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[Not So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-competitors-speak-up-and-lol-reve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-competitors-speak-up-and-lol-reve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-competitors-speak-up-and-lol-reve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
The big announcement we've all been waiting for has finally arrived: Diablo III has a release date! This week the beta was wiped to prepare for launch, and Blizzard's Jay Wilson responded to questions about the cash auction house in hardcore mode. Competing title Path of Exile continued development toward its own release, and Torchlight II gave players a unique look under the hood of the game with a breakdown of item drop statistics. Runic Games congratulated the Diablo team on its release date announcement and published an open letter to fans urging them to just wait a little longer for their Torchlight fix.

In MOBA news, League of Legends revealed its next champion, Lulu, and explored the game's rapidly growing German community. Dota 2 added classic DotA hero Shadow Demon and performed some much-needed tweaks to bots, and Rise of Immortals released the official Azcadelia immortal spotlight. Heroes of Newerth released Gunblade, an original ranged agility carry hero that was been met with some strong disapproval in the community. Blacklight: Retribution's open beta updates continued this week with the release of its Vertigo map, a battleground set in the roofspaces of a sprawling industrial complex.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgauction-houseAzcadeliabattlenetblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadungeon-crawlere-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfpsfree-to-playgermangermanygothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesgunbladehardcorehardcore-modehcheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslollulummofpsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exileperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespoepvppweriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsrmahrmtroiround-uprounduprpgrunic-gamess2s2-gamesshadow-demontorchlightvertigovideoMon, 19 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III will see you in hell... mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-will-see-you-in-hell-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-will-see-you-in-hell-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-will-see-you-in-hell-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you were among the players put out because Diablo III seems too pretty to be hardcore, you'll be happy to know that Blizzard hopes to re-earn your love, not with art but with gameplay. The company has released a video in which key DIII devs talk up the game's nightmare, hell, and inferno difficulty modes. They promise a veritable ass-kicking complete with hours of wiping and mounting repair costs. Quoth the devs:
"Normal mode was pretty casual. It's very fun -- you're one-clicking and you're having laughs. Once you get into Nightmare mode, it starts turning into all business. [...] The game really starts [...] at Nightmare. [...] The way the game is tuned right now, people have no idea what they're getting themselves into."
Perhaps not coincidentally, the Battle.net World of Warcraft blog is now daring gamers to join a community-driven Iron Man WoW Challenge. Participants eschew luxuries like buffs, talents, and grouping and charge into the world to see just how high they can level. Death, of course, means game over for the hardest of the hardcore.

The Diablo III vid is embedded just behind the break!

Continue reading Diablo III will see you in hell... mode

MassivelyDiablo III will see you in hell... mode originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasyhardcorehardcore-modehellinfernoiron-man-challengemultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerpgvideowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 10 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you play in self-enforced hardcore mode?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-in-self-enforced-hardcore-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-in-self-enforced-hardcore-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-in-self-enforced-hardcore-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Salem
The permadeath-in-MMOs issue has been debated to death. Most of us have probably either played in a Diablo-esque hardcore mode or gaped at the stones required to publish a true MMORPG with permadeath (hi, Salem). But who says you need game mechanics to make permadeath a reality?

I've gamed with roleplayers who took their characters deadly seriously and would delete their characters if they were killed off within the context of the game. (So much for the idea that roleplayers are casuals, eh?) Their web of self-inflicted rules is so complex (maiming? dice rolls? emote-combat?) that playing with such RPers can actually become stressful, especially if you don't want to be responsible for their having to delete and reroll.

What about you folks? Do you play or roleplay in a self-enforced hardcore mode? Do you do it because it's fun, because it makes gameplay more intense, or because you like a good challenge?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you play in self-enforced hardcore mode? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbrianna-royce-tdgcharacterdeathdeleteddiablohardcorehardcore-modeopinionParadox-Interactivepermadeathroleplayersroleplayingrpsalemtdgthe-daily-grindMon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Hardcore mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/wasteland-diaries-hardcore-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/wasteland-diaries-hardcore-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/wasteland-diaries-hardcore-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So during your wait for Sector 4, have you conquered it all in Fallen Earth? You've overcome every obstacle and achieved every achievement? You've amassed wealth beyond dreams and have become a king among men in the wastes? Maybe not, but let's assume you have. What do you do now? Well, I've got some terrific news for you. Fallen Earth has a hardcore mode. It's a realism mod of sorts. But the catch is: Nothing is changed on the server side. All modifications will be made client-side (and they will be made legally).

This mode will take a large amount of self-discipline. It will be very easy to cheat. Many of the rules that will be imposed on you will also be enforced by you. In order for it to be considered truly hardcore, apocalyptic-realism, you can't cheat. Even Fallout: New Vegas has a hardcore mode. Of course, I played it in hardcore mode and still found it too easy. I had to impose rules on myself to keep it challenging (like no V.A.T.S. allowed). I also found that the ability to save right before a big decision or fight also alleviates some of the difficulty. Of course, I could impose further restrictions on myself to make the game more difficult. With that in mind, after the cut, I'll show you how to do just that with Fallen Earth.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Hardcore mode

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Hardcore mode originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>difficultydifficulty-levelfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfefeaturedhardcorehardcore-modeicarusicarus-studiosrealismsatirewastelandwasteland-diarieswastelandsFri, 14 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively speaks at length with Jumpgate Evolution's Hermann Peterscheck]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/massively-speaks-at-length-with-jumpgate-evolutions-hermann-pet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/massively-speaks-at-length-with-jumpgate-evolutions-hermann-pet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/massively-speaks-at-length-with-jumpgate-evolutions-hermann-pet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


With its June launch looming just a few months away, we spoke with Jumpgate Evolution's Hermann Peterscheck. Within this interview you can find information on topics such as digital distribution, beta, hardcore mode and plenty more.

And if that somehow doesn't sate your thirst for information, then check out our previous interviews with Hermann, which contain all sorts of additional, informative goodies.

Gallery: Jumpgate Evolution Gallery

Continue reading Massively speaks at length with Jumpgate Evolution's Hermann Peterscheck

MassivelyMassively speaks at length with Jumpgate Evolution's Hermann Peterscheck originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardcodemastersdigital-distributionfeaturedhardcore-modehermann-peterscheckjgejumpgatejumpgate-evolutionlicenselicense-systemnetdevilsteamvalveworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythos gets a giant update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/mythos-gets-a-giant-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/mythos-gets-a-giant-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/mythos-gets-a-giant-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Mythos, the free-to-play MMO from developer Flagship Studios, has just announced a new update to the software, and the list of features, improvements, and bug fixes is extraordinarily long and satisfying. I'll embed the list after the jump, but here are a few of the things that stood out to me:
  • Hardcore Mode: If you play in this mode, your character can die, and that's forever! Maybe someone was reading my post and decided it sounded like a good idea!
  • Guilds are now available to create for the cost of 5 gold
  • Hardware mouse cursors: No lag for me anymore, yay
  • and my favorite for a laugh: 'Ants are now more interesting as monsters'
Best part of all, Mythos promises no patch download is necessary; simply logging in will provide you with the update. Nice work, Flagship, and keep it up!

Full list after the jump!

Continue reading Mythos gets a giant update

MassivelyMythos gets a giant update originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antsbreakingflagship-studiosguildshardcore-modemythosupdatesSat, 15 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST