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[Guild Wars 2 pre-purchase details announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/guild-wars-2-pre-purchase-details-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/guild-wars-2-pre-purchase-details-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/guild-wars-2-pre-purchase-details-announced/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Guild Wars 2 - Collector's Edition
Things are just getting more and more exciting for Guild Wars 2 fans. Since ArenaNet's blog post confirming a 2012 launch, things seem to be warming up: We've had a press beta, an intensely busy beta signup period, the promise of another late March beta, and now an announcement about Guild Wars 2 pre-purchase. NCsoft sent out a press release today with some juicy details regarding the game's Collector's Edition and the benefits of purchasing early.

From April 10th onward, pre-purchasers of any of the editions (Collector's, Digital Deluxe, or Standard) will be guaranteed access into beta weekend events and a three-day head start for launch, which is awesome if you want to reserve a cool name so you're not stuck with being xLegolasXx. An additional benefit to any pre-purchase is the somewhat mysterious Hero's Band, which will apparently give characters a variety of power boosts to speed them on their way.

The Collector's Edition is going to cost you $149.99, but ArenaNet certainly seems to be providing bang for your buck: a 10-inch statue of the iconic Rytlock Brimstone and his sword Sohothin, a custom frame with five Guild Wars 2 art prints, a book on the making of Guild Wars 2, a soundtrack CD, and five in-game items (including a mini Rytlock), all of which should make this a pretty tempting order for super fans of the game. The Digital Deluxe pre-purchase is only going to run you $79.99, and the Standard Edition will be $59.99 -- again, any three of those will secure you the Hero's Band, a place in beta events, and a three-day head start. Pre-ordering Guild Wars 2 from select retailers will reserve you a copy of the game at launch and entitle you to a one-day head start.

[Source: NCsoft press release]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 pre-purchase details announced originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeta-weekendce-goodiesce-owners-get-a-rytlock-brimstone-minicollectors-editionfantasyguild-wars-2gw2headstartheros-bandncsoftpre-orderpre-purchaserytlockrytlock-brimstoneTue, 13 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR brings up six new servers to match demand]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/swtor-brings-up-six-new-servers-to-match-demand/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/swtor-brings-up-six-new-servers-to-match-demand/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/swtor-brings-up-six-new-servers-to-match-demand/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
As more players flood through the gates of Star Wars: The Old Republic, the team is keeping busy behind the scenes. On the game's Facebook page, BioWare has announced that it has brought up another six servers to accommodate the new players. The new servers are all PvE, and three cater to the East coast, while the other three cover the West coast. For those interested in rolling on a new server, the servers are Kathol Rift, The Constant, and Krayiss Obelisk on the East coast and Wall of Light, Darth Sion, and Kaiburr Crystal for the West coast. Good luck, and may the Force be with you.

MassivelySWTOR brings up six new servers to match demand originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaearly-startelectronic-artshead-startheadstartlaunchnew-serverspveserversstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicFri, 16 Dec 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare updates fans on staggered SWTOR launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/bioware-updates-fans-on-staggered-swtor-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/bioware-updates-fans-on-staggered-swtor-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/bioware-updates-fans-on-staggered-swtor-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

RAWR GIEF EARLY ACCESS NAO! says the Zabrak
If you're still not in Star Wars: The Old Republic's early access phase, you're not alone. In fact, BioWare's Stephen Reid took to the forums today to update impatient fans on just how the staggered pre-launch will continue to roll out over the next few days:
Today, we invited people who had pre-ordered up to the very beginning of October (roughly). Tomorrow, we're going to be inviting the same number of people again; that will take us up to the last week or so of November. On Friday, we'll be inviting even more, and we'll give you an update on that tomorrow.

You'll see more servers coming online tomorrow, and almost certainly there will be some queuing. That was always expected. As a reminder, our plan here is to maintain healthy server populations post launch, and during the excitement of launch that will mean queues. That said, we'll be working hard to keep those queues reasonable.
That's good news for those who pre-ordered late and who otherwise might have thought they'd have a much longer wait.

MassivelyBioWare updates fans on staggered SWTOR launch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaearly-accesselectronic-artsforumforumshead-startheadstartlucasartsrolloutsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstephen-reidswtorthe-old-republictorWed, 14 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's guide to SWTOR's launch and beyond]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/massivelys-guide-to-swtors-launch-and-beyond/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/massivelys-guide-to-swtors-launch-and-beyond/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/massivelys-guide-to-swtors-launch-and-beyond/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Massively's SWTOR Launch Guide (Original graphic by Larry Everett)
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, we first heard mention of a new Star Wars MMO set in the popular Knights of the Old Republic era. Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare named it, and we've waited patiently impatiently through months years of hope and hype, fanboys and haters, and at least eight million articles about the fourth pillar of story.

This week, The Old Republic is the new hotness, and the Massively staffers are right there with you, champing at the bit to get in the head start already! But what if you're not an expert on Star Wars lore or TOR's gameplay? What if you don't know the first thing about purple lightsabers, astromechs, and the Kessel Run? What if you can't decide which class to play? When do you get a starship? Can you really romance your companions? How do flashpoints work? And why are there no bathrooms on Coruscant?!

Relax, young Padawan. Put your blast-shield down and let Massively be your guide... literally. We've rounded up a massive collection of helpful introductory guides for each of the eight classes, along with overviews of gameplay mechanics like companions, starships, flashpoints, warzones, and crafting. We've also curated the most illuminating lore essays from our regular SWTOR column, Hyperspace Beacon, in addition to our extensive hands-on previews from the last few years.

Take your first step into a larger world...

Continue reading Massively's guide to SWTOR's launch and beyond

MassivelyMassively's guide to SWTOR's launch and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced-classbiowareclassclassescompanionscraftingeaElectronic-Artsflashpointgameplayguideguidesheadstartlaunchlauncheslorelucasartsmilestonesnewbie-guidepreviewpreviewsroundupsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstarshipsswtorswtor-guideswtor-launch-guidethe-old-republictorwarzoneMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This Week in MMO: Ohmigod SWTOR is almost here edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/this-week-in-mmo-ohmigod-swtor-is-almost-here-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/this-week-in-mmo-ohmigod-swtor-is-almost-here-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/this-week-in-mmo-ohmigod-swtor-is-almost-here-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This Week In MMO 73
In this week's edition of This Week In MMO, Gary Gannon and Mike B. are all about Star Wars: The Old Republic. OK, well, maybe not all about it, but the game's head start begins in less than a week, so you can expect plenty of SWTOR commentary. The pair also take some time to talk about Funcom's newly announced zone for The Secret World, the Scorched Desert.

The duo also spends some time ruminating on whether or not SWTOR may be the last subscription game we see as more and more games (such as Lineage II) go F2P. TERA's glyph system gets some air time as well, as does the announcement that Final Fantasy XIV is once again levying subscription fees from players. For the full video, click on past the cut.

Continue reading This Week in MMO: Ohmigod SWTOR is almost here edition

MassivelyThis Week in MMO: Ohmigod SWTOR is almost here edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaearly-startelectronic-artsff14ffxivfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfuncomgary-gannonhead-startheadstarthumorlineage-2lineage-iimike-bmike-b.star-wars-the-old-republicswtorterathe-scorched-desertthe-secret-worldthis-week-in-mmothis-week-in-mmo-73tswtwimmotwimmo-73videovideosFri, 09 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should characters always be wiped from beta to launch?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/the-daily-grind-should-characters-always-be-wiped-from-beta-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/the-daily-grind-should-characters-always-be-wiped-from-beta-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/the-daily-grind-should-characters-always-be-wiped-from-beta-to/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Marty! We have no time!
Who doesn't love a good beta? Right? Well, actually, lots of people don't like betas for several reasons, one of the biggest ones being the fact that your character's progression will usually be wiped clean before the game goes into launch mode.

As you can imagine, this is a necessary evil. After all, betas are for testing, not for getting a head start on your leveling. But more recently, some studios have been allowing characters to stay from open beta to launch, essentially establishing that beta period as a headstart of its own -- often before the official pre-order headstart.

This might just be another sign of that evolution of betas from a testing period to a marketing strategy, but we want to know how you feel about the character wipes themselves. Do you feel that erasing your character from beta to launch will stop you from playing in the beta, or do you see it as a fair part of the process?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should characters always be wiped from beta to launch? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betascharacter-wipeclosed-betaheadstartlaunchopen-betaopiniontdgthe-daily-grindFri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Old Republic pre-order head start 'up to five days' [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/the-old-republic-pre-order-head-start-up-to-five-days/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/the-old-republic-pre-order-head-start-up-to-five-days/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/the-old-republic-pre-order-head-start-up-to-five-days/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
As The Old Republic's release date draws ever closer, fans are starting to dig into the nitty-gritty of what they can expect from the game's launch. Well, one intrepid investigator over on the official forums has dug up this nugget from the official pre-order page:
CUSTOMERS WHO PRE-ORDER STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY THE GAME BEFORE THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH. EARLY GAME ACCESS IS THE PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THE OFFICIAL GAME LAUNCH WHEN PRE-ORDER CUSTOMERS MAY ACCESS THE GAME. EARLY GAME ACCESS MAY BE UP TO 5 DAYS. THE LENGTH OF YOUR EARLY GAME ACCESS DEPENDS ON THE DATE AND ORDER IN WHICH YOU REDEEMED YOUR PRE-ORDER CODE AT THE CODE REDEMPTION CENTER. SEE PRE-ORDER FAQ FOR MORE DETAILS.
So there you have it, folks. You can expect anywhere up to a five-day headstart with your pre-order. Of course, we expect we'll have confirmation on the matter from BioWare soon enough.

[Updated: The official site has updated to confirm the speculation, and we've tucked the full text behind the break. BioWare has also issued an official FAQ and chart to outline which pre-order benefits come with each edition.]

Continue reading The Old Republic pre-order head start 'up to five days' [Updated]

MassivelyThe Old Republic pre-order head start 'up to five days' [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsfive-dayshead-startheadstartpre-orderpreorderstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 04 Nov 2011 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Early Freedom for City of Heroes VIPs [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/early-freedom-for-city-of-heroes-vips/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/early-freedom-for-city-of-heroes-vips/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/early-freedom-for-city-of-heroes-vips/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

City of Heroes screenshot
City of Heroes' F2P Freedom conversion is still launching "this year," but if you're a current subscriber, you can check it out ahead of the pack.

Beginning on September 13th, existing players can participate in a headstart program that enables access to the Paragon Market cash shop as well as the brand-new First Ward co-operative zone. Paragon Studios is also promising official costume contests with prizes, dev-led groups in brand-new Incarnate trials, and live open-world invasion events on every server in addition to headstart-only "exclusive sales bundles and promotions."

Current subscribers are all set for the headstart; former players can still get in on the fun by reactivating and gaining VIP status now.

[Update: The official site now features a post on the headstart program, including details on the special sales and promotions.]

MassivelyEarly Freedom for City of Heroes VIPs [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroesCity-of-Villainscohconversioncovcoxf2pfirst-wardfree-to-playfreedomheadstartncsoftparagonparagon-marketparagon-studiossuperherovipFri, 09 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nab your very own Gods & Heroes beta key! [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/nab-your-very-own-gods-and-heroes-beta-key/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/nab-your-very-own-gods-and-heroes-beta-key/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/nab-your-very-own-gods-and-heroes-beta-key/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Heatwave Interactive's mythology-driven MMO Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising is cresting toward its official launch on June 21st, but there's still time for you to dive in early!

Until June 12th, curious would-be players can sign up on the official Gods & Heroes site for an open beta key, free and clear. During this final open beta phase, testers will romp through the early levels of gameplay, boss their minions, and preview the estate system that impressed even our own Beau Hindman.

If you like what you see, then you'll want to preorder the game to access the Gods & Heroes head-start program, which will allow gamers to sail past the competition and enter the game officially a full week early. Have fun!

[Updated: It's June 12th, so the beta key giveaway has now officially ended. Hope you had a great time!]

MassivelyNab your very own Gods & Heroes beta key! [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-keyscontestcontestsgahgiveawaygiveawaysgods-and-heroeshead-startheadstartheatwaveheatwave-interactivekeykeysmythologyopen-betapreorderroman-mythologyromeWed, 08 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT's head-start is standing room only]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/rifts-headstart-is-standing-room-only/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/rifts-headstart-is-standing-room-only/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/rifts-headstart-is-standing-room-only/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

To almost no one's surprise, Trion's RIFT head-start was an exercise in multitasking for many would-be players. MMO launch-day veterans are probably familiar with the one-eye-on-the-queue and one-eye-on-something-more-productive routine by now, but for everyone else, the fact that a good portion of the day was spent not playing RIFT was a bit frustrating.

In some cases, estimated wait times approached 15 hours (though in fairness to the folks at Trion, the counters did fluctuate quite a bit). Demand was so great that a whopping 13 additional servers were added around noon, with 10 more going up as the day wore on.

Tell us about your head-start horror stories in the comments (if you're not too busy playing, that is).

MassivelyRIFT's head-start is standing room only originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demandfantasyheadstartlaunchlaunchesnew-serverspatienceplanes-of-telaraqueue-queuequeuesrifttelaratriontrion-worldsFri, 25 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion Worlds: RIFT has surpassed one million registered accounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/trion-worlds-rift-has-surpassed-1-million-registered-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/trion-worlds-rift-has-surpassed-1-million-registered-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/trion-worlds-rift-has-surpassed-1-million-registered-accounts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In case you couldn't tell by now, Trion has officially confirmed that a lot of people are interested in its RIFT fantasy MMORPG. The new title has surpassed one million registered accounts, according to a press release that coincides with today's headstart kickoff.

RIFT officially launches on March 1st in the States (March 3rd in most of Europe and March 4th in the UK). The game will feature 33 opening-day servers to distribute the load of incoming players as well as several ruleset flavors including PvP, PvE, and RP.

Check out our extensive RIFT coverage from the head-start period all the way up to launch day, and head to the game's official website for more info.

MassivelyTrion Worlds: RIFT has surpassed one million registered accounts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-million-accountsfantasyheadstartlaunchone-million-accountsplanes-of-telarapre-orderpress-releaseregistered-accountsrifttelaratriontrion-worldsThu, 24 Feb 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT's Telara the Merciless open beta starts February 15th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/rifts-telara-the-merciless-open-beta-starts-february-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/rifts-telara-the-merciless-open-beta-starts-february-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/rifts-telara-the-merciless-open-beta-starts-february-15th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Let's face it. This time next week, some of us will be entirely sick of all the warm, fuzzy, cuddle-bug lovin' that typically signifies mid-February. Thankfully Trion Worlds is here to remind us that there are plenty of dragons, plate-clad pretty people, and a violent, war-torn world to explore when we've had our fill of Valentine's Day chocolates, truffles, and pink.

On February 15th, gamers across the land will be able to take part in RIFT's six-day open beta extravaganza. The event is billed as Telara the Merciless and will feature two playable factions, 42 levels, three PvP warfronts, and several explorable zones and dungeons. Signups are going on now, and you can also get ahead of the competition by pre-ordering and securing a spot in the head start event (February 24th to March 1st).

Finally, any dungeon boss that dies by your hand grants you a chance to win a spiffy Nvidia graphics card as well as an in-game prize pack. Get the full details at RIFT's official website.

MassivelyRIFT's Telara the Merciless open beta starts February 15th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betadefiantfantasyguardianheadstartin-game-eventnvidiaopen-betapinkpvepvprifttelaratelara-the-mercilesstriontrion-worldsMon, 07 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Answering unasked questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/the-mog-log-answering-unasked-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/the-mog-log-answering-unasked-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/the-mog-log-answering-unasked-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Sometimes, you wind up with what amounts to a perfect case of convergence. After a busy and stressful week, there's nothing I'd like more than to have an opportunity to relax with an enjoyable game -- and gee, Final Fantasy XIV came out on Wednesday. Seeing the release means a lot to me for a variety of reasons, but the most immediate reason is it means I have something to do from the moment I wake up Saturday to the moment I go to sleep Sunday. I couldn't be happier about that.

Of course, a certain amount of confusion is going to go hand-in-hand with that, so I'm slightly cheating on our regular format, helped by the fact that this month has been a little light on normal questions. The last Saturday of the month always covers questions and answers... but this month, I'm going to be covering the questions that come up most frequently while playing Final Fantasy XIV that don't fall under any of our prior articles on the game. So yes, it's another week without much Final Fantasy XI love. I beg your forgiveness, but I will stay the course.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Answering unasked questions

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Answering unasked questions originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesaetherytecharacter-abilitiesclass-abilitiescollectors-editionearly-launchfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivguildlevesheadstartnew-launchnew-titlesquestionsreleasespecial-editionsquaresquare-enixtransportationSat, 25 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV's open beta has an announced conclusion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/final-fantasy-xivs-open-beta-has-an-announced-conclusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/final-fantasy-xivs-open-beta-has-an-announced-conclusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/final-fantasy-xivs-open-beta-has-an-announced-conclusion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Love it or hate it, Final Fantasy XIV's open beta has given players a fair idea of what to expect when the game goes live near the end of the month. But all good things must draw to a close (or bad things if you're in the other camp), and so too must the game's beta testing. Today, Square-Enix announced that the open beta will close on September 19th, a mere three days before the launch of the collector's edition with its headstart.

