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[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).

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Teaching ourselves LoL matchups

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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Not So Massively title image
Details of this year's $1,600,000 US Dota 2 world championship have been released ahead of next month's qualifiers for the remaining three competitor spots. Heroes of Newerth began gearing up for its own tournament at DreamHack Summer 2013 with details of a qualifier tournament to determine which teams will face off at the event. Team Stay Green may be in with a chance if it enters, as the group just took home $32,000 US following a decisive win in the HoNTour grand finals.

A new Diablo III exploit that allowed Witch Doctors to farm XP by repeatedly killing their pets was discovered this week and promptly hotfixed. Riot Games released spotlight videos for newly revamped League of Legends champions Trundle and Sejuani, and CLG pro gamer Peter "Doublelift" Peng discussed his challenging road to success and heartbreaking family issues in a fantastic short documentary for Machinima.

Turbine released details of two new Infinite Crisis champions this week with video spotlights on hulking brute Doomsday and the gadget-wielding Gaslight Batman. Russian success Prime World let press into the English language beta for a first look at its castle-building and MOBA style gameplay. Rise of Immortals geared up for the official launch of its Battle For Graxia game overhaul with the addition of a new reputation system. And Star Citizen developer Chris Roberts revealed that he's been holding off on accepting investor deals because of the success of the game's crowdfunding campaigns.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's latest exploit, and city-building with Prime World

MassivelyNot So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's latest exploit, and city-building with Prime World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:00:00 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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If you've been following the development of upcoming crowdfunded sci-fi sandbox Star Citizen with interest, Massively has a brand-new column you might enjoy. The Diablo III test realm hinted at upcoming boosts to life regeneration and the damage output of a few spells, but Blizzard also suggested that a nerf to the Wizard Archon Form might be on the way. Path of Exile started its second season of race events, with over 200 events to take part in and massive prizes to be won.

Third-person MOBA SMITE added the 34th god to its roster this week with acrobatic assassin Ne Zha entering the fray, and Guardians of Middle-Earth released new DLC character Kili the Dwarf. Rise of Immortals added support for game replays and introduced and interesting new White Knight feature that lets players take over from characters who have disconnected or quit in the middle of a game.

Heroes of Newerth announced a huge upcoming balance patch that may finally get rid of the paid-for early hero access and promises to rebalance much of the game's expansive roster of characters. Dota 2's streamlined abuse report update backfired when players discovered they could use the report feature itself to abuse other players. And Firefall may finally be edging toward release with the announcement of a date for the start of open beta.

Continue reading Not So Massively: New Star Citizen column, Path of Exile Season Two, and MOBA news

MassivelyNot So Massively: New Star Citizen column, Path of Exile Season Two, and MOBA news originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:00:00 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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Patch 1.0.8 was released to the Diablo III public test realm this week, adding some big multiplayer upgrades and fixing quality of life issues with the Wizard class, crafting and the auction house. Path of Exile published its first series of articles in a new Development Manifesto forum looking into the thought process behind upcoming game changes and features. And sci-fi sandbox Star Citizen tackled the age-old problem of letting players have unique names without breaking immersion.

The European Dota 2 servers experienced heavy disruption this week as what appears to be a DDoS attack interfered with the DreamHack Invitationals and the G-1 qualifier tournament. A research firm also claimed that the game had recently passed giant of League of Legends in peak concurrent users despite publicly released statistics to the contrary.

Following on from its huge success in Russia, castle-building MOBA Prime World officially entered its English-language closed beta this week. Newly announced DC Comics MOBA Infinite Crisis released a champion profile video on new hero Green Lantern, and Heroes of Newerth published a classic hero spotlight on fan-favourite Devourer.

Continue reading Not So Massively: D3's patch 1.0.8, Dota 2 DDoS, and Prime World's closed beta

MassivelyNot So Massively: D3's patch 1.0.8, Dota 2 DDoS, and Prime World's closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:00:00 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champion-rebalancechampion-reworkf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreljordkarmaleagueleague-of-legendslollore-changesmobaopinionrebalancereworkriotriot-gamessejuanisummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktrundletrundle-in-the-jungleThu, 11 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Research firm says Dota 2 tops League of Legends [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/research-firm-says-dota-2-tops-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/research-firm-says-dota-2-tops-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/research-firm-says-dota-2-tops-league-of-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

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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It seems as if everyone is jumping on the MOBA bandwagon lately and trying to cut a slice of the action for himself. Creative Assembly announced that the next game in the Total War series will be a MOBA with RTS elements named Total War: Arena. MMO developer Turbine has also thrown its hat in the ring, teaming up with Warner Bros. and DC comics to develop a MOBA based on the Infinite Crisis DC storyline.

League of Legends continued its plans to revamp old characters with overhauls to Sejuani and Trundle. Developers also revealed upcoming Ice Witch champion Lissandra, a crowd-controlling mage who can cast some of her spells mana-free. Guardians of Middle-Earth finally released Frodo Baggins as a DLC character, and Heroes of Newerth announced that the $60,000 grand final of HonTour Season One will take place later this month in Las Vegas.

In a new Diablo III developer journal, Blizzard discussed its efforts to get players into multiplayer and public games, including some gameplay improvements and a new matchmaking tag system. Path of Exile's Patch 0.10.5 went live today, adding three powerful new support gems, four new unique items, and several balance changes and bug-fixes. And Torchlight II gave modders a huge gift this week by releasing its in-house development tools to the public and officially adding Steam Workshop support to the game.

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MassivelyNot So Massively: Jumping on the MOBA bandwagon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I'm sure somebody thinks that's neat.
Do you like eSports? Blizzard Entertainment clearly does, as the company has just purchased the technology and assets of IGN Pro League. Several employees came along with the acquisition, including former IPL general manager David Ting. The hard assets will be used to promote various events centering around Blizzard's online games, while the staff members are joining Blizzard's internal eSports teams according to initial reports.

Needless to say, this marks the end of IPL's competitive gaming coverage, which has in the past included games such as League of Legends and StarCraft II. The brand does not go with these employees or assets, meaning that last weekend's $100,000 Shootmania launch event was the final broadcast for the IPL. It remains to be seen what will be launched from the expanded Blizzard team, but representatives from the company were quite clear in stating that this is a move meant to promote the company's online and eSports presence.

MassivelyIGN Pro League technology purchased by Blizzard originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscompetitive-gamingesportsign-pro-leagueiplleague-of-legendslegallolmmo-industrysc2sciistarcraft-2starcraft-iiMon, 08 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Dealing with emotional stress in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/the-summoners-guidebook-dealing-with-emotional-stress-in-leagu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/the-summoners-guidebook-dealing-with-emotional-stress-in-leagu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/the-summoners-guidebook-dealing-with-emotional-stress-in-leagu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

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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It's been a huge week for MOBAs, with several new characters being released and one game closing its doors for good. League of Legends finally revamped underused champion Karma and released new character Zac, a strange green blob who drops parts of himself all over the battlefield and can even revive after death. Dota 2 released classic hero Bristleback, a spined boar who slows enemies with a disgusting snot attack and slowly peppers them with spiked quills.

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

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

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

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

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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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A demo of Diablo III running on the PS3 was shown at PAX East 2013 this week, and developers confirmed that the game is not necessarily exclusive to Sony. Many PC players have been enraged by the demo, which showed improved loot and singleplayer features developers had previously said were not possible. Red 5 Studios was also at PAX this week to reveal its ambitious plans for a gaming TV channel. The studio plans to expand its gaming video channel Stage 5 with several new high-quality shows about indie games, cosplay, and gaming tropes. Path of Exile also released information on three completely overpowered new support gems currently in alpha testing for its upcoming Patch 0.10.5.

In MOBA news, League of Legends officially launched in Italy this week with a huge launch ceremony in Rome. Several professional players were unrelatedly banned for boosting other players' stats artificially, and one team was given its final warning for using a DDoS attack during a match. Heroes of Newerth received new melee strength hero Prisoner 945, and Guardians of Middle-Earth released a free map update along with a purchasable spider character DLC. Upcoming MOBA SMITE was given a loose launch window of summer 2013, and Russian MOBA Prime World took a big step toward European and US launches with the translation of much of its Russian website into English.

Continue reading Not So Massively: PAX East 2013, D3 on PS3, and Firefall's TV channel

MassivelyNot So Massively: PAX East 2013, D3 on PS3, and Firefall's TV channel originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:00:00 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?

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' hardest choices

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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Not So Massively title image
Doubts were cast on SimCity's always-online requirement this week when a player managed to hack the game into playing completely offline despite developers saying it wouldn't be possible. Maxis General Manager Lucy Bradshaw also caught a lot of flack from gamers this week for claiming that the game was in many ways an MMO. Petroglyph's Victory Kickstarter that we announced last week has now been cancelled, making the future of the game uncertain.

League of Legends revealed its plans to finally update two-year-old champion Karma and release new champion Zac, who is literally a pile of green goop. Guardians of Middle-Earth published iconic character Saruman as a new piece of DLC, and SMITE added new god Aphrodite, who heals and supports her teammates with hugs and kisses.

In addition to fixing some major bugs, Diablo III's recent patch 1.07a was shown to have nerfed many popular Wizard builds, including critical mass Energy Twister and Meteor builds. Path of Exile's latest patch added a new Cyclone skill that's reminiscent of the Diablo II Whirlwind skill and introduced three fun new game types for this season's upcoming race events.

Continue reading Not So Massively: SimCity is not an MMO

MassivelyNot So Massively: SimCity is not an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:00:00 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concurrencyconcurrency-recorddotae-sportesportf2pfantasyfive-millionfree-to-playleagueleague-of-legendslolmobariotriot-gamesMon, 18 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Staging the perfect comeback in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/the-summoners-guidebook-staging-the-perfect-comeback-in-league/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/the-summoners-guidebook-staging-the-perfect-comeback-in-league/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/the-summoners-guidebook-staging-the-perfect-comeback-in-league/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Staging the perfect comeback in League of Legends

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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League of Legends title image
The MOBA genre has exploded in recent years, with global giant League of Legends becoming the most actively played video game in the world and competitive tournaments getting more viewers than some televised sports. Today's MOBAs appeal to casual and competitive gamers alike, but until recently very few had crossed the console barrier. Released on PS3 and XBox 360 last December, Guardians of Middle-Earth took traditional DotA gameplay and made the quite experimental leap onto consoles.

I'm not much of a console gamer (you can take my mouse and keyboard away when you pry them from my cold, dead hands), but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see how Guardians of Middle-Earth stacks up against its PC-based counterparts. Monolith Studios has done great things in adapting MOBA gameplay to a console control scheme and audience, and the core game really is a lot of fun to play. But in charging an initial purchase price for a game that relies on having a large community, publisher Warner Bros. may have accidentally consigned Guardians to the scrapheap.

In this hands-on opinion piece, I explore Guardians of Middle-Earth and ask why it's already a ghost town just three months after launch.

Continue reading Guardians of Middle-Earth: A fun game doomed by its business model

MassivelyGuardians of Middle-Earth: A fun game doomed by its business model originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fresh from its work on End of Nations, developer Petroglyph launched a Kickstarter campaign this week for its own online RTS Victory. The campaign hit $19,574 in the first five days but has a long way to go to hit its $700,000 target. SimCity's always-online DRM backfired spectacularly as launch server capacity and stability issues left thousands unable to play what they thought of as a largely singleplayer game.

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

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

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

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

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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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfeaturedfree-to-playgamejunglejunglingleagueleague-of-legendslolmatchmatch-reportmobaopinionriotriot-gamesstorytimesummoners-guidebookteamworkthe-summoners-guidebookwe-just-won-a-teamfightThu, 07 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Hartsman pontificates on the future of MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/scott-hartsman-pontificates-on-the-future-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/scott-hartsman-pontificates-on-the-future-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/scott-hartsman-pontificates-on-the-future-of-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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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It's been a huge week for MOBAs, with the release of several new characters, a ton of balance changes, and even a game closing down for good. League of Legends announced that it will start officially supporting Mac and released a new Smart Ping system designed to help players work together as a team despite language barriers. SMITE showed off its new crowd-controlling water god, Poseidon, and console MOBA Guardians of Middle-Earth released a new Survival game mode DLC.

We heard the unfortunate news that Wrath of Heroes will be closing its doors at the end of the month, and it's not the only game going out of business. Online FPS Bullet Run, formerly known as Hedone, is due to shut down on Friday, March 8th, in a big final event. It's not all doom and gloom, though, as Dota 2 has hit another impressive milestone, passing 300,000 peak concurrent players. The first season of Heroes of Newerth's HoN Tour league is soon to draw to a close, and developers are planning a huge balance patch before the next season kicks off.

Blizzard enraged Diablo III fans this week with the announcement that the console version will not feature the controversial always-online DRM and can be played offline. Path of Exile detailed its next open beta patch, which is due to introduce a new fire skill, a 3v3 dueling arena, and significant Duelist class buffs. Online FPS Firefall produced a new trailer this week showing off its flight gameplay amidst criticism from fans over its lack of beta content. Finally, sci-fi sandbox Star Citizen gave fans a look behind the curtain of game development in its biggest development update video yet.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III's console constroversy and Wrath of Heroes' shutdown

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III's console constroversy and Wrath of Heroes' shutdown originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:00:00 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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Blizzard revealed this week that Diablo III will be coming to both the PlayStation 3 and Sony's new PlayStation 4 console and will be shown off at PAX. Torchlight II developer Runic Games announced that the game will soon be localised to Japanese and Chinese for its upcoming release in Asia; a free DLC is on the way with three new Asian-themed pets. Path of Exile revealed the schedule for its first full season of ladder-style race events and announced new account security options along with its new policy to never restore items from hacked accounts.

League of Legends unveiled its new champion duo, Quinn and Valor, a dynamic pair of characters that work together as a single champion to dominate teamfights. Heroes of Newerth revealed its own new hero with a video spotlight on Saloman, a melee support hero who gains power from movement and can heal and shield his allies.

Dota 2 added a new Hero Build feature to its beta this week, giving players access to community-produced skill and item builds for all heroes. Console MOBA Guardians of Middle-Earth showed off its new goblin DLC character Snaga, and online FPS Blacklight: Retribution detailed its upcoming Onslaught expansion, which comes with three new game modes.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Path of Exile events, Diablo III coming to PS4, and huge MOBA updates

MassivelyNot So Massively: Path of Exile events, Diablo III coming to PS4, and huge MOBA updates originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:00:00 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggressive-laningbaiting-skillshotsdodging-skillshotsf2pfeaturedfree-damagefree-to-playgeometrylane-bullylaningleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionperpendicular-movementpunishing-mistakesriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebooksummoners-riftthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 21 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III launches patch 1.0.7, Path of Exile gets new content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/18/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-launches-patch-1-0-7-path-of-exile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/18/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-launches-patch-1-0-7-path-of-exile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/18/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-launches-patch-1-0-7-path-of-exile/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Path of Exile released several patches this week, adding new map types and fixing a number of bugs. Developers also revealed that the schedule for upcoming open beta content additions will begin with the next patch. Diablo III released patch 1.0.7 this week, adding a new dueling mechanic to the game and a brand-new endgame farming task based around collecting Demonic Essence to craft powerful account-bound gear. The patch also included some much-needed buffs for popular Wizard and Monk abilities.

SMITE revealed its new ranged crowd-control god Neith this week; she manipulates invisible magical weaves to empower her attacks. And Dota 2 released classic hero Tusk, who can roll himself and his team into a giant snowball of death. League of Legends announced a series of buffs for Nasus, Akali, and Riven in a new Patch Preview video, in addition to changes to items with the cooldown reduction stat.

Heroes of Newerth's patch 3.0.2 fixed an exploit with the Insanitarius item, while competitive team Trademark eSports secured its fourth win in the Diamond division of the HoN Tour league. Finally, Star Citizen continued to break gaming crowdfunding records this week as its total funds raised passed the $8,000,000 US mark.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III launches patch 1.0.7, Path of Exile gets new content

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III launches patch 1.0.7, Path of Exile gets new content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disliked-characterdravenf2pfeaturedfizzfree-to-playgarenhatejaycekatarinaleagueleague-of-legendsleast-favorite-characterlolmobanamiopinionriotriot-gamesshacosummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktryndamerevarusThu, 14 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Path of Exile server upgrades, Dota 2 broadcasters turn to crowdfunding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/not-so-massively-path-of-exile-server-upgrades-dota-2-broadcas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/not-so-massively-path-of-exile-server-upgrades-dota-2-broadcas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/not-so-massively-path-of-exile-server-upgrades-dota-2-broadcas/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Path of Exile continued upgrading its servers to cope with the increasing load of new players following its open beta release, closing the servers for three hours this week to add several new database servers. Massively exclusively revealed Blacklight: Retribution's new Safehold and metro maps, and Firefall developer Red 5 Studios explained its development plans for the next quarter.

Rise of Immortals released a spotlight video on its new long-range mage immortal Undine, while Guardians of Middle-Earth showed off its latest two DLC characters Radagast the Brown Wizard and Glóin, father of Gimli.

League of Legends made some balance changes to its Honor system, which rewards players for being nice to each other. Riot also talked to some of Season 3's newest competitive players about what being a professional gamer means to them. Dota 2 finally got its long-awaited team matchmaking system this week, and community broadcaster Beyond The Summit launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for full-time tournament broadcasting.

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MassivelyNot So Massively: Path of Exile server upgrades, Dota 2 broadcasters turn to crowdfunding originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:00:00 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>decision-makingdecisionsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgankgankedgankergankinggood-decisionsits-shen-babyleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamesshensummoners-guidebookteamteam-playerteam-playingteamfightteamfightingthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 07 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Behind the scenes of FPS and MOBA development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/not-so-massively-behind-the-scenes-of-fps-and-moba-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/not-so-massively-behind-the-scenes-of-fps-and-moba-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/not-so-massively-behind-the-scenes-of-fps-and-moba-development/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Heroes of Newerth's Patch 3.0 was released this week, updating the game with new graphics and adding bots. The revamp is part of a move to capture gamers who are unfamiliar with the MOBA genre by lowering the barrier to entry. Upcoming MOBA Sins of a Dark Age detailed its own plans to revamp the MOBA genre with its new Realm Quest feature in a new development diary this week. Third-person MOBA SMITE continued beta development with the introduction of its new melee magical tank, Vulcan, the Smith of the Gods.

League of Legends officially started its third competitive season this week, complete with a new Championship Series website and live matches scheduled every week. Online FPS Blacklight: Retribution prepared for its upcoming competitive games with updates to the weapon recoil system, and Firefall announced plans to solve its PvP balance issues with standardised "regulation" PvP gear. We also got a look behind the scenes of upcoming co-op FPS Warframe, which lets players run along walls like ninjas.

Bloodline Champions showed more signs of reaching the end of its lifetime this week as developers shut down the game's Russian servers. Online FPS Bullet Run abruptly reached the end of its own life this week when Sony Online Entertainment announced the game will close its doors on March 8th. The announcement came as a surprise to many who weren't even aware of the game's release. Path of Exile's playerbase continued to grow this week, reaching a peak of over 70,000 players and causing some server stability problems.

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MassivelyNot So Massively: Behind the scenes of FPS and MOBA development originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:00:00 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.

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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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