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[SWTOR's Jeff Hickman on the expansion and the state of the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/swtors-jeff-hickman-on-the-expansion-and-the-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/swtors-jeff-hickman-on-the-expansion-and-the-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/swtors-jeff-hickman-on-the-expansion-and-the-state-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Massively Interview SWTOR's Jeff Hickman reveals more about the Cartel expansion
The Massively Bothan spy network is at it again; there are just too many unanswered questions about the new Star Wars: The Old Republic expansion. We know the primary focus of Rise of the Hutt Cartel is on the contested world of Makeb, but what about these rumors of additional content? Does this expansion have more to offer? We cornered Executive Producer Jeff Hickman and interrogated him until he spilled the beans. And since our IT-O droid was feeling frisky and our Bavo Six supply was ample, we asked Hickman a couple of question regarding the state of the game blog he posted on the SWTOR website as well.

Fortunately, he answered our questions before we were forced to test the firepower of the Massively battlestation on his home planet of Alderaan. Now we can reveal his answers to the whole galaxy.

Continue reading SWTOR's Jeff Hickman on the expansion and the state of the game

MassivelySWTOR's Jeff Hickman on the expansion and the state of the game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhutt-cartelinterviewinterviewsjeff-hickmanlucasartsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorWed, 27 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's hands-on with SWTOR expansion Rise of the Hutt Cartel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/massivelys-hands-on-with-swtor-expansion-rise-of-the-hutt-carte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/massivelys-hands-on-with-swtor-expansion-rise-of-the-hutt-carte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/massivelys-hands-on-with-swtor-expansion-rise-of-the-hutt-carte/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

A day with the SWTOR expansion Rise of the Hutt Cartel
Last week, BioWare invited a crew of gaming journalists to Austin to experience the latest content for Star Wars: The Old Republic. While I couldn't personally make the trip, BioWare invited me to listen in on the presentation given by Executive Producer Jeff Hickman. The journalists in Austin paired up and began their journey on the Hutt-controlled planet of Makeb, while I, having already been testing Rise of the Hutt Cartel for a few weeks, began writing my impressions of what I saw on that planet.

Before I begin my report, I would like to lay down a couple of disclaimers. In order for me to tell the story behind Makeb, I will have to give some spoilers about the main game. If you haven't completed it, and you don't want to know how it ends, then you will not want to read the first section after the break. Secondly, if you are looking for Rise of the Hutt Cartel to fix all the issues and emotional setbacks you had with SWTOR in the first place, then you might be a little disappointed. However, if you loved the storytelling and overall gameplay of vanilla TOR, then you will absolutely love this expansion.

Continue reading Massively's hands-on with SWTOR expansion Rise of the Hutt Cartel

MassivelyMassively's hands-on with SWTOR expansion Rise of the Hutt Cartel originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexander-freedbiowareeaelectronic-artsexpansionExpansionsf2pfeaturedfirst-impressionsfree-to-playhands-onimpressionsjeff-hickmanlucasartsopinionpreviewpreviewsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 25 Mar 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare: SWTOR servers 'teeming with people']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/bioware-swtor-servers-teeming-with-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/bioware-swtor-servers-teeming-with-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/bioware-swtor-servers-teeming-with-people/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

SWTOR - Black Talon group
BioWare executive producer Jeff Hickman has penned a state-of-the-game post for Star Wars: The Old Republic. In it, he says that the firm's "new high-capacity servers are teeming with people." SWTOR has seen more than two million new accounts created since its free-to-play switcheroo, and Hickman also promises that the dev team's "eight-week new content cadence" will continue.

New features are coming, too, including a new avatar customization feature and the new Cathar species, not to mention the Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion.

MassivelyBioWare: SWTOR servers 'teeming with people' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecustomizationeaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playjeff-hickmanlucasartsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstate-of-the-gameswtorswtor-customizationswtor-state-of-the-gamethe-old-republictorThu, 21 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic confirms same-gender romance, more endgame content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/02/star-wars-the-old-republic-confirms-same-gender-romance-more-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/02/star-wars-the-old-republic-confirms-same-gender-romance-more-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/02/star-wars-the-old-republic-confirms-same-gender-romance-more-e/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic confirms samegender romance, promises more endgame content
Executive Producer Jeff Hickman is riding in the new year with a bold state of the game letter for Star Wars: The Old Republic. In it, he not only trumpets the benefits of free-to-play but addresses several pressing questions from the community and gives a few hints at Update 1.7 and the Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion.

Hickman says that F2P has done well by SWTOR, although he doesn't deliver specific numbers: "The game is incredibly healthy with an ever increasing number of players who are actively playing (the servers are rocking!)."

He also said that players will soon see changes to "a special PvP area," a lot more content for endgame customers, improvements to Ilum, and the ability to copy characters to the test server. Regarding PvP, Hickman indicated that pure open-world PvP will not be coming to the game any time soon.

Finally, the state of the game address confirms that same-gender romance will be added to SWTOR in the expansion, although it will initially be confined to interactions with NPCs and not companions. "I want to reveal today that we are adding SGR with some NPCs on Makeb and do intend on pursuing more SGR options in the future," Hickman said.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic confirms same-gender romance, more endgame content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.7biowareeaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playillumjeff-hickmanlucasartsopen-world-pvppvprise-of-the-hutt-cartelsame-gender-romancesame-gender-romance-arcssci-fisgrsgrastar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.7Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic's Jeff Hickman encourages player feedback on F2P changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/star-wars-the-old-republics-jeff-hickman-encourages-player-fee/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/star-wars-the-old-republics-jeff-hickman-encourages-player-fee/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/star-wars-the-old-republics-jeff-hickman-encourages-player-fee/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic's community has had plenty to say about the game's recent addition of its free-to-play option, and BioWare wants players to keep the opinions coming. In a new post on the official site, the game's executive producer Jeff Hickman speaks on the importance of player feedback of the new F2P model and announces a few upcoming changes based on said feedback.

For starters, the ridiculous practice of requiring players to purchase additional hotbars seems to be on its way out. "Starting today," Hickman writes, "Preferred Status Players will see an increase to their default quickbars from two (2) to four (4)" while any players who have already shelled out for additional bars will have their Cartel Coins refunded. On top of that, an upcoming patch (exact date to-be-determined) will increase the number of character slots available to preferred players from two to six. In that same patch, BioWare will be substantially increasing the global 50-character limit for subscribers, in case anyone really wants an army of their own. In closing, Hickman reminds players that "even if [the developers] can't respond to every post, know that [they're] listening and looking to enhance The Old Republic gameplay based on player feedback." For the full details, click on over to the SWTOR official site.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic's Jeff Hickman encourages player feedback on F2P changes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebuying-hotbars-is-ridiculouseaelectronic-artsf2pfeedbackfree-to-playjeff-hickmanlucasartsplayer-feedbacksci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 04 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR livestream Q&A highlights F2P success, BioWare 'listening to feedback']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/swtor-livestream-qanda-highlights-f2p-success-bioware-listening/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/swtor-livestream-qanda-highlights-f2p-success-bioware-listening/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/swtor-livestream-qanda-highlights-f2p-success-bioware-listening/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

SWTOR livestream Q&A highlights F2P success, BioWare 'listening to feedback'
BioWare held a post-1.5 livestream Q&A for Star Wars: The Old Republic yesterday, and Darth Hater has posted the pertinent notes as well as a 30-minute video embed.

The devs of record were lead designer Damion Schubert, producer Jeff Hickman, and community manager Joveth Gonzalez. The trio fielded a wide variety of questions, many of which centered on the game's controversial F2P conversion. "From a business standpoint, the number of players we're getting into the game is great," Hickman explained. "If you're a brand-new player, it doesn't feel too limited because you don't know what it feels like to not be restricted. But we're definitely listening to feedback and could make changes."

Schubert concurred, and he also mentioned that the numbers support BioWare's current position. "Almost every conceivable metric is better. The numbers have blown away our expectations, which means good things for the players and the game," he said.

Continue reading SWTOR livestream Q&A highlights F2P success, BioWare 'listening to feedback'

MassivelySWTOR livestream Q&A highlights F2P success, BioWare 'listening to feedback' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredamion-schuberteaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playjeff-hickmanjoveth-gonzalezlivestreamlucasartssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-1.5swtor-f2pthe-old-republictorvideoFri, 30 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR executive producer reveals the state of the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/swtor-executive-producer-reveals-the-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/swtor-executive-producer-reveals-the-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/swtor-executive-producer-reveals-the-state-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR executive producer reveals the state of the game
Players have been anxiously waiting to hear how Star Wars: The Old Republic is fairing -- straight from the tauntaun's mouth, as it were. Executive Producer Jeff Hickman jumped to the official website earlier today to specifically address player concerns. Players have been curious as to why certain developers have left. They wanted to know why so many bugs passed through Update 1.4. And finally, Oceanic players are concerned about their server populations.

Hickman explained in the post that a studio like BioWare and a game like SWTOR "live on and thrive as we change, actually thrive because we change," implying that developers leaving are a natural part of studio evolution. He was quick to note that key players like Creative Director James Ohlen are still around to "carry the banner of BioWare."

Regarding the 1.4 bugs, he was quick to note that designing and testing a large game like SWTOR is very complex. However, the QA team has put in new measures to help catch future issues like those seen in the last update. He said, "We will strive to give you the best, high quality, bug-free experience that we can."

Lastly, the Oceanic players are still a concern for the developers, but the free-to-play update will hopefully change the population of the Oceanic servers. Hickman explained that he wants to hold out to see what F2P brings before making a final decision regarding these servers.

MassivelySWTOR executive producer reveals the state of the game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebugseaelectronic-artsjeff-hickmanlucasartsoceanic-serversci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicState-of-the-gamestudio-evolutionswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.4Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamescom 2012: SWTOR will sell statted gear, debating new planet monetization]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/20/gamescom-2012-swtor-will-sell-statted-gear-debating-new-planet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/20/gamescom-2012-swtor-will-sell-statted-gear-debating-new-planet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/20/gamescom-2012-swtor-will-sell-statted-gear-debating-new-planet/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR will sell statted gear, debating new planet monetization
How do you take a subscription title like Star Wars: The Old Republic and turn it into a free-to-play MMO? According to Executive Producer Jeff Hickman, you do it as carefully as possible. "Give the story away," he explained. "Make the casual player understand what that is. Don't try to monetize that. Monetize all the things around that. I think, actually, as we looked through it, it is not as complex as you think it is. It is very difficult."

While plans for SWTOR's cash shop are not finalized, Hickman did admit that players could use it to purchase gear to help them level up: "I don't want to unbalance the game by putting things out on the store that somebody can walk in on day one, buy and be the winner. Having said that, there will be some things that we put out in the store that do enhance power value in some way, but not at the top end."

Hickman nibbled around the topic of the planet Makeb, which is still under construction. With more story and more systems, he hopes players will be pleased with the final result. However, Hickman could not confirm nor deny that the update will expand the level cap, nor would he go into detail about whether or not BioWare is going to attempt to sell this to subscribers.

[Thanks to Scott for the tip!]

Every summer, the gaming industry descends on Cologne, Germany, for Gamescom, the world's largest trade fair for interactive games and entertainment. Massively's on the scene in 2012, bringing you all the best scoops, impressions, and interviews from the MMOs at the show!

MassivelyGamescom 2012: SWTOR will sell statted gear, debating new planet monetization originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreakingcologneconconventioneaelectronic-artsgamescomgamescom-2012germanyjeff-hickmanlevel-caplucasartsmakebmonetizationsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 20 Aug 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare taking SWTOR queues 'seriously']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/bioware-taking-swtor-queues-seriously/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/bioware-taking-swtor-queues-seriously/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/bioware-taking-swtor-queues-seriously/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Tython air taxi
Stop us if you've heard this one before: Hugely anticipated MMO struggles to balance lengthy launch queues with long-term server and community stability. Yes, BioWare is slogging down the same slippery supply and demand slope that many AAA MMOs have trod before, and a report at Eurogamer suggests that the lines have only just begun.

There were 140 servers open for business this past weekend (a pre-launch period in which BioWare staggered waves of invites to legions of early release customers), and more are being added due to queue times approaching two hours. With Star Wars: The Old Republic's actual launch day looming tomorrow, BioWare's Jeff Hickman did his best to deflect criticism and soothe the impatient rumblings of disgruntled players.

"While we can't promise that there won't ever be queues, we can promise you that we are taking this matter seriously and constantly reviewing them to make sure that they are manageable and reasonable," he said.

MassivelyBioWare taking SWTOR queues 'seriously' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowareearly-accessearly-releaseElectronic-Artsjeff-hickmanlaunchlaunch-queuesqueue-queuequeuessci-fiserver-queuesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 19 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jeff Hickman hops over to Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/jeff-hickman-hops-over-to-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/jeff-hickman-hops-over-to-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/jeff-hickman-hops-over-to-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It might be a case of in-house talent poaching or just a good opportunity for all parties involved, but BioWare has hired Jeff Hickman away from Mythic to be Star Wars: The Old Republic's new Executive Producer of Live Services.

The hire was announced at the recent BioWare's Fan Site Summit, according to Ask a Jedi. Hickman was previously the Studio Executive Producer for all of Mythic's MMOs. He'll step into the role left open by Gordon Walton, who left BioWare earlier this year.

With both BioWare and Mythic under the same parent company -- Electronic Arts -- it stands to reason that the two studios have a strong network and relationships that could lead to such transfers of personnel. We'll look forward to seeing what Jeff Hickman will bring to TOR as it progresses toward launch!

MassivelyJeff Hickman hops over to Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaea-biowareea-mythicelectronic-artsexecutive-producergordon-waltonjeff-hickmanlive-servicesmythicstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorThu, 28 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDCO 2010: Running MMOs for the long haul]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/09/gdco-2010-running-mmos-for-the-long-haul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/09/gdco-2010-running-mmos-for-the-long-haul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/09/gdco-2010-running-mmos-for-the-long-haul/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In a year that seems overshadowed by the premature demise of big-budget titles, the question on everyone's mind is just what does it take to not only successfully launch an MMO, but keep it going for the long haul?

At GDC Online this past week, several devs who find themselves struggling with this very issue got together for an informative panel entitled "Strategies for Successfully Running an MMO from Launch and Beyond." At the panel, Lorin Jameson (SOE), Nathan Richardsson (CCP), Jeff Hickman (EA Mythic), Jeffrey Steefel (Turbine), Rich Vogel (EA-Bioware) and Min Kim (Nexon) stepped up to the plate take a swing at the common pitfalls, the unseen consequences and the harsh realities of the industry.

So if you're curious about why some titles thrive while others fall apart or why a particular MMO makes it to launch and beyond while another fades into obscurity, hit the jump and see what these industry experts have to say about the enormous and complex task of getting an MMO to lift off -- and then keeping it soaring for as long as possible.

Continue reading GDCO 2010: Running MMOs for the long haul

MassivelyGDCO 2010: Running MMOs for the long haul originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbbiowarecan-you-spot-the-texas-icon-in-the-title-pictureccpCCP-Gamesea-biowareea-mythiceveeve-onlinefeaturedgame-developers-conferencegdc-online-2010gdcogdco-2010jeff-hickmanjeffrey-steefellorin-jamesonmaple-storymaplestorymin-kimmythicnathan-richardssonnexonrich-vogelsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentturbineultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 09 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Quest for Camelot: Interview with Mythic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-quest-for-camelot-interview-with/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-quest-for-camelot-interview-with/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-quest-for-camelot-interview-with/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

After last week's expedition into the dark Dark Age of Camelot, the Game Archaeologist uncovered the mightiest weapon of them all: the Hammer of Nostalgia. The hammer may be battle-worn, but it has never seen better days. Everywhere it strikes, fond memories of epic keep battles surface, and former players feel compelled to sign up for another tour of duty.

The Game Archaeologist proceeded to take the hammer back to its makers, the sweat-stained smithies at Mythic Entertainment (now BioWare Mythic), to see whether they thought there was any magic left in the game. Two burly men put down their steel tools and stepped forward to testify, and their names were Colin of the Hicks and Jeff "Soulstriker" Hickman. The air became thick with memories as the duo recalled the early days of the hammer's history, when players were initially adding to its strength with each victory and each crushing defeat.

Pull up a stool to hear their tale, and when you are done, send in your own favorite DAoC memories (100 words max, please) to justin@massively.com for next week's column!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Quest for Camelot: Interview with Mythic

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Quest for Camelot: Interview with Mythic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albionalbsaolavalonbattlegroundsbioware-mythiccolin-hicksdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkness-fallsea-mythicexpansionfeaturedfrontiersgalladoriagamestormhammer-of-nostalgiahiberniahibsjeff-hickmanlead-world-developerlive-eventsmidgardmidsmythicMythic-Entertainmentpvprvrshrouded-islesthe-game-archaeologistthe-holy-hand-grenade-of-antiochultima-onlineuowarwarhammer-onlineTue, 10 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR Executive Producer pens apology for account errors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/war-executive-producer-pens-apology-for-account-errors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/war-executive-producer-pens-apology-for-account-errors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/war-executive-producer-pens-apology-for-account-errors/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last two weeks, you've undoubtedly heard the gnashing of teeth that erupted due to Warhammer Online's recent billing issues. Today, Mythic Entertainment's Studio Executive Producer, Jeff Hickman, sat down and wrote a very honest apology letter regarding the recent issues, including the steps they've taken to correct them.

Caused by a now-solved system issue, the Warhammer Online billing error caused multiple charges to show up on the statements of many subscribers (and previous subscribers). The fixes were rolled out on April 13th, and they believe they have now resolved all outstanding issues with banks and credit issuers that may have occurred. While most banks did remove any fees that had been incurred due to the incorrect billing, Hickman notes that EA has agreed to pay all charges for any others whose banking institutions are refusing to remove fees due to their error.

Also, as a way to apologize to players, and in an attempt to earn back some good will from their player base, Mythic is offering players a bonus of 100% experience and renown when fighting enemies and monsters for the next two weeks. They're also adding in a vendor who will carry an assortment of special items for players -- from mounts and disguises onwards. Each player will be mailed two tokens, and will be allowed to choose what they like best from the available goodies. Coupled with their new systems to ensure this never occurs again, Mythic certainly is working hard to make sure their community is happy. How this will all play out among their numbers we'll have to wait and see.

MassivelyWAR Executive Producer pens apology for account errors originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apologybilling-issuesdeveloper-lettereajeff-hickmanmythicmythic-entertainmentwarwarhammer-onlineWed, 21 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic invites former Ultima Online players to "Return to Britannia"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/28/mythic-invites-former-ultima-online-players-to-return-to-britan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/28/mythic-invites-former-ultima-online-players-to-return-to-britan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/28/mythic-invites-former-ultima-online-players-to-return-to-britan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Did you ever have an Ultima Online account? If you did, then Mythic's new "Return to Britannia" campaign is aimed at you. All closed accounts in good standing have been reactivated, and will remain open until the 16th of October. Content up to and including the seventh expansion (Mondain's Legacy) will be playable by old accounts, which puts this offer in line with the 14-day free trials, with the added bonus of being able to play your previous characters.

The "Return to Britannia" campaign is part of the celebrations for Ultima Online's twelve-year anniversary, but keep in mind that the game's first expansion in years also launched earlier this month. Mythic Entertainment's Jeff Hickman made a statement about the offer: "UO was the first love of many MMORPG players, and it still holds a special place in their hearts after 12 glorious years. I think returning players will be pleasantly surprised to find a thriving and vibrant community from around the world ready to welcome back their former compatriots and include them in their ongoing adventures."

If you're keen to get back into UO, the client can be downloaded here, and Mythic is encouraging folks who can't remember their old details to try EA customer support.

MassivelyMythic invites former Ultima Online players to "Return to Britannia" originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsfreejeff-hickmanmythicmythic-entertainmentreturn-to-britanniaultima-onlineMon, 28 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Looking ahead to WAR's second year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/looking-ahead-to-wars-second-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/looking-ahead-to-wars-second-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/looking-ahead-to-wars-second-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Although we've seen celebrations for some time now, with the Wild Hunt event and a couple of special scenario weekends, Warhammer Online's actual birthday came and went at the end of last week. Executive Producer Jeff Hickman took the opportunity to sum up some of the things that the development team will be focusing on, moving forward into year two:

"In addition to the four new careers, numerous Live Events, the medallion system, Keep upgrades, city siege improvements, and other new features, we're now turning our focus to improving balance, performance, and the Tier 4 game play experience."

Also on the cards for improvement is the "new-player experience", an area that many MMOs have fine-tuned later in their life with excellent results. The birthday celebrations haven't quite wrapped up yet either, with the "Isha's Sorrow" event taking place over the coming weekend in the Temple of Isha scenario. It may have been a bit of a rocky first year for Warhammer Online, but we'll hold out hope for year two. Happy Birthday WAR!

MassivelyLooking ahead to WAR's second year originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdayeaelectronic-artsexecutive-producerfirst-birthdayishas-sorrowjeff-hickmanmythicmythic-entertainmentnew-player-experienceone-year-anniversaryscenariostemple-of-ishawarwarhammer-onlinewild-huntMon, 21 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[AGDC09: Jeff Hickman speaks on WAR's shortcomings]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/agdc09-jeff-hickman-speaks-on-wars-shortcomings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/agdc09-jeff-hickman-speaks-on-wars-shortcomings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/agdc09-jeff-hickman-speaks-on-wars-shortcomings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

During one of the many speeches being given at the Austin Game Developers Conference, Jeff Hickman, producer of Warhammer Online, spoke candidly on what he thought were WAR's failures and where Mythic could have done better. While Hickman has cited more than a few reasons WAR has been caught in the mire, the central theme to all of them is the ease of PvE gameplay and a game that doesn't inspire social interactions.

Hickman points out that they wanted the game to include a full battery of social features, including open groups, public quests, and other grouping tools, but they failed to design the game itself to encourage grouping. Part of this lies in the player versus environment quests where the gameplay was too easy and players didn't have a reason to group up.

Continue reading AGDC09: Jeff Hickman speaks on WAR's shortcomings

MassivelyAGDC09: Jeff Hickman speaks on WAR's shortcomings originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agdcagdc-2009failuresjeff-hickmanmythicmythic-entertainmentopen-partiespublic-questsshortcomingswarwarhammer-onlineThu, 17 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic details plans for WAR at PAX 2009]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/mythic-details-plans-for-war-at-pax-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/mythic-details-plans-for-war-at-pax-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/mythic-details-plans-for-war-at-pax-2009/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Mythic will be representing Warhammer Online at Penny Arcade Expo in under a week's time, and to help attendees plan ahead, they've now given some details about their showing. Members of the development team will be hanging out waiting to talk to fans, and one of the biggest topics they'll be keen to discuss is the game's one-year anniversary and accompanying Wild Hunt event. By the time PAX starts (the 4th of September) the event will be halfway through so players will have had time to experience it before chatting with the devs. They will also be showing off other recent content updates.

Although not specifically related to Warhammer Online, it is worth noting that Mythic Entertainment Executive Producer Jeff Hickman will be taking part in a PAX panel session on Friday the 4th. Along with other members of the industry, Hickman "will re-examine the basics of game design and explore what it means to design in today's videogame industry." Catch the panel at the Unicorn Theatre from 10:30am to 11:30am. As usual, if you visit the WAR booth you won't come away empty handed. The swag is similar to what Mythic gave away at Games Day Chicago: the Empire Cherub shirt (limited in supply this time too), and in-game items Snorri's Spikes, Chompin' Teef, Shroud of Imrathepis and the Razored Skinning Knife.

MassivelyMythic details plans for WAR at PAX 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chompin-teefempire-cherub-shirtgame-designgame-design-101jeff-hickmanmythicmythic-entertainmentone-year-anniversarypaxpax-2009penny-arcade-expo-2009razored-skinning-knifeshroud-of-imrathepissnorris-spikesunicorn-theatrewarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewild-huntSun, 30 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic may take radical approaches with Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/mythic-may-take-radical-approaches-with-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/mythic-may-take-radical-approaches-with-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/mythic-may-take-radical-approaches-with-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As Warhammer Online fans wait for a post-BioWAAAGH! pep talk from Mythic's new General Manager, Rob Denton, they'll have to make due with part three of an Executive Producer's letter from Jeff Hickman.

The letter primarily discusses the ways Mythic plans to resolve the top 5 issues identified last week by various focus groups. Warhammer Alliance has an excellent summary in bullet form for those unwilling to wade through the whole article (though we suggest you do for full context).

Jeff makes a few really interesting comments in his letter that jumped out at us.

He states that Mythic is still committed to Dark Age of Camelot and Ultima Online and will be sharing their plans for both titles in the near future. We know about the new UO expansion but haven't heard much about DAOC lately. Where oh where are you, Origins?

It appears Mythic is "looking at some fairly radical approaches" to address server population issues in WAR. Maybe we'll finally see that realm queue system they had working pre-release...

Finally, it sounds like fortresses may be on their way out if Mythic can't find some way to fix them. Andy Belford had this to say: "How do we make it a fun encounter while not diminishing the epic feel of it? At what point do we say, enough is enough, and cut off the offending appendage?" Radical indeed.

MassivelyMythic may take radical approaches with Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy-belforddark-age-of-camelotjeff-hickmanultima-onlinewarwarhammer-onlineFri, 26 Jun 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[More reactions to BioWAAAGH!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/25/more-reactions-to-biowaaagh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/25/more-reactions-to-biowaaagh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/25/more-reactions-to-biowaaagh/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We've been keeping our eyes on various blogs and forums discussing yesterday's big news that Mythic and BioWare are being restructured under EA's new MMO/RPG gaming division and that Mark Jacobs is no longer working for EA. Here's a summary of what we've found so far.

Many people are under the false impression that Mythic and BioWare have merged. One of Mythic's developers made this clarification: "We're still Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts Studio, as we have been. I've posted this elsewhere, but we're not 'merging.' We are still a completely separate entity within EA, just as Bioware is, simply now grouped under the same MMO/RPG grouping and reporting to one person, collectively."

Continue reading More reactions to BioWAAAGH!

MassivelyMore reactions to BioWAAAGH! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaaaghbiowareblizzardbrad-mcquaidfeaturedjeff-hickmanjoystiqfeatureskeenmark-jacobsmythic-entertainmentrichard-garriottrob-dentonswtorwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftThu, 25 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jeff Hickman open letter highlights Mythic's top 5 priorities for WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/jeff-hickman-open-letter-highlights-mythics-top-5-priorities-fo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/jeff-hickman-open-letter-highlights-mythics-top-5-priorities-fo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/jeff-hickman-open-letter-highlights-mythics-top-5-priorities-fo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Those of you stalwart enough to bore through Jeff Hickman's most recent Executive Producer's letter, which incidentally reads like a list of 1.3 patch notes conjured by the PR department, may have picked up on the mention that Mythic is assembling focus groups to determine the current concerns and issues with Warhammer Online.

I can actually confirm this for you since I'm a card-carrying focus group member. The below list of top priorities is entirely accurate based on what I've been hearing as part of this group and in conversation with many current and ex-WAR fanatics.

  1. Addressing concerns related to Crowd Control and Area of Effect abilities.
  2. Continuing to improve client and server stability and performance.
  3. Strengthening and improving the Tier 4 experience.
  4. Improving server population distribution - both in terms of overall population and realm balance.
  5. Improving itemization and the overall distribution of "carrots" (rewards) throughout the game.
It's easy point out that many members of the WAR community have been vocal about these "Top 5" issues since release. We can only hope that the time and resources freed up by the launch of Land of the Dead will finally erase them from the game. Erasing them from memory may prove slightly more difficult.

MassivelyJeff Hickman open letter highlights Mythic's top 5 priorities for WAR originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityexecutive-producerfocus-groupjeff-hickmanmythic-entertainmentopen-letterprioritieswarwarhammer-onlineThu, 18 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jeff Hickman, FAQ, and Grab Bag are all about Land of the Dead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/06/jeff-hickman-faq-and-grab-bag-are-all-about-land-of-the-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/06/jeff-hickman-faq-and-grab-bag-are-all-about-land-of-the-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/06/jeff-hickman-faq-and-grab-bag-are-all-about-land-of-the-dead/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Land of the Dead must be coming soon because Mythic has gone into marketing overdrive these past few days. Jeff Hickman just addressed the WAR community in an open Executive Producer's letter and we've seen the new RvR mega-zone featured in both an official FAQ and community Grab Bag.

It's a bit strange seeing Jeff Hickman in print since he's usually on the front-lines doing live interviews. Also, WAR fans have gotten used to seeing Mythic GM, Mark Jacobs, deliver these kinds of letters in the past. Actually, Mark has been remarkably silent since March when he delivered his 6-month State of the Game and 1.21 patch highlight announcements.

At any rate, you can find out pretty much everything there is to know about The Land of the Dead in these three recent articles. Want to know the ward requirements for the PQs, lairs, and dungeons? Curious about lockout timers? Wondering what the heck a "Vessel" is? Head on over and check these resources out!

MassivelyJeff Hickman, FAQ, and Grab Bag are all about Land of the Dead originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>faqgrab-bagjeff-hickmanland-of-the-deadmark-jacobsmythic-entertainmentwarwarhammer-onlineSat, 06 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Come on in, the WAR is lovely]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/come-on-in-the-war-is-lovely/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/come-on-in-the-war-is-lovely/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/come-on-in-the-war-is-lovely/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Warhammer Online has plenty on their plate for the coming months. The whole Call to Arms expansion is bringing live events, two new classes, a brand new dungeon themed from the Tomb Kings, and plenty of changes and additions to RvR combat.

So what does creative director Paul Barnett and executive producer Jeff Hickman do on their spare time? Well they go to the New York Comic Con and film silly videos about Warhammer with MTV Multiplayer! While the video is amusing, the two also get into some of the nuts and bolts of WAR, including a few reasons why any player should give their game a try and what they're doing to make the whole experience better. Also, they have giant foam warhammers. You just can't turn down giant foam warhammers.

MassivelyCome on in, the WAR is lovely originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-to-armscomic-con-2009dwarf-slayerjeff-hickmanmythic-entertainmentnew-york-comic-con-2009orc-choppapaul-barnettrvrwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 17 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Huge Lands of the Dead update via WAR/Eurogamer dev chat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/huge-lands-of-the-dead-update-via-war-eurogamer-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/huge-lands-of-the-dead-update-via-war-eurogamer-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/huge-lands-of-the-dead-update-via-war-eurogamer-dev-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Eurogamer just hosted a live dev chat with Mythic Entertainment's Warhammer Online staff. Present in this conversation were Executive Producer Jeff Hickman, Senior Creative Director Paul Barnett, Senior Designer (careers) Rob Hinkle, and Live Producer Destin Bales.

Mythic staff elaborated on many parts of their game and business from launching in new countries, to the new Slayer and Choppa careers, and balance. Perhaps the biggest reveal was a plethora of new information about Lands of the Dead. They spilled the beans on a number of interesting details, including a live event leading up to LotD that will essentially be a huge Order vs. Destruction battle for who can gain early and exclusive access to the dungeon (for a limited time). This "RvR-gated ultimate sandbox" zone is expected to change hands nightly and will have content for smaller group sizes up to that of a warband (24 players). Paul Barnett elaborated on some similar mechanics to Darkness Falls from DAOC by saying LotD will have, "tokens, other loot methods, a wide level range, and the thrill of your enemy always breathing down your back."

Do yourself a favour and check out the entire dev chat log because there are so many more details than this!

MassivelyHuge Lands of the Dead update via WAR/Eurogamer dev chat originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dark-age-of-camelotdarkness-fallsdestin-balesdev-chatjeff-hickmanmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettrob-hinklervrwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 05 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choppa. Slayer. So what's the big deal?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/choppa-slayer-so-whats-the-big-deal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/choppa-slayer-so-whats-the-big-deal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/choppa-slayer-so-whats-the-big-deal/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


With today's announcement that the Slayer and Choppa careers will be added to Warhammer Online, you may be asking yourself, "So what's the big deal?" Most of the people asking this probably aren't WAR followers, which is understandable. There are, however, people who play WAR that don't really think these two careers should be a priority for Mythic right now given all the other issues. I'm writing this article to prove the non-believers wrong and shed a little light on why the Choppa and Slayer are so cool for the Warhammer novice.

First, let's look at the main similarities between these two careers. The Choppa and Slayer were both tested back in WAR beta. Actually, the Slayer was called the Hammerer back then, which was basically a cheap knock-off because Mythic and Games Workshop couldn't work out lore issues. The basic concept of the Hammerer was quite Slayer-esque in that it was a surly dual-wielding melee DPS dwarf. Mythic decided that the Hammerer and Choppa weren't quite on par with the other careers so they were cut (along with the Blackguard and Knight of the Blazing Sun) from release. Note: the BG and KotBS were added shortly afterward.

Continue reading below the cut where we'll continue to look into their similarities and specific characteristics.

Continue reading Choppa. Slayer. So what's the big deal?

MassivelyChoppa. Slayer. So what's the big deal? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choppadwarffeaturedgreenskinsjeff-hickmanjoystiqfeaturesopinionslayerwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 29 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic announces the first live expansion to Warhammer Online!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/mythic-announces-the-first-live-expansion-to-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/mythic-announces-the-first-live-expansion-to-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/mythic-announces-the-first-live-expansion-to-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Massively.com recently had the chance to speak with Warhammer Online Executive Producer Jeff Hickman. Mr. Hickman laid out for us the much anticipated 'bombshell' news for their PvP-focused MMO: an entire expansion being released over the next few months as live events.

Warhammer Executive Producer Jeff Hickman: We've been launched for four or five months now, and all we've done for this time is looking at the game, listening to our players, playing the game ourselves. We've been drilling down into all of the little pieces that weren't quite right for us. We've been looking at client/server stability, what we can do with the RvR system, introducing the two new classes ... we've drilled down on any and all concerns that players might have to perfect the game as it stands right now.

With that starting to be under control, we looked ahead and said to ourselves, "we have about four or five months to do some really interesting, cool new events." We're calling it a live expansion. We're trying to hit really hard for players that haven't tried Warhammer, or perhaps players that tried it and then went off to play Lich King or something like that. We want them to come back, see all the improvements we've made, and all the new content coming up.

We're calling it "a Call to Arms."

Read on below the cut for full details on the expansion, head over to the official site for their take, or click through to one of our related posts for further information:

Gallery: Warhammer Online: Concept Art

Continue reading Mythic announces the first live expansion to Warhammer Online!

MassivelyMythic announces the first live expansion to Warhammer Online! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bitter-rivalsbreakingcall-to-armschoppaexpansionfeaturedjeff-hickmanlands-of-the-deadmythic-entertainmentnight-of-murderslayertomb-kingswarwarhammer-onlineThu, 29 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Comic-Con 09: Warhammer Online pulling out all the stops]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/comic-con-09-warhammer-online-pulling-out-all-the-stops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/comic-con-09-warhammer-online-pulling-out-all-the-stops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/comic-con-09-warhammer-online-pulling-out-all-the-stops/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Courtesy of Wlodi's Photostream at FlickrGet ready for WAR, comic geeks (it's a rule that geeks can call other geeks geeks)! Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman of Mythic Entertainment will be leading a team of Warhammer Online developers and community managers to New York Comic Con '09 next weekend (Feb. 6-8), and by the looks of their ambitious schedule, it seems they really want to impress new and old fans alike. For a full list of NYCC events for the hardcore gamer, check out the official NYCC-09 gaming page.

Their booth (#1449) will be set up all weekend and should he a hive of activity where attendees can chat with the WAR team, mingle with other players, nab some sweet swag, and check out the latest WAR gear. Saturday, Feb. 7 will be their busiest day, starting with Jeff and Paul hosting a presentation chock-full of goodies about Call to Arms, Bitter Rivals, and the two new careers (Room #1A08 @ 11:15AM). This will be followed by poster signings at 2:30PM, a MMO Round Table discussion at 5:30PM (Room #1A24), and a Dev Meet & Greet at 9:00PM (Dave & Busters Time Square). Not to be outdone, Sunday, Feb. 8 will feature an RvR competition starting at 12:00PM where teams of nine will battle in a best two out of three elimination match. Premade characters will be provided and the winners will earn "awesome" in-game items and renown as the first official WAR RvR Tournament champions.

Further details below the cut...

Continue reading Comic-Con 09: Warhammer Online pulling out all the stops

MassivelyComic-Con 09: Warhammer Online pulling out all the stops originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jeff-hickmanmythic-entertainmentnew-york-comic-connyccpaul-barnettwarhammer-onlineWed, 28 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's new Zone Domination system in development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/wars-new-zone-domination-system-in-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/wars-new-zone-domination-system-in-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/wars-new-zone-domination-system-in-development/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Without a doubt one of the liveliest people we know of in the MMO industry, Paul Barnett, put out a YouTube video this week in celebration of his birthday, and brought Warhammer Online devs Jeff Hickman and Colin Shannon in for some updates on the game. Perhaps the most interesting thing revealed is WAR's new Zone Domination system which is currently in the works. It's intended to supplement Warhammer Online's realm-vs.-realm system by providing more compelling ways to capture zones. Hickman says, "If you can capture everything in a zone and hold it, claiming the Keeps and dominate that zone, then you have a very good chance of capturing the zone." Or, as Barnett summarizes, Zone Domination will give players more reasons for defending and holding objectives.

Colin Shannon also provides an update on the reduction of crashes in WAR, and there's (perhaps) a ray of hope mentioned at the end for having multiple items in the mail system. Check out the video embed below the cut for more on the state of the game, and what new features WAR players should be getting in a forthcoming patch.

Continue reading WAR's new Zone Domination system in development

MassivelyWAR's new Zone Domination system in development originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>colin-shannonfantasygame-mechanicsjeff-hickmanmailmail-systempatchespaul-barnettrealmrealm-vs-realmrealmsrvrterritorial-controlvideovideoswarwarhammer-onlineyoutubezone-controlzone-dominationSun, 18 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's fortress changes begin rolling out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/warhammer-onlines-fortress-changes-begin-rolling-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/warhammer-onlines-fortress-changes-begin-rolling-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/warhammer-onlines-fortress-changes-begin-rolling-out/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Players had been experiencing some stability issues playing Warhammer Online's endgame Fortresses -- the bits before the capital cities -- until yesterday, when a new system went into place for the Phoenix Throne, Dark Crag, Vortex, and Darklands servers. This system is going to be rolled out over the coming days onto all of the game servers, which is a plan that smacks of cautiousness on Mythic's part. Or in other words, they're being wise and avoiding server imploding en mass.

So what's the big fix? Well, it's an implementation of a threshold system. What was happening before, is that Fortresses would get so full of players -- 500 or 600 of them -- that the entire thing would essentially crash for everyone. It was a big crash-a-thon. Now, when the player count approaches certain thresholds the game will start teleporting rank 35 and below players entering the fortress area into the nearest warcamp. Then, rank 37 players at the next threshold, before finally rank 39 at a final threshold. Mythic hasn't stated what the exact numbers are for each of these caps, but hopefully it's a high enough count that too many players shouldn't feel frustrated when they attempt to join in the battle and find themselves staring at a vendor or trainer.

This is just the first fix of what Jeff Hickman recently promised as one of many (see video above) that should be coming sometime in the future. And with the rapid-fire rate that past updates have hit the game, we have no reason to believe otherwise.
Warhammer Online Coverage WAR has gone 1.1! Check out our full coverage of the 1.1a patch, along with our interviews exploring upcoming content and the open RvR changes. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWarhammer Online's fortress changes begin rolling out originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsfortressjeff-hickmanmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpvpwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineThu, 08 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's Jeff Hickman talks balance and cut classes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/warhammer-onlines-jeff-hickman-talks-balance-and-cut-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/warhammer-onlines-jeff-hickman-talks-balance-and-cut-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/warhammer-onlines-jeff-hickman-talks-balance-and-cut-classes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Our chums over at mmorpg.com have been getting some information from Jeff Hickman on a subject all Warhammer Online players know very well: the cut classes and cities that didn't make it to launch. There's been a lot of discussion of this topic since WAR went live - much of it of the 'it would have been more balanced if only' variety - and in the course of an excellent meaty interview, Jeff has some choice words to say on the subject.

Obviously, there's no date for reincorporation of the cut material yet (none of us seriously thought there would be, right?) The cut classes simply 'weren't as good as they needed to be' and will be done when they're done. We're impressed with Jeff's assertion that players shouldn't necessarily like all of the classes. 'Players should love some and hate others.' A step away from bland, one-size-fits-all pandering to the customer? Apparently.

Jeff's flatly dismissive of the notion that the cut classes' absence has unbalanced the game. His quote says it all: '...what we're seeing is a lot of people judging the game in Tier 1 (which is again, perfectly fine, you SHOULD judge the game in Tier 1), but I think everyone needs to keep in mind that that's the first ten hours of gameplay for a game that is hundreds of thousands of hours of gameplay out there over the next couple of years.'

MassivelyWarhammer Online's Jeff Hickman talks balance and cut classes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classescut-classesea-mythicjeff-hickmanwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 30 Sep 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report offers part two of their Warhammer Online special]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/the-mmo-report-offers-part-two-of-their-warhammer-online-special/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/the-mmo-report-offers-part-two-of-their-warhammer-online-special/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/the-mmo-report-offers-part-two-of-their-warhammer-online-special/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Last weekend, as a preview before the launch of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, G4's MMO Report ran a special video touring the Mythic offices with Paul Barnett as guide. This week, the show follows up with a more serious look at the game from the other frontmen on the team: Josh Drescher, Jeff Hickman, and Mark Jacobs.

Join the hearty crew as they run through the features list for the game and wax eloquent about the project they've spent years developing. Frankly, if you've been reading Massively and (even moreso) if you're already playing you probably know everything they have to say. Still, there's nothing like watching a passionate nerd talk about their life's work backed by dramatic fantasy music. Click through below the cut for their passion unfiltered.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading The MMO Report offers part two of their Warhammer Online special

MassivelyThe MMO Report offers part two of their Warhammer Online special originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jeff-hickmanjosh-dreschermark-jacobsmmo-reportmythic-entertainmentvideowarwarhammer-onlineMon, 22 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic releases trio of WAR launch day videos]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/mythic-releases-trio-of-war-launch-day-videos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/mythic-releases-trio-of-war-launch-day-videos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/mythic-releases-trio-of-war-launch-day-videos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


As busy as the Mythic folks have been gearing up for launch this week, they still took the time to have some fun and meet some fans. All of their antics have been recorded for your viewing pleasure, with the credits posing as a particularly entertaining -- if not lengthy -- video. Also, our hope is that Josh and everyone exposed to too much radio-frequency energy at least gain some kind of superpowers. There's a lot to watch between the three separate videos, but it's all fairly entertaining for any fan of the Warhammer Online guys. We hope they're starting to recover from launch day at least a little bit, but if these videos are any indication then they've only just begun.

MassivelyMythic releases trio of WAR launch day videos originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bannercreditseaelectronic-artsgamestopjeff-hickmanjosh-dreschermythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettsigningwarwarhammer-onlineFri, 19 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The BigCast @PAX08 Special: Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/the-bigcast-pax08-special-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/the-bigcast-pax08-special-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/the-bigcast-pax08-special-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Massively's sister site Big Download has a very special podcast with Jeff Hickman, Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher from Warhammer Online. Of course, you probably don't need us to tell you that these fellows made for a very interesting podcast, but what you do need to know is that this edition of the BigCast is very NSFW, so it may be wise to wear some headphones. As it happens, there isn't much talk about Warhammer Online. Instead, you'll hear a lot Mr. Barnett asking everyone questions and the ever-informative Josh Drescher pitch a very wonderful radio ad for Bacon Salt -- because everything should taste like bacon.

As someone who was a part of this endeavour into the unknowns of German hotels, taxis and of course, Bacon Salt, this blogger can tell you it was a wild ride that you won't be remiss for listening in on.

MassivelyThe BigCast @PAX08 Special: Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bacon-saltbig-downloadbigcastjeff-hickmanjosh-drescherkyle-hornermythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpax-2008podcastwarwarhammer-onlinexav-de-matosWed, 03 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX08: WAR's Jeff Hickman on patches, open beta and content rumors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax08-wars-jeff-hickman-on-patches-open-beta-and-content-rumo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax08-wars-jeff-hickman-on-patches-open-beta-and-content-rumo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax08-wars-jeff-hickman-on-patches-open-beta-and-content-rumo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


After our interview with both Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman at PAX08, we talked some more with Jeff about various subjects regarding the upcoming open beta and subsequent launch of Warhammer Online. It was a incredibly casual and open discussion on topics that are usually met with fiery bile depending on what part of the internet you happen to be at any given moment. One particular question we asked revolved around the choice to limit players in the open beta to level 20 out of the 40 total in the game. The move has of course spawned some skeptics of the existence of higher level content. Find out exactly what Jeff had to say about that below the cut.

Gallery: PAX 2008 General Gallery

Continue reading PAX08: WAR's Jeff Hickman on patches, open beta and content rumors

MassivelyPAX08: WAR's Jeff Hickman on patches, open beta and content rumors originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-downloadbigcasteaelectronic-artsfeaturedjeff-hickmanjoystiqfeaturesmythicmythic-entertainmentopen-betapaul-barnettpax-2008warwarhammer-onlineMon, 01 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX08: WAR's Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman interviewed, page three]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax08-wars-paul-barnett-and-jeff-hickman-interviewed-page-thr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax08-wars-paul-barnett-and-jeff-hickman-interviewed-page-thr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax08-wars-paul-barnett-and-jeff-hickman-interviewed-page-thr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Continue reading PAX08: WAR's Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman interviewed, page three

MassivelyPAX08: WAR's Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman interviewed, page three originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsgreenskinsjeff-hickmanmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpax-2008tomb-kingsundeadvampire-countswarwarhammer-onlineMon, 01 Sep 2008 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Seen@PAX08: Warhammer Online team going all out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/seen-pax08-warhammer-online-team-going-all-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/seen-pax08-warhammer-online-team-going-all-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/seen-pax08-warhammer-online-team-going-all-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We've spent a lot of time stomping around the exhibition hall at PAX this year and there are plenty of sights to see. One constant of the show floor was the never-wavering, always-happy-to-see-you team at the Warhammer Online booth. They also liked to make strange "w" signs with their hands at us. We think it's probably some east-coaster thing or maybe a esoteric European gang sign. It could've also been related to Warhammer Online, but that's probably unlikely.

This was the first year that Paul Barnett, Jeff Hickman and Josh Drescher were there to answer questions, chat with fans and generally be cool, approachable guys. While hanging around the booth after our (soon to be available) interview with Jeff and Paul, we lost count of how many times they posed for pictures, signed things, repeatedly discussed issues, or just generally made themselves available for poking and prodding throughout the day.

Gallery: PAX 2008 General Gallery

MassivelySeen@PAX08: Warhammer Online team going all out originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jeff-hickmanjosh-dreschermythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpax-08pax-2008pax08warwarhammer-onlineSun, 31 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX08: New features coming to Warhammer Online for the open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/massively-at-pax08-big-war-update-coming-for-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/massively-at-pax08-big-war-update-coming-for-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/massively-at-pax08-big-war-update-coming-for-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


While talking to Mythic's Jeff Hickman at PAX08, he mentioned a rather large update coming for the open beta hitting around September 7th (the date of the Open Beta). Some of the content in the upcoming patch includes player vaults, guild vaults, auction house, tons of fun new emotes, and a lot of general effects cleanup. There's even a new Public Quest and standard quest tracker for the user interface. It sounds like Mythic is making a really big push for the launch of the game. So even if you're in the beta now, expect some pleasant surprises once you hit the Open Beta or Live game in just a couple of weeks.

We've got tons more information coming from our time spent with the Warhammer Online guys at PAX08. Keep your eyes peeled for further updates.

MassivelyPAX08: New features coming to Warhammer Online for the open beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingeaelectronic-artselves-of-warfeaturedjeff-hickmanmassively-goes-to-warmythicmythic-entertainmentopen-betapatchespax-2008updatewarwarhammer-onlineFri, 29 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic's Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman coming to PAX08]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/mythics-paul-barnett-and-jeff-hickman-coming-to-pax08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/mythics-paul-barnett-and-jeff-hickman-coming-to-pax08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/mythics-paul-barnett-and-jeff-hickman-coming-to-pax08/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


If you happen to find yourself up in Seattle Washington on August 29th-31st, then you may want to check out the Penny Arcade Expo. Chances are that if you do, you'll be able to find both Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman roaming around the convention halls yammering on about waaagh! and other juicy bits of information. Warhammer Online has always had a good booth presence at PAX but now we'll all get to experience the one-two punch of a Hickman-Barnett combo. If you ask us, that alone is worth the price of admission for any nearby WAR fan. Did we mention juicy info bits?

With this news, Penny Arcade Expo 2008 is shaping up to be a real treat for anyone interested in MMOs. Mythic Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Blizzard, Cryptic Studios, Flying Lab Software and CCP are all going to be there with games and/or content to show off to attendees. So don't miss it if you can go!

MassivelyMythic's Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman coming to PAX08 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardccpcryptic-studioselectronic-artsflying-lab-softwarejeff-hickmanmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpaxpax-2008pax08penny-arcadepenny-arcade-expowarwarhammer-onlineTue, 22 Jul 2008 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online interview on X-Play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/22/warhammer-online-interview-on-x-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/22/warhammer-online-interview-on-x-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/22/warhammer-online-interview-on-x-play/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We feel that we should preface this piece of news by telling you stalwart Warhammer Online fans that there's no fantastically new information about the game discussed in this interview. Even the gameplay footage is stuff we've already seen. Instead, this seems more about telling people who haven't heard of EA Mythic's upcoming labor of love Warhammer Online why they should be interested in the game. Both Paul Barnett and Jeff "The" Hickman talk to Morgan Webb about their game and while Paul looks particularly tired (with very good reason, though) he still sells the game with his usual plucky-yet-fierce demeanor.

World of Warcraft is of course mentioned by Webb, but they guys do a pretty good job steering the discussion away from Blizzard's golden boy and towards why their game will be worth all of our time. We imagine that it would be tough to try and overtake a conversation when you're up against both Jeff and Paul, as they're equally charismatic guys. So check it out, the video isn't very long and should entertain you a little bit what with Paul's semi-incoherent rambling about soccer hooligans and posh English people on drugs.

[via Keen and Graev]

MassivelyWarhammer Online interview on X-Play originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ea-mythicelectronic-artsenglishjeff-hickmanmorgan-webbpaul-barnettpostsoccer-hooliganswarwarhammer-onlinex-playSun, 22 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jeff Hickman interview filled with Warhammer Online goodness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/jeff-hickman-interview-filled-with-warhammer-online-goodness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/jeff-hickman-interview-filled-with-warhammer-online-goodness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/jeff-hickman-interview-filled-with-warhammer-online-goodness/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Our sister site Big Download put up an interview today with EA Mythic's senior producer Jeff Hickman and it's all about Warhammer Online. Mostly there's a lot of RvR (Realm vs Realm, Mythic's special brand of world PvP) talk but that's somewhat difficult to avoid when discussing a game that's so very intertwined with the feature. Overall though it's a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the upcoming realm-pride focused production.

A lot of the RvR discussion takes place towards the end of the interview and actually contains some new pieces of information that we find most tantalizing. Included among said information are Jeff's thoughts on the topic of VoIP and socialization elements in RvR. So if you salivate for any new nuggets of information about Warhammer Online or its various features you should definitely check it out.

MassivelyJeff Hickman interview filled with Warhammer Online goodness originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 May 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ea-mythicelectronic-artsjeff-hickmanmythicrealm-vs-realmrvrwarwarhammer-onlineWed, 28 May 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Catching up with WAR: An update on Warhammer Online's closed beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/catching-up-with-war-an-update-on-warhammer-onlines-closed-bet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/catching-up-with-war-an-update-on-warhammer-onlines-closed-bet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/catching-up-with-war-an-update-on-warhammer-onlines-closed-bet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The men and women behind Warhammer Online love their job. It's not hard to see, or hear, and yesterday we had the opportunity to listen in as Warhammer's leading lights chatted about their favorite subject. EA Mythic participated in a conference call aiming to update fans and press alike with the latest news of their much-anticipated title. The team went through a slew of general questions, fleshing out our understanding of the features coming with the game's fall release. Sitting in on the call were Adam Gershowitz (Combat and Careers lead), Josh Drescher (Associate Producer), Paul Barnett (mouth-full-of-pizza), Jeff Hickman (Senior Producer), and Destin Bales (Content Director).

Join us as we walk through the often-humorous commentary from the WAR boys. We'll learn about RvR, keeps and siege, cooperative gameplay, the makeup of the endgame, the viability of PvE, and what you have to do to end up on Paul Barnett's whiteboard. Read on to find out, and to see some exclusive screenshots of the game in action.

Gallery: Warhammer Online: Concept Art

Continue reading Catching up with WAR: An update on Warhammer Online's closed beta

MassivelyCatching up with WAR: An update on Warhammer Online's closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 May 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-gershowitzea-mythicfeaturedjeff-hickmanjosh-drescherjoystiqfeaturesjustin-webbpaul-barnettpublic-questsrealm-vs-realmrvrwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 01 May 2008 08:30:00 EST