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MV Guide: February 6-12, 2012

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: February 6-12, 2012

MV Guide: February 6-12, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda celebrates its second birthday with free booster codes for Massively readers

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Contests, Free-to-play, Global Agenda, Giveaways

We told you earlier today that Hi-Rez is handing out prizes in honor of Global Agenda's second anniversary, and while that's pretty awesome, we've got a little something extra for those players who have the good taste to also be Massively readers.

We've got some booster codes to give away: three days of extra experience, credits, and tokens, free for the taking. Picking one up for yourself is a snap: Go to our giveaway page to pick up your code, then log into game and type "/claimpromotion Promocode". Enter your code and that's it -- you've got your three-day booster!

Enjoy your booster code and join us in thanking Hi-Rez for the gift!

Global Agenda celebrates its second birthday with free booster codes for Massively readers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

Continue reading MV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012

MV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: January 23-29, 2012

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

Continue reading MV Guide: January 23-29, 2012

MV Guide: January 23-29, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: January 16-22, 2012

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

Continue reading MV Guide: January 16-22, 2012

MV Guide: January 16-22, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shoot things up in Global Agenda for a shot at a new laptop

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Contests, News items, Free-to-play, Global Agenda

There's quite a lot of impressive new content on deck for Global Agenda's future, and considering how impressive the game's visuals are, it all seems like the sort of thing players will want to experience in style. If you're currently playing the game on an older machine, though, you might have resigned yourself to not getting your full share of visual glory. Lucky for you, Hi-Rez Studios has teamed up with Alienware to provide players a chance at winning a brand-new laptop -- and all you have to do to enter is keep playing.

Running from now until December 20th, the promotion requires players to grab a code from the official Alienware Arena site, then either register for the game or apply the code to their existing accounts. Players then must reach level 12 and participate in at least three Mercenary PvP matches to be entered into the drawing. The grand prize is an Alienware M15x Laptop, just the sort of rig to enjoy the game in its full glory. Global Agenda players should check out the rules and get themselves entered, as it's a win-win situation for the game's fans.

Shoot things up in Global Agenda for a shot at a new laptop originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doubling season comes to Global Agenda

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Game mechanics, News items, Free-to-play, Global Agenda

With Global Agenda's switch to a subscription-free format earlier this year, the game was put on track to begin launching content updates and small additions to replace the subscription fees. Up until now, the team at Hi-Rez Studios has been focused on the long-running Sandstorm series of updates, but the game has now begun selling boost packs as the first added service. And what do these packs do? They double your enjoyment -- assuming that you enjoy gaining experience and tokens.

The packs -- available in 10-day, 30-day, and 90-day flavors -- double all experience and tokens earned for the duration for all characters on an account. Not coincidentally, the 30-day boost costs just under $15, the same price as a monthly subscription in most subscription-based games. Each boost runs for the specified length of time and is activated immediately upon purchase, which makes the benefits and drawbacks rather transparently obvious. Players of Global Agenda can purchase packs on the official site, with a small guide available for the new feature.

[Thanks to Caleb Goh for the tip!]

Doubling season comes to Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda's Todd Harris on the newly added open zones

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Global Agenda

Global Agenda has been making some changes of late. That almost goes without saying -- very few MMOs exist in a static state, after all -- but very few implement sweeping system changes and zone additions so quickly after launch. One of the largest additions with the newest phase of the Sandstorm patch is the Sonoran Desert, an open and persistent PvE zone for players to enjoy. In a new video developer blog, executive producer Todd Harris explains what the zone means for the game and how the systems within work.

The desert, which is aimed at providing a complete experience for players between levels 5 to 15, will be familiar in many ways to long-time MMO players. It's not that the idea of quests picked up from an NPC is new, but it's certainly new within the context of the game. Take a look past the cut to see the zone demonstrated in depth, and if the look strikes your fancy, it would be fair to point out that Global Agenda is subscription free.

Continue reading Global Agenda's Todd Harris on the newly added open zones

Global Agenda's Todd Harris on the newly added open zones originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phase 2 of the Sandstorm hits Global Agenda today

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, PvE, Global Agenda

After a great deal of testing, Global Agenda players can look forward to a treat today -- the second phase of the immense Sandstorm update is going live. Part of a large-scale update that rewrites several core components of the game, the first phase was rolled out about two months ago, and this continuation drops in most of the features left out of the first. The largest addition is the persistent PvE zone in the Sonoran Desert, designed for players between levels 5 to 15. The desert will allow players to take a series of missions from area NPCs to help advance a story arc, learning more about the Desert Dweller and Recursive Colony factions as they gain both loot and experience.

Players can also look forward to the addition of consumable items and the option to salvage unwanted pieces of equipment for parts, something that plays well with the updated systems that came into play during the first phase of the patch. There are also new defense raids for players past level 30 to take part in, standing tall in a difficult battle against Recursive Colony attacks. And even with the recent shift in business models for Global Agenda, the Sandstorm update is remaining free for all current and future players -- a welcome addition to the game that should provide several points of interest, as well as set the stage for future expansions to the game.

Phase 2 of the Sandstorm hits Global Agenda today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda rolls out the next phase of Sandstorm to the test servers

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, PvE, Global Agenda

To call the huge 1.3 patch to Global Agenda ambitious would almost be an understatement, considering how much of the game's basic structure was rewritten. It was so ambitious, in fact, that there were several features that wound up being slightly delayed from the initial release. And while the focus of late has been on the game's shift in subscription model (namely to the complete absence of one), several of the remaining features have just been deployed to the game's test servers in time for the holiday weekend.

One of the bigger additions is the persistent PvE zone being added, the Sonoran Desert, aimed at players between level 5 and 15. On top of that, the team is adding in the option to Salvage unwanted equipment for parts, a persistent defense raid for players past level 30, and the addition of consumable items. While the holiday weekend is set to be the first testing weekend of several, it's the ideal time to get a feel for the next major addition to the game. Global Agenda players are encouraged to check the changes out, and new players would be well-served to remember that the game is on sale right through July 4th on Steam.

Global Agenda rolls out the next phase of Sandstorm to the test servers originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future, part 2

Brendan Drain — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST

Continue reading E3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future, part 2

E3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future

Brendan Drain — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Expansions, Game mechanics, Interviews, Previews, PvP, PvE, Global Agenda, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage

Sci-fi MMOFPS Global Agenda took last year's E3 Expo by storm, securing awards and impressing attendees. Launching earlier this year, the game has been rapidly updated and evolved based on player feedback. The Sandstorm Phase 1 patch recently overhauled huge areas of gameplay and delivered a lot of new content. The Global Agenda team are back at E3 this year, hoping to impress with a look at their up-coming Sandstorm Phase 2 patch. We sent our very own E3 reporter Sera Brennan to get the details from Erez Goren, founder and CEO of Hi-Rez Studios.

In this bumper two-part feature, we get to grips with Global Agenda's new open zones, warzones and game-mode updates. We tackle the issues you asked for as we quiz Erez Goren on whether the game may be on its last legs, the game's shift in focus to PvE and what new game mechanics the team have up their sleeves.

Continue reading E3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future

E3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda's Sandstorm goes live with phase one

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Global Agenda

It's time for some changes over in Global Agenda... big, persistent ones. Hi-Rez Studios has been hard at work on their latest large content addition for the game, and its been in testing for nearly a month. Now the much-awaited event -- phase one of the Sandstorm patch -- drops to the live servers today. It's quite the overhaul, changing everything from the setup of weapons in the game to the persistence of the world map.

For those feeling a bit overwhelmed by the scope, we've written our share of coverage including an analysis of the upcoming changes and a chat with Todd Harris about the patch. In brief, the changes are aimed at making Global Agenda closer in scope and feel to a classic MMO while retaining its skill-based and energetic combat system. How they'll actually play out remains to be seen, but thus far the developers seem to know what they're doing. Brush up on the changes and the scope, or just jump in game and start exploring them for yourself.

Global Agenda's Sandstorm goes live with phase one originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A look at the big changes in Global Agenda's 1.3 patch

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, Global Agenda

The team over at Hi-Rez Studios may have bitten off just a touch more than they could chew with the 1.3 patch for Global Agenda. It's not that the patch is bad, just that they turned out to not quite be able to push some of the originally promised features through at the same time as the main patch. Of course, considering all of the stuff that is in the newest patch, that almost seems less like a drawback and more like an act of mercy. The advertised open zones and 64-person PvP Warzone will be slightly delayed, which only leaves...

...well, it leaves a whole lot of changes, starting with the massive overhauls to weapons and armor that bring the game closer in line with common genre conventions. The previous system has entirely been discarded, and replaced with four grades of quality for weapons and armor: Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Epic. All grades can be obtained from vendors in exchange for credits (for common weapons), Mercenary tokens (for rare and epic weapons), or Conquest tokens (for epic special weapons). The weapons also have a chance to drop during PvE missions, with the weapons getting correspondingly stronger as the mission gets more difficult.

Continue reading A look at the big changes in Global Agenda's 1.3 patch

A look at the big changes in Global Agenda's 1.3 patch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 May 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda: Three months down, and the best is yet to come

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Patches, Opinion, MMORTS, Global Agenda

It's been three months since Global Agenda appeared in the thick of the MMO scene, presenting a new way to look at MMO games that many people just didn't agree with. As the debates on its MMO-ness rose, the game seemed to be lost in the thick of things. Everyone was too busy complaining about the 10 vs. 10 battles to actually play those same 10 vs. 10 battles.

But much has happened in Global Agenda in three months, and we're not going to let the game go unnoticed! Already the game has seen two large patches with a third huge patch en-route, the company has stood staunchly by not charging the player base until the game was "worthy of your subscription," and the community is still enjoying the content provided by the game.

So come along with us as we look at what's happened with Global Agenda, where the game stands now, and what highly-requested features lurk on the horizon. *cough*50 player PvE/PvP zone.*cough*

Continue reading Global Agenda: Three months down, and the best is yet to come

Global Agenda: Three months down, and the best is yet to come originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mob Scene: Global Agenda, Thursday, 8 PM

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Events, in-game, PvP, MMORTS, Global Agenda

Are you guys up for some explosions and laser beams? Well, we can guarantee you that we are!

This week we're hosting a community playdate, and what better way to kick off our new line of events than with an action-packed, team-based game? Tomorrow night at 8 PM, we invite you, the Massively.com community, to jump in and play Global Agenda with us.

Plus, we're also unveiling our newest community feature -- The Massively Mob! If you're a Steam user who enjoys grouping up, or if you're looking for a few new players to take on some co-op and MMO challenges, we encourage you to join us on the Steam Community. Not only will we be hosting our own official events (which you can follow through our events RSS feed), but you can kick back and play some impromptu games with the many other readers of Massively.com!

Need full details on what's going on? No worries! Jump after the break to get the full briefing.

Continue reading Mob Scene: Global Agenda, Thursday, 8 PM

Mob Scene: Global Agenda, Thursday, 8 PM originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Europe to get boxed retail copies of Global Agenda

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, News items, Global Agenda

Digital distribution is the in thing these days. Steam, in particular, has turned PC games into something that's almost easier to buy at home rather than in the store, with a ridiculously wide selection and the promise of never worrying about lost discs. The biggest drawbacks are the download times and potentially losing your login, and what MMO player doesn't plan for those issues? But there's still something nice about a boxed copy, which is why European gamers can take joy in the fact that Global Agenda will be releasing a boxed retail copy of the game starting in September 2010.

Thus far, the game has been using primary distribution through Steam, which has worked well -- but as the official statement explains, a retail box helps improve visibility. The game will launch in an English version in cooperation with Iceberg Interactive, with a German version due out a bit later. No word is given on whether or not an American boxed version will be available. It's a unique opportunity for Global Agenda, which itself is a very unique game, and success with the boxed copies likely will lead to more developing projects and more content for the game's fans.

Europe to get boxed retail copies of Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda offering free trials

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, News items, Global Agenda

You're all our friends here on Massively, or at least we'd like to think so. That's why we're doing what friends who play Global Agenda do for their friends who are curious about the game but don't want to commit. We're sending you along to the link to sign up for a free trial to the game that lets you experience how the game runs for... well... as long as you'd like. Once you have the trial, you have it forever. You can see why Hi-Rez Studios is encouraging people to tell their friends not yet in the game to take a look.

Of course, their are limitations -- specifically, there are a limited number of trials available, meaning that if you're interested you need to sign up by April 1st. There are also level and content restrictions, as detailed by the official disclaimer. But none of that should stop the people curious about how the game plays out from signing up in hopes of getting in for free. If there's one thing we've heard over in over in comments about Global Agenda's rapid-fire patches, it's the want for a trial -- and here it is. Isn't that friendly?

Global Agenda offering free trials originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Sandstorm cometh to Global Agenda

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Classes, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, Global Agenda

What is the Sandstorm? Well, it's the name for the upcoming Patch 1.3 for Global Agenda, which follows in the footsteps of the most recent patches in two ways. The first is that it's coming fast, with the whole thing tentatively scheduled for April. The second is that it's going to be quite large, containing several sweeping upgrades to the way the game plays. Even more so than one might expect, in fact -- one of the major features of the patch as announced today is a plan for large, open areas for players to move through and perform missions.

If that sounds remarkably similar to outdoor environments in most MMOs, you're probably on to something. The zones planned are preliminarily going to include a PvE zone and a PvPvE area, allowing somewhere between 30-50 players concurrently in the map. There are also several new weapons and devices being added to facilitate the new "specialization" system. Each class will be able to select one of two specializations at level 30, opening up a range of new abilities and equipment. And that's only the tip of the iceberg, with several additions and upgrades being added to drops, crafting, and token rewards. Take a look at the full announcement for what's planned for patch 1.3, and get ready to experience even more of Global Agenda from a new perspective.

The Sandstorm cometh to Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda sale on Steam

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, News items, Global Agenda

It's no secret that we're rather fond of Global Agenda. It has a certain je ne sais quoi, which is a French phrase meaning that it's an entertaining shooter in a massive online environment, with a strong dose of strategy on top of that. Oh, and no elves whatsoever. (Probably.) But we can understand if our enjoyment of the game isn't quite enough to convince you that the game is worth checking out. There's no substitute for getting your hands on the game, after all. Luckily, the ever-popular Steam has made it easier to get into the game than ever by lowering the price.

The price drop is effective immediately, moving the game down to $39.99 through the online game distribution service. Best of all is that this price drop doesn't appear to be one of the famed Steam sales, but a permanent reduction. Considering the amount of content that has been getting pushed live by the team over the past few weeks, now might be a perfect time to buck up and give Global Agenda a shot. Lower prices are a marvelous inventive like that.

Global Agenda sale on Steam originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda drops patch 1.2 to the test servers

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Patches, PvP, Global Agenda

We're only about a week out from the first patch to Global Agenda, but Hi-Rez Studios has been hard at work in their super-secret laboratory (only slightly less secret than that) producing new content for the game. Patch 1.2 has already gone to the test server for experimentation and stress testing, and it expands the Alliance vs. Alliance gameplay substantially. Instead of forcing you into direct conflict, it opens up the possibility for theft missions to draw resources and hamper production for enemies, as well as letting players take part in battles where their Agency controls no territory.

New defense facilities are also being added, allowing those under attack more options to keep themselves safe. There are also options to trade territory to other forces or abandon areas that an Agency can no longer defend confidently. And that's not counting the large list of updates to the game's systems, expanded battle brackets, and re-tuned maps to make the existing gameplay more enjoyable. Take a look at the full list of updates for more of the changes, as well as a sneak peek of what's coming in Global Agenda's subsequent patch -- it might be young, but the game is clearly firing on all cylinders.

Global Agenda drops patch 1.2 to the test servers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda 1.1 patch released on test

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, Crafting, Global Agenda

Global Agenda isn't necessarily for everyone, but there's no shortage of people it is for, and their reception to the game thus far has been positive. Still, like any new game there are kinks to work out and things not quite ready for launch time. Both are making a showing in the game's 1.1 patch, which has just hit the test servers in anticipation of hitting live servers next week. Among the larger changes are the implementation of a Friend/Ignore list, further queueing improvements, and a widespread overhaul to crafting and blueprints to make upgrades easier to work with.

The crafting overhaul is probably the biggest single gameplay-related change, with the randomness of crafting replaced with a more specific set of craftable items. Upgrades have also been streamlined and clarified to make it easier for players to identify what they want rather than manually searching through each item on a list. With a number of bugs also having been squashed, the patch is no doubt going to improve the lives of Global Agenda players significantly, so take a look at the full notes and expect for it to hit the live servers very soon.

Global Agenda 1.1 patch released on test originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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