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[The Summoner's Guidebook: Why you shouldn't always buy Deathcap on LoL casters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/the-summoners-guidebook-why-you-shouldnt-always-buy-deathcap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/the-summoners-guidebook-why-you-shouldnt-always-buy-deathcap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/the-summoners-guidebook-why-you-shouldnt-always-buy-deathcap/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Why you shouldn't always buy Deathcap on LoL casters
Once upon a time (OK, a few weeks ago), I was playing an ARAM as Diana. I had a fairly bad score (I'm passive and don't chase kills), and we lost. One of my teammates blamed me, claiming my item build was awful. It was largely because I didn't build Rabadon's Deathcap.

Deathcap is one of the perennial caster items in League of Legends. Not only does it give an enormous amount of ability power, but it also increases all of your ability power (including what it grants) by a whopping 30%. This seems so ridiculously powerful! Even though it's expensive, 30% increase in AP is such a huge boost to damage that it can't be beaten.

Is this really the case, though? In Summoner's Rift, I completely agree that Deathcap is a great item. In Twisted Treeline, Wooglet's Witchcap (the replacement item for Deathcap) is also incredible. However, in Dominion and ARAM, the fast-paced action and frequent conflicts change the nature of the wizard hats considerably.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Why you shouldn't always buy Deathcap on LoL casters

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Why you shouldn't always buy Deathcap on LoL casters originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deathcapdianaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playglass-cannonglass-cannon-mageleagueleague-of-legendsliandrys-tormentlolmobaopinionrabadons-deathcapriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebooktankmagetanky-magethe-summoners-guidebookThu, 23 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LoL video previews 3.7 patch, introduces Custom Item Sets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/lol-video-previews-3-7-patch-introduces-custom-item-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/lol-video-previews-3-7-patch-introduces-custom-item-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/lol-video-previews-3-7-patch-introduces-custom-item-sets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

LoL video previews 37 patch, introduces custom item sets
Instead of just rolling out a wall of text to discuss the changes and updates hitting League of Legends in the 3.7 patch, Riot Games offers players a video preview to get a glimpse of what's to come. And among the goodies is one of the most player-requested features -- Custom Item Sets.

Want to create a specific set of items, tailored to individual champions and/or maps before you get into a match and the fighting begins? Or how about just browse through the entire item shop on PVP.net just to see what's available? Both will be possible with the new Custom Item Sets feature. Initially, these custom builds will be stored on players' local machines only, but the devs plan on adding server-side storage in the future.

The video also discusses some balance changes to the champions Rumble, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, and Nunu. Check out the specifics after the break.

Continue reading LoL video previews 3.7 patch, introduces Custom Item Sets

MassivelyLoL video previews 3.7 patch, introduces Custom Item Sets originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Teaching ourselves LoL matchups
I'm always looking for things to teach players in the Summoner's Guidebook. We have, however, covered a lot of the low hanging fruit in one way or another. In League of Legends, and virtually every other asymmetric competitive game, matchup knowledge comprises the huge bulk of information that is truly useful to read about. This week was originally going to be a counter-Ryze guide, but then I decided to cover a broader topic to help reach more people.

I don't really like discussing specific character matchups largely because the character you're using matters almost as much as your opponent's. What does Ryze do against Kassadin in lane, for instance? The answer is not a whole lot if the Kassadin is decent. I could write a counter-Kassadin guide, but a lot of it wouldn't be usable by Ryze. Instead, this week we'll discuss how to think about the opponent's kit and develop a strategy to win on your own (or at least survive).

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Teaching ourselves LoL matchups originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook How do assassins work in League of Legends
In case you didn't notice, the title of this week's column is a question. It's not because I know the answer; it's because I've been thinking a lot about it lately and don't have a really good answer.

Assassins are in a strange state when it comes to teamfights. In League of Legends, there's a period when teams tend to group up to fight over objectives. This marks the midgame in Summoner's Rift, it happens after altars unlock in Twisted Treeline, and it occurs anytime both teams know where the other team is on the Crystal Scar. We've discussed teamfights a lot already, but what is troubling is the presence of assassins in these fights. Assassins are best when they're able to jump in and kill an unprepared target, ideally before a teamfight starts. Once that's done, their team can jump in with a numbers advantage and take the objective or wipe out the enemy.

When both teams are grouped up ahead of time, assassins lose a lot of their might. Assassins can't kill without exposing themselves to heavy risk, which makes them a liability to their team until they jump in. After they jump in, they're still likely to be the first ones to get focused down.

What do we do about this? What's the solution? I don't have a clear answer -- but I can still share my observations.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: How do assassins work in League of Legends?

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: How do assassins work in League of Legends? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset
This week is packed with MOBA news as almost every major title released a new patch. Infinite Crisis introduced new champions Poison Ivy and Gaslight Catwoman and announced that the game's closed beta will start in two days' time on May 8th. SMITE introduced new Norse god Fenrir the Unbound, and League of Legends released a champion spotlight on new Ice Witch champion Lissandra. Dota 2 also released new hero Elder Titan based on the original DotA hero Tauren Chieftain, and Heroes of Newerth released several months of balance changes at once in its colossal version 3.1 update.

Star Citizen celebrated hitting $9 million US in its ongoing crowdfunding campaign, and to celebrate, developers controversially gave all current backers free lifetime insurance on their ships. The title's success has also spurred EVE Online developer CCP Games to show off its own virtual reality dogfighter called EVR that uses the upcoming Oculus Rift headset.

Diablo III's first anniversary is just over a week away; details of any celebrations haven't yet been released. Developers confirmed that the PlayStation 4 version will not be getting mouse and keyboard support and that the PC version won't be getting support for analog controllers. For those of you up for some oldschool dungeon-crawling, Diablo II also announced that its ladder will be reset on May 14th this week and all players will start the game fresh again.

Continue reading Not So Massively: MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset

MassivelyNot So Massively: MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Playing LoL's new ARAM mode
Many of you already know what ARAM is -- it's a phenomenon that is hardly exclusive to League of Legends, and even in MOBAs where there isn't a map built for it, ARAM matches are played. Before the 3.6 patch, I tended to play ARAM matches either before or after my normal play sessions. I typically played a couple of games of Classic or Dominion, with a game or two of ARAM either before or after. As I've mentioned in the past, I enjoy ARAM as a way to unwind and practice without stress.

Patch 3.6 changed this by removing the Proving Grounds, replacing it with the Howling Abyss, and making ARAM a dedicated gametype with its own matchmaking. Now I play probably twice as many games as before, typically 8 to 10 ARAM games with no other matches. As it turns out, even I'm vulnerable to casual fun. The 3.6 patch also added in quite a few cool features that make ARAM much, much better than the pick-up custom games. I think that it's a great addition to League of Legends, especially for those who aren't particularly hardcore.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Playing LoL's new ARAM mode

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Playing LoL's new ARAM mode originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Support in League of Legends doesn't mean healing
Out of all the roles in League of Legends, support is the most misunderstood. People expect supports to be similar to healing classes in other games, the kinds of characters who knit sweaters and cook dinner while the real warriors go out and fight on the front lines. When people first learn about the metagame, they often have the mistaken impression that because the support doesn't farm, there are fewer expectations of the playstyle.

However, supports are less like MMO healers and more like the shortstop in baseball. He's not a baseman, but that gives him flexibility to be where a baseman can't be. He's constantly in the thick of the action, and his team regularly relies on him to make plays. In League, the support's freedom from farming gives her the freedom to roam, to fish for aggressive opportunities and shut down the enemy. She can even wander into mid lane or the enemy jungle in search of these opportunities. Far from a shrinking violet, the support is one of the biggest playmakers on her team.

I got my start in LoL playing support, and it's a role I inherently understand well. I'm not really happy making aggressive lane plays and would prefer to relax and let my mechanics win my games for me (hence why I like ADC), but when thrust into the role of playmaker, I do reasonably well. For team leaders or just people who like to make others play by their rules, support is the role of choice.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Support in League of Legends doesn't mean healing

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Support in League of Legends doesn't mean healing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yiliang
What would you do if you were kicked out of your house as a teenager with nothing but a bicycle, a computer, and a tiny bit of cash to your name? Most people would probably answer, "beg on a street corner" or "curl up and cry forever," but not League of Legends player Yiliang "Doublelift" Peng, who decided he was going to make ends meet by becoming a full-time pro gamer. Seems like a long shot, right? After all, pro gaming isn't what most people would call a reliable source of income.

But somehow, he pulled it off, becoming an integral part of pro-gaming team Counter Logic Gaming in the process. Peng's story is so remarkable that the folks over at Machinima.com have put together a short documentary video that highlights Doublelift's rise to power in the League of Legends pro scene. It's something of a rags-to-riches story for the gaming generation, and whether you're a fan of e-sports or just a fan of uplifting success stories, it's certainly worth a watch. And as it happens, you can find the video past the cut, so why don't you check it out for yourself?

Continue reading League of Legends player goes pro to pay rent

MassivelyLeague of Legends player goes pro to pay rent originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook It takes skill to right click stuff in League of Legends
I've mentioned in passing that my favorite role on Summoner's Rift is ADC, otherwise known as "AD Carry" or "ranged DPS." This might be a bit of a surprise for some of you. Typically in League of Legends, the jungler is the playmaker, and if not, the support is. The playmaker roles seem like more suited to me, especially because I write guides on how to make plays. The ADC is the opposite of a playmaker. She's incredibly reactionary, relying on others to start things so she can finish them. Bruisers, tanks, junglers, mages, and supports all have tools to make things happen, but not the ADC.

I didn't learn to love carrying right away. It was sort of an evolutionary process, moving from support to mid to never-playing-SR-again to top to jungle to ADC. One of the things I love about ADC is that you can't be good at it starting out. You can be better than the people you're playing against, but you can't be good at it at all. The huge technical curve, more than anything else, is what attracts me to the role.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: It takes skill to right-click stuff in League of Legends

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: It takes skill to right-click stuff in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Reworking three League of Legends champions
The Karma rework was probably one of the most-anticipated events to happen in recent League of Legends history. Karma was a character that was well-liked by the whole community but was almost universally seen as bad. With a surprising change to her model and lore as well as her ability set, Karma has risen from the ashes as an entirely different character. The changes to Karma are similar to the changes to Evelynn, in that Riot completely removed an old character and transplanted someone else that superficially resembled the old character in her place.

However, I was really surprised when Riot decided to rework two additional champions as well. The studio took Trundle out of the jungle and into the frozen mountains of Freljord, reworking his kit to reflect the changes in his lore. Sejuani, on the other hand, was much like Karma: a champion that didn't mechanically fit. Little changed about her lore, but she decided to put on some clothes and storm off to Summoner's Rift as a new woman. But are the changes to these three characters good for the League, or were the characters better off staying the same?

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Reworking three League of Legends champions

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Reworking three League of Legends champions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dota 2 surpasses League of Legends in the west
Look out League of Legends: You've just been knocked down to second place. DFC Intelligence has determined that Valve's Dota 2 is now the most-played online game in the North America and Europe, with LoL in the number two spot and World of Warcraft in a distant third.

DFC made this claim based on its PC Game Meter service, which draws data from multiple sources. The service does not include browser and casual games in its report.

Update: Riot Games contacted us to say that DFC has retracted the report press release. GamesIndustry also posted the following update: "According to a Riot Games spokesperson, League of Legends sees 'over 500,000 peak concurrent players every day on just the EU West shard,' which doesn't even touch on players in the United States. This is contrasted with the 325,879 players that Valve's Steamgraph shows as the all-time high for Dota 2 beta."

MassivelyResearch firm says Dota 2 tops League of Legends [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Dealing with emotional stress in LoL
League of Legends is a frustrating game. As much as I portray myself as an unfeeling robot in the Summoner's Guidebook, I am not a paragon of precise execution and flawless decision-making. I've mentioned that I experience rage at my fellow players just as much as the next person. In fact, I probably get upset when I play more frequently than a typical player does.

As many of you have probably noticed, I take League of Legends pretty seriously. I don't screw around or play oddball characters. I don't like the idea of "playing for fun," even though I like to have fun as much as the next person. Saying "I play for fun" is just an excuse to dodge responsibility for my failures, and I don't like to play that way. I like to think that my contribution in a game matters, and two to four other people are counting on me to play my best. Even though that responsibility is hard to carry sometimes, it's better to shoulder it than to mindlessly mash my face on the keyboard and expect a win.

The problem is that sometimes it wears on me. I will frequently play only one game in a day if that one game ends up causing me a lot of frustration. It isn't about winning or losing; it's about dealing with the emotional frustration that comes from a game outside my control.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Dealing with emotional stress in League of Legends

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Dealing with emotional stress in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some weird stuff going on with her spine in this art, unfortunately.
A game like League of Legends relies heavily upon the ability to rebalance characters. Sometimes you'll wind up with a particular champion without the necessary abilities to really work in any role, obviating any serious use of that character. But the development team can always rework the character, which is exactly what's been done to the latest spotlighted champion, Karma. With a reworked set of abilities centered around her ultimate skill, Karma's got a new lease on life, or at least being a multi-role support character.

Karma's new playstyle heavily revolves around use of her Mantra ability -- her passive ability reduces its cooldown, and all three of her other abilities are modified when Mantra is activated first. The focus of her abilities is on slowing enemies and protecting allies, but with careful use of Mantra and her skills she can hold her own in a straight contest. Take a look at the full spotlight video past the break for build strategies, tricks for the early game, and more useful information.

Continue reading League of Legends turns the spotlight on Karma

MassivelyLeague of Legends turns the spotlight on Karma originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook The best ways to ruin a gank in League of Legends
In League of Legends' Classic mode, jungling is my second-most preferred role. I prefer ADC first, since it is very taxing on attention and raw skill matters more than strategy. However, as a jungler, I can impact the game more meaningfully. While being ADC allows me to usually win the game in spite of awful teammates, jungling helps me prevent those awful teammates from throwing the game away.

When I'm going for a gank, there's nothing worse than someone mucking it up for me -- except when I screw it up myself. It's frustrating when I ping for a gank and my mid lane proceeds to engage and die to his opponent before I get there. It's even worse when I run through a place that I know is warded, attempt a gank anyway, and get jumped by three opponents. Sometimes a gank wasn't meant to be, but most of the time, we botched it all on our own.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: The best ways to ruin a gank in League of Legends

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: The best ways to ruin a gank in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook League of Legends' hardest choices
Sometimes League of Legends gives us hard choices. As a jungler, I'm frequently tasked with the difficult decision of whether to gank or counter-jungle and where I should do so. After a lost teamfight, you also have to make a lot of decisions about how to turn the game around. Should you buy elixirs? Should you try to farm and stall the game out or force another teamfight in a better position?

These are all difficult choices. However, most players have to deal with the toughest question of all: Which champion should I unlock next?

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' hardest choices originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riot rules on League of Legends EloBoosting, alleged DDoS attacks
Riot recently celebrated the five-million-concurrent-players milestone, but it seems that not all of those players are on the level.

League of Legends' competition committee has dropped the smack down on a number of pro players due to Elo-Boosting. The company defines Elo-Boosting as "the repetitive and intentional act of an individual playing on someone else's account (a "client") for the purpose of artificially improving the client's Elo rating." Seven players and one coach, representing pro clubs that include Curse and compLexity, have had their accounts suspended for 14 days. Additionally, the cheaters have had their Season Two rewards revoked.

Riot also issued a "first and final" warning to Good Game University general manager Sam "Hexo" Bouchard for allegedly using a DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attack to disrupt an opponent's internet connectivity. The LoL competition committee provides an example of Bouchard's antics and it also notes that he currently boasts the worst harrassment rating among all LCS North American players.

[Thanks Officer Jenny!]

MassivelyRiot rules on League of Legends Elo-Boosting, alleged DDoS attacks originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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League of Legends hits the five million concurrency mark
League of Legends is a runaway success train with no brakes and millions of passengers, it seems. Riot Games announced that the title "regularly exceeds" five million concurrent players across the globe, which is an increase of two million since last October.

"We're humbled by the support of players and now more than ever feel the weight of those expectations," Riot Games wrote on its website. "Good luck, have fun, and please have mercy on our servers."

Of course, that number would be a little higher if all of League of Legends' 32 million monthly players would log in at the same time. If someone can organize that flash mob, we'll be first in line to salute the achievement.

MassivelyLeague of Legends hits the five million concurrency mark originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Staging the perfect comeback in League of Legends
The chips are down and you're behind. The enemy has only two turrets down, and your inhibitor turrets are barely standing. Your own jungle is warded, and the only thing that lets you know your enemies aren't going for Baron is that you can see them charging up your mid lane.

We've all had those kinds of games in our League of Legends career. While I'm a big advocate of surrendering early, there are those who want to fight until the bitter end. Is there any chance of winning? Maybe, maybe not. This week, we'll look at how to win games when you've probably already lost.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Staging the perfect comeback in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook The little stories League of Legends creates
Recently, one of you guys asked to see more personal stories showcasing my experiences in League of Legends. Normally I'm not as fond of doing that sort of thing unless there's a moral in the story somewhere. I like teaching, so that is what the Guidebook does a lot of. The column's name is the Summoner's Guidebook for that reason, after all!

However, I was thinking about it when I was playing last week, and I ended up playing a really great unranked, blind pick game. The outcome was very close, and the overall dynamics of the game were a firm reminder of why I play League of Legends. There was no "mid or feed." It began with good communication by our team and good sportsmanship by both teams at the end. In my mind, that makes this story one worth sharing with you.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: The little stories League of Legends creates

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: The little stories League of Legends creates originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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hartsman on the future of mmos
We hadn't heard a peep from Scott Hartsman after he left his position as executive producer at Trion Worlds... until now. The former EverQuest II and RIFT lead spoke with Forbes not about where he's going but about where he thinks the MMO industry is heading.

Hartsman sees the increased cost and competition of MMOs becoming a major problem as more time goes by: "Can companies keep up with the expectations and each generation of MMOs costing more and more? It's an arms race that no one can win, it's not sustainable in its current direction."

He also thinks that we've hit a cap on the number of people willing to subscribe and that the newer (read: free-to-play) models are providing attractive, flexible alternatives for a wider playerbase. "It's all about finding business models that serve larger numbers in a fair way," Hartsman said, pointing to League of Legends as an example of how "friction-free" an entry to a game can be.

MassivelyScott Hartsman pontificates on the future of MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac users join the League of Legends fray as open beta starts today
Just over a month ago, Riot Games announced that the long-desired Mac version of League of Legends was not a pipe dream but actually in active development. Today the studio threw open the beta doors and invited Mac users to grab the client and experience the same exact service that the PC players enjoy, from features to bug fixes to new content. Of course, Riot would appreciate all feedback, as the client is still in beta.

Skeptical about the validity of this beta claim? Understandable, since the last attempt at creating the Mac platform disappeared almost a year and a half ago. To assuage your doubts, Dr. Mundo offers this video endorsement, viewable after the break.

[Source: Riot Games press release]

Continue reading Mac users join the League of Legends fray as open beta starts today

MassivelyMac users join the League of Legends fray as open beta starts today originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook LoL melts special snowflakes
Never let it be said that I don't listen to feedback. Recently, one of you readers suggested that I write about following the metagame, and I thought, "Hey, why not?" This was largely spawned by the Penny Arcade comic suggesting that somehow, a player should pick the champion he wants without regard for what his team needs.

Who actually believes that this is a good thing to do? League of Legends is a team game. Characters in LoL are designed with strengths and weaknesses. It is not only important but natural to pick characters that fit together. The natural evolution of this thought process is the metagame: a series of standard roles that characters can fill on a team. I've talked about meta before, and you guys seem to have differing opinions than I do. "Meta is for the sheep," you say. I don't think that picking the right man for the job makes you a sheep. I think of it more like running with the pack rather than being a lone wolf.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: LoL melts special snowflakes

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: LoL melts special snowflakes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Punishing common LoL laning mistakes
This week in the Summoner's Guidebook, we're getting back to the basics of League of Legends. Laning tactics are an incredibly broad topic, and they're also a springboard to developing good teamfighting skills. When you can take your narrow laning focus into a teamfight and think broadly about a situation, you'll know that you've really made a big leap in skill.

Although the header suggests we're talking about mistakes, this week's column is largely on the topic of counting cooldowns. We've already talked a bit about positioning mistakes, so the only option left on the agenda is timing mistakes. By the time you're finished reading today, you should have a good grasp on how to make an opponent waste a useful skill and take advantage of that skill's cooldown to punish him.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Punishing common LoL laning mistakes

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Punishing common LoL laning mistakes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Our least favorite LoL champions
Everyone has preferences. We're naturally attracted to the aesthetics of certain characters, or perhaps we really like a character's gameplay or even his voice actor. For instance, everyone knows that I really like Poppy, but I'm attracted to a lot of other characters. I tend to like the "mature" seductive women like Ahri, Nidalee, or Zyra, for instance. I also really love Jax and his overconfident fighter attitude (plus "Pizza the Champ" jokes), and I really love Udyr and Sona's stance mechanics. Everyone loves Riven, too; the combination of a shy, talented warrior woman with really cool, combo-oriented gameplay tends to make her a favorite of many summoners.

League of Legends is a big game and has a lot of characters, though. Not all characters are equally loved. This week, we're going to look at some of the champions I personally can't stand, generally because I hate fighting against them.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Our least favorite LoL champions

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Our least favorite LoL champions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Winning LoL games takes good decisions
Decision-making is a broad topic, so I am a bit hesitant to cover it directly. It's the little things that contribute to victory in League of Legends, and decision-making is not a little thing. It's a big topic with a lot of ground to cover. As I've said many times in the past, experience is the best teacher, and I can only tell you what to look for.

However, I wanted to bring the column back around to talking about what it takes to step up your game. By now, you've heard me talk at length about mechanical things -- things like last-hitting or aiming skillshots that you can sit down and practice. I've talked more on narrow things like how to make a good team composition or execute ganks. Now I'm going to begin to put everything together and talk about what things you should think about before you click to move on the minimap, place a ward, or ping your team to go for dragon. Good decisions win LoL games, and whether you're a pro or an amateur, you can improve on the choices you make.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Winning LoL games takes good decisions

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Winning LoL games takes good decisions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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League of Legends kicks off third season of esports
League of Legends is about ready to begin its third season of the League Championship Series, and this time Riot Games is bringing a few interesting changes to the field. Season 3 goes live on February 7th for North America and Europe and features four-days-per-week of streamed e-sports as teams battle to become the best -- and bring home the dough.

For Season 3, Riot is fiddling with the structure to make a new league ranking system that should offer a "greater sense of progression." Players will battle it out in six tiers of similarly matched teams until the cream rises to the top. To help all players understand the changes, Riot's provided a handy infographic and FAQ covering the pertinent points.

There's also a goofy promo video of players running around an empty stadium in slow-motion, and you know you want to see that. It's after the jump. Thank us later.

Continue reading League of Legends kicks off third season of e-sports

MassivelyLeague of Legends kicks off third season of e-sports originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook A year of summoning Guidebooks
It feels sort of strange to be writing the one year anniversary of the Summoner's Guidebook. On the one hand, it feels like yesterday since Shawn asked me to do more MOBA coverage and I pitched the idea of a League of Legends column to him. On the other hand, it feels like I've been writing about League for ages. I've grown tremendously as a player; from a guy who stomps pubbies in low-Elo games to a guy who gets stomped by experts in high-Elo games. I have no illusions about going pro, but I've made a lot of progress up the skill ladder.

I don't chalk up this advancement to chance or aptitude. I know I didn't get here on my own. I have you guys to thank -- faithful readers who have read my column, either silently or vocally in the comments, who force performance upon me. I can't just be a hypocrite and tell you to practice a skill. I have to practice what I preach! When my authority in this column falls on my ability to execute on the battlefield, I need to step up my game. This week's Guidebook is my love letter to all of you.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: A year of summoning Guidebooks

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: A year of summoning Guidebooks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycompetitiondominiondominion-strategyduo-queuef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgankgankinghigh-elokassadinlast-hittingleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-dominionlollol-world-championshipslow-elomid-lanemlg-pro-circuitmobaopinionpoppypracticepro-gamerpro-gamingriotriot-gamesself-improvementsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 31 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends enforces 'zero tolerance' policy on test server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/league-of-legends-enforces-zero-tolerance-policy-on-test-serve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/league-of-legends-enforces-zero-tolerance-policy-on-test-serve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/league-of-legends-enforces-zero-tolerance-policy-on-test-serve/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

League of Legends states 'zero tolerance for toxicity' for test server
Riot Games is cracking down hard on noxious player attitudes and actions on League of Legends' public beta environment (PBE) server. The studio admits that it has not done enough to enforce player behavior guidelines on the server. Riot also says that this ends now.

"Our take-away message today is quite simple," the studio posted. "The PBE has zero tolerance for toxicity, and change is coming."

The studio says that the PBE is a premium server that should function under higher standards, and as such the devs are working on ways above and beyond the norm to enforce and improve player behaviors as well as hold players accountable for their actions. One of the new features is an automatic system that will deliver bans to so-called toxic players, starting with 167 such bans today.

MassivelyLeague of Legends enforces 'zero tolerance' policy on test server originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook The perfect LoL gank
We've talked a lot about teamfighting lately, but that's not the only kind of engagement in League of Legends. In truth, a large number of kills in most non-professional games occur long before teams ever group up to take an objective. Even in a teamfight-focused gametype like Dominion, smaller skirmishes are frequent. The most successful skirmishes are those where one team outnumbers the other. In cases where the numbers advantage is only apparent after it's already too late, it's called a gank.

Ganking is a critical part of LoL. You can put an enemy team out of commission long before the midgame starts by having many successful ganks. While it's common in Summoner's Rift to have the jungler be the ganking linchpin of a team, ganking is not confined to junglers. Roaming supports and mages are also quite effective, and in a gametype like Dominion, anyone who can approach undetected and deliver burst damage or CC can make an effective ganker. This week in the Summoner's Guidebook, we'll talk about setting up for ganks and some ways to make them pay off more effectively.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: The perfect LoL gank

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: The perfect LoL gank originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystal-scardominionf2pfeaturedfiorafree-to-playgankgankergankingjunglejunglerleagueleague-of-legendsleonalolmobaopinionrengarriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-crystal-scarthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 24 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Riot Games issues lifetime bans for League of Legends players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/riot-games-issues-lifetime-bans-for-league-of-legends-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/riot-games-issues-lifetime-bans-for-league-of-legends-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/riot-games-issues-lifetime-bans-for-league-of-legends-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yes, you were banned for awful behavior. We're all very sympathetic.
Riot Games has been trying its hardest to clean up some of the more toxic members of the League of Legends community by handing out year-long suspensions to some of the worst offenders. But sometimes it's not enough to have a time out. Khaled "StunnedandSlayed" Abusagr and Nicolaj "Veigodx" Jensen aren't banned from the game for a year -- they've been banned from the game and all tournaments forever, and any subsequent accounts they create will be immediately banned as well.

Simon "Rayt3ch" Näslund has also had his account banned and is barred from tournament participation for one year, but his future accounts will not be flagged as kill-on-sight. These bannings will force Team Solo Mebdi out of the qualifying rounds for the League of Legends championship, as the loss of the players pushes the team below the minimum necessary number of members. It's an aggressive step toward cleaning up the notoriously vile community, although it remains to be seen what the lasting impact will be from these bannings.

MassivelyRiot Games issues lifetime bans for League of Legends players originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banningbanningscode-of-conductcompetitive-gamingculturedotae-sportesportf2pfantasyfree-to-playleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-championshipslolmobapermanent-banriotriot-gamesrudnesssuspensionThu, 24 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mac client in testing now for League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/mac-client-in-testing-now-for-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/mac-client-in-testing-now-for-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/mac-client-in-testing-now-for-league-of-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Mac client in testing now for League of Legends
Although League of Legends sports a hefty player base, Mac users have been noticeably absent since the previous Apple-only beta shut down in September of 2011. Associate Producer Steve Mieczkowski has announced that a new Mac version is on its way. And once it goes live, both versions of the client will receive all content, features, and bug fixes simultaneously.

The Mac client is currently playable on the game's Public Beta Environment, and it will enter an open beta phase when developers are confident with the results from the PBE test. However, players needn't wait for the open beta to try it out; in fact, Mieczkowski encourages folks to download the PBE from the official site now and help by offering feedback and finding bugs.

MassivelyMac client in testing now for League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testbeta-testingdotae-sportesportf2pfantasyfree-to-playleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-maclollol-macmacmac-clientmac-versionmobariotriot-gamesSteve-MieczkowskiThu, 24 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Two more League of Legends players banned for jerkiness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/two-more-league-of-legends-players-banned-for-jerkiness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/two-more-league-of-legends-players-banned-for-jerkiness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/two-more-league-of-legends-players-banned-for-jerkiness/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

League of Legends - Jayce with the banhammer
Riot has banned two more League of Legends pros for excessively adolescent behavior. Last December the company sent Christian "IWillDominate" Rivera packing, and now Illyas "enVision" Hartsema and Damien "Linak" Lorthios are joining him in exile.

Both players will be banned from both this weekend's LCS Season 3 Qualifier and LCS play next year according to the ruling on Riot's forums. enVision has been reported in a whopping 29% of his matches, which PC Gamer says is six times more than the average EU LoL player. He has also been punished 18 times, including two account bans, throughout his LoL history.

Linak boasts a 20% report rate and, like enVision, has a peak harassment score in the worst .06% of all EU accounts.

MassivelyTwo more League of Legends players banned for jerkiness originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-behaviorbanbanhammerdamien-lorthiosdotae-sporte-sportsenvisionesportesportsf2pfantasyfree-to-playillyan-hartsemaleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-banlinaklollol-banmobariotriot-gamesMon, 21 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/the-summoners-guidebook-teamfight-positioning-wins-lol-matches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/the-summoners-guidebook-teamfight-positioning-wins-lol-matches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/the-summoners-guidebook-teamfight-positioning-wins-lol-matches/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches
Two weeks ago, I talked about zoning in League of Legends. One of you mentioned in the comments that I should focus more on teamfight positioning and less on laning, since there is more complexity in that. I agree, but there's a caveat.

It is extremely difficult to explain how to position properly in League of Legends. It is one of my greatest disappointments that I learned this skill purely through practice and experience. Positioning is a fluid thing; no guide can tell you exactly what you should do in the situations you find yourself in. Mistakes are the greatest teacher. I can do only so much.

However, it was a request, so I will do my best to convey my instincts on this. I had to play and watch a bunch of games just thinking about this to try and put my feelings into words. I hope it will help you out, if only a little bit.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-random-all-midaramclg-eudont-get-caughtf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgiving-matches-awayguideguidesleagueleague-of-legendslollol-world-championshipsmobaopinionout-of-positionpositioningriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteamfightteamfightingthe-summoners-guidebookworld-championshipsworld-elitezoningThu, 17 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends implementing new league system for Season 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/league-of-legends-implementing-new-league-system-for-season-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/league-of-legends-implementing-new-league-system-for-season-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/league-of-legends-implementing-new-league-system-for-season-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LoL infographic shows season 3 at a glance
Season 3 is on its way for League of Legends, and just like the previous seasons, players will be fighting for position in the ranked tournaments. However, this next round of ranked play comes with a twist: Riot Games is implementing a new league system. Why the change? To make competition even more compelling and play more meaningful for everyone.

Instead of just one single ladder for folks to climb, players will belong to a league within one of six different tiers based on their skill. Leagues will be comprised of up to 250 players broken into five divisions (except for the top Challenger tier). Players can rise and fall within the divisions and even work their way into a new league at the next tier.

The new system is detailed in the infographic after the cut; click the image to see the full-res version. And for even more details, check out the official FAQ.

Continue reading League of Legends implementing new league system for Season 3

MassivelyLeague of Legends implementing new league system for Season 3 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dotae-sportesportf2pfantasyfree-to-playinfographicleagueleague-of-legendsleague-playleagueslolmobariotriot-gamesWed, 16 Jan 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Cleaning up after your LoL messes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/the-summoners-guidebook-cleaning-up-after-your-lol-messes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/the-summoners-guidebook-cleaning-up-after-your-lol-messes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/the-summoners-guidebook-cleaning-up-after-your-lol-messes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Cleaning up after your LoL messes
Two weeks ago, we covered initiation in the Summoner's Guidebook, and last week we covered zoning. Those two elements comprise the early and middle parts of a teamfight, but if you want to win in League of Legends, you need to finish strong.

As a fight winds down, wounded players begin to disengage in order to lick their wounds. Some characters just want to pull out early to wait out cooldowns, while in other cases it's purely a matter of health. Sometimes a player will get zoned out of a fight so far that she cannot contribute meaningfully to the teamfight at large. At this point, tough decisions start to crop up. Do you split off and give chase, taking away a large chunk of health from your team to secure the kill? Or do you allow the enemy to get away, giving away potential gold and/or allowing the enemy team a chance to come back?

This decision is a non-question for a lot of players, but we should really be thinking about it when we are fighting. There are a lot of questions we should be asking ourselves before we drop out of a fight to chase, but all too often our eyes get filled with the sight of blood and everything else vanishes. I know you can do a little better than that.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Cleaning up after your LoL messes

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Cleaning up after your LoL messes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-playchasingchess-analogydecision-makingdont-chasedont-chase-shacodont-chase-singeddont-chase-teemof2pfeaturedfree-to-playgiving-chaseknight-threatens-queenleagueleague-of-legendslolmistakemobaopinionpvpriotriot-gamessmart-playsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 10 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Controlling space in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-summoners-guidebook-controlling-space-in-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-summoners-guidebook-controlling-space-in-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-summoners-guidebook-controlling-space-in-league-of-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Controlling space in League of Legends
Zoning is a concept that's been covered quite a bit. The concept of space control is something central to most competitive video games, and Shurelia already made an excellent video on zoning that is very specific to League of Legends.

While Shurelia's video is well worth the watch, there are some areas she didn't cover and a few things that could be explained in a little more depth. I would consider this more of an addendum to her excellent tutorial, and you should watch it before you continue on.

Controlling space effectively is incredibly powerful in League. Skillful use of zoning can lead to lots of free damage, and even if your opponent is good at avoiding you, zoning can allow you to last-hit in lane or win a teamfight. If you've ever wanted to drive your opponent completely out of the lane, continue on. We've got a lot of ground to cover.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Controlling space in League of Legends

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Controlling space in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dodging-skillshotsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playguideguidesleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionpractice-makes-perfectpracticingpunishing-mistakesriotriot-gamesskillshotspace-controlstutter-step-microsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookzoningThu, 03 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Teaming up to fight in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-summoners-guidebook-teaming-up-to-fight-in-league-of-legen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-summoners-guidebook-teaming-up-to-fight-in-league-of-legen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-summoners-guidebook-teaming-up-to-fight-in-league-of-legen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Teaming up to fight in League of Legends
Grouping up to fight enemies together is a concept that is old as history itself. Numerous treatises on group warfare have been written, ranging from small unit tactics to battle strategies involving hundreds of thousands or millions of combatants. A lot of the same principles of combat that are used in warfare are applicable to games and especially to team-based PvP games like League of Legends.

It might not be readily apparent how ideas like the mission of a Marine rifle team might apply to a five-player team in LoL, but there are more similarities than you think. The tools are different -- for example, games use different means to suppress the enemy than real soldiers -- but the tactics are surprisingly similar.

This week, we're going to cover the beginning of a fight. Starting a fight at an advantage is important element in victory, as the opening seconds of a battle matter the most. If you can leverage an advantage early on in a fight, you can snowball that advantage into a decisive win.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Teaming up to fight in League of Legends

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Teaming up to fight in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowd-controlf2pfeaturedfighting-togetherfree-to-playgroup-pvpinitiationleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamesstarting-fightssummoners-guidebookteam-fightteam-fightsteamfightteamfightingteamworkthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 27 Dec 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jukebox Heroes: Christmas music]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/jukebox-heroes-christmas-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/jukebox-heroes-christmas-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/jukebox-heroes-christmas-music/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes Christmas music
Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the staff at Jukebox Heroes! When it comes to the season, I have to admit that I'm a bit of a Christmas music junkie. Not nearly as bad as some I know, and I'm totally for a ban of hearing such music in public spaces before Thanksgiving and after New Year's Eve. I just love how it's so cheery and makes me feel warm in my tummy.

A couple of months ago when I realized that this column would fall on Christmas day, I entertained the notion of just featuring MMO Christmas music. That seemed a bit silly to me; there's no way that there could be more than a scarce handful of tunes, right?

It turns out that there's quite a bit, actually.

So whether you're celebrating, taking some time just to game, or bored out of your gourd, why not hit the jump and see how MMOs have contributed to the enormous library of Christmas music?

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Christmas music

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Christmas music originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playchristmaschristmas-2012christmas-musiccomposercomposersdotae-sportesportf2pfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifiesta-onlinefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xifree-to-playgame-musicgranado-espadaguild-wars-2gw2jukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettileagueleague-of-legendslolmaplestorymmo-jukeboxmmo-musicmobamusicncsoftnexonnexon-americanexon-koreaopinionphantasy-star-onlinepsoriotriot-gamessoundtracksoundtrackssquaresquare-enixsword-2sword-of-the-new-worldTue, 25 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances -- good or bad?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceblack-cleaverblackfire-torchcleaver-metaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playimbalanced-itemsitem-guideitemsleagueleague-of-legendslolmajor-league-gamingmlgmobaopinionpatchpatch-changespatchespvpriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteemoteemo-imbateemopocalypsethe-summoners-guidebookThu, 20 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends spotlights Vi, gets spotlighted by hacker]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/league-of-legends-spotlights-vi-gets-spotlighted-by-hacker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/league-of-legends-spotlights-vi-gets-spotlighted-by-hacker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/league-of-legends-spotlights-vi-gets-spotlighted-by-hacker/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Choose your flavor of punching.
Do you solve all of your problems via punching? Do you think that the core problem in your life isn't that you try to punch your way through problems but that you aren't punching hard enough? If so, the latest champion spotlighted by League of Legends might be right up your alley. As spotlighted in the video just past the break, Vi is a champion devoted solely to finding punch-related solutions to problems, with a variety of tricks for enduring damage, closing range, and generally punching her way through trouble.

Unfortunately for both Vi and Riot Games, less-punchable trouble may be on the horizon for the game. The unidentified hacker who recently broke into Heroes of Newerth has made statements indicating that League of Legends may be his next target, although how much of this is a genuine threat and how much is bravado remains to be seen. While this new video might inspire you to punch around a bit more in LoL, you may want to decouple any personal information from your account first.

Continue reading League of Legends spotlights Vi, gets spotlighted by hacker

MassivelyLeague of Legends spotlights Vi, gets spotlighted by hacker originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champion-spotlightdotae-sportesportf2pfantasyfree-to-playhackingleagueleague-of-legendslolmobapunchingriotriot-gamessecurityspotlightvivideovideosTue, 18 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST