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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Cutting to the heart of extraction in The Repopulation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/cutting-to-the-heart-of-extraction-in-the-repopulation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/cutting-to-the-heart-of-extraction-in-the-repopulation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/cutting-to-the-heart-of-extraction-in-the-repopulation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Come on out, critters! I'm not going to chop you up and take your livers!
If you want to craft items in The Repopulation, you're not going to go down to the science fiction equivalent of Ikea and buy the Martin Plasma Rifle. You're going to get out into the wild and get the resources you need. There are two systems for gathering items in The Repopulation, and the newest development blog for the game discusses one of the ways to grab those resources: Extraction, also known as "digging useful components out of corpses."

Since the game doesn't feature levels, there's a more organic system to gathering these resources. Players first decide how difficult the extraction should be, with higher difficulties resulting in higher-grade resources. More difficult extractions take longer, however, and as a result, players have a higher chance to fail unless they've practiced harvesting a particular species. For more details on the specifics, check out the full development blog on the official site.

MassivelyCutting to the heart of extraction in The Repopulation originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiescraftingextractiongame-mechanicsgatheringgathering-systemsitemsrepopulationresourcessandboxsci-fithe-repopulationMon, 13 May 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Just the artifacts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/storyboard-just-the-artifacts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/storyboard-just-the-artifacts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/storyboard-just-the-artifacts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There are a lot of powerful items in our everyday life. Smartphones, for instance.
There's something inherently alluring about objects of power. That much is obvious; games are already fairly littered with them, ranging from weapons to vehicles to various items whose powers are invariably decided by needs of the plot. It's inevitable that as a roleplayer you would want to create something of power for your own purposes, something that has a purpose that only you know, hopefully a purpose with more careful thought than "being the most scary thing ever."

Items like this are what I'm calling artifacts. In some settings they're actual artifacts; in others they're just exceptionally well-programmed computers or bits of otherwise lost technology or whatever. They're useful for extended roleplaying, they create an additional element of your characters, and they're also really problematic in a variety of ways. Still, the drawbacks aren't significant enough to make them useless, just significant enough that you'll want to use a careful hand when adding in your own hidden wonders.

Continue reading Storyboard: Just the artifacts

MassivelyStoryboard: Just the artifacts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artifactsfeatureditemsobjectsopinionrelicsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 03 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Release all the MOBA heroes!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/not-so-massively-release-all-the-moba-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/not-so-massively-release-all-the-moba-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/not-so-massively-release-all-the-moba-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
It's been a huge week for MOBAs, with several new characters being released and one game closing its doors for good. League of Legends finally revamped underused champion Karma and released new character Zac, a strange green blob who drops parts of himself all over the battlefield and can even revive after death. Dota 2 released classic hero Bristleback, a spined boar who slows enemies with a disgusting snot attack and slowly peppers them with spiked quills.

SMITE released god of music Apollo, who can deal damage by playing his lyre, sing enemies to sleep, and even power-slide like a rock star. Heroes of Newerth is in between hero releases, but its recent HoN 3.0 update has earned it the title of Best MOBA at PAX East 2013 by gaming website RTSGuru.

Warhammer-themed MOBA Wrath of Heroes officially closed its doors on March 29th, and its website has now been replaced with a message by producer James Casey. Finally, Diablo III's former Game Director Jay Wilson gave a talk at GDC 2013 in which he blamed many of the game's downfalls on both the gold and cash auction houses.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Release all the MOBA heroes!

MassivelyNot So Massively: Release all the MOBA heroes! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively title image
Fresh from its work on End of Nations, developer Petroglyph launched a Kickstarter campaign this week for its own online RTS Victory. The campaign hit $19,574 in the first five days but has a long way to go to hit its $700,000 target. SimCity's always-online DRM backfired spectacularly as launch server capacity and stability issues left thousands unable to play what they thought of as a largely singleplayer game.

Diablo III revealed details of its upcoming loot overhaul that will make legendary items a little more legendary and rare items and good bit rarer. Path of Exile's patch 1.10.2 was deployed successfully, adding a few item mods and significantly improving the Duelist class area of the passive skill tree.

League of Legends celebrated its 100th Summoner Showcase with a look back at the community's best creative output and announced a brand-new comic contest that will see players voting for the winner. SMITE announced its $10,000 PAX East invitational tournament, and Guardians of Middle-Earth tempted players back with 75,000 free in-game gold in a new weekend event.

Continue reading Not So Massively: SimCity's launch fiasco, Victory's kickstarter

MassivelyNot So Massively: SimCity's launch fiasco, Victory's kickstarter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgalways-onlinebattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcitycity-buildingcompetitive-gamingconsolecrowdfundingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadueliste-sporte-sportseaelectronic-artsesportesportsf2pfailed-launchfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgames-as-a-servicegames-as-a-service-sucksgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gameshi-rez-studiosinfernoitemitemskickstarterlaunchlaunchesleague-of-legendslegendarieslegendarylegendary-itemslegendary-weaponslogin-queueslollootlord-of-the-ringslotrmaxismiddle-earthmobamonolithmonolith-studiosmultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exilepetroglyphplaystation-networkpoeps3psnpvpriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgrtsserver-downtimeserver-queuessimcityvictoryvideowarner-brosxboxxbox-360xbox-livexbox360Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Lemurian Invasion of Champions Online is going out with a splash]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/the-lemurian-invasion-of-champions-online-is-going-out-with-a-sp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/the-lemurian-invasion-of-champions-online-is-going-out-with-a-sp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/the-lemurian-invasion-of-champions-online-is-going-out-with-a-sp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Why would you make a hovertank that goes underwater?
Invaders from the deep have threatened Champions Online players for a while now, but it's time to deep-six the Lemurian threat for good. The latest patch to the game is giving players a chance to do just that with a new queued event capping off the multi-week invasion, providing a fight against evil for fabulous new toys. Or you can buy new toys, if that's more your speed.

The Lemurian forces are trying to summon something enormous to overtake Millennium City, and high-level players will be pitted against the bulk of this army and its ominiously named Bleak Harbinger. Fail, and Millennium City falls. Succeed, and you might be able to pick up a Lemurian hovertank. Oh, and the city won't be destroyed. There are also new hoverbikes available from both the Drifter and the C-Store, helping ensure that heroes who want to take on the invasion will have good equipment to do so before it ends on March 27th.

[Thanks to matixzun for the tip!]

MassivelyThe Lemurian Invasion of Champions Online is going out with a splash originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diablo III plans itemization changes
Because Diablo III is such a loot-centric game, players pay attention when the developers start talking about making significant itemization changes in the upcoming months.

The first part of Blizzard's future itemization philosophy is to more strongly equate rarity with power. Legendary items will drop less frequently and become a lot more powerful, and there will be a greater amount of diversity across the board. "It will take time, but our goal is to try to provide players with compelling alternatives to trifecta items when talking about what items they want to acquire," game designer Travis Day writes.

Other changes include reducing the drop rate on rares, making gold sinks more exciting, and giving players better reasons to farm mobs instead of merely camping out at the auction house.

MassivelyDiablo III plans itemization changes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No one takes Faertwyd's bunny slippers. No one.
If you've been playing Dark Age of Camelot for a while, odds are good that you've acquired a lot of things. You've got a set of Epic Armor, you've got tons of items clogging your bank, and you've got a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers that you don't remember buying but you now refuse to remove. The game's latest patch does not improve your slipper situation, but it does improve Epic Armor, add new Epic Weapons and Accessories, allow for remote bank access, and increase the stack limits on many items. So everything else gets better.

Does that satisfy you? No? You want to know more about the future of the game? Well, then, you can feast your eyes on a new set of community answers from the development team addressing the future update plans for the game as well as which areas will not be seeing much improvement (throwing weapons, for instance, are pretty much up the creek). So there's plenty for DAoC fans to enjoy. However, no one enjoys those bunny slippers. Seriously. Wear armor like everyone else.

[Thanks to Etaew for the tip!]

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot launches an update and answers player questions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankbanksbiowarecamelotclassic-mmocommunity-q-acommunity-q-and-adaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsepicepic-accessoriesepic-armorepic-itemsepic-weaponsfantasyinventoryitem-overhaulsitemsmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologypatchpatchespvpq-and-arvrstack-sizesstacksThu, 21 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances -- good or bad?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances good or bad
If you've played League of Legends for a while, you were probably shocked at the launch of all the new Season 3 changes. They're absolutely crazy! When I first saw them, I couldn't make heads or tails of them. What's the new best item builds? What's the best path to making them? I seriously had no idea.

Things have settled down a little, but items are still a little chaotic, and MLG is already hosting Season 3 qualifiers. This can't be right! I've covered before why tossing around the metagame is bad, but hosting tournaments that will affect entry into the Season 3 Championships with the game in this state is outrageous. I'm sure LoL will recover and things will get iterated on, but what are things going to be like in the meantime?

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances -- good or bad?

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances -- good or bad? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceblack-cleaverblackfire-torchcleaver-metaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playimbalanced-itemsitem-guideitemsleagueleague-of-legendslolmajor-league-gamingmlgmobaopinionpatchpatch-changespatchespvpriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteemoteemo-imbateemopocalypsethe-summoners-guidebookThu, 20 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Steam shows player collaborations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/city-of-steam-shows-player-collaborations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/city-of-steam-shows-player-collaborations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/city-of-steam-shows-player-collaborations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

City of Steam shows player collaborations
As part of its pre-launch fundraising efforts, Mechanist Games continues to offer players the chance to design their own in-game item for City of Steam if they kick in $500. It turns out at least four players have done so, and the devs whipped up a new blog post to show the journey from concept to completion for each of these items.

The items include a Darth Vader-style mask with cool steampunk goggles, a "Swiss Army Knife" of one-handed swords, a skull-adorned sword with an engine powering it, and a pair of sleek firearms.

Mechanist Games says that there are plenty of additional player items being designed and implemented. If you're thinking about making a mark on this upcoming game, you might want to move fast: donors will only have access to the design-an-item perk until December 5th.

If you're curious about City of Steam, check out Massively's recent hands-on with the title!

MassivelyCity of Steam shows player collaborations originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacity-of-steamdev-blogdev-diarydev-journalfantasyfundraisergeargoblinitemsmechanistmechanist-gamesplayer-created-itemsplayer-itemssci-fisteampunkweaponsMon, 26 Nov 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV explains changes to money and items]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/final-fantasy-xiv-explains-changes-to-money-and-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/final-fantasy-xiv-explains-changes-to-money-and-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/final-fantasy-xiv-explains-changes-to-money-and-items/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hooray, my equipped items finally aren't clogging up my bags! It only took forever!
A lot of changes are coming to Final Fantasy XIV when the relaunch finally comes around. Changes to currency and item properties are among the less interesting of those changes, but they're certainly going to have a big impact on the game. A new update from the development team explains in depth what will be changing, what items will be removed, and what will happen to currency values.

The currency one is what's going to throw the largest number of players for a loop, as the game is reducing all money values to a tenth of what they once were. To reduce numbers, all money is getting the ones digit removed, meaning that players will be 10% as wealthy as they are now, but all vendor prices will be 10% of their current values. Net purchasing power should be identical.

There will also be a number of items removed from the game, altered, or otherwise changed with the new version. Players will lose several key items and ammunition, and other items will be bound to a player to prevent trading. Take a look at the full rundown for all the particulars on graphics, money, and other mechanical shifts to inventory management.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV explains changes to money and items originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars 2
I hear a lot of Guild Wars 2 players talk about level 80. I hear, specifically, a lot of Guild Wars 2 doubters talking about level 80. Surely, surely, if the level cap could be hit in mere days (or for those of us well behind the vanguard, mere weeks), then the game must be content-light? Surely, surely, that would mean that the real game was "endgame"? Nope.

Don't get me wrong; hitting the level cap is significant. It's cool. Your character strikes a pose (you know, the same one he has struck literally scores of times before at each and every level-up). Your character says a catch-phrase. You feel good. But in terms of actual gameplay, I can think of very little that is less significant.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: The long haul in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: The long haul in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This here's my very best gun.
WildStar's developer dispatches all have a theme: "Play the way you enjoy playing." That's borne out in the latest installment of WildStar Wednesday, in which Economy team leader Jeremy Wood discusses the ins and outs of the game's reward system. Wood explains that his team is responsible for making sure that players have the rewards needed to keep them playing, and in a game focused so heavily on differing player paths, that can be a tall order.

WildStar will allow players a hefty amount of customization for items, including a dye system and modifications to existing equipment. Players can also expect to receive rewards of attractive and useful gear through every path rather than to be limited to one or two endgame pursuits. Even once you reach the top tier of items, there won't be a single "best" piece; the game will offer several different items for different playstyles. Take a look at the full article to get a broader picture of what the game will offer players to keep them invested to the endgame and beyond.

MassivelyWildStar Wednesday discusses the importance of items originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosendgameimprovementsitemizationitemsmodificationmodificationsncsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsWed, 15 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Battle of the online action RPGs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/not-so-massively-battle-of-the-online-action-rpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/not-so-massively-battle-of-the-online-action-rpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/not-so-massively-battle-of-the-online-action-rpgs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Blizzard addressed Diablo III's poor launch in an open letter to the community this week and detailed plans for development going forward. If you're stuck in the magic find grind, an impressive new guide also surfaced this week to demystify the hunt. Upcoming free-to-play action RPG Path of Exile released a video of its updated passive tree this week, demonstrating some of the game's incredible character customisation options. Torchlight II developer Runic Games also released some statistics this week showing just how big the game is compared to its predecessor.

In MOBA news, League of Legends released updated champion spotlight videos for its recently overhauled champions Evelynn and Twitch, and Heroes of Newerth surprised players by releasing all of its heroes for free to every player. Dota 2 added classic hero Naga Siren and updated the spectator UI with a much-requested gold-per-minute table.

Hi-Rez Studios released a new SMITE video featuring Hindu demon Bakasura, a character who can eat enemies to regain health and later vomit them up on the battlefield. Wrath of Heroes also revealed ranged assassin Korith Bitterborn this week, and Guardians of Middle-Earth published its first battle profile video showing some of Gollum's and Gandalf's attacks.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Battle of the online action RPGs

MassivelyNot So Massively: Battle of the online action RPGs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgbattlenetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcompetitive-gamingconsoled3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportseaelectronic-artsesportesportsevelynnf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-ownfree-to-playgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesguideheroes-of-newerthhi-rez-studioshonitem-levelitemsleague-of-legendslegendarieslegendarylegendary-itemslollootlord-of-the-ringslotrmagic-findmiddle-earthMike-Morhaimemobamonolithmonolith-studiosmultiplayermythicmythic-entertainmentnaga-sirennewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exileplaystation-networkpoeps3psnpvprare-itemsriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgrunic-gamess2s2-gamesskill-treeskill-tree-revamptwitchvalvevideowarhammerwarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswarner-broswohwrath-of-heroesxboxxbox-360xbox-livexbox360zyraMon, 23 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Balancing League of Legends' offense and defense items]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/05/the-summoners-guidebook-balancing-league-of-legends-offense-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/05/the-summoners-guidebook-balancing-league-of-legends-offense-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/05/the-summoners-guidebook-balancing-league-of-legends-offense-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Balancing League of Legends' offense and defense items
Last week, we talked specifically about building League of Legends' attack damage champions and the multiplicative effects the various bonuses have on these heroes. Building attack items is fairly cut and dried. The good attack damage items (IE, BT, PD, LW) are common to most pure AD builds, and there's not a lot of reason to heavily deviate from building them.

Defense is another story, however. In Dominion, defense is more heavily itemized than in Summoner's Rift simply because irregular engagements happen constantly. On Summoners' Rift, there is more structure to specific engagements, and a single champion getting spotted out of place either results in an epic bait or a brutal gank. In those situations, defense doesn't help much.

However, it's important to itemize defense in any game mode, and in Dominion, it is outright critical. Building only damage items will cause your champion to get melted by enemy attacks very early on, while building defense allows you to play more aggressively and capitalize on damage opportunities with less risk. Building defense is also important for bruisers who must close the gap to melee range, which inevitably means taking more damage than normal. Want to know all about the best time to start building tank? Read on!

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Balancing League of Legends' offense and defense items

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Balancing League of Legends' offense and defense items originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorbonus-healthcrystal-scardominionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhealth-regenhit-pointshpitemizationitemsleagueleague-of-legendslife-steallifesteallolmagic-resistancemobaopinionriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebooksummoners-riftsurvivabilitysustainsustainabilitytanktankytanky-itemsthe-crystal-scarthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 05 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Items and runes for League of Legends' attack damage champions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/the-summoners-guidebook-items-and-runes-for-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/the-summoners-guidebook-items-and-runes-for-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/the-summoners-guidebook-items-and-runes-for-league-of-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Items and runes for League of Legends' attack damage champions
Attack damage is a universal thing for most League of Legends champions to build. Even characters that do not normally build AD are commonly played as AD in "joke builds." AD champions also have some of the widest variety of items available. There are a fair number of caster and tank items and a handful of hybrid items, but items that bolster physical attacks are everywhere.

This can cause some confusion in what to build, and today we're going to talk about what gives you the most bang for your buck. This article will focus heavily on offense rather than defense for AD champions. We'll cover defense in a later week.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Items and runes for League of Legends' attack damage champions

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Items and runes for League of Legends' attack damage champions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armor-penetrationattack-damageattack-speedauto-attackautoattackbuildbuildingbuildscritcrit-chancecrit-damagecritical-chancecritical-hitcrystal-scardominiondpsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playguideguidesiasincreased-attack-speeditem-shopitemizationitemsleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamesshoppingsummoners-guidebooksummoners-riftthe-crystal-scarthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 28 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Repopulation lets players customize outfits to their hearts' content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-repopulation-lets-players-customize-outfits-to-their-hearts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-repopulation-lets-players-customize-outfits-to-their-hearts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-repopulation-lets-players-customize-outfits-to-their-hearts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Repopulation
As The Repopulation is free from conventional MMO leveling and hews to skill-based progression instead, dealing with player gear is substantially more difficult than it would be otherwise. The team posted a five-minute dev video explaining how items, repair, and what it calls "fittings" work in the game.

The long and the short of The Repopulation's gear system is that players will be able to pick the outfit (or "shells") that they like the best visually and then equip the stats they want on it. This is done through fittings, which is similar to socket systems found in other MMOs.

As outfits take damage, the conditions of the fittings can and do degrade, reducing the stats associated with it. If it gets too bad, the fittings will either need to be repaired or replaced.

You can check out The Repopulation's gear system after the break. The team is currently accepting signups for June's alpha testing.

[Thanks to Halldorr and J.C. for the tip!]

Continue reading The Repopulation lets players customize outfits to their hearts' content

MassivelyThe Repopulation lets players customize outfits to their hearts' content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiescustomizable-gearcustomizedev-blogdev-diarydev-videofittingfitting-systemfittingsgeargear-progressionitemitemsoutfitoutfit-systemrepairrepopulationsandboxsci-fishellsocketsocket-systemthe-repopulationvideoWed, 02 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do MMO studios owe us item restoration?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SHINIES!
MMOs vary widely in their account and item restoration policies. In some games, like some of NCsoft's offerings, if you're hacked or you lose access to your account because your memory is toast, it's game over unless you happen to have your original account key. In games like Lord of the Rings Online, you're not guaranteed full reimbursement of your money or gear if a hacker strips you naked and leaves you dancing on a mailbox. BioWare won't refund guild bank items stolen by rogue guildies, either.

In World of Warcraft, you'll almost always get your account back if you're hacked or you accidentally delete your favorite hat, but it might take an agonizingly long time. This week, Blizzard launched a new item restoration service that attempts to solve the second problem by simplifying the process of reclaiming lost trinkets (though not items stolen by hackers). I was surprised that Blizzard considers this a problem worthy of automation, but maybe it's more common than I thought.

So now I'm wondering whether companies are actually obligated to restore items we've lost through our own goof-ups. Do you consider this a vital service of a support team, and would you quit a game if your items were truly gone for good?

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 MMO studios owe us item restoration? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-restorationBlizzardbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinditemitem-restorationitemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftopinionreimbursementrestorationtdgthe-daily-grindturbineWorld-of-WarcraftwowSat, 28 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pathfinder Online developer blog outlines the path of production]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/pathfinder-online-developer-blog-outlines-the-path-of-production/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/pathfinder-online-developer-blog-outlines-the-path-of-production/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/pathfinder-online-developer-blog-outlines-the-path-of-production/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Someone made the small jagged sword being stabbed into my gut! Wait, this is less cool than I had envisioned.
Everything comes from somewhere. That's one of the axioms underpinning Pathfinder Online -- almost every single object that players see will have been produced by a player. In the most recent development blog, the process for gathering and producing items is outlined, and it bears all of the detailed hallmarks of the game's other systems. This isn't a game in which players grab a pickaxe and swing at the nearest rock face for ore; instead, you construct a camp and start up an entire mining operation.

The game has a basic three-tiered structure to its non-combat operation, starting with harvesting the resource, moving on to processing and refining the items in question, and finishing with crafting a usable item. And as an outgrowth of the game's open systems, these elements work in multiple directions. Starting a camp to harvest resources, for example, can generate a lot of commotion and attract hostile monsters, necessitating that players deal with the fallout or find someone else willing to do so. No one can accuse the designers of making crafting activities a secondary goal with this degree of detail involved.

MassivelyPathfinder Online developer blog outlines the path of production originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildingcraftingfantasygatheringgoblinworksitemspathfinderpathfinder-onlinepnpproductionresourcessandboxsandparkThu, 12 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online lets you add a game wallet by lightening your real wallet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/lord-of-the-rings-online-lets-you-add-a-game-wallet-by-lightenin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/lord-of-the-rings-online-lets-you-add-a-game-wallet-by-lightenin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/lord-of-the-rings-online-lets-you-add-a-game-wallet-by-lightenin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Well, it's no sparklepony.
If you're a Lord of the Rings Online veteran, you've probably accumulated a large number of different barter items for various upgrades. Skirmish tokens, regional tokens, festival tokens... all vital to getting various gumballs, all clogging up inventory space that could go toward other items. The development team has heard your cries for a solution, and thus, the improved barter wallet has come into existence. Unfortunately, this upgrade comes at a price -- just about $10, specifically.

Needless to say, some players and subscribers will be rather galled by the fact that this feature is being sold. On the other hand, player testimonials indicate that the upgrade works wonderfully, and it's a single account-wide purchase for all of your past, present, and future characters. Whether or not you prefer to grab the account-wide upgrade or wish to abstain on matters of principle is a personal decision, but there's no denying that the freed inventory spaces are certainly appealing.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online lets you add a game wallet by lightening your real wallet originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barter-walletf2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-featuresitemslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrotransactionspremium-walletstorestore-itemsturbineturbine-entertainmentturbine-storewalletSat, 03 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth's newest patch aimed at improving a life of crafting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/fallen-earths-newest-patch-aimed-at-improving-a-life-of-craftin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/fallen-earths-newest-patch-aimed-at-improving-a-life-of-craftin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/fallen-earths-newest-patch-aimed-at-improving-a-life-of-craftin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Craft zombies are scary at first, but when they catch you they just steal your random junk and try to use it to assemble an assault rifle.
Crafting has always been one of the major elements of Fallen Earth, and with good cause, really: you're in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and you can't just buy all your supplies down at the S-Mart. But that doesn't mean crafting is all roses and happy thoughts; some items are far rarer than necessary and others present in useless abundance. It's ripe for some revisions, and that's exactly what the game's newest patch, set for release on October 4th, is meant to address.

Several recipes have been streamlined, with unnecessary parts removed from the equation to make a crafter's life easier. At the same time, craftable items are being removed from merchant inventories, encouraging players to seek out other players or assemble the items themselves. If you're feeling a bit leery of the changes, though, fret not -- you still have a couple of days left to stock up on materials.

MassivelyFallen Earth's newest patch aimed at improving a life of crafting originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancecrafterscraftingdrop-ratesdropsf2pfallen-earthfefree-to-playgamersfirstitemsmerchantspatchpatchesquality-of-lifeupdatesvendorsFri, 30 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Crash the Rusty Hearts beta with style with enhanced keys from Massively!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/crash-the-rusty-hearts-beta-with-style-with-enhanced-keys-from-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/crash-the-rusty-hearts-beta-with-style-with-enhanced-keys-from-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/crash-the-rusty-hearts-beta-with-style-with-enhanced-keys-from-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Rusty Hearts is heading into closed beta on July 27th, something that participants in our last giveaway of beta keys have no doubt zeroed in on. But we've got another batch of keys to give away just before the beta launches, and this time they're coming with a little something extra. Actually, several extras.

Players who use one of the Rusty Hearts beta keys from Massively will be entitled to a special costume on the first character created -- the Night Witch costume for Angela, the Bright Uniform for Tude, or the Dark Seal outfit for Frantz. You'll also be granted a seven-day Gold Pass and a smattering of items, which should be enough to kick-start your beta experience nicely.

What's that? You already took an entry from our first giveaway? Well, not to worry -- if you grabbed a previous key to the game from us, you'll still get all of the bonuses. But if you haven't yet nabbed a spot in the beta and the latest Perfect World outing interests you, maybe now would be the time to grab a code?

GET YOUR KEY

MassivelyCrash the Rusty Hearts beta with style with enhanced keys from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearancebetabeta-giveawaybeta-keybonus-giveawaybonus-itemsclosed-betacontestcostumesgiveawayitem-packitemsperfect-world-entertainmentpwerhrusty-heartsMon, 18 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[APB Reloaded open beta coming May 18th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/apb-reloaded-open-beta-coming-may-18th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/apb-reloaded-open-beta-coming-may-18th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/apb-reloaded-open-beta-coming-may-18th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Mark your calendars, APB fans. May 18th is a big day in the history of the resurrected title since it marks the official start of open beta. Bjorn Book-Larsson broke the good news yesterday on the APB Reloaded blog, and he had a few other interesting nuggets to discuss as well.

GamersFirst's character restoration service should make its first appearance today around 4:00 p.m. PDT, and APB veterans from the Realtime Worlds days will be able to reclaim their old avatars and customizations. If you're unsure if you qualify, check your inbox as GamersFirst will be sending out email notices to everyone with an available reclaim.

Book-Larsson also talks briefly about some of the company's plans for dealing with cheaters. No details are given, of course, but GamersFirst is apparently very aware of all the attempted aimbotting going on thus far in the beta. Finally, there's a blurb concerning new item rollouts in the coming days, as well as some info relating to the game's payment interface. Head to the official APB Reloaded blog for more.

MassivelyAPB Reloaded open beta coming May 18th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aimbotsaimbottingall-points-bulletinapbapb-reloadedbetaBjorn-Book-Larssoncharacter-reclaimscheaterscheatingcrimedev-blogdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playgamersfirstitemizationitemsopen-betasan-paroTue, 03 May 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV launches another notorious preview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/final-fantasy-xiv-launches-another-notorious-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/final-fantasy-xiv-launches-another-notorious-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/final-fantasy-xiv-launches-another-notorious-preview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We're not sure exactly when Final Fantasy XIV's large December update will be going live, but we do know that one of its major inclusions will be the addition of notorious monsters. The first of these powerful beasts has already been previewed, but a new one is now being shown for all to see... not that it would be easy to miss the enormous Tarbh Uisge. One of the last great buffalo, his mind has been eaten away through years of suppressive magics, leaving him as a bundle of violent rage.

Tarbh Uisge appears to be in the same category as the previously demonstrated Deadeyes in more ways than one. This great beast is linked to a levequest as well, but he also drops the same set of runestones as his contemporary. The Templar armor previewed alongside the buffalo, therefore, can be obtained by players slaying either beast and accumulating drops, which frees players to pursue both or neither as they see fit. Final Fantasy XIV should be releasing this newest opponent in the near future, which should yield a notable boon to everyone not trampled underfoot.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV launches another notorious preview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buffaloeliteelite-monsterffff14ffxivffxiv-december-updatefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivguildlevesitem-setsitemslevequestslootnew-itemsnotorious-monsterpreviewtarbh-uisgeTue, 07 Dec 2010 22:00:00 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[The Tattered Notebook: Never leave home without it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/the-tattered-notebook-never-leave-home-without-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/the-tattered-notebook-never-leave-home-without-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/the-tattered-notebook-never-leave-home-without-it/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



This week, I decided it's time to dump the bag. My characters often accumulate items at such a rapid rate that my bags quickly resemble those of a typical teenager at the mall. Any time I resign myself to plunking down at the bank to sort my inventory, I end up shocked at some of the stuff I bring home. However, there are some items in EverQuest II that are lifesavers, and others that can really be handy in a pinch. Let's take a look at a few items that you should never leave home without.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Never leave home without it

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Never leave home without it originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingEQ2EQIIequipmenteverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedguideitemsLegends-of-NorrathMinipetsopinionrelicsrepair-kitSOESony-Online-Entertainmentthe-tattered-notebooktinkeringtotemstradeskillsMon, 22 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Icarus publishes latest Fallen Earth State of the Game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/icarus-publishes-latest-fallen-earth-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/icarus-publishes-latest-fallen-earth-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/icarus-publishes-latest-fallen-earth-state-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Fallen Earth fans have had a rough couple of weeks (to say nothing of the staff at Icarus Studios). The post-apocalyptic sci-fi MMORPG was recently hit with a round of layoffs that impacted several key people and likely left subscribers wondering as to the future of everyone's favorite digital wasteland.

Happily, Icarus senior game designer Marie Croall is here with a lengthy State of the Game letter that puts a few of our fears to rest and outlines a path forward. Though Croall doesn't directly address the recent layoffs, preferring instead to focus on the upcoming development schedule, it's clear that there are a lot of improvements incoming, which bodes well for Fallen Earth's fans and future.

Croall talks about Sector 4, a level cap increase, and new gear, consumables, and recipes that will soon see the light of day. Graphical upgrades and physical combat changes are also on the way, with the latter being pushed to the test server before the end of the month. The Fallen Earth team will also be improving high-end group content, tweaking the serendipity system, and continuing to balance Progress Towns throughout December. Finally, look for long-awaited additional character slots to be available in the Fallen Earth store as early as next week.

Check out the full letter on the official forums, and also look for the Fallen Earth devs on next week's Massively Speaking podcast with Shawn and Rubi.

MassivelyIcarus publishes latest Fallen Earth State of the Game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fallen-earthfallen-earth-llcgearhigh-end-group-contenticarusicarus-studiositemsmarie-croallphysical-combat-changesprogress-townsrecipesState-of-the-gametest-serverworld-bossesTue, 16 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online drops 1.3.6 today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/warhammer-online-drops-1-3-6-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/warhammer-online-drops-1-3-6-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/warhammer-online-drops-1-3-6-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The odds weren't in favor of us seeing the newest patch for Warhammer Online so soon... but that works just fine, since the patch itself is Against All Odds. Even if you're not using it to set up a lame joke, however, patch 1.3.6 is going live today after slightly extended server maintenance, bringing with it several updates and improvements to the game. The eponymous Against All Odds mechanic is one of the central changes, giving a side without sufficient numbers in an RvR lake bonus rewards for persistence.

1.3.6 also brings two major changes to items in the game. The first is the addition of an appearance system, allowing players to make their armor look like whatever set they want without losing the benefits of high-end rewards. The second is equally significant, splitting the high-end Sovereign armor into two sets to celebrate alternate playstyles for each class. As always, there are a number of adjustments and bug fixes listed in the full patch notes, but Warhammer Online players should be happy enough knowing that the game's latest patch is live and ready to enjoy.

MassivelyWarhammer Online drops 1.3.6 today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>against-all-oddsappearancearmorarmor-setsbalance-mechanicsbioware-mythicea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsitem-appearanceitemslive-serversmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentpatch-daypatch-droprvrwarwar-eawar-patch-1.3.6warhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaTue, 17 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise offers new insights into weaponry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/earthrise-offers-new-insights-into-weaponry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/earthrise-offers-new-insights-into-weaponry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/earthrise-offers-new-insights-into-weaponry/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Weapons are useful. Nearly any MMO player will be happy to expound on the virtues of them, and so it's no surprise that Earthrise will be featuring its own selection. The development team recently released information and a few renders of the weapons that will be coming out for the post-apocalyptic game, detailing shotguns, assault rifles, and precision rifles. the forum post also details that each skill line is tied to a specific item -- meaning that shotguns don't simply encompass firing shells, but an entire suite of abilities based around using a shotgun.

Assault rifles are flexible, with both burst fire and sustained fire possible, as well as grenade launchers to give them area-of-effect attacks. Shotguns, meanwhile, specialize in close-range brutality, allowing for crowd control and quick dispatching of targets. Precision rifles take the "sniper" role, allowing players to hit single targets with extreme force over long distances. The full rundown can be found on the post on the official forums, which should be welcome news for players eager to hear more on the slightly-delayed science fiction MMO.

MassivelyEarthrise offers new insights into weaponry originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesbackgrounddevelopment-previewsearthriseitem-based-skillsitem-skillsitemsmastheadpreviewsrendersriflessandboxshotgunsweapon-typesweaponryweaponsWed, 11 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: We're all in this together]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-were-all-in-this-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-were-all-in-this-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-were-all-in-this-together/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Community can be a funny thing. We pick the community we're in -- in this case, City of Heroes -- but we don't pick any of the other members. Sometimes they're all really stand-out folks, and sometimes... well, sometimes your choices are between Flower Power, Slug-fest, and Hammer Time. Lucky for us, the community that's formed itself around our favorite superhero MMO is pretty darn good at its worst and outright awesome most of the time. (And a proper shout-out to our community for the game right here, while I'm at it.)

To be fair, we're a bit on the lean side at the moment. After all, we're not getting another update for a couple of months and we almost all know it. Issue 17 is pretty awesome, but we also know that Going Rogue is just around the corner, and so most of us are focused a bit more on the future. But we've still got a lot to talk about in our day-to-day adventures. That both helps everyone to feel that much more welcome, and it helps facilitate this week's look at some of the noteworthy community threads that have been cropping up lately.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: We're all in this together

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: We're all in this together originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcommunitycovcoxexpansionsfeaturedfinancialgoing-rogueissue-17itemsmission-architectparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesparagon-studiossubscriberssuper-boostsuper-boosterusable-itemWed, 19 May 2010 13:00:00 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[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite toy?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-toy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-toy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-toy/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've all got our best abilities, the ones that do the most damage or heal the most or save us the largest number of headaches. We all have the armor or items or random hats or whatever that give us huge stat increases and make us almost invulnerable in most circumstances.

And then... we have the toys. The stuff that's not bad, but just... doesn't really do much of anything. The one that lets you hover when that's not actually relevant to anything except looking cool. Or the item you've been holding on to that lets you shoot non-damaging fireworks all over a room. Totally useless, of course, but always fun when you get to break it out.

What's your favorite in-game toy? Is it a piece of equipment without any useful stats but a really amazing look to it? An item that does something silly and unique? A spell that's been designed without many practical components, or one that has practical usage but generally just gets played with? When you have the downtime, what's your choice of fun little toys in your favorite game?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite toy? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funitemsopinionthe-daily-grindtoysMon, 12 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Microtransaction mayhem pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/31/anti-aliased-microtransaction-mayhem-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/31/anti-aliased-microtransaction-mayhem-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/31/anti-aliased-microtransaction-mayhem-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Plus, it's not like this has never happened before

Many complaints about this format seem to stem from the notion that this is a new practice. However, keen observers of the industry will note that this practice is absolutely nothing new.

The first introduction of this format is, amazingly enough, World of Warcraft. Name changes, server transfers, character re-customizations, and the eventual faction transfers are all a part of their suite of premium services. Perhaps you never thought about it because Blizz never used the dreaded terminology, but these are microtransactions. You're paying extra to take advantage of a service, even though you're paying for a subscription.

Over in another superhero fun land, NCsoft has been selling character costume packs, extra character slots, and other goodies all for premium prices in City of Heroes. Oddly enough, no one has rioted over the sale of wedding outfits and mystical armors, even when the magic pack comes with a brand new power that you otherwise can't get in-game.

"Microtransaction is a loaded word in our culture -- it makes people think of unfair item shops and poorly formatted 'free to play' games.'"
Lastly, the original subscription/microtransaction model -- Xbox Live. XBL offers all subscribers some pretty nifty services, like cross-network friends lists, cross-game communication, massive yearly updates, and the ability to play games online. But, it also pushes the sale of videos, music, game add-ons, and original games via the Xbox Live Marketplace. It may not seem like it, but this is the definition of the microtransaction model. You're paying a subscription to purchase more content.

So why all the angry?

Why Cryptic? Why Champions? Why does everyone lash out now?

First off, people are angry because microtransactions are coming with the game's launch, and that makes them visible. CoH added their microtransactions years after the launch. Xbox Live was originally just playing games online, adding in microtransactions after a few years of service. World of Warcraft followed the same trend, adding their "premium services" well after launch. Cryptic hasn't slipped them in later, under people's noses.

Another reason people are angry -- Cryptic called them microtransactions. WoW offers "services," XBL offers "content," and CoH offers "packs." Microtransaction is a loaded word in our culture -- it makes people think of unfair item shops and poorly formatted "free to play" games. That word alone has put many people off simply because it exists. I'll put money down and say that some of the naysayers didn't go on to do their homework regarding what Cryptic was offering.

But Cryptic isn't offering anything new. It's a shop of "services" like name changes, costume changes, and other account level data changers coupled with some silly cosmetic options. Plus, Cryptic has stated that anything that has an in-game effect can still be acquired in-game. Don't want to pay for the costume change token? Earn one in game.

Stop saying the sky is falling

It's not. You don't like it, then don't buy from it. This isn't anything extremely experimental or surprising. It's not price gouging if you don't actually pay for it. And it's not like Champions is going to ship with huge swaths of content missing, forcing you to buy items from the Cryptic Store to progress through the game. It's simply an option, nothing more.

Take advantage of the beauty of the system -- if you don't want it, don't pay for it.
Colin Seraphina Brennan is the weekly writer of Anti-Aliased who is paying for sparkling angel wings, if they're available. When she's not writing here for Massively, she's rambling on her personal blog, The Experience Curve. If you want to message her, send her an e-mail at colin.brennan AT weblogsinc DOT com. You can also follow her on Twitter through Massively, or through her personal feed, @sera_brennan.

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Microtransaction mayhem pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championschampions-onlinecontentcryptic-storecryptic-studiosflexibilityitem-shopitemsmicrotransactionsopinionsubscriptionFri, 31 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Starting out in Vana'diel: Questing and you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/starting-out-in-vanadiel-questing-and-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/starting-out-in-vanadiel-questing-and-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/starting-out-in-vanadiel-questing-and-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Hello again adventurers! Today's topic is once again back on hard gaming ground instead of community theory as I introduce quests and their purpose.

Questing in Final Fantasy XI is not like questing in other games. Quests exist, but they don't jump out at you with bright yellow exclamation points. NPCs don't scream, "I have things for you to do for me!" Quests don't hold your hand as you pursue their goals. Also, most importantly, quests don't reward experience.

So why bother, right? If you're only going to get come cruddy gold and maybe an item, why should you spend your time doing the quest? Beautiful question, and a very accurate one. Let's take a look at the quest system, what it has to offer you, and how to find some quests at your level with ease.

Continue reading Starting out in Vana'diel: Questing and you

MassivelyStarting out in Vana'diel: Questing and you originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bardsequipmentfamefeaturedffxiffxiclopediafinal-fantasy-xiitemsjoystiqfeaturesmapsmog-housemog-house-exitquestingquestsrare-itemsreputationstarting-out-in-vanadielTue, 24 Mar 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RuneScape's PvP loot system explained, rewards increased]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/runescape-pvp-loot-system-explained-rewards-increased/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/runescape-pvp-loot-system-explained-rewards-increased/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/runescape-pvp-loot-system-explained-rewards-increased/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The behind-the-scenes workings of RuneScape's player-kill loot is a lot more complicated than many people might expect. It's not simply a matter of looking for PvP battles and hoping to win the random-number-generator for a sweet item, as a recent developer post on the game's official website explained. In short, a value known as "drop potential" must be increased if you want better loot. This is achieved by spending time in PvP areas, while risking a certain amount of your own items. Some zones like the Wilderness are worth more to your drop potential, but you can probably expect a lot more action too. This system rewards the brave, and leaves the cowardly with junk-loot.

As well as elaborating on the mechanics of PvP drops, the post also mentions that two improvements have been made to the system. One is a shift away from having a larger number of items dropping, to fewer but more valuable items. The other is a simple increase to the value of the items dropped. These changes help with inventory management, and also mean that people are more likely to bother picking up what they've earned. Sounds like a good reason to get out there and see what sort of items you can find -- just make sure you've got the skills to pay the bills.

MassivelyRuneScape's PvP loot system explained, rewards increased originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>itemsjagexlootplayer-versus-playerpvppvp-lootrewardsrunescapethe-wildernessThu, 11 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Terra Nova looks back (and forward) at the Diku legacy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/terra-nova-looks-back-and-forward-at-the-diku-legacy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/terra-nova-looks-back-and-forward-at-the-diku-legacy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/terra-nova-looks-back-and-forward-at-the-diku-legacy/#commentsFiled under: , ,


EverQuest, World of Warcraft, The Lord of the Rings Online, Age of Conan, Warhammer Online and many other MMOs all have one important thing in common. Well, okay; they have a lot of things in common -- like about 85% or more of their gameplay mechanics. But the main thing -- indeed, the reason why they have so much in common -- is that they are all descendants of a kind of text MUD game called Diku.

Acknowledging that, virtual worlds blog Terra Nova published a "State of the Diku" article for the year 2008. The article was written by Timothy Burke. It's mostly a dispassionate look at game design -- serious business. Burke starts out questioning the purpose of "vendor trash" drops (or grey items as they're generally known in many popular contemporary MMOs). Then he analyzes the public quests of Warhammer Online, viewing them as a positive variation on traditional Diku design.

If you're into thnking critically about MMO design, it's worth checking out. We take for granted the fact that most of today's MMOs are based on the Diku formula; maybe that means we're clinging to old ideas that don't make a lot of sense in today's world.

MassivelyTerra Nova looks back (and forward) at the Diku legacy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conandesigndikudiku-muddropsgreyhistoryitemsjunklord-of-the-rings-onlinemudpublic-questsstate-of-the-dikuterra-novatheorytimothy-burkevendor-trashwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftSat, 30 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Asheron's Call's 100th update is live and kicking]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/asherons-calls-100th-update-is-live-and-kicking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/asherons-calls-100th-update-is-live-and-kicking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/asherons-calls-100th-update-is-live-and-kicking/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The much-heralded 100th Asheron's Call update has finally arrived! In addition to new areas and monsters, it notably adds in the highly anticipated faction system, with three distinct societies that players can join. There are also two new towns which may be captured in PvP. The society that controls a town will have access to the Black Market, which sells special items unavailable anywhere else.

A new tier of loot has been added -- mostly for levels 150 and up -- which includes armor sets for players above level 180 and items used in crafting new spells. Yep, there are new spells -- a whole level of them in fact! Level 8 spells may either be researched in the traditional way, or learned via combination of certain item drops from the new tier.

The complete release notes, including details on how to acquire items in the new loot tier, are available at Turbine's AC website. This is a huge update (accompanied, of course, by the August event), and it's a great time to feel proud that you're among the special few playing Asheron's Call today.

MassivelyAsheron's Call's 100th update is live and kicking originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100100th-updateacasherons-callbreakingfaction-systemsfactionsitemslandlevel-8level-8-spellspatchpvpresearchsocietiesspellsturbineupdateWed, 27 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Contest: Win an exclusive City of Heroes in-game item from Comic-Con]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/contest-win-an-exclusive-in-game-city-of-heroes-item-from-comic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/contest-win-an-exclusive-in-game-city-of-heroes-item-from-comic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/contest-win-an-exclusive-in-game-city-of-heroes-item-from-comic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We stopped by the NCsoft booth at Comic-Con 2008 and had the chance to chat with City of Heroes Community Manager Alex 'Lighthouse' Von Minden, who noted that a number of community members were disappointed about not being able to attend the Con for a chance to snag the exclusive in-game item from the VIP Pass. We thought it would be fun to give players not in attendance a chance to pick one up, so we're happy to present Massively readers with 10 chances to win a unique in-game CoH Comic-Con item. This contest is open to all ages and locations -- you'll just need an active City of Heroes account to claim it. To enter, just leave a comment in this thread by 5pm EST Wednesday, July 30. We'll choose 10 winners at random to receive a code for the unique in-game item. Good luck!

Update: contest closed! Thanks to everyone who entered -- we'll be announcing winners ASAP!

MassivelyContest: Win an exclusive City of Heroes in-game item from Comic-Con originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alex-von-MindenCoHcomic-concomic-con-2008contestfeaturedin-game-itemitemsjoystiqfeaturesLighthouseNCsoftMon, 28 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MapleStory patch 0.56 adds desert region, rad surfboard drops]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/maplestory-patch-0-56-adds-desert-region-rad-surfboard-drops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/maplestory-patch-0-56-adds-desert-region-rad-surfboard-drops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/maplestory-patch-0-56-adds-desert-region-rad-surfboard-drops/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MapleStory's 0.56 patch has gone live! The patch's additions are impressively robust; they include a new region and town, guild alliance support, windowed mode support, auto-inventory sorting, macros, and extra party search features.

The new area is called Ariant. You'll find it on the continent of Ossyria. Apparently it's some kind of Arabian Nights-esque desert setting (summer, desert; they're both hot -- get it?). A whole slew of new quests, NPCs, monsters, and items have been introduced as well. Of course, the shop has been updated, too. A special event begins with this patch -- summer-themed items like surfboards will drop throughout the season.

Dude, that's like totally rad! Um, sorry. You're right; that was uncalled for.

MassivelyMapleStory patch 0.56 adds desert region, rad surfboard drops originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>05656allianceariantdeserteventitemsmaplestorymaplestory-patch-056nexonnotespatchpatch-notessummer-drop-eventWed, 25 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Making/Money: MUDflation IG vs. IRL]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/making-money-mudflation-ig-vs-irl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/making-money-mudflation-ig-vs-irl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/making-money-mudflation-ig-vs-irl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We have tackled the subject of mudflation tangentially a few times of late. It seems to have suddenly become the economic buzzword of MMOs. We have all experienced it. We have come to expect, if not accept, it as part of the games we love to play. And though Wikipedia, in its infinite wisdom, has dubbed it an in-game only phenomenon, I posit a different approach to looking at this occurrence.

Mudflation is an immediate devaluation of previously owned items due to the gain or release of newly available items. This is not unlike technological advance in that the release of the latest new toy makes all others somewhat obsolete. The differences here are the perceived need for the item, the amount of devaluation, and the time frame in which this occurs.

Continue reading Making/Money: MUDflation IG vs. IRL

MassivelyMaking/Money: MUDflation IG vs. IRL originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advancesbleeding-edgedeflationeconomicsexpansionsfeaturedgearinflationitemsjoystiqfeatureslootmaking-moneymudflationpvepvppvp-gearshinytechnologyFri, 13 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The European connection in 9Dragons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-european-connection-in-9dragons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-european-connection-in-9dragons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-european-connection-in-9dragons/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Acclaim's martial arts MMORPG 9Dragons is about to gain some more European fans, with the launch of Bardo Euro -- their new European server. Bardo Euro promises to offer the European playerbase an improved game experience with better connections all around.

Apparently the players have been calling for a European 9Dragons server for some time; Acclaim is delivering on their promises to improve the game and is holding a number of special events to celebrate the launch:

  • 30% off sale: All items in the 9Dragons Item Mall will be 30% off for 3 days only. June 6-8.
  • Bonus exp rate events: Earn 2 times experience points by playing on the Bardo server. June 3-9.
  • Monster spawn event: High level monsters will invade Bardo. June 3-5, 6, 8-9.
  • VGM/GM PvP event: Test your martial arts skills battling against Acclaim VGM and GM staff. June 3-6, 8-9.
  • Fireworks in Bardo: To celebrate the official launch of the European server, fireworks will light up the sky at random times from May 30 to June 8 on the Bardo server.
If you're in Europe, why not give 9Dragons a shot? Roll yourself a Shaolin or Wu-Tang badass and see if you can take down a GM or two in martial arts combat.

Via Warcry

MassivelyThe European connection in 9Dragons originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9-dragons9dragonsacclaimasiachinadragoneuropefantasyfireworksgmhistoricalhistoryitemitem-mallitemsmartial-artsnine-dragonspvpserverwarcrywu-tangThu, 05 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST