Massively

Diablo III launches May 15th [Updated]

Jef Reahard — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Diablo III

At long last we have a release date for the third entry in Blizzard's unholy trinity. Yes, kids, Diablo III will be yours on May 15th, and even though there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the title of late, we're pretty sure that it's still going to sell like hotcakes.

According to our fine friends at Joystiq, you can pre-purchase the game immediately via Battle.net, and doing so will ensure that you're "ready to play the minute the servers go live." Blizzard would also like to ~~bribe~~ remind its fans that Diablo III can be had for free by signing up for an annual World of Warcraft pass (and that deal lasts through May 1st).

[Update: On this news, analysts are now predicting that the game will sell 5 million units in its first year.]

Diablo III launches May 15th [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World launching June 19th

Jef Reahard — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Funcom has decided to push back The Secret World's launch by a couple of months. The Norwegian development firm originally intended its horror-conspiracy MMO to ship in April, but a new press release has targeted June 19th instead.

Creative director Ragnar Tørnquist says the new launch window will allow Funcom to make the title that much more compelling. "Allowing for even more time to polish the game really shows just how much faith Funcom as a company has in The Secret World, and how committed we are to making it the best it can be," he explains.

Tørnquist also hints at further beta opportunities for both fans and curiosity seekers. "The additional time will also allow us to carry out even more quality beta testing, and soon we will also be announcing several public beta events where hundreds of thousands of gamers will get to test the game prior to launch," he says.

The Secret World is a skill-based MMO set in the modern age. It mixes traditional MMO progression with a unique skill deck system and story-driven questing.

[Source: Funcom press release]

The Secret World launching June 19th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funcom debunks The Secret World launch date rumor

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Horror, Sci-fi, Launches, The Secret World

Could we finally have a specific launch date for The Secret World? Yes, but more accurately, no.

While hopeful fans clung to possible news that Funcom had confirmed an April 24th launch date, the studio has issued a statement saying that this was "an internal production date" that was mentioned at a recent press event, and doesn't necessarily reflect the actual release date for the title:

Funcom has become aware of postings in various media stating that commercial launch of the online game The Secret World has been set to 24 April 2012. This date was communicated at a press event in the Funcom offices in Oslo today -- as an internal production date.

Funcom has previously announced the launch month for the game to be April 2012 and wants to stress that there is currently no change or update on the expected time for commercial launch of The Secret World. The company will announce the release date at a later stage through a stock notice and a formal press release when the date has been set.

The studio recently wrapped up a week dedicated to the Illuminati faction and revealed one of the game's spooky settings, Blue Mountain.

Funcom debunks The Secret World launch date rumor originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA launching May 1st in North America [Updated]

Jef Reahard — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:18:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, TERA

Well, it's officially official. En Masse Entertainment is launching its long-awaited TERA MMO on May 1st in North America. A posting on the game's website confirms the date, and it also mentions both standard and collector's edition offerings, the contents of which will be revealed in February.

In the meantime, En Masse is accepting beta applications, and the company also promises "lots more in store" for the month of January.

TERA was originally developed by Bluehole Studio; the title launched in Korea in early 2011. The game is a high fantasy MMORPG focused around action combat and featuring an endgame political system.

[Update: Frogster has also announced that the EU version of TERA will be available on May 3rd.]

TERA launching May 1st in North America [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lineage II Goddess of Destruction and Truly Free transition coming November 30th

Matt Daniel — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lineage 2, Business models, Economy, Expansions, News items, Free-to-play

Last month, NCsoft announced that Lineage II would be making the transition to free-to-play (or, as the company likes to call it, Truly Free), but the studio has remained tight-lipped on when the transition will take place. Until now, that is. On November 30th, Lineage II's newest and largest content update, Goddess of Destruction, will be hitting the live servers. As soon as the update is live, players will be able to play for free, with "no zone, level, or player interaction restrictions."

The update also introduces a new feature known as Path to Awakening. Path to Awakening is "an exclusive leveling guide designed specifically for Lineage II," and it will provide leveling players with "buffs, time limited gear enabling accelerated progression through the game," and interactive maps to point players to the optimal leveling locations. For the full details, head on over to the new Truly Free Lineage II site.

[Source: NCsoft press release]

Lineage II Goddess of Destruction and Truly Free transition coming November 30th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wakfu unveils release date trailer

Matt Daniel — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Launches, News items

Wakfu, Ankama Games' upcoming tactical MMORPG, has been in beta for quite some time now, and people were beginning to wonder if it would ever get a release date. Well, wonder no more. Ankama has released a rather stylish trailer in order to announce the game's prospective launch window.

You can find the trailer after the cut, but just in case you're terribly impatient, the game is slated to release in February, 2012. Now what are you waiting for? Go watch the trailer. It's adorable.

Continue reading Wakfu unveils release date trailer

Wakfu unveils release date trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wish granted: Nadirim launching next month

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, Free-to-play

After 1001 Arabian Nights of beta testing, the Middle-Eastern-flavored Nadirim is finally launching on November 7th. The game will launch with three classes and a unique world full of mystical elements including djinns and flying carpets.

Nadirim is Twisted Tribe's first MMO, and the company is placing high expectations on its future. "We wanted to create a game that stands out among browser games and we are on the right path. We'll be rolling out features and expansions throughout the year. We're focused on bringing players a magical gaming experience," said Twisted Tribe's Balazs Sipocz.

As it is both a free-to-play title and fully playable within a browser, Nadirim is accessible as can be for the curious adventurer looking for a change of scenery. The beta process resulted in several changes and additions to the game, including PvP duels, better combat mechanics, and a bigger open world experience.

Twisted Tribe is holding a contest to reward players for inviting friends into the game, and will be handing out in-game currency as prizes. If you're curious about what Nadirim is like, make sure to watch our Rise and Shiny recap of it from August.

[Source: Twisted Tribe press release]

Wish granted: Nadirim launching next month originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Digimon Masters launching October 25th

Jef Reahard — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

Digimon fans, your wait is almost over. Joymax has just announced that the Digimon Masters Online MMO is scheduled to release on October 25th (which is next week, if you're keeping score at home).

The game features "a deeper RPG experience, enhanced graphics, and adrenaline-pumping real-time combat," according to the latest Joymax press blurb. DMO will purportedly satisfy fans of the original Digimon television series too, as it features more than 1000 characters who appeared on the show during the first five seasons. Joymax says that Digimon Masters is faithful to both the original art design and the series' storyline, and you can learn more about the pet-centric RPG title at its official website.

[Source: Joymax press release]

Digimon Masters launching October 25th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR's EU launch moved up to December 20th

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

For all of you European Star Wars: The Old Republic fans out there who were planning to be sick from work on December 22nd for the game's launch, you'll now be doing it two days earlier. That's right -- if you plan to play the game at retail launch, you'll be doing it on the same day as the Yanks in North America: December 20th.

The announcement was made today during BioWare's New York Comic-Con panel, where our sister site Joystiq grabbed the news. Stay tuned to Massively for more from SWTOR and NYCC as it becomes available.

SWTOR's EU launch moved up to December 20th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THQ says WAR40K release date, features list is 'pure speculation'

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Rumors, Warhammer 40k, Miscellaneous

Mass conspiracy? Over-eager fans? Or deliberate misinformation? No matter what the case, it turns out that recent information about Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online was not passed down by THQ itself, and these "facts," such as the launch date and class list, should be treated as speculative rumors and nothing more.

THQ sent a letter to several media outlets clarifying the situation:

It has come to THQ's attention that some media are reporting that we've announced game details and a release date for our upcoming massively multiplayer online project, Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online. At this time THQ has not officially announced a release date and any reported features are pure speculation. THQ will announce confirmed game features and an official release date at a later time.

We will keep an eye on this title and the news coming out of THQ as it develops.

THQ says WAR40K release date, features list is 'pure speculation' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer 40K Dark Millennium Online launch date revealed

Matt Daniel — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, News items, Warhammer 40k

Purge the heretics! Warhammer 40,000 Dark Millennium Online has received a launch date. The game's page on THQ's official site marks the game down for release on March 31st, 2013. That's all the news we've got for now, but keep your eye out for more information in the (grim darkness of the) future!

[Thanks to Andru for the tip!]

Warhammer 40K Dark Millennium Online launch date revealed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR launch day questions answered

Larry Everett — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

The community team at BioWare told us that we would know when the train was coming, but it came crashing through our house when half of us were still sleeping. As we reported earlier, Star Wars: The Old Republic set its launch day for December 20th for North America and December 22nd for Europe. All the fans exhaled in relief, then promptly started asking more questions.

First off, the Australian and New Zealand launch dates have not been set, and BioWare cannot commit to a launch day yet for that region. However, back in August, Senior Community Manager Stephen Reid posted on the official forums that "There are no plans to 'region lock' or 'IP block' players from the game. You may experience some latency issues if you're not playing in a launch territory." This still holds true today.

To prevent signup issues on launch day, log-ins will be throttled. However, pre-order customers will still gain early access to the game. Senior Community Coordinator Allison Berryman reported on the official forum: "The beginning of Early Game Access will depend on a number of factors, including results from our Game Testing Program and Pre-Orders, but there will be multiple days of access."

Lastly, in case you missed it earlier, BioWare did announce the subscription costs. It comes as no surprise to most MMO gamers that the first month is free with the purchase of the game. After that it's $14.99 per month (£8.99 or €12.99), $41.97 for 3 months (£25.17 or €35.97), or $77.94 for six months (£46.14 or €65.94). There have been no lifetime subscription announcements as of yet, but we will let you know if we hear anything.

SWTOR launch day questions answered originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The agonizing wait for Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch date continues [Updated]

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Launches, MMO industry, Star Wars: The Old Republic

The multi-million dollar question that's been on every Star Wars: The Old Republic fan's lips can be summed up in one word: When? While we still don't know a precise date, we may be a step or two closer to finding out today.

SWTOR fansite Darth Hater combed through a recent EA Q&A session with investors to pull a few pertinent details from CFO Eric Brown. When asked about the launch date for The Old Republic, Brown replied, "We haven't given a street date yet. We won't do so for some time, possibly at our next upcoming earnings call towards the end of October." This earnings call will take place on October 25th.

EA also continues to stand by its backup plan of a launch delay if SWTOR isn't ready, giving the title room to possibly slip from holiday 2011 to early 2012. Brown explained the conditions that would trigger such a slip: "We did hold out a slight possibility that it could slip to our March quarter. And the factors that would cause a slip is, for example, us not being completely satisfied with the scalability testing, and wanting to tune it for several extra weeks."

[Update: SWTOR's Stephen Reid has posted on the forums urging fans not to read too much between the lines of investor calls. "We are still very much aiming to ship in the holiday 2011 window (AKA, before the end of the year)," he says.]

[Update#2: The transcript was actually done by Darth Hater, which Ask a Jedi copied and pasted. The correct source is now linked.]

The agonizing wait for Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch date continues [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise of Immortals MOBA launching September 12th

Jef Reahard — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

Ready for another MOBA title? Ready or not, there's a new one on the way, and Petroglyph has just announced that Rise of Immortals is set to launch on September 12th. The game is currently barreling through the final days of its open beta test, and as such you can still sign up and get a free preview as well as take home 1,000 Petroglyph coins and an exclusive immortal skin.

Rise of Immortals is free-to-play, and the dev team is looking to expand the MOBA genre by adding features like social hubs, emotes, persistent character progression, and collectible combat and vanity pets. That's not all, either, and we'll have more details for you in next week's edition of Not So Massively!

Rise of Immortals MOBA launching September 12th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR launch date hinges on fan beta reaction

Jef Reahard — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Speculation about Star Wars The Old Republic's launch date is reaching a fever pitch lately, with fans hanging on every word from BioWare and Electronic Arts staffers and chomping at the bit to experience the title's September beta weekends.

The latest release-related blurb comes courtesy of EA bigwig Frank Gibeau, who told CVG that while EA-BioWare does have a date in mind, fan reaction to the beta will ultimately tell the tale.

"It [the launch date] is definitely tied to the beta test feedback that's ongoing and so far, so good. We feel good about the date that we're heading towards but you're right, you could have a Crazy Ivan show up in the September/October beta test and be like, 'wow, I've got to fix that,'" Gibeau said.

SWTOR launch date hinges on fan beta reaction originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: Funcom details Age of Conan adventure pack options [Updated]

Jef Reahard — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Business models, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

Well, Age of Conan fans, we've finally got ourselves a launch date for the much-anticipated Savage Coast of Turan adventure pack. The new content will be rolled out in two phases, and the regular launch date is set for September 8th, while an early access period will begin on August 31st.

Funcom has given us the details on all of the purchasing options, and the Savage Coast will be available in a variety of flavors depending on how soon you'd like to start playing and what side dishes you'd like along with your main course.

Join us after the cut for a look at the Savage Coast menu, and check back with Massively later today for an exclusive new Savage Coast content reveal. Please note that as of press time, Funcom has not provided us with prices for the following options.

[Update]: Funcom has released pricing options as well as confirmed that both subscribers and free-to-play gamers will need to pay for the Savage Coast content. It's also worth noting that the pack is only available through the in-game store.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Funcom details Age of Conan adventure pack options [Updated]

Massively Exclusive: Funcom details Age of Conan adventure pack options [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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En Masse delaying TERA launch to 2012 [Updated]

Jef Reahard — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, TERA

En Masse Entertainment has finally broken its silence about TERA's launch window, and there's both good and bad news for fans of the upcoming fantasy game. The bad news is that there's still no definitive launch date. The good news is that the time window has been narrowed considerably.

In a new press release issued this morning, En Masse said that TERA will release sometime in the spring of 2012. That should put to rest months of speculation as to whether the game will reach North American shores in 2011 (as well as whether it will be competing for launch customers with The Old Republic, which BioWare expects to release prior to the end of the year).

En Masse publishing vice president Chris Lee commented on the launch delay, indicating that the extra time will result in a more polished product. "The game's action combat and depth has generated a lot of interest, and we are committed to making sure every aspect of the game lives up to our standard of quality," he said.

[Update: Producer Chris Hager has penned a post on the official TERA website that offers a bit more info. In a nutshell, the North American client will enter alpha testing "later this year," with beta scheduled for early 2012.]

En Masse delaying TERA launch to 2012 [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter announces the next patch date

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

Naoki Yoshida is many things, but a man of brevity is not usually among his qualities. Most of his letters to the Final Fantasy XIV community are quite long, with a great deal of information contained therein. But the most recent producer's letter is a departure from form, with only one real substantial piece of information -- the release date for patch 1.18. However, considering that the patch will usher in new combat mechanics, new content, and large overhauls to the game's content development, it's the sort of thing that can speak for itself.

According to Yoshida, the patch is scheduled for July 21st, with only some testing on the upcoming instanced raids to be completed. (As he puts it, the team is opting for "raid" rather than "dungeon" just because you can raid something that isn't quite a dungeon in structure.) There may be a slight change in either direction by a couple days, but Final Fantasy XIV fans will be happy to have a target date for this large patch.

New Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter announces the next patch date originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Chosen enters closed beta and prepares for release

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Historical, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Launches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play

The Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history has become a popular backdrop for MMOs of late (not surprising, considering the growth of the Chinese MMO market). Snail Games' The Chosen is the most recent entry in the particular sub-genre, with the game having just begun its closed beta process. The beta promises to be a fairly short one, however -- the game is due for an official launch on July 5th, allowing everyone to explore the game's open skill system and factional warfare.

To help kick off the beta, the team behind the game has released both a brand-new trailer for prospective players and a series of screenshots and concept art. While the historical period has become a popular setting, The Chosen is taking a looser approach to the setting and mixing in a greater dose of mythology, which might be just the thing to hook certain players.

Gallery: The Chosen

Continue reading The Chosen enters closed beta and prepares for release

The Chosen enters closed beta and prepares for release originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Empires Online launching August 16th

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, Free-to-play, MMORTS

There are just a couple of months yet until you can conquer the world from the comfort of your bedroom, but that's no excuse to let your hygiene slip. Microsoft Game Studios announced that Age of Empires Online will be released on August 16th with two initial civilizations: the Greeks and Egyptians.

As the latest in the long-running civilization sim franchise, Age of Empires Online will allow players to build up persistent towns, establish trade between other players, work on crafting and quests, and even go to war when needed.

While the initial core gameplay will be available for free, Microsoft hopes that players will get so hooked that they'll gladly purchase Age of Empires Online "Premium Content Packs" to enhance their experience. These packs will include new civilizations and game modes. 1UP reports that in addition to the typical digital download, Microsoft will be shipping out retail boxes in order to snag a larger audience -- although these boxes will merely contain instructions how to download the game.

Gallery: Age of Empires Online

Age of Empires Online launching August 16th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heatwave announces Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising subscription plans

Jef Reahard — Tue, 17 May 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items

Launch day is coming for Gods & Heroes, and Heatwave Interactive has just announced its introductory subscription options for the North American market. The game, which debuts June 21st, will feature the standard month of free gameplay along with retail or digital download purchases.

Subscription deals start at $9.99 for a monthly pass and include three-month ($27.99), six-month ($54.99), 12-month ($99.99), and lifetime options ($199.99). Gods & Heroes allows players to take on the role of heroic demigods battling mythical monsters, commanding squads of minions, and customizing their personal estates, all set against a backdrop of classical Roman mythology. You can learn more about the title, as well as check out pre-order bonuses and sign up for the ongoing beta, at the official website.

Heatwave announces Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising subscription plans originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Faxion Online launching May 26th

Jef Reahard — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Faxion Online

Judgment day is coming. No, not that one (or even that one). The fire and brimstone of your typical MMORPG launch is bearing down on the world of Faxion Online thanks to the official announcement of the title's launch date. UTV True Games has issued a press release confirming that the free-to-play fantasy game will debut on May 26th and bring its unique blend of tongue-in-cheek humor and an irreverent take on PvP to players across the globe.

Faxion's conflict revolves around the control of war-torn Limbo, the halfway house between heaven and hell that serves as the game's central locale. Players will also fight over the seven deadly sins in a never-ending struggle between light and dark. "We are excited to launch Faxion Online, and based on our burgeoning community's feedback, we have added several new features that will only intensify the combat-driven gameplay experience," says UTV's Frank Lucero. While today's press release doesn't elaborate when it comes to the new features, we'll be bringing you more Faxion-related info as launch day draws near.

Faxion Online launching May 26th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Tanks beta statistics announced

Jef Reahard — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Historical, MMO industry, New titles, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Tanks, Miscellaneous

The devs at Wargaming.net aren't shy about sharing player statistics, and why would they be when the studio's flagship World of Tanks title is cranking out some pretty impressive numbers. In a press release dated this morning, the company said that approximately 700,000 tank drivers took part in the year-long beta testing throughout Europe and North America, and those 700,000 players participated in 5.6 million battles.

More than 115 million virtual tanks were bombed into oblivion courtesy of 1.7 billion shells, and World of Tanks surpassed 25,000 peak concurrent users. Closed beta testers (registered by 0:00 UTC 27/01/2011) with 1000 or more battles under their belt will be rewarded with an M4A2E4 tank to acknowledge their contribution to the game's development. World of Tanks is officially releasing on April 12th, and Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi is advising players to get their real-life affairs in order. "You still have a couple of days to spend with your friends and families before the war breaks out, so spend it the right way," Kislyi says.

World of Tanks beta statistics announced originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Launch date invites celebration and dismay

Larry Everett — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Business models, Launches, News items, Promotions, Miscellaneous

In an unprecedented announcement, [developing company] stated in a press release today that [unreleased game] will launch on [date], much to the [emotion] of its fans. "We have always [past tense verb] our supporters, so we did exactly as they have been asking," [title] [proper name] stated to us this morning. "We've always said we would not launch until the game was [adjective] -- now it is, [interjection]!"

Unfortunately for those of you living in [country], you will not see the game on store shelves until [date]. To make up for this delay, the developers have planned a pre-release party in [city], [country] on [date]. The game's [title], [proper name], said, "Of course, we don't like people in that country, otherwise we would have released the game in all countries at the same time. Why do you think the [plural nationality] aren't getting the game at all?"

For everyone else, grab your [weapon], put on your [article of clothing], and get ready to [verb] your enemy's [body part]. Hail to the [monarch]!

Games Journalism sure is hard work, so we've decided to take a break today and let you write your own news! Too many stories about RIFT on Massively lately? Not enough about the game of your choice? No problem! Much in the style of Mad Libs, today is your day to create the news you want to read, all day on the :30s. Simply fill in the blanks and it's yours. Have fun!

Launch date invites celebration and dismay originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Perfect World International expansion gets launch date

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

Players of Perfect World International have been waiting patiently for some idea of when the anticipated Genesis expansion patch would be coming to the game. As we've seen, the team at Perfect World Entertainment has been hard at work creating all manner of new things in one of the most ambitious game updates to date. Now we've gotten news that Genesis will be launching into Perfect World International on March 3rd, and the listing of what's to come is definitely impressive.

Along with the storyline changes, players will have access to the new Earthguard race, which has two new classes: Seekers and Mystics. As you'd expect with an expansive patch featuring a new race, there are new cities, new abilities, new gear, and tons of new quests for players to enjoy. Along with that, a new tradeskill, Runecrafting, has been added to the game, allowing players to create stones that will produce buffs and effects. For those more into PvP, the territory war system has been expanded with new maps and an all-new resource that will in turn allow guilds to take advantage of new guild bases -- ones with merchants who sell exotic items! Check out the Perfect World International site for all the Genesis information or to sign up yourself!

New Perfect World International expansion gets launch date originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The "big bet": EA aims at a half-million subscribers to make SWTOR profitable

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Launches, MMO industry, Star Wars: The Old Republic

"It's a big bet, but it's the right kind of bet to make for EA."

These are the words of BioWare's Ray Muzyka, responding to a conference call to EA investors in which the company admitted that Star Wars: The Old Republic will need to pull in at least 500,000 subscribers to become profitable. This is substantially less than the two million subscriber mark that industry analysts previously predicted.

During the conference call, EA CEO John Riccitiello drew a line in the sand between financial failure and victory for The Old Republic: "At half a million subscribers, the game is substantially profitable, but it's not the sort of thing we would write home about. Anything north of one million subscribers is a very profitable business. Essentially it turns on a dime from being quite sharply negative in terms of its EPS [Earnings Per Share] impact to positive the day the product ships. So it's our view that we can be very successful without fundamentally challenging the market leader [World of Warcraft] because we think we'll probably hit the smaller competitors harder when we get out there. Of course, we have no particular ambition to be a distant number two. Our ambitions are higher than that, but we throttle back a little bit relative to our financial projections."

While Riccitiello admitted that the title has seen "significant development costs," he claims that costs proposed by the public are far higher than the actual costs of The Old Republic's development. He declined to share the actual costs or the number of staff working on the game.

EA also announced that The Old Republic's release date will be in calendar 2011. BioWare has as recently as this January targeted a spring 2011 release. EA's estimate puts its launch somewhere between March 31st and December 31st of this year.

The "big bet": EA aims at a half-million subscribers to make SWTOR profitable originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xsyon launching March 1st

Jef Reahard — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Launches, New titles, News items, Xsyon, Post-Apocalyptic

Though it's been some time since we've heard anything new from Notorious Games regarding its Xsyon MMORPG, there is some light at the end of the lengthy beta tunnel. Lead designer Jordi Grau Davis has sent word that the post-apocalyptic sandbox game is nearing release. March 1st has been confirmed as launch day, and the company is now taking pre-orders for a limited initial release called Xsyon: Prelude.

The Prelude is set in an isolated basin somewhere in the American wilderness, where survivors of the apocalypse will carve out humanity's future in an open-ended sandbox that will evolve according to the actions of its community. Pre-order customers will receive immediate access to the game's final testing phases as well as two free months of game time and a limited edition in-game weapon.

Xsyon launching March 1st originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Masthead confirms Earthrise digital release date, system requirements

Jef Reahard — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, New titles, News items, Earthrise

The team at Masthead Studios has nailed down a definitive launch date for Earthrise. The sci-fi sandbox MMORPG will be available via digital distribution on February 4th, with a European retail box and exclusive content to follow. "We have worked incredibly hard to make Earthrise the best sandbox MMORPG on the market, and we can't wait for players to fully experience all of our hard work and become immersed in Enterra," said Masthead's Atanas Atanasov in a press release dated this morning.

In addition to last week's announcement that players will gather on a single worldwide server, the studio has also detailed the game's system requirements:

OS: Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7
Free hard drive space: 20 GB
CPU: 2.4+ GHz Single Core Processor
RAM: 2 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA 7800GT+ or ATI Radeon 9800 SE 256-bit
High bandwidth internet connection (DSL, Cable)

Masthead confirms Earthrise digital release date, system requirements originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perpetuum devs talk design inspiration, post-launch plans

Jef Reahard — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Launches, New titles, News items, Perpetuum

You've probably heard of Perpetuum Online, the new mech-based title from indie developer Avatar Creations. What you may not know is that the sprawling sandbox is the result of a tiny 10-man development team. In a new interview with the devs over at Game Reactor, we also learned that even though the UI and certain gameplay elements resemble EVE Online, most of the Avatar team never played CCP's famous MMORPG and instead looked to the real world for design inspiration.

"When designing the crafting system we looked at how humanity would react when faced with new and alien technology and built crafting around those core ideas. The idea of a complex sandbox single-server world might be very similar, but most of the Perpetuum team never played EVE," Avatar says.

The interview also drops a few interesting nuggets including player beta reactions, post-launch development plans, and a peek at the dev team's stance on equalizing veterans and newbs. "Newcomers in any well designed game won't have a chance against seasoned veterans," Avatar states. Check out the full interview at Game Reactor and don't forget that Perpetuum launches November 25th.

Perpetuum devs talk design inspiration, post-launch plans originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All systems go: Perpetuum launching November 25th

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Launches, Perpetuum

It's been five years in the making -- not to mention 18 months of beta testing -- but on November 25th, it all comes to a head. Perpetuum Online, which has been described as "EVE Online meets mechs," finally has a launch date.

Avatar Creations' project is a persistent world at war, in which players can build, pilot and destroy robots across the landscape. According to Perpetuum's manifesto, the dev team strived to make an MMO that focuses on a social experience that utilizes crafting, economy and territory control as tools to connect large amounts of players.

The download will be free, and Avatar Creations has announced that the pricing plan will be €8.95/$9.95 depending on the region. Interested players would do well to take the company up on the offer of early access, which costs the same but gives an additional week of play (early access players can start on November 18th) and four weeks of "extra extension points."

Hit the jump to see Perpetuum's launch trailer and figure out if this is the virtual world for you!

Continue reading All systems go: Perpetuum launching November 25th

All systems go: Perpetuum launching November 25th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need For Speed World takes off July 27th

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sports, Launches, Free-to-play, Need for Speed World

Fast cars. Expensive gas. Gaudy spinners. Fuzzy dice. A lead foot. Radar detectors. EA is set to provide all of these and more when Need for Speed World launches next week. A release date of July 27 has been announced, and will be available via digital download for all hot rod enthusiasts.

Of course, if you can't wait to settle into the driver's seat, you can get into the game today by pre-ordering the Need for Speed World Starter Pack. Apart from the benefit of early access, pre-orders will get their hands on exclusive cars, be fueled with double XP, and have the ever-so-elite "VIP" tag added to their driver profile from now on. The Starter Pack also includes an allowance of NFSW's in-game currency for a shopping trip if one so desires.

A trial of the game will become available next week as well, offering a free sample of NFSW up through level 10 to any and all who mosey by. EA is obviously crossing its fingers that NFSW will go the distance and not break down on the side of the road like Motor City Online, but so far, things are looking up for this title.

Need For Speed World takes off July 27th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIV announces launch date and pricing model

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, New titles, News items, Final Fantasy XIV

The speculation for Final Fantasy XIV's eager fanbase can finally come to an end. Square-Enix's hotly anticipated MMORPG has an official release date, and contrary to the expectations of many it's not at the absolute end of the year. The game will officially launch on the PC on September 22nd -- and September 30th. In addition to the official release announcement, Square has disclosed the bonuses for the Collector's Edition, and one of those bonuses is a full week's early access.

The Collector's Edition, which retails for $74.99 instead of the standard version's $49.99, will also include an exclusive in-game item, a security token, a travel journal with concept art, and a special cover with art by Yoshitako Amano. Both versions include 30 days of free game time, with subsequent months priced at $12.99. No word on whether the fee will increase for additional characters a la Final Fantasy XI. If you can't wait for another three months, however, you can take heart in the promise that Final Fantasy XIV's beta will start in early July. It's not quite as good as launch, but we're sure it'll ease the scant time remaining.

[Editor's Note: As an additional note, extra character slots in the game will cost $3.00 per month, much like Final Fantasy XI's $1 per month character slots. However, if you wish to have another character for inventory purposes in FFXIV, then the cost is still only $1 dollar. So, to recap, a playable character slot in FFXIV is $3.00 per month, while a non-playing "inventory use only" character is $1 dollar per month. ~Sera]

Final Fantasy XIV announces launch date and pricing model originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LEGO Universe starts its countdown to launch

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, New titles, News items, Casual, LEGO Universe, Family

Traditionally, October is a time for spooks and ghosts, tricks and treats. This year, however, you can add nexus-infused undead pirates, ninjas, robots, and more, as we just got word today that LEGO Universe will be launching to pre-order "Founders" on October 12th, and to everyone else on October 26th -- just in time for Halloween hijinks. We also have news that the game will be available to both PC and Mac players, thanks to a Cider port for the LEGOmaniac Mac-heads in the house.

Along with the update on launch, we've managed to scoop up several new videos that we've tucked behind the break; they run the gamut from cinematic trailer to actual game footage. Furthermore, we've got a gallery chock full of screenshots and bits of concept art from the folks at NetDevil and LEGO for you to check out too.

As if that weren't tempting enough, we have an interview coming up with the minds behind this brick-filled MMO later this week, so be on the lookout for that if you're hungry for even more on LEGO Universe.

Gallery: E3 2010: LEGO Universe

Continue reading LEGO Universe starts its countdown to launch

LEGO Universe starts its countdown to launch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Petroglyph and True Games resolve lawsuit, announce launch date for Mytheon

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, News items, Legal, Mytheon

The last major news we heard about fantasy MMO Mytheon was regarding a legal skirmish. Publisher True Games was suing developer Petroglyph for the Mytheon source code, citing a long list of actions on Petroglyph's part which prevented the game from seeing release.

In a surprise announcement, the two companies announced today that they have resolved their differences and are set for a July 13th launch. While it seems like a dangerously short leap from lawsuit to launch, keep in mind that Mytheon was originally scheduled to be ready for release last November.

Chuck Kroegel, CEO of Petroglyph, sums up the decision: "From the beginning, we have been committed to creating a critically and commercially successful online game that brings something fresh to this space. Despite the fact that neither company acknowledged or admitted any wrongdoing, both companies recognized this mutual agreement as the right step, especially for the players with the official release of Mytheon to the world this summer. We've received a great deal of positive feedback on the game, from both the media and the community, and we encourage online gaming fans to jump into the ongoing open beta test and experience Mytheon's unique gameplay and amazing mythological world."

Beta signups are available on the game's site.

Petroglyph and True Games resolve lawsuit, announce launch date for Mytheon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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APB payment model, launch date, and pre-order revealed

Jef Reahard — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, New titles, News items, All Points Bulletin, Crime

Realtime Worlds' forthcoming urban crime MMORPG All Points Bulletin has finally been dated. The title will launch in North America on June 29 and on July 2 in Europe.

In addition to the street date, Realtime Worlds has unveiled the payment model, which looks to parcel out sections of game play via micro payments. The retail client will be available digitally or in stores ($49.99/£34.99/€49.99) and will include 50 hours of 'action' game play plus unlimited time in the social districts. These districts include character customizing, socializing, and marketplace trading. Once you burn through your initial 50 hours of action play, you can purchase an additional 20 hours for $6.99 (£5.59, €6.29) or opt for the 30-day 'unlimited' package at $9.99 (£7.99, €8.99). There will also be 90 and 180 day discounts available.

Your retail box (or download) will also include 100 RTW points which can be put towards additional game time and other perks to be announced. Players will be able to convert their in-game customizations into items that can be traded to friends or put on the marketplace. RTW points can also be converted to game time or in-game currency.

Realtime Worlds also announced the pre-order perks for All Points Bulletin. Early customers will get 10 hours of additional action game time, a key to the city which allows pre-launch event access, exclusive clothing, decals, emotes, and a custom vehicle. Check out the pre-order video as well as the launch press release.

[Thanks to APB-evolved.com for the heads up!]

APB payment model, launch date, and pre-order revealed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alganon sets October release date

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Forums, New titles, Alganon

Alganon is an upcoming fantasy MMO that we here at Massively have our eyes on. It is said to integrate more of an expansive social network than we may already be used to, as well as a new look at on and offline skill advancement.

But the real news here is that Quest Online, the makers of Alganon, have announced a launch date of October 31 of this year. In preparation for this launch, the forums have been completely revamped. Preorders will also be taken later this month, featuring a digital download option and special preorder bonuses, to be announced later. Check out the official Alganon website for more details.

Alganon sets October release date originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Western launch dates for Aion revealed

William Dobson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Launches, New titles, News items

The hype surrounding Aion has certainly increased in the last month or two, particularly due to the hands-on time the public has had with recent beta events (you can see all of our coverage of the ongoing beta here). Whether the game has won you over or if you're just watching pessimistically from the sidelines, you're probably interested to know when it will officially launch in the western world. IGN is reporting that Aion will launch on the 22nd of September in North America, and the European launch won't be far behind on the 25th of September.

Other notable MMO launches in September include Champions Online, and Cities XL (for some European countries). Even with its recently pushed back release date, Champions will still be out well before Aion if its 1st of September goal is reached. Seeing as all three of these games aren't really very similar, their close proximity probably isn't too much of a big deal, but it does mean that some of the largest MMO launches of the year will be right next to each other.

Western launch dates for Aion revealed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mabinogi expansion "Pioneers of Iria" set for February 26th

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Expansions, Launches, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Mabinogi

The massive content addition Pioneers of Iria is set to go live for Mabinogi users on February 26th, introducing two new races and a brand new continent for the low, low cost of free.

Information about Iria has been slowly released over time on the Erinn Walker website, which has revealed even more interesting things about the new expansion. Iria will be featuring more field bosses to take on in large groups, like giant wooly mammoths, yetis, sandworms, dragons and even Ifrit himself. The new races, elves and giants, will also be able to take advantage of transformation techniques and enter "beast mode" to deal more damage to enemies around them.

Nexon has also released a new trailer for Iria, which we've embedded for your viewing pleasure after the break. For more information on what Iria has in store for players, check out the Iria website and stay tuned to Massively.com.

Continue reading Mabinogi expansion "Pioneers of Iria" set for February 26th

Mabinogi expansion "Pioneers of Iria" set for February 26th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion's release date expected for fall 2009

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Launches, News items

Localization is big, time consuming business, and NCsoft wants to make sure that they get it just right with the release of Aion: The Tower of Eternity. The US community manager, Liv, has just confirmed that NCsoft is seeking a fall 2009 launch date for the Western copy of the game that has already seen success in Korea.

The game is undergoing a significant re-write of all of the narrative content instead of being simply translated and pushed out the door. What this should produce is a game without the standard awkward mistranslated phrases, incomplete sentences, and dialogue that doesn't word wrap properly.

This style of localization is common amongst recent games that have crossed over into Western culture, such as the Megami Tensei Series and Odin Sphere from Atlus Games. It's more extensive and time consuming, but produces much better results in the long term.

For all of the questions and insights Liv has provided to the Aion audience, check out her full letter and note from the producer at the European Aion website.

Aion's release date expected for fall 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darkfall Online slated for January release date

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Events, real-world, Forums, MMO industry, New titles

Audio Visual Enterprises SA and Aventurine SA have announced today that the official release date for their fantasy MMO Darkfall Online will be on January 22nd, 2009. After a development cycle that has spanned almost eight years now, it's good to know the game will be leaving its current beta stage and entering the real world like a big boy (or girl, we haven't checked).

Be sure to check out the official announcement over at the Darkfall forums, and check out their main website for more information on the game that boasts being a "seamless and zoneless, non-instanced, sandbox game world."

Darkfall Online slated for January release date originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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