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[Join the fight to reclaim Atlantica Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/join-the-fight-to-reclaim-atlantica-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/join-the-fight-to-reclaim-atlantica-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/join-the-fight-to-reclaim-atlantica-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Atlantica Online
Atlantica Online has become a much more dangerous place to visit as of late, ever since a horde of monsters led by the evil Riederan invaded the place. But you won't let a little thing such as XP-filled loot piñatas keep you from fighting back, right? We didn't think so.

Starting tomorrow and continuing through January 8th, Atlantica Online players will rise to meet the challenge of these invaders during a massive in-game event. When Riederan's Invasion is triggered, players have a scant half-hour to slaughter 10,000 monsters per town before the town's defenses fail. The event is programmed to scale so that mobs will match the players' levels.

Participate in the event and precious rewards and buffs will drop into your lap. Bet that's the best news your lap's heard all day! To help players out with the invasion, Atlantica Online has introduced a new hero, the sorceress Mwindo. Mwindo can use her primal monsoon magic and staff to bring the pain to the baddies.

[Source: Nexon press release]

MassivelyJoin the fight to reclaim Atlantica Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlanticaatlantica-onlineclasseventf2pfree-to-playin-game-eventinvasionloot-pinatasmwindonexonRiederanRiederans-InvasionSat, 10 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Invasion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/choose-my-adventure-invasion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/choose-my-adventure-invasion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/choose-my-adventure-invasion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

My time was short this week in the world of Telara because of work and other obligations. However, I did several hours of RIFT-streaming this week; I hope you check out the stream at the end of this article. Although the video is kind of laggy, the inspiration for this article was captured in one of the streams. I die a lot, but thankfully, I'm an Ascended, right? So death means very little to me. I can be brought back many times over. I have a tendency, as you may see in that video, to get in over my head -- a lot.

This being my second week in the game, I'm getting used to what it's all about. I've been able to close multiple rifts, and I've leveled up to 13. (I told you I didn't get to play as much as I wanted.) There is much I love about the game, and there are many things that turn me off.

Most importantly, however, this week I encountered my first invasion of Freemarch. It took a bit for me to catch on to what was happening. I had thought it was just another rift opening up, but with a glance at my map, I quickly realized that this wasn't your everyday planar tear.

Gallery: CMA: RIFT

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Invasion

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Invasion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alsbethalsbeth-the-discordantchoose-my-adventurecmadynamic-eventsFaeblightfeaturedinvasionIron-fortressJakubplane-of-deathplanes-of-telarapollpollsRIFTrift-planes-of-telararoleplaySeriiatriontrion-worldsWed, 31 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Resistance might actually be futile]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/captains-log-resistance-might-actually-be-futile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/captains-log-resistance-might-actually-be-futile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/captains-log-resistance-might-actually-be-futile/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Trek Online screenshot
Captain's Log, Stardate 65112.3...

Hello, computer (and players)! They're mean, they're green(ish), and they are of a collective mind... they are the Borg, and resistance is futile. As most of you know, the Federation's most feared enemy plays a major part in Star Trek Online, and while the Borg are the current endgame "baddie," players find themselves on a daily basis in situations that force them to avoid assimilation. Be they in Deep Space Encounters (DSEs), Special Task Forces (STFs), or random explore missions, the Borg are out there and planning an invasion into the Alpha Quadrant. Bad news, Captains -- their plans are about to come to realization.

Later this month, the Borg Fleet Intercepts are scheduled to commence, and as the Borg take up their offensive stance, players of all ranks are going to be called to the front lines. Since this is the first "global combat event" the game has ever had (not including one during beta), players are excited to see what is in store and what they're up against. Luckily, being a member of Section 31, I was able to gain access to some secret intelligence that contains the Borg's plans, and Captain's Log is about to let you in on them so you know how to organize your counterattack.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's prepare our readers for the impending invasion...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Resistance might actually be futile

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Resistance might actually be futile originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-quadrantassimilationborgborg-invasionconventioncrypticcryptic-studiosdeep-space-encounterdine-with-the-devsdsefeaturedgormgorngozerground-invasionhomeworldinto-the-hiveinvasionKDFklingonlas-vegasorionpriority-oneraidremasteredresistance-is-futilestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlineSTFstlvstosto-conthe-borgunimatrixThu, 11 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Are rifts in danger of collapsing?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-are-rifts-in-danger-of-collapsing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-are-rifts-in-danger-of-collapsing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-are-rifts-in-danger-of-collapsing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Like many of you, I've been exploring RIFT's Waves of Madness event over the past couple of weeks -- and enjoying it, too. You can really see how Trion Worlds has taken some of the lessons learned from River of Souls and improved its second world event. There just seems like more to do, much more in terms of atmosphere (I love the dripping ceilings in Sanctum), I'm not feeling as rushed, and the event story is coming through loud and clear.

One of the interesting things I've noticed is that the event's daily quests have subtly shifted our focus from single-player activities to group ones. In phase one, it was all about boring solo quests: find hidden invaders, collect eggs, defeat a few underwater baddies. But just when we started to get used to (and bored from) the routine, the successive phases have moved us toward the game's dynamic content. Namely, rifts, rifts and more rifts.

I think this is brilliant, because we're now given a solid reason why we should participate in rifts above the mere rewards. I've been worried that Trion's letting its focus on dynamic content slip as it's been rushing to get other game features and endgame raids out the door, and RIFT without people playing rifts would be sadly ironic.

Today we're going to look at just how much RIFT depends on its titular feature, and what Trion should be doing to ensure that it doesn't become another nice yet abandoned idea.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Are rifts in danger of collapsing?

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Are rifts in danger of collapsing? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dynamic-contentsdynamic-eventdynamic-eventseventfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2invasioninvasionspublic-questpublic-questingpublic-questing-2.0public-questspublic-quests-2.0riftrift-planes-of-telarariftsriver-of-soulssanctumtelaratriontrion-worldsultima-onlineuowaves-of-madnessworld-eventWed, 13 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Praetorian invasions hitting City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/praetorian-invasions-hitting-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/praetorian-invasions-hitting-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/praetorian-invasions-hitting-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It sure seemed as if the heroes and villains of City of Heroes had repelled the invasion of Praetorian forces. Certainly there had been an incursion, but it looked for a time as if the worst were over. But that's not the case, not even close to the case. Primal Earth's heroes might be striking against Emperor Cole's soldiers in their homes, but the dimensional assaults have only just begun. Starting on May 11th, Praetoria will besiege Primal Earth with intensity, and it's going to be up to players to try to prevent an all-out slaughter.

Servers will be assaulted in a steady pattern, with a new pair hit every day during the event's duration. Players who take part in the final event on May 27th will be awarded a special account-wide badge to commemorate the heroes and villains who stood against truly overwhelming odds. If you don't want to be left on the sidelines, take a look at the full list of times and servers and get ready to fight against a bigger invasion than City of Heroes has seen since the game launched.

MassivelyPraetorian invasions hitting City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 May 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-badgesbadgescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxin-game-eventinvasionlimited-time-eventncsoftparagonparagon-studiospraetoriaserver-eventspecial-eventspecial-promotionThu, 05 May 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skinny-dipping in RIFT's River of Souls]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/skinny-dipping-in-rifts-river-of-souls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/skinny-dipping-in-rifts-river-of-souls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/skinny-dipping-in-rifts-river-of-souls/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"All will fall! All will serve!" With these chilling words, RIFT will launch its first major post-release event: the River of Souls.

With cultists stomping all across Telara, bad things were bound to happen sooner or later. Alsbeth the Discordant, Queen of the Endless Court, is making a play for world domination. Starting March 30th and going for about a week, Alsbeth will launch massive Death invasions across every zone in RIFT. If players decide to push back, they may be rewarded with unique goodies such as a Spectral Horse mount and a disguise that turns you into an undead.

The event also includes a new 20-man raid called (appropriately) the River of Souls. The soulstream is the final resting place of all of Telara's deceased -- however, Alsbeth and her cronies are plucking souls out of it and forcing them back into service. This raid becomes accessible if the players are victorious enough in their efforts to fight Alsbeth, and it's only here that she can be fought face-to-face.

There are plenty of new details on this event today. The RIFT Podcast team sat down with RIFT team member Adam Hetenyi to talk about River of Souls. We have several new pictures of the event in the gallery below and a trailer with Alsbeth's pep talk after the jump, so check it out!

Gallery: RIFT's River of Souls event

Continue reading Skinny-dipping in RIFT's River of Souls

MassivelySkinny-dipping in RIFT's River of Souls originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alsbethalsbeth-the-discordantendless-courteventgalleryin-game-eventinvasionpep-talkraidriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsriver-of-souls-eventscreenshotsskinny-dippingspectral-horsetelaratriontrion-worldsvideoTue, 29 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT beta 5 introduces public grouping, will be "twice as big" as beta 4]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/rift-beta-5-introduces-public-grouping-will-be-twice-as-big-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/rift-beta-5-introduces-public-grouping-will-be-twice-as-big-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/rift-beta-5-introduces-public-grouping-will-be-twice-as-big-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ready for their fifth taste of RIFT this week, beta testers will find a host of changes and improvements waiting their assessment. Chief among these is a much-requested feature: public grouping. Because so much of RIFT's dynamic content revolves around spontaneous zone events, players have clamored for a way to quickly group up instead of spending precious time spamming the chat channels. Two UI additions now allow players to connect with public groups as efficiently and quickly as possible.

This news comes from Scott Hartsman, who posted a lengthy preview of RIFT's beta 5 event on the official forums today. Announcing that beta 5 will be "twice as big" as the previous beta event, Hartsman revealed that the team is increasing the number of servers from 18 to 32, which should allow for up to double the amount of players.

Other changes in store for players this week include a better organization of planar currencies, Rogue energy fixes, ranged sound improvements and "significant love" for invasion mechanics. Hartsman also revealed a few items that the team is working on for future updates, such as better racial abilities and master looting. You can read his full announcement here.

MassivelyRIFT beta 5 introduces public grouping, will be "twice as big" as beta 4 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-4beta-5beta-eventclosed-betacurrenciesinvasionmaster-lootingplanar-currencypublic-grouppublic-groupingpublic-groupsracial-abilitiesriftrift-and-rewardrift-planes-of-telararoguescott-hartsmanserverssoundstriontrion-worldsuiuser-interfaceMon, 24 Jan 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT challenges unwritten rules of the genre in a new dev diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/rift-challenges-unwritten-rules-of-the-genre-in-a-new-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/rift-challenges-unwritten-rules-of-the-genre-in-a-new-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/rift-challenges-unwritten-rules-of-the-genre-in-a-new-dev-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"There are countless unwritten rules for creating an MMO world that successful designs in past games have impressed upon the entire industry. No monsters on the roads; never stop the player from questing or doing what he plans to do; group content should always be separate from solo content. While I will acknowledge that these sorts of rules of thumb are the guidelines that we designers live by, challenging them is where we have found a lot of success in RIFT."

Thus sayeth Will Cook, Trion Worlds' content designer for RIFT. In a new developer diary over at ZAM, Cook explains how challenging stale MMO conventions opened up a whole new world of possibilities for the dynamic content in the game. By allowing enemy invasions to use roads, bosses to conquer quest giver outposts and rifts to pop up unexpectedly, the team was able to make an "anything goes" atmosphere over top the traditional PvE treadmill.

One of Trion Worlds' biggest goals, Cook says, is to create "emergent experiences" that are never quite the same twice. Even though such content can be and often is disruptive to players running quests and working on other solo projects, it's proven to be exciting and interesting enough to draw these players in without complaint.

Cook thinks that if you give it a chance, you'll get hooked: "You can't help but get carried away in the fun of a living world where you can see the effect of action and inaction."

MassivelyRIFT challenges unwritten rules of the genre in a new dev diary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-designerdev-diarydeveloper-diarydynamic-contentemergent-experiencesinvasioninvasionsriftrift-planes-of-telarastay-off-the-roadstriontrion-worldsunwritten-ruleswill-cookzamFri, 07 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Four hours over Telara: RIFT beta three event extended]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/four-hours-over-telara-rift-beta-3-event-extended/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/four-hours-over-telara-rift-beta-3-event-extended/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/four-hours-over-telara-rift-beta-3-event-extended/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Four hours may not seem like a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but for RIFT beta testers enjoying the third event this holiday weekend, it's a welcome boon. After all, how much extra carnage can one squeeze into that time frame? If you're a smart player, the answer is "a lot!"

Community Manager Abigale came on the forums yesterday to announce that this week's beta event would be extending a little longer than planned:

"Thank you for your feedback and for your patience as our team keeps working to prepare Rift for future betas and release. We'd like to show our appreciation by extending the beta for another 4 hours! Servers will be open until Friday, 2 p.m. (PST) ."

RIFT's third beta event is featuring the 1-20 zones for both Guardian and Defiant factions. Players testing the game have access to two dungeons and the mass rift invasions that are becoming the keystone of the PvE experience.

MassivelyFour hours over Telara: RIFT beta three event extended originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abigalebetabeta-3beta-eventbeta-threebreakingdefiantguardianinvasionpveriftrift-invasionrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsFri, 31 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT beta powow with Scott Hartsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/rift-beta-powow-with-scott-hartsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/rift-beta-powow-with-scott-hartsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/rift-beta-powow-with-scott-hartsman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This is, by any measure, a busy week for RIFT. Fresh off the second beta event, Trion Worlds has dropped the NDA for the game and announced a third beta to take place over the holidays. As the process speeds exponentially faster toward launch, Scott Hartsman and his team have a white-knuckled grip on RIFT for all the bumps, shimmies, dips and hills that such a high-profile title offers.

Even with a heaping amount of work on its plate, the team has been willing to share its passion for RIFT with the press and community. During this slight lull between betas two and three, Hartsman sat down with us over the phone to jaw about lessons learned from the beta, why Trion has dropped the NDA, how RIFT's already made history, and when we might be seeing this game on the shelves.

Hit the jump and let's do this thing. As Hartsman is fond of saying about the game, "S**t just got real."

Continue reading RIFT beta powow with Scott Hartsman

MassivelyRIFT beta powow with Scott Hartsman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artifactsbetabeta-eventbeta-onebeta-threebeta-twocharacter-wipecollectionsdirectxdungeonsexpert-dungeonsfeaturedin-game-eventinstancesinterviewinvasioninvasionsiron-tomblfglfg-toolndanon-disclosure-agreementoptimizationprince-hylas-aelfwarquicksilver-collegerealm-of-the-faeriftrift-planes-of-telarariftssanctumscott-hartsmansilverwood-foresttriontrion-worldswysiwygzone-wide-invasionsWed, 22 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The City of Heroes team against the Apex task force]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/the-city-of-heroes-team-against-the-apex-task-force/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/the-city-of-heroes-team-against-the-apex-task-force/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/the-city-of-heroes-team-against-the-apex-task-force/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

There are times when working with MMOs can be a bit of a mixed bag. You get some hate-filled feedback, you find that one of your major hobbies is now part of your job, and you're either a shill for the company or you're overly negative. And then there are times when you get to run the newest City of Heroes task force with the development team from Paragon Studios, and suddenly you remember why you got into the field in the first place.

It's one thing to be told over and over that a task force represents a new high-water mark for City of Heroes, and another thing entirely to start playing it and realize that it's pretty much exactly what was advertised. The first phase of fighting off the Praetorian invasion required fancy footwork, careful play, and learning encounters without being overly tedious. And even aside from that, it featured giant robots and the explanation of the flying swords from the Issue 19 trailer -- both things that turned out to be even more awesome than I had dared to hope.

Continue reading The City of Heroes team against the Apex task force

MassivelyThe City of Heroes team against the Apex task force originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apex-task-forcecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcontentcovcoxdeveloper-tourdevelopmentfeaturedhands-oni19invasionissue-19major-patchesncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchespraetoriapraetorianriktitask-forceupdatesMon, 15 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The invasion of City of Heroes begins once again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/the-invasion-of-city-of-heroes-begins-once-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/the-invasion-of-city-of-heroes-begins-once-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/the-invasion-of-city-of-heroes-begins-once-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

They've returned... the scourge of Paragon City, the greatest threat to Earth that the world has ever known, and the source of much player excitement. After a long hiatus, the Rikti invasion has returned to City of Heroes, and that means players can start enjoying the war against the invaders all over again. Running until 11:59 p.m. PDT on November 7th, the invasion will span all of the game's zones and force players to work together to defeat the alien threat.

If you've taken part in one of the smaller triggered invasions that have hit the game every so often, you'll be ready for the mechanics but not the scope. If you've never seen the even before, however, it's a great chance for players to bond and take part in one of the more dynamic live events the game has to offer. Rikti attacks can take place in any zone of the game and will be running on a regular basis for the duration. And if you think you need to take your City of Heroes character through the event in style, might we suggest taking a look at our ongoing contest for the new Origin Pack?

MassivelyThe invasion of City of Heroes begins once again originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdynamic-eventin-game-eventinvasionlive-eventlorencsoftongoing-eventparagonparagon-studiospromotionsriktirikti-invasionspecial-eventsThu, 04 Nov 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The robots are rising on Planet Calypso]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-robots-are-rising-on-planet-calypso/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-robots-are-rising-on-planet-calypso/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-robots-are-rising-on-planet-calypso/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's not one of the largest games out there, so most people might not know what you're talking about if you mention Planet Calypso. Those who do might well only think of the highly publicized auctions and trades, in which players have spent large amounts of real-world money to purchase land and facilities (which bring in plenty of real-world money themselves, for the record). But beyond that there is an actual game world, complete with an ongoing storyline. As spotlighted in the newest game newsletter, that storyline is being turned up by a new event -- an ominous approach by robots.

The last major assault by the robots left the previous capital city a smoking ruin, and not coincidentally coincided with the game's graphical update to CryEngine 2. This time, the colonists have begun decoding messages sent by the robots, and defenses are gathering to ensure that a repeat of the last event doesn't take place -- even as the robots field a new technology known as "Hydra." Several helpful links for information may be found within the newsletter, which promises plenty of enjoyment for the players in Planet Calypso.

MassivelyThe robots are rising on Planet Calypso originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>calypsocryenginecryengine-2entropiaentropia-universef2pfirst-planet-companyfree-to-playhydrain-game-eventsinvasionplanet-calypsoproject-entropiarobot-uprisingrobotsvirtual-worldsThu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just a few weeks ago, I was invited to attend Trion Worlds' Gamer's Day in San Francisco to get some hands-on time with a couple of the company's upcoming titles, including Rift: Planes of Telara. If Rift seems to have come out of nowhere, that might be due both to the acquisition of EverQuest II veteran Scott Hartsman to head the project as executive producer, and to a clever name change meant to reflect the team's shift in development focus.

In fact, that shift in development focus is precisely what I was at Trion's studio to test -- I got to check out the Rifts themselves in all their glory, in the context of the greater dynamic content system that the developers are so excited about. Massively's writers have been able to play and report on character creation and the starting areas of Rift several times over the last year or so, including earlier this summer at E3. But until today's embargo lift (coinciding with the reveal at Gamescom), no one had quite seen the fabled planar invasions and takeovers in action.

Now we have.

Continue reading Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content

MassivelyMassively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementAchievementsaddonsalphaalpha-testbattlegroundsbuildscallingCapture-the-flagcharacter-creationcharge-barclericclunkcollectionCollectionscraftingdefiantDemodynamic-contentEarth-Elementalelementalistepic-mountfeaturedfootholdfootholdsgallerygloamwoodgraphicsgroupgroupinggroupsguardianhealershealinghell-levelsheroes-of-telaraholy-city-of-sanctuminstanceinstancesinterfaceinvasionjumpingjust-say-no-to-hell-levelslootmapmapsminimapmodsp2ppay-to-playpetsphilosophyplaneplanesplanes-of-telarapublic-questspvpquestingrealm-of-the-faerespecresurrectionriftrift-planes-of-telarariftsscott-hartsmanscreenshotsshadowlandssoul-walkSteamPunkstrategerystrategysubscriptionswimmingtalent-treestalentstavril-plazatelaratrailertriontrion-worldsUIvideowarfrontwarfrontsWed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA welcomes you to the northeast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/tera-welcomes-you-to-the-northeast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/tera-welcomes-you-to-the-northeast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/tera-welcomes-you-to-the-northeast/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There are a lot of things about TERA that have helped push it to the forefront of people's minds without having seen much of the game, but the lore is certainly a big part of it. Aside from being a fine way to wave away fantasy inconsistencies, there's something infinitely unique about a world being dreamed into existence. But life in Northern Shara (with Shara being the eastern continent) is anything but a peaceful dream, as it's the site where the unnatural Argon first burst into the world. A new lore entry on the official site goes into detail about just what is happening in the besieged environment.

Argon forces are both the core threat of TERA and the biggest danger to the region, but they're not after simple conquest. They've imported vast machinery to help them terraform the world into a more fitting environment, crawling across the landscape and distorting it. Still, within the city of Kaiator, the Valkyon Federation (presumably including the player characters) works to stem the flow of invaders and disrupt their efforts. Take a look at the full description for a better picture of the world's first battlefield against what seems to be utter annihilation.

MassivelyTERA welcomes you to the northeast originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argonbackstorybattlefieldbluehole-studioen-masseen-masse-entertainmentinvasionkaiatorlocationsloresharateratera-onlineupcoming-gamesvalkyon-federationFri, 07 May 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The game journalist war erupts in PlanetSide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/the-game-journalist-war-erupts-in-planetside/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/the-game-journalist-war-erupts-in-planetside/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/the-game-journalist-war-erupts-in-planetside/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Fond readers will remember the last time game journalists invaded PlanetSide. They were overpowered, weapon toting, vehicle stealing, base overriding Black Ops members, and they just so happened to be the Massively.com staff. Of course we ended up getting slaughtered, as we represented a mysterious fourth faction and ended up having the entire community gang up on us -- which was insanely fun.

But now a new breed of journalist will be entering the fray. Not one, but three other staffs will be jumping down this time around, and each group will be taking a different side of combat. The Escapist, BoingBoing Offworld, and Rock, Paper, Shotgun will be joining the game as part of the three different factions, each group looking to take some of their readership along for the ride. The Escapist has already opened their key giveaway, where they will be giving 70 PlanetSide keys to readers. Rock, Paper, Shotgun has stated that they will put up their own information soon, and Offworld looks to be getting ready as well.

Continue reading The game journalist war erupts in PlanetSide

MassivelyThe game journalist war erupts in PlanetSide originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boingboing-offworldinvasionjournalistoffworldplanetsiderock-paper-shotgunsoethe-escapistwarThu, 15 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews Kate Paiz of Dungeons and Dragons Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/massively-interviews-kate-paiz-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/massively-interviews-kate-paiz-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/massively-interviews-kate-paiz-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Dungeons and Dragons Online continues to plough on as a successful (to its players, at least) little MMO based on the official, original pen-and-paper board game. Just off the release of Module 6 and the recent second anniversary of the game, Massively got to interview their senior producer Kate Paiz. She talked to us about the upcoming Module 7 (including a little tip that lower level players will enjoy), the main goals of her dev team as Wizards of the Coast heads toward the release of the pen-and-paper game's fourth edition, and, oh yeah, that Penny Arcade comic that Ms. Paiz featured prominently in.

The interview starts right after the break, so grab your masterwork Vorpal blade, your +4 Shield of Blocking, and wade on in by clicking below.

Continue reading Massively interviews Kate Paiz of Dungeons and Dragons Online

MassivelyMassively interviews Kate Paiz of Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-module-6ddo-module-7ddo-module-8ddo-second-anniversarydungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedinterviewinvasionjoystiqfeatureskate-paizmarketplace-tentmassivelymodule-6module-7penny-arcadeshavarathworld-eventsMon, 31 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Rikti Return!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/the-rikti-return/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/the-rikti-return/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/the-rikti-return/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


So you thought those ugly, alien bastiches were gone, huh? Well you thought wrong!

The patented City of Heroes Advance Warning System shows the Rikti are once again up to their old tricks. As we speak, they are massing somewhere out in the middle of deep space for yet another series of attacks on the following dates throughout the year:

  • March 7th through the 13th
  • April 25th through May 1st
  • June 13th through June 19th
  • August 1st through August 7th
  • Sept 26th through Oct 2nd
  • November 14th through November 20th

That's some system, being able to pinpoint dates like that. And nice of the Rikti to take some time off between invasions. Very thoughtful alien scum. What's more, players will not receive debt while outdoors in an invaded zone. So feel free to blast away to your heart's content! Be sure to check out the entire "broadcast" over on the CoX website, it's chalk full of neat warnings!

MassivelyThe Rikti Return! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tabula Rasa lore buffs may be aware that we're quickly approaching the date of the Bane's invasion of the Earth on December 21st. To commemorate the event, NCsoft has released some fiction chronicling how the human populace of Tabula Rasa remember the world they left behind while fighting against the Bane on alien shores. Today we're publishing part one, below -- and check back tomorrow morning for part two.

Continue reading Tabula Rasa: A time to remember, part one

MassivelyTabula Rasa: A time to remember, part one originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banebane-invasiondays-of-remembrancedestination-gamesfeaturedinvasionjoystiqfeaturesncsoftremembrance-daytabula-rasaTue, 18 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CoX Issue 11: First Impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/cox-issue-11-first-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/cox-issue-11-first-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/cox-issue-11-first-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The newest expansion for City of Heroes and City of Villains, Issue 11 has been in open beta for a couple of weeks, and -- so far, at least -- it's proven to be a hit. As with all other releases, there have been the inevitable tweaks and adjustments to make sure that levels are being balanced and that powers are neither too strong nor too weak. Still, all things considered, it's been a phenomenal step forward in the elegance of the game.

It's hard not to squeal with delight when I think of the changes that have been made since I first created my account in June of 2004. Whether we were peering Through the Looking Glass or fending off an Invasion, NCsoft was always pushing to give us new features, and to make sure that the play was as balanced as possible. As far as I can tell, they've done a phenomenal job of continuing that trend.

Gallery: CoX Issue 11: test server gallery

Dual BladesWillpowerRare RecipesTaking in a movieConstruction in Steel Canyon

Continue reading CoX Issue 11: First Impressions

MassivelyCoX Issue 11: First Impressions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A-Stitch-in-TimeCity-of-HeroesCity-of-VillainsCoHCombo-AttackCostumeCoVCoXDual-BladesFirst-ImpressionsGalleryIconInvasionIssue-11NCsoftPatch-NotesWillpowerMon, 19 Nov 2007 09:00:00 EST