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[Protect Isengard with the new LotRO Guardian dev diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/protect-isengard-with-the-new-lotro-guardian-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/protect-isengard-with-the-new-lotro-guardian-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/protect-isengard-with-the-new-lotro-guardian-dev-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online
It's time for another Lord of the Rings Online developer diary, and this time around the Guardian is up to bat. So what's in store for the plate-wearing, shield-toting class come Rise of Isengard? Well, of course Turbine realizes that many Guardians are tanks first and foremost, and it will ensure that Guardians are able to continue tanking with the best of them. On top of that, however, some passes are being made to increase Guardian DPS, which Turbine feels is substandard.

In order to accomplish this, they will be raising Guardian DPS "in a behind-the-scene fashion." This means that many abilities, such as Guardian's Ward, will simply "do more damage inherently as the Guardian levels up from 65," and Guardians will also be granted some additional damage from their shield abilities thanks to increased Shield Use rating from new Legendary Traits. If you're interested in the finer details, the full list of skill changes can be found in the full dev diary.

MassivelyProtect Isengard with the new LotRO Guardian dev diary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changesclassf2pfree-to-playguardianimprovementlord-of-the-ring-onlinelord-of-the-ringslotrlotrorise-of-isengardturbineTurbine-EntertainmentTue, 30 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI expands Trial of the Magians]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/final-fantasy-xi-expands-trial-of-the-magians/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/final-fantasy-xi-expands-trial-of-the-magians/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/final-fantasy-xi-expands-trial-of-the-magians/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So you have weapons that can take a good year or two to put together, and then the game's level cap and item strength goes up. What do you do? Final Fantasy XI answered this question via Trial of the Magians, allowing holders of Relic or Mythic weapons to upgrade their weapon appropriately -- and allowing everyone else to start a new weapon they can custom-tune. With the first level cap upgrade to the game coming in the June version update, it should come as no surprise that the Trial of the Magians system is getting a concurrent upgrade.

The fact that there will be new options to enhance and improve weapons almost goes without saying, as it lets players push their weaponry even further than before. There's also the promise of new trial varieties, and mention of being able to improve one's weapon skills themselves -- certainly an attractive proposition. If you're an adventurer on the go, you can also purchase a set of newly-added Magian Spectacles to check in on your trial status and progress along the upgrade path from anywhere. All told, the changes promise to improve on of the bigger new additions to Final Fantasy XI, whether you're swinging a Lumberjack or a Conqueror.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI expands Trial of the Magians originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 May 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advancementffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiimprovementjune-version-updatemythic-weaponspatchesrelic-weaponssquaresquare-enixtrial-of-the-magiansupgradesweaponsFri, 28 May 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Evolution as it does and doesn't apply to MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/evolution-as-it-does-and-doesnt-apply-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/evolution-as-it-does-and-doesnt-apply-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/evolution-as-it-does-and-doesnt-apply-to-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A few days ago, we discussed the lack of innovation in the MMO market at the moment, as well as some of the underlying reasons behind it. The topic prompted We Fly Spitfires to postulate the idea that we needed an MMO that broke most if not all of the established and accepted rules of the genre. In his own parlance, we needed a mutation instead of a steady evolution.

Those of you familiar with evolutionary science might be quirking your eyebrow a bit, as did Of Teeth and Claws, where it was pointed out that mutation is a part of evolution. Continuing the analogy, it's a part of the slow improvement we see in our genre of choice, as the source leading to feature implementation and improvement. And as Killed in a Smiling Accident added, evolution is not a straight line, nor does it select features based on inherent quality -- the current "standard features" have evolved because they're best at succeeding in the current environment (that is, the market).

Ultimately, aside from fascinating extension of the analogy, the biggest point to be taken away from both this discussion and the previous one is that change in the genre isn't something which will happen overnight. While the powerful influence that World of Warcraft has placed upon the genre is beginning to abate a bit, it'll be quite some time before it's discarded wholesale.

MassivelyEvolution as it does and doesn't apply to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evolutiongame-developmentgame-featuresgenre-improvementimprovementinnovationkilled-in-a-smiling-accidentmutationof-teeth-and-clawswe-fly-spitfiresworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 17 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The forgotten MMO: Dungeons and Dragons Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/the-forgotten-mmo-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/the-forgotten-mmo-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/the-forgotten-mmo-dungeons-and-dragons-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


You always hear about the good MMOs and the bad MMOs, but there are certainly some MMOs that just seem to hang in the background. They're always there and omnipresent, they never do exquisitely bad, but somehow they're just forgotten amongst the sea of hyped games and broken promises.

That's really the case for Dungeons and Dragons Online, one of the few MMOs to really fly in the face of the traditional MMO model. ZAM.com recently went back and took another look at DDO, giving it the attention that it rightfully deserves regarding its different playstyle and game mechanics.

The article points out the game's major triumphs -- such as the unique atmosphere in every dungeon you dive into, the use of puzzles and traps to keep the player on their toes, and the use of the infamous dungeon master that narrates each of the game's quests to keep in like with its tabletop roots. However, the article also points out some of the game's largest issues, such as grouping and population concerns amongst the servers.

Overall, it's a nice look at a game that really doesn't jump to the forefront of the MMO market, but stays quietly in the background, chugging away with a loyal fanbase and consistent content updates. (All hail the upcoming module 9 and the new ability to finally hit the D&D cap of 20!) For the full feature article, check it out on ZAM.com.

MassivelyThe forgotten MMO: Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamddodnddungeonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineforgotten-mmoimprovementmodule-9turbinezam.comSun, 31 May 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How can Tabula Rasa be improved?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/26/the-daily-grind-how-tabula-rasa-be-improved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/26/the-daily-grind-how-tabula-rasa-be-improved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/26/the-daily-grind-how-tabula-rasa-be-improved/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Honestly, I haven't had any desire to try Tabula Rasa. Well, that's not entirely true; when I first heard that Lord British was developing a science fiction MMO, I was terribly excited. And if all I knew of the game was what I saw in screenshots and gameplay video, I might still be tempted to give it a try. However, being a part of Massively means that I'm privy to every bit of news and stories that come down the pike, and some of them aren't so complimentary to ol' TR.

In fact, posts that talk about 'giving it another try' and 'there's no endgame' and 'the hybrid classes are lame' make me less inclined than ever to even give it a chance. Listen, I know it's got fans so it's not entirely broken, but nothing exists in a vacuum, and there's always room for improvement. So tell me, fans, how would you fix Tabula Rasa?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How can Tabula Rasa be improved? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesendgamehybridimprovementlord-britishnsofttabula-rasathe-daily-grindtrTue, 26 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST