masseen-masse-entertainmentf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomguild-wars-2gw2humorinterviewjustin-olivettikingsislekingsisle-entertainmentmark-hillmassively-speakingncsoftneverwinteropinionparagonparagon-studiosperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpirate101podcastpodcastingpodcastspwerusty-heartssuperherosuperheroesteraTue, 01 May 2012 10:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 199Massively.com Staff01:07:09podcasts<![CDATA[See Guild Wars 2's Lion's Arch for the first time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/see-guild-wars-2s-lions-arch-for-the-first-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/see-guild-wars-2s-lions-arch-for-the-first-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/see-guild-wars-2s-lions-arch-for-the-first-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2: Lion's Arch
Lion's Arch was a staple city in the original Guild Wars, so its presence 250 years later in Guild Wars 2 excites many hardcore fans of the lore. In this last weekend's beta event for Guild Wars 2, participants got to see the new Lion's Arch for the first time, answering several questions about its appearance and function in this more modern Tyria.

Our own Richie Procopio ventured into Lion's Arch to grab some video footage for those who didn't get a chance to see the city during the crazy weekend. The video shows a walk-through of the major features, including some amazing bird's-eye views and even a bit of the city at night. Click past the cut to watch the entire video.

Continue reading See Guild Wars 2's Lion's Arch for the first time

MassivelySee Guild Wars 2's Lion's Arch for the first time originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetfantasyfly-throughguild-wars-2gw2lions-archncsofttourvideoMon, 30 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Did you participate in the Guild Wars 2 beta weekend?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/the-daily-grind-did-you-participate-in-the-guild-wars-2-beta-we/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/the-daily-grind-did-you-participate-in-the-guild-wars-2-beta-we/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/the-daily-grind-did-you-participate-in-the-guild-wars-2-beta-we/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Charr ftw
For those who pre-purchased Guild Wars 2, participated in previous beta weekends or were lucky enough to be the handful selected from previous sign-ups, this last weekend meant you got your hands on the highly anticipated MMO in (most of) its shiny glory. That is, if you were able to log in.

While it's pretty apparent that most (but not all!) of us on the Massively team are in love with Guild Wars 2, that's inevitably not always the case when opinions come into play.

So we want to know what you liked or didn't like about the game. If it was your first time playing, was it everything you expected? For those playing again, did your opinion change at all? Were you even able to get past the log-in screen? 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: Did you participate in the Guild Wars 2 beta weekend? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbeta-eventbeta-weekenddaily-grindguild-wars-2gw2opinionpre-purchase-isnt-preordertdgthe-daily-grindMon, 30 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 resumes digital sales, addresses denied accounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/guild-wars-2-resumes-digital-sales-addresses-denied-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/guild-wars-2-resumes-digital-sales-addresses-denied-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/guild-wars-2-resumes-digital-sales-addresses-denied-accounts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Beta weekends are no strangers to rocky and unexpected events, as Guild Wars 2 can now attest. While many players are currently testing the heck out of the game, some have been shut out due to an error code on their account while others have been unable to pre-purchase the game due to halted sales of the digital product. ArenaNet has addressed both of these issues to help players resolve the matters and get into the beta.

The error code (9:4:5:1093:101) that some are getting signifies that the account is not flagged for the beta event. According to ArenaNet, this is either because the players used a pre-order instead of a pre-purchase code and accidentally received an invite email to the event or that a credit card was flagged during the pre-purchase order. In the case of the former, ArenaNet will honor the mistaken emails and allow all recipients into the remainder of the event.

The studio also announced that it has increased capacity for the beta event and thus has begun selling digital standard and digital deluxe pre-purchases of Guild Wars 2 once more.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 resumes digital sales, addresses denied accounts originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-eventbeta-event-weekendbeta-weekenddigital-deluxe-editiondigital-salesdigital-standard-editionerror-9error-codefantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftSun, 29 Apr 2012 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Is LotRO's questing system over the hill?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-road-to-mordor-is-lotros-questing-system-over-the-hill/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-road-to-mordor-is-lotros-questing-system-over-the-hill/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-road-to-mordor-is-lotros-questing-system-over-the-hill/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
There's a good chance you're not reading this column right now but instead are fully immersed in the weekend beta for Guild Wars 2: Guild Harder. That's OK. I won't hold it against you -- I may even be playing it as well. Oh, those ArenaNet folks. They make such lofty promises, don't they? They're going to rewrite MMOs as we know them and show us once and for all that we've been playing with Tinker Toys when we could have fully functional jetpacks and whatnot.

I don't harbor any ill will against Guild Wars 2; in fact, I'm quite looking forward to it. But as everyone's focused on the game's excising of traditional questing as popularized by World of Warcraft, I thought it would be worth examining just how dated Lord of the Rings Online's questing system has become, if at all.

In an era of dynamic events, public quests, full voice-over, and other techniques designed to get us away from the text box questing model, will LotRO hold its ground against these fads or is it truly becoming a relic of the past? Let's dig in!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Is LotRO's questing system over the hill?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Is LotRO's questing system over the hill? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmenteaelectronic-artsepic-questsepic-storyepic-storylinef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguild-wars-2gw2jrr-tolkienlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsncsoftopinionquestquestingquesting-systemriders-of-rohanriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararoad-to-mordorsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republicthe-road-to-mordortolkientortriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 28 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars: What keeps fans coming back]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/guild-wars-what-keeps-fans-coming-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/guild-wars-what-keeps-fans-coming-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/guild-wars-what-keeps-fans-coming-back/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars
Spring is in the air in Guild Wars! I can hear the pitter-patter of speed-enhanced feet coming from the Dragon Arena, the roar of the crowds watching Rollerbeetle races, and the endless grunts of unlucky players on the Nine Rings. It's a celebration -- the celebration of the seventh anniversary of Guild Wars, to be precise.

In and around the annual birthday cupcake hoarding that's going on for the duration of festivities, this year has a few other exciting tricks up its proverbial sleeve. For one thing, a new and limited-edition pet has been made available; the Hound of Balthazar can be unlocked for free by having a brief chat with Ceira, Sworn to Fire, in Embark Beach. For another, the bonuses from all weekend events are active for the anniversary, so players will have to go pretty far out of their way to not reap sweet, sweet rewards for any time spent in-game between now and May 8th.

Seven's a pretty nice number, don't you think? This is something of a special event, as ArenaNet's promise to get Guild Wars 2 shipped before year's end means that this'll be the last birthday that Guild Wars gets to have before the sequel comes along and grabs everyone's attention -- if, indeed, that's not already happening, what with the beta weekend that's going on right this moment. Even with Guild Wars 2 soaking up some limelight, though, Guild Wars is doing its creators proud and aging with grace and dignity. Let's take a look at some of the building blocks of the game's longevity.

Continue reading Guild Wars: What keeps fans coming back

MassivelyGuild Wars: What keeps fans coming back originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7th-anniversaryaging-gracefullyanetanniversaryarenanetbirthdayfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2hall-of-monumentsncsoftopinionseventh-birthdaywhy-players-keep-coming-backSat, 28 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 sells out of digital editions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/guild-wars-2-sells-out-of-digital-editions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/guild-wars-2-sells-out-of-digital-editions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/guild-wars-2-sells-out-of-digital-editions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
With Guild Wars 2's beta weekend event poised to start today, many procrastinating players may be rushing to the official site to prepurchase their copy of the game and secure a spot in the beta. Those who do so, however, will be in for a rude awakening, as both the standard and deluxe digital versions of Guild Wars 2 are listed as "sold out" on the site for North America.

While it may seem head-scratching that a company can sell out of a digital product, ArenaNet says that this was done to ensure enough server capacity for the event. The good news is that GameStop and Best Buy are still accepting prepurchase orders, and it looks as though ArenaNet will resume taking orders through the website once the beta weekend is underway:
We limit sales to ensure we have enough capacity for our customers. We're likely to have capacity available after the initial crunch at the start of the weekend. Players who purchase when we're able to resume digital sales at buy.guildwars2.com will still be able to play for the remainder of the weekend.
The team has also announced that world transfers will be free and unrestricted during this beta event.

[Thanks to FlyinBuddha for the tip!]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 sells out of digital editions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbest-buybetabeta-weekendbeta-weekend-eventdigital-deluxe-editiondigital-editionfantasygamestopguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftprepurchaseprocrastinationsold-outstandard-editionFri, 27 Apr 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a tour of Guild Wars 2's Asuran starting experience... for science!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/take-a-tour-of-guild-wars-2s-asuran-starting-experience-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/take-a-tour-of-guild-wars-2s-asuran-starting-experience-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/take-a-tour-of-guild-wars-2s-asuran-starting-experience-for/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Guild Wars 2
Hopeful denizens of Tyria are almost certainly gearing up for this weekend's Guild Wars 2 public beta test, but fans of all things mad-science are probably a bit disappointed that the insa-- err, innovative Asura won't be playable this time around. Not to worry, though; the folks over at PC Gamer got an inside look at the first 10 levels of the Asura starting experience for your pleasure.

Of course, if there's one thing that fans of the minuscule mad scientists know to expect from the race's crazed experiments, it's that they operate entirely within the realm of Murphy's Law. That of course holds true for the Asura starting experience, which sees players battling against the rebel Asuran Inquest while also dealing with the myriad failed science projects of their compatriots. For some of the highlights of the Asuran introductory story, go check out the full article at PC Gamer.

MassivelyTake a tour of Guild Wars 2's Asuran starting experience... for science! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetasuraasuranbookahfantasyfor-scienceguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpreviewstarting-experiencestarting-zoneWed, 25 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 Facebook milestone brings new art, more to come]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/guild-wars-2-facebook-milestone-brings-new-art-more-to-come/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/guild-wars-2-facebook-milestone-brings-new-art-more-to-come/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/guild-wars-2-facebook-milestone-brings-new-art-more-to-come/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - golem boss concept
Anticipation for Guild Wars 2 is reaching a fever pitch thanks to beta invite emails. ArenaNet's publicity machine is capitalizing on the mania, too, especially on Facebook. The game recently reached the 470,000 "likes" milestone, and fans were rewarded with a new piece of concept art. As you can see above, it's a huge golem boss in the Maguuma Jungle. Also note the tiny Asura in the foreground who gives a sense of the creature's enormous scale.

ArenaNet is dangling another carrot in the form of the 480,000 "like" plateau. Once it's reached, players will be rewarded with another piece of art. There's even a teaser of the upcoming image on the GW2 Facebook page.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 Facebook milestone brings new art, more to come originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetasuraasura-golem-bossbriberyfacebook-briberyfantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-concept-artguild-wars-2-facebookgw2ncsoftWed, 25 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet reveals world transfer details for Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/arenanet-reveals-world-transfer-details-for-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/arenanet-reveals-world-transfer-details-for-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/arenanet-reveals-world-transfer-details-for-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Image
To wrap up what's been a very exciting day for Guild Wars 2 beta weekend participants, ArenaNet has published a blog post detailing world choice and the mechanics of transferring worlds.

Upon first logging into the game, players will be able to pick any home world server available, including those in a different region from where they purchased the game. All characters thereafter are created on that home world. World transfers are possible, but have both a time and gem cost. A player can change home worlds only once every seven days and must shell out 1,800 gems to do so. Once the game goes live, however, a "guesting" feature will be available to allow players to join friends on any world, although players won't be able to participate in WvW for their temporary host server.

Guesting won't be in for the beta weekend event, but players will be able to test out transferring worlds. Each account will be able to unlock 2,000 free gems for the BWE, which will cover the cost of a transfer and a little more.

A complete server list for the upcoming beta weekend event is available in ArenaNet's blog post.

MassivelyArenaNet reveals world transfer details for Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeta-weekendbeta-weekend-eventbwebwe1fantasyguild-wars-2gw2home-serverhome-worldncsoftnewsserver-mechanicsworldworld-transferTue, 24 Apr 2012 22:30:00 EST