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 Road to Mordor: What Update 7 means for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-road-to-mordor-what-update-7-means-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-road-to-mordor-what-update-7-means-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-road-to-mordor-what-update-7-means-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
Without fail, the second I'm done writing this column for Massively, Turbine releases the big news of a major patch, and I have to wait a whole week to talk about it. In the case of Lord of the Rings Online's Update 7, I'm not that upset. I definitely was underwhelmed by it all initially, but now that I have had a whole week to digest it, read through the test server notes, and scope out the Moria dev diary that was posted, I feel like I'm in a much better position to talk about it.

So what does this game update mean for you? That's a good question, and it really depends on where you are in your leveling journey. New players won't be fazed by it whatsoever, but both mid-game and endgame adventurers are going to have some new (and reworked) content to devour. I am heartened that Turbine doesn't have tunnel-vision for the endgame and is still willing to go back and examine what does and doesn't work about its earlier content.

So let's walk through the major highlights of Update 7: Shades of the Past and give it the ol' Road to Mordor analysis, shall we?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: What Update 7 means for you

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: What Update 7 means for you originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfeaturedfornostfree-to-playinventorylegendary-itemlegendary-item-systemlegendary-itemslilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromoriaopinionroad-to-mordorsapienceshades-of-the-pastskirmishstar-lit-crystalstar-lit-crystalsStorm-on-Methedrasthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-7Sat, 12 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you an MMO hoarder?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/the-daily-grind-are-you-an-mmo-hoarder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/the-daily-grind-are-you-an-mmo-hoarder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/the-daily-grind-are-you-an-mmo-hoarder/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Packrats make me nervous.
My guildies will tell you I'm a little bit OCD when it comes to my in-game MMO organization. I keep a pristine inventory, bank box, and house, assuming the game offers these features. I simply cannot log out of a game without emptying my mailbox, selling off junk loot, and making sure every stack of ore is just so.

Other players game as if every MMO were an episode of Hoarders. We're not talking insects and pizza boxes here, but quest items from three expansions ago aren't out of the question ("maybe I'll use it for RP?"). In a way, I'm even a little bit jealous of these laissez faire folk, and I wonder whether they waste more time searching through their messy inventories than I do organizing mine obsessively.

What about you -- are you an MMO hoarder?

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: Are you an MMO hoarder? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdghoardhoarderhoardersinventoryocdopiniontdgthe-daily-grindMon, 05 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: What I hate about public quests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/the-tattered-notebook-what-i-hate-about-public-quests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/the-tattered-notebook-what-i-hate-about-public-quests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/the-tattered-notebook-what-i-hate-about-public-quests/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As I was working on getting back into the swing of things in EverQuest II after the prolonged downtime, I had a moment of anger as I was waiting to start a public quest. For those not familiar, EQII's public quests are similar to those in other games, but there are only two, and they run at rather lengthy, and predictable, timers. So I flew over to Storm Gorge first, only to arrive seconds too late and miss out on the chest. I flew back to the Ring War, only to find that I had 40 more minutes before kick off and the only other person there was an Ogre Shadow Knight standing AFK with the angry mood emote. (Why on earth anyone finds that animation cool is beyond me.)

"No problem," I thought, "I'll just use the time to peruse my bags and find my Frost Giant illusion that goes so well with the event." I tapped on my "B" key, and then something horrible happened...

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: What I hate about public quests

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: What I hate about public quests originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eq-2eq-iieq2eq2xeqiieverquest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iifeaturedinventoryinventory-managementkael-drakkelpublic-queststorm-gorgetattered-notebookMon, 23 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should inventory space be infinitely expandable?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/the-daily-grind-should-inventory-space-be-infinitely-expandable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/the-daily-grind-should-inventory-space-be-infinitely-expandable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/the-daily-grind-should-inventory-space-be-infinitely-expandable/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MMO inventories may not be the single biggest source of frustration in MMOs -- or even in the top 10, depending on the player -- but every online gamer has butted his or her head up against their limitations at some point. As virtual vacuums, our characters are Hoovering up all the junk, tokens, armor, weapons, livers, scrolls, twigs, fishing pole, fish, plankton, and lit torches that lie in their paths. Because of this, our bags are often full to bursting and our backs sore to aching.

Some MMOs give players a fixed amount of inventory spots (such as LotRO) and that's that. Some games like RIFT allow for the collection of bigger bags, while others like Fallen Earth challenge players to keep tabs on weight management as well. However MMOs handle it, inventory space is constantly one of those things of which players can't get enough.

So should inventory space be infinitely expandable? Are we to a point that the limitations of backpacks are no longer welcome in MMORPGs? Or do these limitations still have a good purpose (beyond the coding headaches that an infinite inventory would give to the dev team)?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should inventory space be infinitely expandable? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bag-spacebagsfallen-earthinventoryinventory-managementinventory-spacelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionrifttdgthe-daily-grindTue, 12 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI launches the February update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/final-fantasy-xi-launches-the-february-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/final-fantasy-xi-launches-the-february-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/final-fantasy-xi-launches-the-february-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's a lucky day for Final Fantasy XI players all around, as the awaited February version update has gone live. While Square-Enix has been calling it a mini-update due to the lack of a major content push accompanying the patch, it's still packed with some pretty substantial improvements. Experience and skill gains have both been buffed significantly -- experience gains have been substantially improved outside of Abyssea, and skill gains will happen in larger amounts against weaker targets.

Several other improvements to quality of life have also been brought live, including the option to reclaim lost items from the completion of Treasures of Aht Urhgan. Porter moogles are also expanding their lists of retained items, giving players a chance to free up more of their precious inventory spots. Final Fantasy XI might not have added a great deal of new content with this update, but the full list of changes makes it clear that a lot of older content has been vastly improved.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI launches the February update originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>experiencefebruary-version-updatefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigeneral-improvementsinventorylevelingnewsnews-itemspatchesquality-of-lifesquaresquare-enixstorageupdatesversion-updateMon, 14 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI's February mini-patch dated]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/final-fantasy-xis-february-mini-patch-dated/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/final-fantasy-xis-february-mini-patch-dated/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/final-fantasy-xis-february-mini-patch-dated/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Fans waiting expectantly for the Final Fantasy XI February update are going to have to wait a little while longer. But not too much longer... just until the 14th, at which point it will go live and bring accelerated experience and improved storage functionality for all. That's one of the major takeaways in the newest set of questions and answers from the development team, a steady feature since December that's helping to give players a clearer voice in the game's progress than ever before.

While the date of the patch is good to know, there are a lot of other interesting tidbits in the rundown, including a chance for players to suggest new prizes for future Mog Bonanza events. The team is also looking into addressing the issue of the most popular Notorious Monsters, storage for less-armor-related items that players tend to acquire in large quantities, and of course the squashing of troublesome bugs. Final Fantasy XI players should look at the full rundown and get ready for a number of improvements going live in just a few short days.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI's February mini-patch dated originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bug-fixesbugsfebruary-version-updateffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiinventoryinventory-issuesmini-patchnewsnotorious-monsterspatchstorageupdateThu, 10 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Improvements on MMO standards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/lost-pages-of-taborea-improvements-on-mmo-standards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/lost-pages-of-taborea-improvements-on-mmo-standards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/lost-pages-of-taborea-improvements-on-mmo-standards/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

After having a couple of conversations on the topic over the last month, I decided to make a list of more reasons I am so attracted to Runes of Magic. Runewaker may not have created the next evolutionary step in MMOs, but it did do some new and innovative things. It created what I consider to be the first hybrid traditional free-to-play MMO. RoM predominantly uses western game mechanics and a quest-driven leveling system with a cash shop. As far as actual gameplay is concerned, RoM features many standards -- very nice improvements on those standards.

In this article, I list six refinements that I think add to the increasing uniqueness of an MMO that constantly shows it's more than a generic clone. Jump past the break to see if you agree with me or share your favorite MMO standards that you think RoM improves upon.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Improvements on MMO standards

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Improvements on MMO standards originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aoe-lootingbag-spacecorpse-runcorpse-runningdaily-questsfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveinventoryjeremy-strattonloot-overflowlost-pages-of-taboreammo-standardsmultiple-lootingno-corpse-runno-trash-lootromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstandardsMon, 24 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you have enough bag space?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-enough-bag-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-enough-bag-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-enough-bag-space/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I used to laugh at the fact that I could carry 50 or 60 items in the hip pocket of my Star Wars Galaxies avatar. These weren't comlinks or stolen Death Star plans either, but rather big, bulky armor sets and crates of crafted consumables. It seemed rather immersion-breaking at the time, and despite the enormous convenience afforded by SOE's inventory system, well, it simply bugged me.

Fast forward a few years to the juggling act that I go through every time I want to quest or craft in Age of Conan, and I'm left to wonder what has changed more, the games or my tastes. Bag space is at a premium in Funcom's Hyboria; I'm forever throwing away stuff, making trips to my bank (which is also stupidly small), or otherwise finding work-arounds for the fact that I'm equal parts pack rat and collector.

Most other MMORPGs are similarly stingy with their item space and in fact, it's only been in my recent excursions into Darkfall that I've found an inventory system that I absolutely adore. What about you, Massively readers? Is bag space at a premium in your game(s) of choice? How would you do MMO inventory mechanics differently if you could?

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: Do you have enough bag space? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocaventurineaventurine-sabag-spacebagsdarkfalldarkfall-onlinedesignfuncomgame-discussiongamer-discussioninventoryinventory-managementmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsneed-more-spaceopinionsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindFri, 10 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Patching holes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/04/the-mog-log-patching-holes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/04/the-mog-log-patching-holes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/04/the-mog-log-patching-holes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Due to a general case of it's-the-blasted-holiday-season, I didn't get nearly as much playtime with Final Fantasy XIV following the November patch as I would have liked. I had to wait a couple days to really sit down and engage in a nice play session to really get a feel for all of the changes that had been wrought on the game by the update. And in a way, I'm glad I knew that I would need some time and thus focused on the community piece last Saturday, because it's meant more time to really appreciate the improvements.

The short version, if you're allergic to page breaks, is that this patch solves a huge number of issues, to the point that I imagine many players who couldn't see past those issues to the core game will be better able to see what's at the root. But there's a lot of unpacking to do, so I'd still recommend hopping past the cut for a breakdown of the patch as a whole as well as a brief look for what the December update still has to do for Final Fantasy XIV.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Patching holes

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Patching holes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncontentequipmentfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-november-updatefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivinventoryinventory-spaceitemslacking-contentlevelingleveling-speednew-contentopinionpatchessquaresquare-enixthe-mog-loguiupdateuser-interfaceSat, 04 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/wings-over-atreia-altaholics-anonymous/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/wings-over-atreia-altaholics-anonymous/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/wings-over-atreia-altaholics-anonymous/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

OK, now I've done it... my status as an oddity at Massively is exposed for all the world to see. I confess -- I do not like to play alts. Whew. There, I said it. That wasn't so hard. And being unique is not such a bad thing, right?

In gaming, and in Aion especially, I definitely feel out of place for this philosophy. After all, Aion not only encourages but rewards you for playing alts; what other game gives you an impressive armor set and weapon only after you reach mid-level on numerous characters? And even for those who eschew playing alts, there are times when you are forced to do so (like I was). Pathetic available inventory space? Make a mule. Miss lower-level solo instances because they were introduced after you were too high of a level? Make a noob. But these are only a couple of examples involving mechanics. What makes people create so many alts that they need spreadsheets just to know who has what and is where?

Head past the cut to delve into the pros and cons of managing multiple characters in Atreia.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamealtaltsdramafeaturedfenrisgeargroupinggrouping-incentivesinstancesinventoryinventory-managementInventoryManagementmiragentnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionriftingroleplayWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 29 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV sends the November update live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/final-fantasy-xiv-sends-the-november-update-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/final-fantasy-xiv-sends-the-november-update-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/final-fantasy-xiv-sends-the-november-update-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Everyone in the US got to spend the day gorging on turkey and pie, but Final Fantasy XIV players got to gorge themselves on something else -- a large patch. The far-reaching November version update has gone live as of yesterday evening, bringing with it a host of updates and improvements to help bring the game up to speed in both content and accessibility. While the patch notes focus on enhancing the play experience, the improvements should be well-received by many players.

Among the more significant gameplay changes are the movement of skill points to an end-of-combat reward in the same manner as experience points and the reduction of points needed for ranks 11 through 31. The UI response time has been improved, and the widgets of the interface have been changed around to make the game more accessible and responsive. Synthesis materials have been altered, inventory space has increased, and the high-quality drops that once clogged inventories are being streamlined. All of the details can be found in the patch notes, a veritable feast of good news for Final Fantasy XIV players from a very appropriate day.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV sends the November update live originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adjustmentsffff14ffxivffxiv-november-updatefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivinventorylevel-curvelevelinglevelsnovember-version-updatepatchpatchesskill-pointssquaresquare-enixuiuser-interfaceFri, 26 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Better storage en route to Final Fantasy XI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/better-storage-en-route-to-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/better-storage-en-route-to-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/better-storage-en-route-to-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Inventory space is at a premium in Final Fantasy XI and always has been. When you first start playing, the bag space you have seems like a reasonable amount, but after a couple of hours of play you wind up with both an inventory and a Mog Safe stuffed to the brink. The December version update promises to bring the latest options for players to store items, however, allowing players access to two new item-storage methods -- the Mog Sack and the brand-new Porter Moogles scattered across the world.

The Mog Sack is a cousin to the Mog Satchel, but where the latter requires the purchase of an authenticator linked to the player's account, the sack simply requires a quick purchase of just under 10,000 gil. It allows access to stored items from anywhere, and it expands concurrent with a character's normal inventory space, thus allowing players a maximum of 80 extra storage spots. Porter Moogles, meanwhile, will allow players to store high-end items in a manner similar to the event armor storage already in place. Take a look at the full preview for moogle locations, and get ready to kiss your Final Fantasy XI storage woes goodbye... for a couple of hours, anyway.

MassivelyBetter storage en route to Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>december-version-updateffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiinventoryitem-storagemog-sackmog-safemog-satchelpatch-previewpatchesporter-mooglespreviewsquaresquare-enixstorageupdate-previewSat, 20 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: I am happy when I get to talk about Transformers edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/ask-massively-i-am-happy-when-i-get-to-talk-about-transformers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/ask-massively-i-am-happy-when-i-get-to-talk-about-transformers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/ask-massively-i-am-happy-when-i-get-to-talk-about-transformers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If people haven't noticed by now, I have fandoms that don't generally intersect with MMOs. So I'm happy to see that the Transformers MMO will be wide-ranging, while at the same time I understand that many of the things I want out of the game will not be happening. Then again, almost none of the things I want dovetails with more casual fans. Considering how strongly Hasbro is pushing the newly unified Transformers: Prime continuity, my vague hopes of seeing something set on Cybertron post-Reformatting are unlikely to come to fruition. (I will still be happier than those people who assume the series peaked 26 years ago.)

Leaving aside my personal pet causes, we've got the usual cocktail of questions for this week's Ask Massively, complete with a discussion of the dark art of modding and the far lighter art of inventory storage. If you've got a question for us, you can leave it in the comment field or mail us at ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: I am happy when I get to talk about Transformers edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: I am happy when I get to talk about Transformers edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelyfeaturedgame-designinventoryinventory-spacemoddingmodsopinionq-and-aquestions-and-answersterms-of-servicetosThu, 18 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Players speak and devs deliver: LotRO's new vault system and EU preview event on the way]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/players-speak-and-devs-deliver-lotros-new-vault-system-and-eu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/players-speak-and-devs-deliver-lotros-new-vault-system-and-eu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/players-speak-and-devs-deliver-lotros-new-vault-system-and-eu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Quite often the mark of a good company is how it responds to player dissatisfaction. While it may be riding high on cloud money as of late, Lord of the Rings Online's recent decisions have not made all of its players happy, and both Turbine and Codemasters are taking steps to rectify these situations.

Although Turbine touted the revised "Vault 2.0" bank system as superior to the old inventory system, many found it difficult to organize and sort. As a result, a new dev diary is showing off the third iteration of the vault system, which uses a cleaner interface of tabs and rows to help players keep their hundreds of items in the proper place. LotRO's Vault 3.0 is far more customizable, can auto-sort items, and even offers tabs to allow players to switch between the vault, wardrobe and shared storage within the same interface.

On the European front, it seems as if there's finally movement toward the promised free-to-play launch with a new preview event. Starting next Monday, October 25th, EU players are invited to hop on to the test server and give it a whirl. As a reward for participating, Codemasters will be gifting 500 points toward the store to all testers. Interested parties may trek over to the preview sign-up page to be a part of this momentous occasion.

MassivelyPlayers speak and devs deliver: LotRO's new vault system and EU preview event on the way originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-sortcloud-moneycodemastersdev-diaryeueuropef2pfree-to-playinventorylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropromotionturbinevaultvault-2.0vault-3.0Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Form and function in Fallen Earth's latest state of the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/form-and-function-in-fallen-earths-latest-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/form-and-function-in-fallen-earths-latest-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/form-and-function-in-fallen-earths-latest-state-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There's been a lot of excitement in the Fallen Earth community over the upcoming combat changes, and in producer Dave "Archangel" Haydysch's latest state of the game address, he assures everyone that the anticipation is worth it. "As I mentioned," Haydysch writes, "this is the FIRST iteration... we will use your feedback to make further adjustments and improvements to the system until we feel the system is ready to go live."

He urges players to participate on the public test server, where numerous systems are being tested, including these combat upgrades and the upcoming Faction Control Points, which should add spice to the PvP play in the game.

Looking at future patches, Haydysch reports that the team will be revamping combat skills and mutations relating to each of Fallen Earth's six factions. The team is also working hard on bringing additional visual improvements to the wasteland, which "will improve the look and feel of the world as a whole." These improvements are scheduled to hit the game at the same time as the next live event, which is so far a mysterious mystery shrouded in mysteriousness.

Finally, Haydysch acknowledges additional selections will become available in the Rewards Store, including (drum roll please) more space for inventory-starved adventurers. You can read the full state of the game report over at Fallen Earth.

MassivelyForm and function in Fallen Earth's latest state of the game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combat-improvementscombat-upgradedave-haydyschfaction-control-pointsfactionsfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcicarus-studiosinventorylock-and-loadone-weapon-is-the-lonliest-numberptsrewards-storetest-serverThu, 14 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II's GU58 additions previewed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/everquest-iis-gu58-additions-previewed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/everquest-iis-gu58-additions-previewed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/everquest-iis-gu58-additions-previewed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


EQ2 Trader's Corner is one of those fan sites that we don't visit nearly as often as we should, and further evidence of that fact surfaced earlier this week when Niami DenMother posted a comprehensive preview of EverQuest II's forthcoming Game Update 58. While GU57 was soundly denounced in some quarters, the new update -- tentatively slotted for October 12 -- looks to bring a round of welcome additions to EQII's already-superlative non-combat game.

Among the tweaks are appearance tabs for mounts, item count increases and outdoor area additions for much of the game's housing, functional housing doors, and currency tabs that will free up a boat-load of inventory space by moving tokens and shards out of your main packs.

In addition to all this, the next major world event -- the Halloween-themed Nights of the Dead -- is scheduled to hit the live servers a couple of days after the publication of GU58 (which will also mark the closing of the long-running Druid Ring event). Check out EQ2 Trader's Corner for more details.

MassivelyEverQuest II's GU58 additions previewed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingcurrency-tabsEQ2eq2-traders-cornerEQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iigu58housinginventorymount-appearance-tabsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentThu, 07 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xsyon updates ongoing, free-form inventory system discussed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/xsyon-updates-ongoing-free-form-inventory-system-discussed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/xsyon-updates-ongoing-free-form-inventory-system-discussed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/xsyon-updates-ongoing-free-form-inventory-system-discussed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

You might have forgotten about Xsyon, the promising post-apocalyptic sandbox under development at Jordi Grau Davis' Notorious Games studio. While it's been some time since we've checked in on the title, we're happy to report that updates continue to flow at a steady pace.

In a post on the game's official forums, the team tells us of a major move to new server hardware, expected to take place between September 15th and 17th. After the transition is complete, Xsyon's next update will go live. Included among its features are improved and expanded inventory management, player collision tweaks, character rendering and Speedtree optimizations, and several small bug squashes.

The inventory tweaks are of particular interest, as Davis hints at a unique system that may happen in the future. "We've changed the way inventories and containers are saved. This will allow us to change to a more freeform container system (without slots) in the future if we choose to do so. This required some major changes that we are still testing," he writes.

MassivelyXsyon updates ongoing, free-form inventory system discussed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetasinventoryjordi-grau-davisnotorious-gamespatchsandboxserver-moveupdatexsyonxsyon-betaWed, 15 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine expands on LotRO's Lua scripting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/20/turbine-expands-on-lotros-lua-scripting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/20/turbine-expands-on-lotros-lua-scripting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/20/turbine-expands-on-lotros-lua-scripting/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ever since hearing the news that Turbine will allow players to create mods for Lord of the Rings Online using the Lua programming language, the community's been abuzz about what this means for LotRO -- good and bad. Would this allow for the creation of game unbalancing add-ons, or perhaps the rise of a LotRO edition of WoW's controversial GearScore? Or does Turbine have a specific vision in mind for the scope of mods?

Yesterday on the LotRO forums, Narrel, Turbine's Games Systems Engineer, posted a clarifying note about why the company chose to implement this and where it plans to go with it. The devs' main priority with Lua scripting was to empower players to tweak and modify the user interface more to their liking, as the default UI cannot be all things for all folks.

While it is going to prohibit mods from botting or macros, Turbine will open the field for players to work with the inventory layout, information that the HUD displays, quickslot bars, target info, fellowship info and raid vitals. "We are very excited about this feature," Narrel said, "and look forward to the day when it goes live allowing players to have a much more customizable experience with our graphical interface."

MassivelyTurbine expands on LotRO's Lua scripting originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsaddonsbottinggames-systems-engineergearscorehudinventorylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolualua-programming-languagelua-scriptmacrosmodsnarrelquickslotturbineuiuser-interfaceworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 20 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Still clicking: Our exclusive interview with the Mythos dev team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/still-clicking-our-exclusive-interview-with-the-mythos-dev-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/still-clicking-our-exclusive-interview-with-the-mythos-dev-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/still-clicking-our-exclusive-interview-with-the-mythos-dev-team/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Considering Mythos' stormy post-Flagship past and its relatively low profile over the past half year, we were pleased to see the team at Redbana unveil a website revamp last month, complete with a slew of vibrant new screenshots to tease the upcoming closed beta. The infrastructure revealed in the images suggests that the game has come a long way since we last checked in with the team; although many players might once have pigeon-holed Mythos as "just another Diablo clone," it's now maturing into a hybrid MMORPG that seems to have as much in common with Blizzard's other fantasy game as with the click-fests of yesteryear.

Curious, we commandeered the team at Redbana in order to ask about the progress of the game. Meet up with us after the break as we discuss the transition to Redbana, overcoming the Diablo stigma, camera perspectives, map travel, character customization, and the likelihood that Mythos will be free-to-play. Oh, and did I mention you can play satyrs and cyclopes?!

Continue reading Still clicking: Our exclusive interview with the Mythos dev team

MassivelyStill clicking: Our exclusive interview with the Mythos dev team originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bana-cashBlizzardcharacter-customizationclick-click-clickclick-festDiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-clonediablo-iidiablo-iiiDungeon-SiegefeaturedFlagshipflagship-studiosflagshippedfree-cameraguild-warsgwhellgate-londoninterviewInterviewsinventoryIsometriclord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromapmap-travelmapsmythologymythosredbanaskill-treeskill-treesstashtitan-questtorchlightWorld-of-WarcraftwowThu, 15 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Taking inventory]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/the-daily-grind-taking-inventory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/the-daily-grind-taking-inventory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/the-daily-grind-taking-inventory/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the great points of commonality for MMOs is the time-honored tradition of inventory management. Specifically, the minigame wherein you have to decide what to keep, sell, throw away, or hold on to with a limited amount of space. One of the major contentions regarding the Allods Online cash shop at launch (aside from the huge debuff only removable via cash shop items) was how much it used to cost just to make a minor upgrade to your inventory storage. The prices have since changed, of course, but the irritation at inventory management was obvious.

Nearly every game has to decide how much of a management aspect should be involved and the right amount of space for a given character in any stage of their career. Moreover, these aspects usually change with time, as stack sizes increase and decrease with patches. Some players see space management as a relic of games like Dungeons and Dragons, which used it to try and maintain realism in broad strokes. Others see it as an obnoxious limitation on gameplay that's long ceased to have any connection with its original purpose.

So what do you think? Is inventory management a good thing, or is it one of those gameplay elements you'd like to see go the way of the dodo?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Taking inventory originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>annoyancesinventoryinventory-managementitem-stacksitemsmanagementold-mechanicsrelicsspacestacksstoragetdgthe-daily-grindFri, 07 May 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring Eberron: What is all this stuff in my inventory?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/exploring-eberron-what-is-all-this-stuff-in-my-inventory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/exploring-eberron-what-is-all-this-stuff-in-my-inventory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/exploring-eberron-what-is-all-this-stuff-in-my-inventory/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wednesday night's Nights of Eberron was its usual crazy success, and the diversity of player types makes for an interesting mix. "Interesting" is a very good thing in this case, as the guild is made up of players on every part of the spectrum from those with several years of experience in Dungeons and Dragons Online to people who are rolling their very first character.

For those new players, or even those who gave the game a brief try back when it went free-to-play, it can be a bit confusing. I'm going to spend some time in this column going over things for the newer players, because Dungeons and Dragons Online offers some pretty handy items that you don't want to miss out on.

OnedAwesome, Massively's official Dungeons and Dragons Online guild, ran through the Waterworks Wednesday night, killing an absolutely ridiculous amount of kobolds and picking up some handy loot. It was our first foray outside of Korthos, and at the end, there were lots of things in our inventory that were a mystery to many players. Follow along after the jump as we take a look at what they were.

Continue reading Exploring Eberron: What is all this stuff in my inventory?

MassivelyExploring Eberron: What is all this stuff in my inventory? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>collectors-editionddoddo-unlimiteddragonshard-fragmentsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineexploring-eberronfeaturedinventorynights-of-eberrononedawesomeTurbine-EntertainmentFri, 23 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: No more authentication tokens for Final Fantasy XI?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/26/rumor-no-more-authentication-tokens-for-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/26/rumor-no-more-authentication-tokens-for-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/26/rumor-no-more-authentication-tokens-for-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been two months since the Square-Enix authentication tokens sold out, and still there has been no word on when the item will be returning to the online store.

The Square-Enix authentication tokens were SE's answer to the Blizzard authenticator -- an item that generates a constantly changing numerical code that needs to be entered along with your password to gain access to your game. The tokens added an extra layer of security to your Final Fantasy XI account, further protecting it from hackers who would seek to steal your luxurious items and gil.

The tokens came with the highly loved Mog Satchel -- an in-game item that would essentially double your inventory space, no matter how big it was. The satchel will also become larger when your inventory is expanded by the completion of a "Gobbie Bag" quest. However, the satchel is only available through the purchase of a security token. With no tokens being sold, no Mog Satchels are being handed out either.

Have the authenticator sales come to an end, or is it simply taking this long to make more and restock the device? We'll do some digging for you to find out.

[Via PlayNoEvil]

MassivelyRumor: No more authentication tokens for Final Fantasy XI? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>authenticatorffxifinal-fantasy-xiinventorymog-satchelsecuritysquare-enixsquare-enix-authenticatorSun, 26 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Improving your inventory management in Dungeons and Dragons Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/improving-your-inventory-management-in-dungeons-and-dragons-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/improving-your-inventory-management-in-dungeons-and-dragons-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/improving-your-inventory-management-in-dungeons-and-dragons-onli/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Have you ever wanted to make more money? Sure, we all have. But the folks at Turbine actually want to help you out. The official Dungeons and Dragons Online site has an ongoing series of articles exploring the best ways to make a quick buck in Xen'drick. You're saying to yourself now: it's easy to make a coin or two. Just go out and bash a kobold to death. Too true, and lucrative, but what about after the bashing? Your pockets will be full and you'll be left scratching your head. The first article is all about inventory management, and tips for using collection bags to their full effect.

The second piece in the series is all about vendors, brokers and tavern keepers. All about where to sell your stuff once you have it organized, this piece also outlines the outlines you'll see on items. Every item has a relative rarity, which you can see based on what kind of frame is on the item's description. Especially important is the distinction between brokers and regular vendors - brokers are much better bets for rare or magical items. Don't sell your good old +1 to just any guy in a shop. Make sure to check back with the site, as future articles will cover other money-related elements like the auction house.

MassivelyImproving your inventory management in Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeconomicseconomyguideinventoryturbineFri, 11 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Wakfu screenshots display more UI palettes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/new-wakfu-screenshots-display-more-ui-palettes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/new-wakfu-screenshots-display-more-ui-palettes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/new-wakfu-screenshots-display-more-ui-palettes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We're looking forward to Wakfu, the new 'tactical' MMORPG from Ankama, the makers of Dofus. Exactly how Wakfu will differ from Dofus in gameplay isn't entirely clear just yet, but visually, it's got a gorgeous look, much higher-res than its predecessor. Video of gameplay shows small but noticeable improvements, like grasses swaying in the wind, and water levels advancing and receding.

The latest batch of screenshots on gamershell.com show more user interface elements, including the customary inventory screen, armor and weapons window (with player character included, something new), and others. If you can read (and understand) French, maybe you can puzzle out what's going on in the others. Still no release date for the beta, so let these beautiful shots appease your hunger for now.

MassivelyNew Wakfu screenshots display more UI palettes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ankamadofusfrenchinventorypalettesscreenshotsUIwakfuWed, 23 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Traveling Avatar's useful tips for SL inventory management]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/12/the-traveling-avatars-useful-tips-for-sl-inventory-management/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/12/the-traveling-avatars-useful-tips-for-sl-inventory-management/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/12/the-traveling-avatars-useful-tips-for-sl-inventory-management/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Your inventory. It's something that's extremely easy to ignore, because Linden Lab doesn't force you to acknowledge how much stuff you're carrying. What this means, however, is that you're likely to accumulate quite a lot of junk during the course of your stay in Second Life. Oh, sure, most of that junk started out as interesting, useful, fun stuff, but after wearing a dancing cow animator a few times, you'll tuck it away and move on to the next fun toy. In the meantime, that cow's still in there, taking up space, adding to the total number of objects -- a number that will likely give you a heart attack when you take the time to look at it.

So what's to do? Well, there's no way around it: you'll have to do some weeding. And while there's no tool to magically get rid of the things you know you don't need anymore, The Traveling Avatar has come up with an article full of great management tips. Some of these tips may seem like no-brainers to some of you, but that doesn't mean that you exercise them, Ms. 20,000 Inventory Items Girl. I'm looking at you, Moo! GO check out the article and make 2008 the year you conquer the Inventory Beast!

MassivelyThe Traveling Avatar's useful tips for SL inventory management originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dancing-cowinventoryinventory-managementlinden-labmoo-moneysecond-lifetraveling-avatarSat, 12 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Fat sacks 'o crap!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/mmogology-fat-sacks-o-crap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/mmogology-fat-sacks-o-crap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/mmogology-fat-sacks-o-crap/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

There's nothing like Christmas to remind a MMOGer that much of our game time is centered around bagging gobs of loot as fast as we can. There's all that scurrying and hurrying to find the perfect gift that shows our loved ones exactly how special they are to us. At least, as special you can get when shopping at 9:00 PM in a Walgreens on December 24th. Sure, Great Grandpa Bob really wants that Celine Dion Holiday Special CD, who wouldn't? And we all know Aunt Petunia loves her Pringles. Hey they're even in a red can! No need to wrap 'em up, just slap on a bow!

In times of frantic loot grabbing like these I often think about how much crap we haul around with us in our virtual worlds. Almost all MMOGs I've played involve dragging around five or six Santa sized sacks of garbage; half of which contain stuff I absolutely must have at all times; although I often can't remember why. I don't know how many hours I've spent staring at stuff in my inventory going, "OK, what was this again? Was it a quest item? Do I still need this scroll or potion? Yeah, I better save that for later when I know I'll need it." Ten levels later I'll look at my Insignificantly Minor Potion of Liquid Mana Love and wonder why I didn't just use it already.

Inventory management can be even more of a hassle in a game like Dungeon Runners where all your junk is combined in one grid-based space. You've got your backup crossbow that takes up six slots next to your mana potions that take up one slot, next to that rusty shield you plan to sell that takes up four slots in a square formation. And oops, you just picked up a sword that takes up four vertical slots. Now you have to re-arrange your entire inventory like some type of Tetris mini-game. If I'd wanted to play Tetris I would've fired up my old GameBoy! (Can you hear the Tetris theme song in the back of your head yet? You're welcome.) So why is managing our inventories such a gigantic hassle, and what are some possible alternatives to current inventory design?

Continue reading MMOGology: Fat sacks 'o crap!

MassivelyMMOGology: Fat sacks 'o crap! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bagsBlizzardCity-of-HeroesDungeon-Runnersfeaturedgame-mechanicsholidayinventoryjoystiqfeaturesNCSoftWorld-of-WarcraftMon, 17 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life transaction notification problems]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/second-life-transaction-notification-problems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/second-life-transaction-notification-problems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/second-life-transaction-notification-problems/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We have some reports (and I've also experienced it myself in the last couple of hours) of L$ payments not showing up immediately for Second Life users this-evening. The money is there, but account balances in the top corner of the screen are not updating until you've paid someone at least one L$.

More confusingly, L$ transactions of L$1 and higher dated 4 November SLT (US Pacific) tonight are not necessarily showing in the transaction history unless you include at least November 2 (or earlier) in the search range. Some users say that the transactions show up after an hour or so, some have to increase the search range several days in order to see L$ transactions that took place this-evening.

[Update: 11:30PM SLT (US Pacific) - We are starting to receive reports of problems with inventory transfers as well. No word from Linden Lab at present]


MassivelySecond Life transaction notification problems originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakinggrid-statusinventorylinden-dollarslinden-labsecond-lifeMon, 05 Nov 2007 01:30:00 EST