Although the beta will be fully closed at 5:00 p.m. PDT on the 19th, the beta tester site will remain open until the following day at 12:00 a.m. PDT. While there's only a bit more than a week left of the testing, the steady pace of patches makes it clear that the game will likely be updating straight through to launch. So if you haven't gotten enough of Final Fantasy XIV testing to sate your interest, positive or negative, now would be the time to get to playing.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV's open beta has an announced conclusion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-closecollectors-editionearly-launchffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivheadstartlaunchlaunch-patchopen-betapatchespending-launchsquaresquare-enixtest-patchesFri, 10 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest's Underfoot expansion pushed back to December]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/everquests-underfoot-expansion-pushed-back-to-december/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/everquests-underfoot-expansion-pushed-back-to-december/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/everquests-underfoot-expansion-pushed-back-to-december/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It looks like EverQuest's upcoming expansion, Underfoot, will not be launching in November as was originally planned. A notice on the EQPlayers website has informed the community that the new launch date is the 15th of December, thankfully not too far from the previously nominated time frame. The reason given for the delay was fairly predictable: "To ensure that we can give our players the best possible gameplay experience and the amount of content that they've come to expect". Hopefully the extra time leads to a better expansion.

Just as before, players can still get early access to the expansion by participating in all three of the events in the "Road to Underfoot" series. So far only two of the events have actually been revealed; the first is "Giants, Giants, Giants", and the second is the "Ancient Heroes" event that was introduced with this week's game update. This leaves one more event to be unveiled later on. The cut-off date to participate in all three of them and qualify for the head-start is December 1st, with early access to begin on December 8th. Just remember that you have to pre-order and pay off the Underfoot expansion too! You can visit the Road to Underfoot homepage to get all the details on the events.

MassivelyEverQuest's Underfoot expansion pushed back to December originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient-heroesdelayearly-accesseverquestexpansiongiants-giants-giantshead-startheadstartrelease-dateroad-to-underfootsoesony-online-entertainmentunderfootFri, 18 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hello Kitty Online Founder's Beta announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/hello-kitty-online-founders-beta-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/hello-kitty-online-founders-beta-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/hello-kitty-online-founders-beta-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Collector's Editions, in-game exclusives, and headstarts aren't limited to hotly-anticipated MMOs in the fantasy genre. More casual MMOs are now offering additional incentives and benefits to gamers who are devoted to their given IP. A case-in-point is Hello Kitty Online and their newly-announced Founder's offer. The Hello Kitty Online Founder's Beta will allow those selected to play the game ahead of launch while participating in special in-game events. Here's how to become a Founder in two easy steps:

1. Sign up for a SanrioTown.com account.
2. Using your SanrioTown account, send a BLANK email to hkofounder@hellokitty.com.

That's it. Founders should have some new things to look forward to from Hello Kitty Online, according to the official site: "an improved interface, new monsters, new maps, new items, and the opening of London and Paris. The Founders' Beta will also introduce gameplay changes such as an improved skill system, pet systems and team-play oriented enhancements." If you're curious about this title, either for yourself or for one of the little people in your life, don't wait too long to become a Founder -- this stage of beta testing begins on October 8th. If you're thinking about giving it a shot, be sure to check out the full details in the Hello Kitty Online News and Update page.

[Via MMORPG]

MassivelyHello Kitty Online Founder's Beta announced originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetascasualcechildrencollectors-editionfounderfoundersfounders-betaheadstarthello-kitty-onlinehkokidsnew-titlessanriosanrio-digitalsanriotownMon, 15 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AoC Early Access program sold out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/aoc-early-access-program-sold-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/aoc-early-access-program-sold-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/aoc-early-access-program-sold-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So it seems that a lot of people want to play Age of Conan a few days early. The Early Access program that was offered to those who pre-ordered the game has sold out for all English versions of the game, with limited spots left for Germany and France. If you have a pre-order code for your in-game items, that will still work, but if you didn't actually register and buy your early access by this point, you're out of luck.

This has obviously left many players upset and angry, and the forum thread that broke the news is filled with people lamenting their ruined weekend. Some direct their anger towards retailers who failed to provide their codes in time, others point the finger at Funcom. Regardless of Funcom's reason for restricting early access places, a number of forum posters have highlighted the community site's earlier mention of the limited availability: "Hurry though, because the Early Access is only available while supply lasts!". That won't help ease the pain though for those who had their hearts set on lopping heads off on the 17th.

[Thanks, ScytheNoire!]

MassivelyAoC Early Access program sold out originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbreakingearly-accessearly-access-programfuncomheadstartmay-17thsold-outWed, 14 May 2008 10:15:00 EST