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 Firing Line: Hands-on with Heroes & Generals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/the-firing-line-hands-on-with-heroes-and-generals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/the-firing-line-hands-on-with-heroes-and-generals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/the-firing-line-hands-on-with-heroes-and-generals/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - Hands on with Heroes & Generals
During the first 10 minutes of my time with Heroes & Generals, I killed once, died twice, and drove a tank, a jeep, a half-track, and a bicycle (not necessarily in that order). I also rode shotgun on said tank and said jeep, manning a nifty vehicle-mounted machine gun in the process.

I marveled at the visuals, took way too many screenshots of my squadmates looking at the blow-away badass in-game map (it's the little things, amirite?), and generally had a helluva good time. Did I mention that all of this happened in a browser?

Continue reading The Firing Line: Hands-on with Heroes & Generals

MassivelyThe Firing Line: Hands-on with Heroes & Generals originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Illuminati
Dark days are upon us, and I, for one, couldn't be more pleased. For the past few days I've had the pleasure of exploring the dark corners of the press beta for Funcom's upcoming horror-fantasy MMO, The Secret World, and now the embargo is up and I'm finally able to share my impressions with all of you.

You may recall that I got some hands-on time with the title at PAX East earlier this year and came away from the experience fairly pleased. But that was an hour of playtime at the most, so how does the game hold up with extended play? I decided to hop into the (rather stylish) boots of an Illuminati initiate to find out for myself.

Continue reading Hands-on with The Secret World's Illuminati experience

MassivelyHands-on with The Secret World's Illuminati experience originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Firing Line - Hands on with Firefall's beta
I'm dying on the beautiful beach outside Firefall's starter town. As I lay bleeding from a hundred holes and generally making a mess of my shiny new bumble bee-colored battleframe, my avatar collapses to the sand and says the funniest thing I've heard in a while.

"Grandpa!"

This is delivered in his best rural Georgia twang, and it lessens the sting of my latest newbie move. The whole scene is Firefall in a nutshell: It's fun, frustrating, and funny all at once.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Hands-on with Firefall's beta

MassivelyThe Firing Line: Hands-on with Firefall's beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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[Weekend warrior: Two days with TERA's beta berserker]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/weekend-warrior-two-days-with-teras-beta-berserker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/weekend-warrior-two-days-with-teras-beta-berserker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/weekend-warrior-two-days-with-teras-beta-berserker/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TERA - Aman Berserker character screen
This all feels very familiar.

The gorgeous Asian aesthetics, the sexed-up avatars, and the hordes of high school tykes runting and squealing in global chat take me back to September of 2009 and the opening gyrations of the themepark orgy that was Aion.

Only this time, there are no angel wings, there's but one faction, and the game's called TERA.

Continue reading Weekend warrior: Two days with TERA's beta berserker

MassivelyWeekend warrior: Two days with TERA's beta berserker originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amanaman-berserkerarboreaberserkerbetablueholebluehole-studiosclassclassesen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyfeaturedfirst-impressionshands-onimpressionspreviewpreviewsteratera-combattera-first-impressionstera-impressionstera-previewMon, 09 Apr 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ready, aim, Firefall: Impressions of the closed beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/ready-aim-firefall-impressions-of-the-closed-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/ready-aim-firefall-impressions-of-the-closed-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/ready-aim-firefall-impressions-of-the-closed-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Firefall
Last year at PAX Prime, I had the opportunity to get my hands on an early version of Red 5 Studios' upcoming MMOFPS, Firefall. The game's come a long way since then, having gone into closed beta shortly after PAX Prime.

As of Friday, the game's NDA has finally dropped, and I can finally tell you fine folks all about my experiences with the game's beta. For those of you somehow not in the know, Firefall is essentially two games in one. On the one hand, you have the title's open-world PvE content that sees players exploring the lands of New Eden in an attempt to find a way to fight back the destructive alien force known as the Melding. On the other, there's the competitive e-sports-esque PvP, which lets players test their skills against each another to see who's the best shot in New Eden. So how much has Firefall changed between PAX Prime '11 and PAX East '12?

Continue reading Ready, aim, Firefall: Impressions of the closed beta

MassivelyReady, aim, Firefall: Impressions of the closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacbtclosed-betaclosed-beta-testconconventionexpof2pfeaturedfirefallfirst-person-shooterfpsfree-to-playhands-onimpressionsmmo-shootermmofpspaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expopreviewpreviewspvpred-5red-5-studiossci-fishooterwarSun, 08 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2012: Neverwinter discussion and impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-neverwinter-discussion-and-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-neverwinter-discussion-and-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-neverwinter-discussion-and-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Okay, now to do the dungeon part.
Many words come to mind when you mention Dungeons & Dragons, but "action" is not usually one of them. So at first glance, Neverwinter might seem like a bit of an odd beast. The game is meant as an action-based MMORPG that takes place in the distant future of the beloved Neverwinter Nights series; it's being developed by Cryptic Studios and published by Perfect World Entertainment. While the game isn't yet in open testing, the early version was playable on the floor of PAX East, and we had a chance to sit down with Cryptic Studios to discuss the game's development.

I came to the show with no real expectations about the game beyond the fact that I knew the companies involved and was distantly aware of the game's development. I walked away more than a little impressed by what I had seen. However odd the collection of elements might seem, the game itself certainly piqued my interest.

Gallery: Neverwinter

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Neverwinter discussion and impressions

MassivelyPAX East 2012: Neverwinter discussion and impressions originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoalphabetaconconventioncrypticcryptic-studiosdndearly-lookexpof2pfantasyfirst-impressionsfree-to-playhands-onimpressionsneverwinterpaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expoperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpreviewpreviewspwetestingSat, 07 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-world-of-warplanes-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-world-of-warplanes-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-world-of-warplanes-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This is a game about basketball.
Much like its predecessor, World of Warplanes is not a game with an ambiguous title. This is a game about planes, and not the sort that flies cargo from one point on the globe to another. If flying around and getting into aerial dogfights sounds like an unappealing concept to you, well, you can pretty much just exit stage left when you hear the name.

But the lack of subtlety in the name, however noteworthy, doesn't really say much about the game itself. Is it fun to play? Does it succeed in what it sets out to do? Really, is it just World of Tanks up in the air? I can't speak to the last one, but I can say that it definitely delivers on its stated design goals. This is a game all about maximizing the rush of an aerial fight and striking a balance between crafting an in-depth flight simulation and providing accessibility to those new to the genre.

Gallery: World of Warplanes

Continue reading PAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions

MassivelyPAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconventiondesignexactly-what-it-says-on-the-tinexpof2pfeaturedflightflight-simulatorfree-to-playgalleriesgalleryhands-onhistoricalimpressionsinterviewinterviewsopinionpaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expoplaneplanespreviewpreviewspvpscreenshotscreenshotswarwargaming.netwarplanewarplanesworld-of-warplaneswowpFri, 06 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World reveals Hell]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-secret-world-reveals-hell/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-secret-world-reveals-hell/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-secret-world-reveals-hell/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Welcome to Hell
Last month, Massively sent freelancer François Blondin to Funcom's studio in Montreal to check out the latest and greatest from The Secret World. His original write-up from the latest Montreal event was his second look at the game, but one part was still under NDA: Hell. In this article, Frank will discuss his impressions of Hell in the game.

Remember the movie Constantine with Keanu Reeves? Remember what Hell looked like there, when he stared into the cat eyes and moved to that realm? Well, this version of Hell is just like that -- with you in the middle.

In The Secret World, Funcom brings us a stunning Hell, with burning winds that scorch the landscape, making things hard to see, silencing you completely when you're in the winds, and burning your precious skin to a crisp if you stand in it too long. You have to run from cover to cover to stop the damage you're taking and allow to use your abilities. But the cover is never safe; enemies are waiting for you.

Continue reading The Secret World reveals Hell

MassivelyThe Secret World reveals Hell originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeondungeonsfactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomhellhorrorimpressionsmontrealmythologypreviewpreviewssci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswThu, 05 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An outsider's look inside Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/an-outsiders-look-inside-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/an-outsiders-look-inside-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/an-outsiders-look-inside-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - Engineer concept art
The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

My Guild Wars 2 beta weekend started off with a whimper instead of a bang. As I fired up the client and got a load of that sexy 2/dragon logo prior to character creation, one of the video cards in my gaming tower decided to give up the ghost. I didn't know this at the time, and as I slogged through the game's opening sequence, I wondered why it was running like pure Charr poo even with the settings dialed down.

I could barely move around the starter village, and after 15 minutes or so, I closed the client in disgust. Later I fired up EverQuest II on that same system and experienced similar subpar performance, so I quickly downloaded the GW2 beta to my laptop.

Ah, now that was more like it. Here was the Tyria I'd glimpsed via screenshots and video over the past few weeks, and I rolled up an Engineer to help determine whether ArenaNet has anything to offer a crusty old newb.

Continue reading An outsider's look inside Guild Wars 2

MassivelyAn outsider's look inside Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetclassesdivinitys-reachengineerfantasygame-mechanicsguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-beta-impressionsguild-wars-2-impressionsguild-wars-2-newbguild-wars-2-previewguild-wars-2-questsguild-wars-2beta-impressionsgwgw2impressionsncsoftquestingMon, 26 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Facility 4028 -- The jailhouse rocks!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/captain-s-log-facility-4028-the-jailhouse-rocks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/captain-s-log-facility-4028-the-jailhouse-rocks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/captain-s-log-facility-4028-the-jailhouse-rocks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Facility 4028
Like previous columns about The 2800, this column is an overview and will contain spoilers. If you have not yet played this mission or do not want to know about what happens, stop right here!

Star Trek Online continues its recent featured episode series, The 2800, with Facility 4028, a meticulously created mission that places the player's character into the unenviable position of being caught in the middle of a Starfleet prison when all hell breaks loose.

It's a fun little trip, and I believe it's an installment worthy of the reputation garnered by the more intricate missions seen in STO's previous series, Cloaked Intentions. Join me for a recap of this adventure!

Continue reading Captain's Log: Facility 4028 -- The jailhouse rocks!

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Facility 4028 -- The jailhouse rocks! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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End of Nations
Real-time strategy games aren't exactly in vogue at the moment. The genre is far from dead, but modern RTS games, with the notable exception of StarCraft, don't tend to appeal to as broad an audience as do MMOs. Trion Worlds and Petroglyph's proposed answer to genre stagnation is the upcoming MMORTS End of Nations. In fact, Trion thinks that what's really lacking in the RTS genre is a persistent world, one filled with robots and post-apocalyptic fascism.

The team behind End of Nations has some serious industry cred. Publisher Trion Worlds is notable for its remarkably smooth-launching MMO, RIFT. Developer Petroglyph's pedigree is no less respectable (if a little dated), with titles like 1992's Dune II (widely credited for having inspired the Warcraft series of RTS games) and the original 1995 Command and Conquer under its belt.

My time with this game was spent during the alpha testing phase, and many things might change between now and launch. Still, the bones of the game were there, and I'm happy to share my findings with you, discerning readers. From what I saw and experienced, End of Nations just might have what it takes to become the first "triple-A" MMORTS.

Gallery: End of Nations

Continue reading Hands-on with End of Nations

MassivelyHands-on with End of Nations originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphabetabetasCommand-and-Conquerend-of-nationseonexclusivef2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onimpressionsmmortsorder-of-nationspatriotpetroglyphPetroglyph-Gamespreviewpreviewsriskrtsstarcrafttriontrion-worldsvoice-chatvoipWed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: Why you should be playing Tribes: Ascend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/the-firing-line-why-you-should-be-playing-tribes-ascend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/the-firing-line-why-you-should-be-playing-tribes-ascend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/the-firing-line-why-you-should-be-playing-tribes-ascend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - Tribes open beta edition
Skiing! Jetpacks! Pew pew!

Yes, kids, Tribes: Ascend is officially in open beta, and that means you no longer have an excuse. Hi-Rez Studios threw open the doors this morning, and despite the fact that the game's closed beta exceeded all expectations and hosted over 300,000 players since its November kickoff, there's always room for more.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Why you should be playing Tribes: Ascend

MassivelyThe Firing Line: Why you should be playing Tribes: Ascend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air-arenaarena-deathmatchbetablood-eaglecapture-the-flagctfdeathmatchdiamond-swordfeaturedfiring-linefirst-impressionsfpshi-rezhi-rez-studiosimpressionslava-arenaludicrous-speedmultiplayer-shooteronline-shooteropen-betapathfinderrabbitsci-fisentinelshazbotshootersoldierspeedthe-firing-linetodd-harristribestribes-ascendtribes-betatribes-beta-impressionstribes-open-betaFri, 24 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A second look at The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/a-second-look-at-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/a-second-look-at-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/a-second-look-at-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World has M60s, apparently
Funcom recently held another special hands-on event for The Secret World at its Montreal, Canada offices, where we sent freelancer François Blondin to cover all the exciting details. Enjoy his latest preview of the game!

Last weekend, I nabbed a second look at Funcom's upcoming MMO The Secret World, now scheduled for a June 19th release. I was going in with high expectations, having been blown away by my first playtest of this modern-world-based MMO, and I'll say that this second visit managed to convince me that this game is on the right track to impress gamers with fresh gameplay, vicious puzzles, an ability wheel full of synergies, and new elite abilities at the top tiers of weapon specializations.

I spent wasted a lot of time during my first visit testing out different builds, but I missed out on some content while doing that, and I realized that abilities and builds are something you'll come to naturally as you progress through the game as you earn ability points, choose where you want to go, and decide how you want to specialize. This time around, I got to spend more time exploring the game world, trying out missions, and blowing things up.

Gallery: The Secret World

Continue reading A second look at The Secret World

MassivelyA second look at The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ankhbrent-ellisondungeondungeonseventfeaturedfuncomgalleriesgalleryhands-onimpressionsmartin-bruusgaardmontrealmysterypreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotsthe-ankhthe-secret-worldtswFri, 24 Feb 2012 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have media impressions affected your excitement level for Guild Wars 2?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/the-daily-grind-have-media-impressions-affected-your-excitement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/the-daily-grind-have-media-impressions-affected-your-excitement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/the-daily-grind-have-media-impressions-affected-your-excitement/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - Elementalist concept art
So our first official Guild Wars 2 impression pieces are in the books, and boy was there a lot to digest after ArenaNet's press preview weekend.

Whether you're anxious to discover more about the game's combat, intrigued by an MMO that lacks dedicated healers, or looking forward to a transformed Tyria some 250 years after the original Guild Wars, there is plenty to chew on.

Even those of us on the periphery of a game's fan community can get caught up in the pre-release groundswell, and though I've barely played the original game, I find myself quite intrigued by the reports coming from my colleagues. What about you, Massively readers? If you weren't already on board the fan train (or even if you were), has the recent media coverage upped your excitement level for Guild Wars 2?

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: Have media impressions affected your excitement level for Guild Wars 2? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarenanetbetadaily-grindfantasygame-discussiongamer-discussionguild-wars-2guildwars2impressionsmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicstdgthe-daily-grindtyriaTue, 21 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Guild Wars 2 closed beta impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/massivelys-guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/massivelys-guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/massivelys-guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 World vs World keeps
This last weekend, ArenaNet invited a few dozen members of the gaming press into its highly anticipated MMO, Guild Wars 2. The game is still in its closed beta testing stage, but the reveal of this event is an opportunity for the public to finally see what this game is all about.

Our Guild Wars columnist Elisabeth Cardy and I spent a good part of this weekend exploring as much as we could in the game in preparation for today's embargo lift. Read along for each of our impressions below, and be sure to watch our beta montage video at the end of each article.

Elisabeth's impressions | Shawn's Impressions

MassivelyMassively's Guild Wars 2 closed beta impressions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembley Required - architectural plans banner
The setup is pretty familiar.

It's an MMO, it takes place entirely in outer space, and your avatar is your spaceship. There's a lot of trading, a lot of missioning, and PvP if you want it -- possibly even if you don't. Crucially, there's freedom to go your own way and precious little hand-holding. It's clearly inspired by Elite, and there's a fair bit of the X series in there as well.

Nope, I'm not talking about EVE Online but rather Vendetta Online, an indie sandbox MMORPG that actually has more in common with classic space-trading sims than it does with CCP's New Eden.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A look at Vendetta Online

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A look at Vendetta Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elitefeaturedfreelancerguildguild-softwareimpressionsopinionplayer-contentplayer-contribution-corpsplayer-generated-contentplayer-owned-capital-shipsandboxsome-assembly-requiredspace-simspace-tradingtwitch-based-combattwitch-combatuser-generated-contentvendettavendetta-onlinexFri, 17 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Going toe-to-toe with TERA's first beta weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/going-toe-to-toe-with-teras-first-beta-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/going-toe-to-toe-with-teras-first-beta-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/going-toe-to-toe-with-teras-first-beta-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BAM indeed.
Over the past months, many fans of En Masse Entertainment's upcoming "real action combat" title TERA have been wondering whether the game will ever see the light of day. Between sparse development details and word of legal troubles, TERA's future seemed to be in constant jeopardy as cries of "vaporware!" grew steadily louder. Well, those voices can finally have a bit of a reprieve because over the course of this past weekend, players were able to jump into the world of Arborea and experience TERA's action combat firsthand.

I was among those players, and after a joy-filled romp through TERA's gorgeous landscapes (thanks in no small part to my fabulous guild -- hi Territ!), I'm ready to conjure up some thoughts that will hopefully somewhat resemble my impressions of the closed beta weekend. So if you want to know whether the game's real action combat hits the mark or it's a swing and a miss, follow me past the cut and let's take a look.

Continue reading Going toe-to-toe with TERA's first beta weekend

MassivelyGoing toe-to-toe with TERA's first beta weekend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: End of beta impressions
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened. Oh no! Something did happen! Beta testing for Star Wars: The Old Republic ended. A full nine days without SWTOR -- I think our lives are over! (Hopefully, you noted the sarcasm in the last statement.) Yes, it's true that our favorite beta came to an end at 1:03 a.m. EST Monday morning. Appropriately, the last thing posted to general chat was "Keapen bids everyone farewell." We all know that this isn't actually the end; it's truly the beginning of the game.

I count myself among the lucky people who were able to play in the beta for an extended period of time. I played through the origin world of all but two classes, and three times I leveled my characters past level 20. (I usually stopped about level 28 so that I would not ruin the ending of the story.) I wanted to get a good feel for all the class stories, so most of my characters got to about about level 15. Once I found out that the beta would end well before early access began, I decided to take in all the classes I could so that I could give you a well-rounded opinion.

Follow me beyond the break as I navigate the asteroid field of SWTOR.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: End of beta impressions

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: End of beta impressions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaBioWaredarth-haterEAElectronic-Artsend-of-betafeaturedgameplaygary-gannonimpressionsjustin-lowelaglatencyLucasArtsopinionpyrofoxStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtortorTue, 06 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: A look at World of Tanks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/the-firing-line-a-look-at-world-of-tanks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/the-firing-line-a-look-at-world-of-tanks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/the-firing-line-a-look-at-world-of-tanks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - header with various shooter avatars
I'm not the biggest tank fan in the world. Don't get me wrong; I'm a red-blooded American male who loves engines, horsepower, and most types of heavy machinery, but for whatever reason, I've never looked at a tank and come away particularly aroused.

Imagine the surprise, then, when I loaded up World of Tanks a couple of weeks ago and found myself having a jolly old time. Wargaming.net's free-to-play action title is a deceptively simple shooter with a lot of depth under the hood, and despite what some players refer to as pay-to-win shenanigans, I highly recommend it.

Continue reading The Firing Line: A look at World of Tanks

MassivelyThe Firing Line: A look at World of Tanks originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR
It's been a half a week or so since BioWare hit Star Wars: The Old Republic's NDA with a Death Star-sized superlaser, and boy have the spaceships hit the fan. Massively readers, fansite operators, forumites, Tweeters, podcasters, and the entire cantina at Mos Eisley have piped up with impressions, thoughts, analysis, and opinions as to whether this MMO has lived up to expectations or not.

While we cannot stress enough that a beta is a beta and not a launched product deserving of a full-range judgment, many curious players have taken this opportunity to soak up the information, particularly if they have not been in the beta as of yet. Others might have dipped their toes in the beta but are interested to hear what some of the long-time vets have to say at this juncture.

So what about you? Has anything you read or heard about SWTOR following the NDA drop changed your mind?

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: Have the post-NDA testimonials changed your mind about SWTOR? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scary monster dude in The Secret World
Last month, Funcom held a special hands-on event for The Secret World at its Montreal, Canada offices, where we sent freelancer François Blondin to cover all the exciting details. François also got to play the game for several hours, giving us a fresh perspective on what TSW has to offer MMO gamers.

In Funcom's upcoming The Secret World, the game's three factions -- Templars, Illuminati and Dragons -- face off, compete, and collaborate (all at the same time!) amidst the nightmarish creatures being revealed throughout the world. But choose your allegiance carefully: Your faction determines your path and special bonuses for the whole game, and faction-switching won't be an option. Join me for a hands-on look at the game's current incarnation!

Gallery: The Secret World

Continue reading Hands-on impressions of The Secret World

MassivelyHands-on impressions of The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorcash-shopchakrascollisioncombatcraftingdemodouble-dippingdragonsequipmentexclusivefactionsfeaturedfuncomgearhands-onhiveilluminatiimpressionsjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmontrealpreviewpvepvpquestingquestsRagnar-Tornquistskill-basedskillsstatssubscriptiontemplarsthe-hivethe-secret-worldthree-queststswweaponswheel-of-skillsMon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: An early look at Dawntide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/some-assembly-required-an-early-look-at-dawntide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/some-assembly-required-an-early-look-at-dawntide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/some-assembly-required-an-early-look-at-dawntide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - blueprint banner
Hey folks, and welcome back to Some Assembly Required. The column's been around for a little bit now, and we've done everything from developer interviews to opinionated rants to sandbox and player-generated content feature spotlights. One thing we haven't done is an impressions piece on new sandbox titles, and I aim to fill that void today with an early look at Dawntide.

The title is an open-world fantasy sandbox under development by Working as Intended, an indie outfit that calls Copenhagen, Denmark home. Dawntide has been under construction for quite a while now (we first spoke with the devs way back in the summer of 2009), and after a series of funding and development challenges, the end of the long beta journey is in sight.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: An early look at Dawntide

MassivelySome Assembly Required: An early look at Dawntide originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- Vindictus
It's time for a celebration, y'all. It's been a year since Nexon's popular physics-based hack-'n'-slash title, Vindictus, officially launched, and what a year it's been. Between constant content updates, seasonal events, awards, and more, Vindictus has had a rather successful first year, and it doesn't seem to show any signs of stopping.

So exactly how far has Vindictus come since the title's inception a year go? Well, follow along past the cut and join us as we take a short look at the game's history and find out how it holds up today.

Continue reading Vindictus: A one-year retrospective

MassivelyVindictus: A one-year retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Crafting preview
BioWare calls the Star Wars: The Old Republic's crafting system Crew Skills. It's labeled quite appropriately because the majority of the work is performed by the companion characters and not the player himself. If you venture over to the official website, the developers have put together a brief outline of all the Crew Skills and a short video describing them. Every MMO with crafting has had two basic steps and SWTOR is certainly no exception. However, our space-opera MMO adds to standard gathering and crafting steps a third element: missions. But that's not the only thing different.

When I asked Live Producer Blaine Christine about crafting over a year ago, it had not been announced yet, but he did say, "I think it's a different take on crafting than what people will be expecting. It's not the standard implementation. It's going to be a treat." He was definitely correct about it not being the standard implementation, but how about that "treat" part? During the last couple of weeks, BioWare allowed me to explore a little bit of Crew Skills system on the beta server without devs over my shoulder like at conventions or press junkets.

After the jump, I'd like to explore each piece of Crew Skills and compare it to other crafting systems in other MMOs. I suggest that if you're not interested in spoilers you stop reading now because I'm about to spill everything about this unique game mechanic.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Crafting preview

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Crafting preview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaBioWareblaine-christinecraftingcrew-skillsEAElectronic-ArtsfeaturedguideguidesimpressionsLucasArtspreviewpreviewssci-fiStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-crafting-guideswtor-gameplay-guideswtor-guideswtor-launch-guidethe-old-republictorTue, 25 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: RIFT sealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/choose-my-adventure-rift-sealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/choose-my-adventure-rift-sealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/choose-my-adventure-rift-sealed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Choose My Adventure:RIFT sealed
Here we are: the last hurrah, the final hour, the closing curtain, the rift sealed. Although it would be unfair to say that I have done everything in RIFT, I believe my experience has been well-rounded. I have done PvP, invasions, solo content, and group content -- even a little bit of resource gathering and crafting. One thing I can say with all certainty is that RIFT has a lot to offer, and the developers at Trion have put a lot of good work into the game.

Beyond the cut, I would like to break down my general experiences in game. Some were good; some were bad. Unfortunately, if you are looking for a straightforward review, then you're not going to find that here. RIFT is a complex game, and depending on what you're looking for, your experience will vary. Most of what you obtain from this game will be proportionate to how much you personally put into it. But instead of rambling on here, I'll explain what I'm talking about beyond the break. Follow me there.

Gallery: CMA: RIFT

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: RIFT sealed

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: RIFT sealed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurefeaturedGaiscíochgaisciochgaiscioch-familygalleriesgallerygroup-rolesimpressionslevelingloreopinionplanes-of-telaraPvEPvPRIFTrift-planes-of-telararoleplayscreenshotsstorytriontrion-worldsWed, 28 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blade & Soul closed beta phase reviewed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/blade-and-soul-closed-beta-phase-reviewed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/blade-and-soul-closed-beta-phase-reviewed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/blade-and-soul-closed-beta-phase-reviewed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Blade and Soul - cutscene
If you weren't fortunate enough to get into Blade & Soul's recently concluded Korean closed beta event, Steparu has the next best thing in the form of a lengthy review supplemented by several hi-definition gameplay videos.

While it's worth noting that some of this information may change prior to release -- to say nothing of the differences between the Korean client and what we're assuming will be a localized Western version -- there's still lots of interesting info to digest. There's the good (visuals, combat), and the not-so-good (linear exploration and lots of zoning), and the review is one of the more comprehensive hands-on pieces covering NCsoft's upcoming martial arts MMO. Head past the cut for a couple of videos and then click over to Steparu to read the author's impressions.

Continue reading Blade & Soul closed beta phase reviewed

MassivelyBlade & Soul closed beta phase reviewed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look at how big her ... ears are!
I'll confess, I didn't want to like WildStar. I was interested to hear that NCsoft and Carbine Studios would be unveiling a new MMO at Gamescom, so I took a look at the trailer as soon as it was released to see what it was all about.

At my look of the wasp-waisted, big-eyed bunny girl with the crazy long tail, I rolled my eyes and dismissed the game as silly. For about 10 seconds. By the time I got to the end of the trailer, the self-deprecating sense of humor and quirky style had sucked me right in. I watched pretty carefully for more information and was eager to get a firsthand look at WildStar at this year's PAX Follow along after the jump to see what I found out.

Continue reading PAX 2011: Massively's hands-on with WildStar

MassivelyPAX 2011: Massively's hands-on with WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lookit, I'm an Asura!
The new demo has arrived to the United States! ArenaNet unveiled the newest demo version of Guild Wars 2 last week at Gamescom, and it was filled with new surprises. Orrian undead, one of Zhaitan's underlings, the Charr starter area, playable Asura and Sylvari, and much more captured the attention of fans.

ArenaNet has returned to its home turf and was presenting the demo at PAX this weekend, and I had the privilege of diving into the game's new content. Follow along after the jump for the latest look at the Guild Wars 2 demo!

Continue reading PAX 2011: Massively's hands-on with the Guild Wars 2 Asura

MassivelyPAX 2011: Massively's hands-on with the Guild Wars 2 Asura originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetasuracharacter-creationdynamic-eventsfeaturedGuild-Wars-2gw2hands-onimpressionsncsoftpaxpax-primepax-prime-2011raceracesMon, 29 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: A look inside the Forgotten City]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/the-anvil-of-crom-a-look-inside-the-forgotten-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/the-anvil-of-crom-a-look-inside-the-forgotten-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/the-anvil-of-crom-a-look-inside-the-forgotten-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

A couple of weeks ago I took you on a tour of the Breach, one of two new instances that debuted with Age of Conan's free-to-play Unchained patch. Today, we'll nose around the second dungeon, an outdoor playfield called the Forgotten City that -- like its predecessor -- has AoC's distinctive far-eastern flavor written all over it.

The two instances are similar in that they both scale to a player's level between 40 and 80, and they're both accessed via the Gateway to Khitai zone that serves as the entry point into AoC's Rise of the Godslayer content. That's about where the similarities end, though, as the dungeons are quite different in terms of visual style and challenge level.

Gallery: Age of Conan - The Forgotten City

Loading screenApproaching the cityPath to the cityArchway againArchway

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: A look inside the Forgotten City

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: A look inside the Forgotten City originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ah yes, where else but Massively can you get a lesson in both Shakespeare and Age of Conan (in the same article, no less)? Nowhere else, I tell you, and before we get to the Conan part, let's get ye olde English out of the way. Many of you have no doubt uttered today's titular phrase on your way into a particularly nasty game dungeon. A few of you may have even uttered it correctly.

Here's your gold star.

The rest of you, pay attention: It's unto the breach. Unto, not into. So said Shakespeare and later Olivier in his 1944 film adaptation of Henry V. And yeah, I used to say it wrong too. Anyway, on to the AoC. The Breach in question is one of two new solo dungeons added with the Unchained update, and thanks to Blood and Glory, this particular dungeon is the only one of the pair that your humble columnist has found time to sample.

Gallery: Age of Conan - The Breach

Loading screenThe Breach from afarDead guys hangingBear Shaman's campfireThe Arena again

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Once more unto the Breach, dear friends

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Once more unto the Breach, dear friends originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Timing, as they say, is everything, and so I'd like to take a brief moment to thank Funcom for fouling up my carefully laid column plans this week. Also, it's a rare day that I'm not prowling the interwebs in search of news for our fair website, so of course, the second day out of the last six months that saw me take some time off was naturally the very same day that Funcom decided to launch Age of Conan: Unchained.

And yeah, I said Unchained, not Unrated, and if you think you're going to have trouble referring to the game as such after cozying up to the former moniker for the last month, console yourself with the fact that you now have David Lee Roth careening around inside your head for the foreseeable future. You're welcome.

In all seriousness, though, Age of Conan is free at last, free at last, thank God almighty it's free-to-play at last (even if it was a little sudden).

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Unchained, free at last, and some initial observations

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Unchained, free at last, and some initial observations originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.62.6-patchage-of-conanage-of-conan-2.6age-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaoc-2.6aoc-unchainedaoc-unratedappearance-slotscash-shopconandavid-lee-rothf2pfantasyfeaturedfirst-impressionsfree-to-playfuncomfuncom-pointshyboriaimpressionsitem-shopopinionslimy-sales-tacticsthe-anvil-of-cromunchainedunchained-impressionsunchained-reviewvan-halenvanity-armorSun, 03 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively Extra: Our impressions of Vorp!'s DotA mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/not-so-massively-extra-our-impressions-of-vorp-s-dota-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/not-so-massively-extra-our-impressions-of-vorp-s-dota-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/not-so-massively-extra-our-impressions-of-vorp-s-dota-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

At E3, developer END Games showed off the Vorp! alpha, a fully 3-D Facebook game with Asteroids-esque controls and action-based gameplay. Built in the Unity 3D engine, much of Vorp!'s gameplay involves steering, aiming and accurately modeled physics interactions. The game's developers revealed that the ultimate aim was to produce a sci-fi Defense of the Ancients style game with iconic space ships and pilots instead of fantasy heroes. Until now, Vorp!'s multiplayer has been limited to a simple deathmatch mode. With the game's planned DotA mode now live, deathmatches have been replaced by classic DotA-style team gameplay with a twist.

Massively got some hands on time with DotA mode this week during a brief dev testing session this week. Skip past the cut for our views on the Vorp! alpha and its new gameplay mode, and head over to Facebook to give the game a try and see what it's like for yourself.

Continue reading Not So Massively Extra: Our impressions of Vorp!'s DotA mode

MassivelyNot So Massively Extra: Our impressions of Vorp!'s DotA mode originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asteroidsdotaend-gamesf2pfacebookfeaturedfree-to-playimpressionsopinionsci-fivorpSat, 02 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 dives head first into underwater combat [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/guild-wars-2-dives-head-first-into-underwater-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/guild-wars-2-dives-head-first-into-underwater-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/guild-wars-2-dives-head-first-into-underwater-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

ArenaNet has proclaimed, "If you like MMOs, you'll want to try out Guild Wars 2; if you hate MMOs, you'll really want to try out Guild Wars 2." In other words, the game is breaking a lot of the conventions of the classic MMO. Guildcast, a Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 podcast, was granted the opportunity to investigate one of the new areas of exploration: underwater combat.

The first thing of note is that when the player hits the water, her combat skills change just as if she had switched weapons. And just like switching a weapon, the toolbar change happens fluidly and automatically without the player actively having to switch out skills.

As for how you can breathe underwater, Guildcast says in the write-up, "As soon as you're fully submerged, a small breathing apparatus appears over your character's face and you can stay under indefinitely. That's it. No muss, no fuss, no 'find this potion, drink it, and you have ten minutes.'" It can't get any easier than that.

Swim over the Guildcast site for the full impressions of underwater exploration in GW2 and be sure to check out the full gallery of images as well. Let us know what you think. Does Guild Wars 2 truly break all the conventions?

[Update: The official GW2 site now offers a post by ANet game designer Jonathan Sharp that goes into even more "depth" (pun intended) on underwater combat!]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 dives head first into underwater combat [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbreaking-conventionsGuild-Wars-2guildcastGW2impressionsncsoftopinionscuba-masks-are-cuteunderwaterunderwater-combatFri, 24 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mike 'Gabe' Krahulik speaks his mind about SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/mike-gabe-krahulik-speaks-his-mind-about-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/mike-gabe-krahulik-speaks-his-mind-about-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/mike-gabe-krahulik-speaks-his-mind-about-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sometimes being a celebrity in the gaming world has its perks. Take Mike Krahulik from Penny Arcade, for example. People instantly recognize him, they want his opinion on everything, and he can get in on any beta he wants. All right, that last bit was a stretch, but he did get into game testing for Star Wars: The Old Republic. And after much begging, the marketing team at BioWare gave "Gabe" the chance to publicly sound off about TOR. Guess what? He loved it.

Based on a statement he made in the Penny Arcade blog, Krahulik believes that this Star Wars MMO lives up to its expectations, unlike another Star Wars MMO from the past. Specifically, he compares questing in The Old Republic to questing in other MMOs: "Turning the quests into an interactive experience makes me care a lot more about them. A quest is still a chance to get XP, money and loot but it's also an opportunity to advance your character towards the dark or light side based on your decisions. In most MMO's taking quests is what you do so that you can go play. In SW:TOR, taking quests is playing."

To catch his full 1200-word write-up on The Old Republic, jump over to the Penny Arcade blog. Find out whether he feels the game is "Star Wars-y" enough and what he thinks of his "shimmering blue glory."

MassivelyMike 'Gabe' Krahulik speaks his mind about SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareEAElectronic-ArtsgabeimpressionsLucasArtsmike-gabe-krahulikmike-krahulikpenny-arcadeStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorThu, 23 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Ranging across the border]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/19/the-anvil-of-crom-ranging-across-the-border/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/19/the-anvil-of-crom-ranging-across-the-border/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/19/the-anvil-of-crom-ranging-across-the-border/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

"Know, O prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars. Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet." -- The Nemedian Chronicles

Conan fans will recognize the above passage as one of the most famous in the barbarian's extensive canon. It appears at the beginning of 1932's The Phoenix on the Sword and serves as a brief teaser for the history that underlies the world of Hyboria. Being something of an MMO lore junkie (and given the fact that I'm slowly working my way through Robert E. Howard's Conan library), I've often wondered about the origins of the Nemedian Chronicles and the people who wrote them. While Nemedia itself is not yet accessible in Age of Conan, Funcom's nods to Nemedian culture are numerous, and nowhere is this more evident than the Border Range. Join me after the cut for some impressions on this war-torn zone and the stories behind it.

Gallery: Age of Conan - Border Range

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Ranging across the border

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Ranging across the border originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unratedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-unratedaquiloniaborder-rangeconanf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalleryhyborian-travelogueimpressionslorenemedianemedian-armornemedian-chroniclesopinionrobert-e-howardscreenshotsthe-anvil-of-cromzone-impressionsSun, 19 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's E3 2011 awards and impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/massivelys-e3-2011-awards-and-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/massivelys-e3-2011-awards-and-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/massivelys-e3-2011-awards-and-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Every June, the Electronic Entertainment Expo rolls into the Los Angeles Convention Center to showcase the best of the best in video games and accessories.

This year, we had more staff members on hand than ever, which allowed us more coverage from the floor and more hands-on time with the demos. As with last year's awards, we're happy to present the best of the best, straight from those of us who were there. Award categories include Best Booth, Best Trailer, Best Newcomer, MMO of the Show, and Most Anticipated Project. Plus, we decided to say a few additional words about some categories that weren't awarded, like Best Presentation, Biggest Surprise, and Best of the Rest.

So follow along after the gallery for more on what we thought of E3 2011.

Gallery: E3 2011: MMO Booths

EA's SWTOR signageNexon boothNexon booth showing Dragon's NestNexon booth showing VindictusNexon booth

Continue reading Massively's E3 2011 awards and impressions

MassivelyMassively's E3 2011 awards and impressions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-2011e3-awardshands-onimpressionsopinionWed, 15 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2011: Hands-on impressions of Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/e3-2011-hands-on-impressions-of-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/e3-2011-hands-on-impressions-of-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/e3-2011-hands-on-impressions-of-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

At this year's E3, four Massively staffers were on site for interviews, demos, and hands-on time with the latest MMOs. You've read about most of what we've seen so far, but now we're ready to tell you about our experiences with what may be the most highly anticipated MMO of the show: Star Wars: The Old Republic.

A few of us have played the game before, or multiple times, while this was the first time for others. Our opinions are varied, but you'll notice a fairly obvious theme. Follow along after the jump for more on what we thought of our time with SWTOR at E3 2011.

Continue reading E3 2011: Hands-on impressions of Star Wars: The Old Republic

MassivelyE3 2011: Hands-on impressions of Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaree3e3-2011eaElectronic-Artshands-onimpressionslucasartsopinionpreviewpreviewsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-hands-onthe-old-republictorMon, 13 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArcheAge CBT3 review talks crafting, labor points, and nautical exploration]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/04/archeage-cbt3-review-talks-crafting-labor-points-and-nautical/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/04/archeage-cbt3-review-talks-crafting-labor-points-and-nautical/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/04/archeage-cbt3-review-talks-crafting-labor-points-and-nautical/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you've been curious about the crafting and gathering systems in XL Games' forthcoming ArcheAge sandbox, you'll want to check out the third and final part of ArcheAge-Online's extensive CBT3 review.

The piece has a detailed breakdown on the game's labor point system (a third point pool, if you will, much like more traditional health and mana pools). Labor points are somewhat scarce despite regenerating over time, and most of the game's non-combat activities require them (harvesting apples from apple trees, chopping down said trees, building furniture and boats, etc.). It's a unique system, and ArcheAge-Online goes into the nitty gritty of the mechanics and offers up plenty of opinion as well.

The review also features commentary and video footage on sailing and nautical exploration, with interesting tidbits about boat construction and the discovery of player settlements on uncharted islands off the beaten path. Head to ArcheAge-Online for more.

MassivelyArcheAge CBT3 review talks crafting, labor points, and nautical exploration originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arche-agearcheagebetabeta-impressionscbt3closed-betaexplorationfantasyimpressionskorean-betakorean-closed-betalaborlabor-pointsreviewsailingsandboxxlxl-gamesSat, 04 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArcheAge PvP, dungeoneering discussed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/archeage-pvp-dungeoneering-discussed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/archeage-pvp-dungeoneering-discussed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/archeage-pvp-dungeoneering-discussed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Ready for some more ArcheAge CBT3 impressions? If so, AAportal has your hookup in the form of a new article that examines the recently concluded beta event. While Massively poked around the world of ArcheAge in wide-eyed newb wonder last week, AAportal had been there before, and its new posting compares the team's impressions of CBT3 with the earlier CBT2 event.

In addition to investigating interface, character customization, and world changes, AAportal notes that it was able to send a full team of level 20 characters delving into the deeps of one of ArcheAge's dungeons. Explorers will be pleased to know that the dungeon was a labyrinthine experience that left the adventurers unsure as to whether or not they'd managed to see it all.

Also on the discussion table is world PvP, and here AAportal reports that player skill trumps zergs quite handily. The game's physics apparently play a big role as well, and the article illustrates the differences between a knock-back ability in World of Warcraft (which happens the same way every time regardless of terrain) and an ArcheAge knock-back that is affected by the character's surroundings. Finally, the article concludes that ArcheAge is not a very solo-friendly game as it currently stands, with coordinated groups required for premium content like ship battles and dungeons runs. Check out all the details at AAportal.net.

MassivelyArcheAge PvP, dungeoneering discussed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arche-agearcheagebeta-impressionscbt3closed-betadungeonsfantasygame-mechanicsimpressionskorean-betasandboxsandparkworld-pvpxlxl-gamesWed, 01 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST