Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Epic in scope: SWTOR's James Ohlen explains plans for the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/epic-in-scope-swtors-james-ohlen-explains-plans-for-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/epic-in-scope-swtors-james-ohlen-explains-plans-for-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/epic-in-scope-swtors-james-ohlen-explains-plans-for-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

James Ohlen
As the Star Wars: The Old Republic guild leaders lined up to get a taste of the Lost Island flashpoint, I was at BioWare studios getting my hands dirty with deeper PvE and PvP content as well as speaking with developers like Combat Designer Georg Zoeller, Lead Writer Daniel Erickson, Art Director Jeff Dobson, and Lead Designer Emmanuel Lusinchi. However, the best part was at the end of the day when I was able to speak one-on-one with Creative Director James Ohlen.

Ohlen touches nearly every aspect of the game's development. It was important to me to find out why this game is as popular as it is and what BioWare was going to do to retain its current playerbase. The first stop was the latest game update, which should hit test servers really soon.

Continue reading Epic in scope: SWTOR's James Ohlen explains plans for the future

MassivelyEpic in scope: SWTOR's James Ohlen explains plans for the future originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredaniel-ericksone-sportseaelectronic-artsemmanuel-lusinchiendgameendgame-contentesportsfeaturedgame-testinggeorg-zoellerinterviewinterviewsjames-ohlenjeff-dobsonlevel-50lucasartspublic-test-serverPvPsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.2Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Finally 50]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/hyperspace-beacon-finally-50/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/hyperspace-beacon-finally-50/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/hyperspace-beacon-finally-50/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Finally 50
I see you there -- you've made a name for yourself in Star Wars: The Old Republic, but where do you really fit within these wars? I know what you're thinking: What is this guy trying to sell? Stick with me for a moment; I'm not just a used-speeder salesman (speeders are way over-priced, by the way -- it's 570 thousand creds just for licensing, and the Empire's making a killing on that). I wanna talk to you about what you do after you conquer the galaxy

Of course, you've taken a bit of time to explore this wondrous universe. If you're a space explorer extraordinaire like I am, then you've danced with your share of Twi'leks on Nar Shaddaa. It's a good thing they have enough Twi'leks to balance out the Hutts, amirite? Hoth was cold, of course, but there's nothing like a war and a couple of Wampa battles to warm the blood. And what's up with the Voss? People who wear such funky make-up shouldn't be that stuffy. Still, it does make me think: How many Voss can fit in a speeder?

The galaxy is yours, and you're now a Darth or a Moff or something. Do you sit back and twiddle your thumbs? Of course not! A new game begins. It's a vastly different adventure than the one you just finished, but the features are still shiny.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Finally 50

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Finally 50 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-for-ilumbiowaredailieseaelectronic-artsendgamefeaturedflashpointshyperspace-beaconlevel-50lucasartsoperationsopinionraidssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 14 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you rush to endgame?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-rush-to-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-rush-to-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-rush-to-endgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

SWTOR screenshot
Welcome to the endgame... the endgame of 2011! We gamers love to say that MMOs are about the journey, not the destination, but that doesn't seem to stop us from zipping up the levels the instant a game or expansion launches. Hardcore players had hit level 50 in Star Wars: The Old Republic within just a few days of the pre-order early access, before the game had even landed on store shelves. In a game designed to be about telling and participating in a story, players have to be the firstest with the mostest -- the first to cap, the first to get achievements, the first to beat bosses, even the first to master tradeskills. The game doesn't reward you for stopping to smell the flowers, after all.

Of course, hardcore achiever players are often the first to start moping when they realize they've burned through months of content in a week -- and all their friends are still busy catching up anyway. What about you, Massively folks? Do you take your time, savoring all the sights and really drinking in the game on your first playthrough -- or do you rush to the lonely endgame?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you rush to endgame? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcappedendgamehardcorelaunchlauncheslevel-50levelinglevelsmax-levelopinionpowerlevelPowerLevelingrushstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgthe-daily-grindSat, 31 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community timing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-timing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-timing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-timing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Welcome to this week's installment of A Mild-Mannered Reporter, where we will not be talking about Going Rogue. Well, OK, that's a lie -- but we're not going to be doing our big analysis and in-depth look at the entire expansion. As of the time I'm writing these words, I've not actually even played the game. (This will have changed by the time you are reading the article, but that's the wonderful part about writing ahead. I'm sending messages to the future from the past!)

So while there are going to be several community threads for City of Heroes in this column, there will not be any of the biting commentary you might have hoped to see. You can at least check out my first impressions of the expansion, if you'd like -- which also isn't written as of the time that I'm writing this, but will be by the time you read it. (Editor's note: Eliot's first impressions of Going Rogue launched Tuesday.) You know what, just jump past the break already -- I'm giving myself a Lost headache thinking about all the time travel.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community timing

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community timing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-2city-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcoh-2covcoxfeaturedgoing-roguegrincarnateincarnate-systemissue-18levellevel-50level-capncsoftnostalgiaold-contentparagonparagon-studiostimeWed, 18 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AoC's April game director letter: roll a new level 50 in the next patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/aocs-april-game-director-letter-roll-a-new-level-50-in-the-nex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/aocs-april-game-director-letter-roll-a-new-level-50-in-the-nex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/aocs-april-game-director-letter-roll-a-new-level-50-in-the-nex/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Age of Conan's game director Craig Morrison has penned a 'state of the game' letter for April, primarily to discuss progress on the upcoming patch 1.05. Undoubtedly the biggest piece of information to come out of the letter is the news that players will be able to create a new character that starts at level 50 when the patch hits. There are, of course, a couple of caveats to this; the option is only available to players that have a character who is level 50 or higher, and it only works once. Players who reach level 50 for the first time after the patch will also get their chance to roll a new 50 of any class, but it sounds like it's a one-per-account offer, not per-character.

Morrison explained that the re-roll is being offered so that people can try out a new class with updated 1.05 feats and skills, without enduring the first 50 levels again. Some form of concession on feat re-training will also be given so that players can decide how to tackle the new options available to existing characters. Morrison leaves us with the hint that more news relating to character options will be revealed come May, around the time of AoC's first anniversary.

MassivelyAoC's April game director letter: roll a new level 50 in the next patch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocaoc-patch-1.05aoc-update-1.05craig-morrisonfuncomgame-directorinsta-levellevel-50re-rollThu, 30 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic announces a new dungeon, "Cyclops Stronghold"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/30/runes-of-magic-announces-a-new-dungeon-cyclops-stronghold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/30/runes-of-magic-announces-a-new-dungeon-cyclops-stronghold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/30/runes-of-magic-announces-a-new-dungeon-cyclops-stronghold/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Frogster Interactive's free-to-play title Runes of Magic has announced the brand new level 50 dungeon "Cyclops Stronghold," and a brand new addition of a new instanced cave system that leads into the new dungeon.

Runes of Magic is still in open beta, but certainly coming along nicely with its updates. The new dungeon centers around the cyclops King Uguda and his generals and assistants. One of the boss battles includes cyclops soldier trainer Instructor Boddosch, right as he's training some of the new cyclops recruits in the art of combat. Later battles include disrupting officers, fighting the generals, and challenging the extremely quick and strong cyclops king to an intense battle.

The usual rewards apply here, as the developers have promised that Uguda will be dropping some pretty impressive loot, as well as offering a strategic challenge to any level 50s interesting in engaging in the new content. Ten Ton Hammer has the press release, check it out.

MassivelyRunes of Magic announces a new dungeon, "Cyclops Stronghold" originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-patchcyclops-strongholddungeonfrogster-interactivelevel-50level-capopen-betarunes-of-magicFri, 30 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Celebrating 50 with the Carnival]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/one-shots-celebrating-50-with-the-carnival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/one-shots-celebrating-50-with-the-carnival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/one-shots-celebrating-50-with-the-carnival/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Hitting 50 - the level cap in City of Heroes - for the first time is an imporant moment for any hero, just as hitting the level cap is in any MMO, really. Of course, unlike say, World of Warcraft, City of Heroes really doesn't change significantly at endgame - you just get to spend all that Influence on the max-level IO Enhancements. Today's One Shots shows off one of our readers, Tony P., hitting 50. He writes in: The shot was taken in a Carnival of Shadows radio mission. I was waiting for the level animation so I could take a screenie of reaching 50 on my first character. I must have been casting one of the archery AOEs at the time as I got this interesting shot of arrows and and the levelup animation combined. My character was in stealth which is why you can't see them much. Grats on 50, Tony!

Do you have a particularly cool shot of a casting animation, a Ding-shot, or just one of combat? We dig on those cranked-up spell effects. Just send it to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the game and location. Descriptions are, as always, welcome but not required. We'll post it out here for the world to see!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Celebrating 50 with the Carnival originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carnival-of-shadowscity-of-heroescohlevel-50level-capnc-norcalncsoftone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotstony-pFri, 23 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST