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[Lord of the Rings Online Spring Festival is live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/lord-of-the-rings-online-spring-festival-is-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/lord-of-the-rings-online-spring-festival-is-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/lord-of-the-rings-online-spring-festival-is-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Image
It's that time of year again in Middle-earth, as Turbine has blown the dust off Lord of the Rings Online's annual Spring Festival. A Casual Stroll to Mordor opines that this year's edition won't depart too much from years past, so you can expect to find the usual hedge maze, horse-racing, and Inn League shenanigans out in full force.

The site's annual festival guide isn't ready for prime time just yet, but you can check out the 2011 version while you wait for the update.

[Update: ACSTM's guide to the Spring Festival 2012]

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online Spring Festival is live originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfree-to-playin-game-eventslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-festivallotro-spring-festivalspring-festivalturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Paragon Market, CoH
When Lord of the Rings Online first went free-to-play, Turbine put quest zones on sale for a song, and I missed it. There's never been as good a sale since, and I regret being slow on the draw. So I vowed to start watching sales across the F2P games I frequent very carefully. Sparklepony for 10 bucks? Woot. City of Heroes character slots 50% off? Heck yes. It's become a game in and of itself, and sometimes I admit that I plunk down a little money for a sale on something in a game I've drifted away from, knowing I'll use it later (like Guild Wars' storage panels, which I delayed buying for several years until they were half off).

This method had definitely ensured that I save money on stuff I would have bought at full price had I lacked the patience and planning to play the cash-shop sale game. What about you guys? Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales for the stuff you want to buy, even if that means you must wait to have the latest and greatest power set or inventory slot? Or do you just let your whims dictate your purchases?

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 wait for MMO cash-shop sales? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcash-shopcash-shop-salecity-of-heroescohdaily-grindguild-warslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionpatiencepatience-is-a-virtuetdgthe-daily-grindMon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
You would think that growth and expansion is nothing but a good thing for MMOs -- after all, those are the hallmarks of the genre. But as these games get bigger, issues emerge as the developers add new zones, features, and systems. In short, maturing MMOs gravitate toward complexity, and this can have an adverse effect on the game as a whole.

The problem is that there is eventually too much a brand-new player has to absorb and master, not to mention the hassle of rolling alts and having to navigate all of that content once more. If developers don't stay on top of the situation, then the game starts to lose overall cohesion and becomes a befuddling mess.

With three expansions and numerous updates under its belt, Lord of the Rings Online is venturing deep into this territory. I have friends who are leveling up for the first time and finding themselves overwhelmed with everything that needs doing as well as all the systems that are not clearly explained. So today I want to play backseat developer and talk about five ways that LotRO should be streamlined for the good of all players, old and new.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3deed-logsdeedsdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiievendimf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgothic-fantasylegendary-itemslegendary-traitlegendary-traitslilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorebooklotromoriamultiplayeronline-multiplayeropinionrevampreworkroad-to-mordorroguelikerpgstatsstreamlinethe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtue-systemvirtueswarcraftwikiworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 19 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-perfect-ten-the-truth-about-lockboxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-perfect-ten-the-truth-about-lockboxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-perfect-ten-the-truth-about-lockboxes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
Call them lockboxes, lootboxes, super packs, gift packs, treasure boxes, mystic chests, or Chupacabra's lunchpails, but these virtual boxes of mystery, fame, and fortune are all the rage in MMOs these days. Few studios have resisted the siren's call of such easy money, much to the dismay of many-a-gamer.

The idea is that a game will dish out to players free locked treasure boxes that require purchased keys to open. The allure of the box's mystery prize is often too strong to resist, especially when there's the possibility of a huge reward inside. The result too often is strong buyer's remorse and studio glee.

There's been a lot of conversation around lockboxes here on Massively, so I wanted to dedicate this week's Perfect Ten to dissecting the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth of these items for you.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcasinoChupacabracity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgamblinggift-packsguild-wars-2gw2humorlockboxlockboxeslootboxlootboxeslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromystic-boxmystic-chestncsoftoddsopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwereal-money-tradingrmtroundupsci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosuper-packsuper-packssuperherosuperheroesthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtreasure-boxesturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World
Massively Speaking Episode 201 gets into all of your dirty little secrets -- not to mention Funcom's, as well! We're joined by Jef, who gives us the full scoop on The Secret World now that the NDA's come tumbling down. Will this be another Failcom or possibly a Fabulouscom? Only Jef knows, and he's highly resistant to torture and bribery.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
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Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrantbrian-greenbrian-psychchild-greenbrianna-roycebricksbrowserbrowser-basedddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineearthrisef2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomguild-wars-2gw2historicalhorrorhumorjustin-olivettilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromassively-speakingmastheadmasthead-studiosmythologynamastenamaste-entertainmentnamaste-incncsoftnew-englandopinionparadoxparadox-interactivepermadeathpgcplayer-generated-contentpodcastpodcastingpodcastspsychochildsalemsandboxsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedstorybricksthe-secret-worldtswturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtual-worldwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 201Massively.com Staff01:03:33podcasts<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online releases Update 7: Shades of the Past]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/lord-of-the-rings-online-releases-update-7-shades-of-the-past/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/lord-of-the-rings-online-releases-update-7-shades-of-the-past/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/lord-of-the-rings-online-releases-update-7-shades-of-the-past/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
Lord of the Rings Online's Update 7 is upon us, and it's established itself as taking a step forward... and a step back into the past. Featuring a new skirmish, a revamp of both Moria and the old Fornost instance, and an interesting addition to the legendary item system, Update 7 has a smattering of both endgame and mid-game content for most players to enjoy.

As always, it's worth combing through the notes for the smaller changes. Some of these include new and updated maps, friendlier Elves in Lothlorien who won't shoot you on sight, and Audacity lowering power costs in PvMP.

The official patch notes are up and the game will have the servers patched up by mid-morning. In the meantime, make sure to read up on what we think of the update's big selling points in our recent Road to Mordor column.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online releases Update 7: Shades of the Past originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfornostfree-to-playlegendary-itemslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriapatchpatch-notesshades-of-the-pastskirmishturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-7update-notesMon, 14 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Must MMO housing be open-world to be good?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ArcheAge
Whenever the Great MMO Housing debate rears its head, the "of course MMOs ought to have housing" players usually drown out the curmudgeons who lack decorating skills and prefer to live out of their banks and sleep on a bedroll on the public streets (you know who you are!). And then, inevitably, the housing fans turn on each other over which type of housing is best.

Some of us are resigned to the belief that, at best, themepark MMOs willing to take a stab at housing are forever going to implement the instanced variety a la EverQuest II and Lord of the Rings Online, so we may as well get used to it. But sandbox zealots (a term I'm intending affectionately) insist that housing must be open-world, that players should be able to walk up to their own unique spaces within a game and build their abodes from foundation to rooftop. Instanced housing, they say, is just pointless when other people can't easily see what you've created.

What do you think -- is MMO housing just a waste of dev resources if it isn't open-world?

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: Must MMO housing be open-world to be good? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iihousehousinginstanced-housinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopen-worldopen-world-housingopinionsandboxtdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkMon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: What Update 7 means for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-road-to-mordor-what-update-7-means-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-road-to-mordor-what-update-7-means-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-road-to-mordor-what-update-7-means-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
Without fail, the second I'm done writing this column for Massively, Turbine releases the big news of a major patch, and I have to wait a whole week to talk about it. In the case of Lord of the Rings Online's Update 7, I'm not that upset. I definitely was underwhelmed by it all initially, but now that I have had a whole week to digest it, read through the test server notes, and scope out the Moria dev diary that was posted, I feel like I'm in a much better position to talk about it.

So what does this game update mean for you? That's a good question, and it really depends on where you are in your leveling journey. New players won't be fazed by it whatsoever, but both mid-game and endgame adventurers are going to have some new (and reworked) content to devour. I am heartened that Turbine doesn't have tunnel-vision for the endgame and is still willing to go back and examine what does and doesn't work about its earlier content.

So let's walk through the major highlights of Update 7: Shades of the Past and give it the ol' Road to Mordor analysis, shall we?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: What Update 7 means for you

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: What Update 7 means for you originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfeaturedfornostfree-to-playinventorylegendary-itemlegendary-item-systemlegendary-itemslilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromoriaopinionroad-to-mordorsapienceshades-of-the-pastskirmishstar-lit-crystalstar-lit-crystalsStorm-on-Methedrasthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-7Sat, 12 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's Fornost 'joining the modern MMO world']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/lotros-fornost-joining-the-modern-mmo-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/lotros-fornost-joining-the-modern-mmo-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/lotros-fornost-joining-the-modern-mmo-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

LotRO
"Fornost was designed and built in a different era of MMO," Turbine's devs said about the newly revised dungeon. "It is time for Fornost to join the modern MMO world." With Fornost slated for a massive overhaul with Update 7, the team posted a developer diary to explain the history of the instance and its hopeful future.

The third instance ever created for Lord of the Rings Online will be chopped up from its current super-long state to four manageable dungeons. The devs said that it was designed from an EverQuest mindset of long dungeon crawls, but so much has changed over time and most players no longer have the time or effort to conquer it.

With Update 7, Fornost will turn into four element-themed six-person dungeons. Each of these dungeons should take well less than an hour to complete and scale from level 30 to 75 with two tiers of difficulty. The team's reworked positioning, bosses, and quests to reflect the upgraded experience. For those who might miss the old Fornost, the team says that playing all four instances back-to-back will replicate the grand tour that it used to be.

MassivelyLotRO's Fornost 'joining the modern MMO world' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-blogdev-diarydungeonf2pfantasyfornostfornost-revampfree-to-playinstancejoe-barrylord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroshades-of-the-pastturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-7Thu, 10 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Druids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

DDO
On Thursday, Turbine will take the wraps off of Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark and commence with the closed beta. It's a heady time for both the team and playerbase, as this 2007 title steps into the big leagues of expansion-holding MMOs. And because we know you hate waiting for all the goods, we joined Turbine on the test server for an advance look at some of the hottest features coming with June's launch.

On the phone with us was Senior Producer Eric Boyer, Community Specialist Amanda Grove, and Design Director Ian Currie. "We want to show players how big the expansion pack is and how much it'll be changing the game," Boyer began, telling us that levels one through 20 were merely "heroic" -- now it'll be time to make the move into epic territory.

From a look at the much-anticipated Druid and the previously vague Epic Destinies to a lightning tour of your first day in the Forgotten Realms, the team was out to convince us that Menace of the Underdark is fully worthy of the "expansion" moniker. How's it looking so far? Take a look for yourself!

Continue reading Druids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour

MassivelyDruids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amanda-grovebetacharacter-customizationddodnddrowdruiddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeberronepic-destiniesepic-destinyepic-destiny-systemeric-boyerEveningStarexpansionf2pfantasyfate-pointsforgotten-realmsfree-to-playhands-onian-currielevel-cap-increaselord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromenace-of-the-underdarkmoriapreviewthe-darkeningturbineturbine-entertainmenttwist-of-fateuiupdate-15wolf-packWed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online's Update 7 features new high-level skirmish]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/lord-of-the-rings-onlines-update-7-features-new-high-level-skir/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/lord-of-the-rings-onlines-update-7-features-new-high-level-skir/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/lord-of-the-rings-onlines-update-7-features-new-high-level-skir/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - Update 7 skirmish
Turbine's been pumping out a bunch of screenshots for its Dungeons and Dragons Online expansion lately, so it's only natural that Lord of the Rings Online gets equal treatment. While Update 7 isn't a full-blown expansion, it is a pretty significant content drop that is focused on revamping Moria and Fornost.

Today's gallery features a look at the update's new skirmish, which pits players against a sorceress named Gwyllion at the southern end of the Misty Mountains. The Storm on Methedras instance supports one to 12 players and is designed for levels 70 to 75.

[Source: Turbine press release]

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Core Gallery

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online's Update 7 features new high-level skirmish originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfree-to-playgwyllionlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-skirmishlotro-update-7skirmishskirmishesStorm-on-Methedrasturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 08 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do progression barriers annoy you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - Hobbit fishing (but only 10 dings per day!)
It's been several years since I played Lord of the Rings Online on a daily basis. For the most part, I'm loving my latest Middle-earth rediscovery tour. After the initial honeymoon phase wore off, though, I did re-encounter some of the things that irritate me about the game (in particular, Turbine's fondness for artificially limiting progression).

Now, I'm not a grinder at all, but on the rare occasions when I do want to put my nose to the proverbial stone and check some things off the list, there's nothing more frustrating than running up against the you-can't-advance-that-skill-any-further-today brick wall. This type of arbitrary limitation is somewhat common in LotRO, and whether we're talking about fishing or even the lengthy cool-downs on festival horse races, it rubs me the wrong way to have my gameplay directed in such a fashion.

What about you, Massively readers? Do progression barriers annoy you, or do you shrug it off and do something else?

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 progression barriers annoy you? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial-barriersdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playgrindgrindinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-deedslotro-fishingopinionprogression-barrierstdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 08 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Looking at the brighter Moria in Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/looking-at-the-brighter-moria-in-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/looking-at-the-brighter-moria-in-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/looking-at-the-brighter-moria-in-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
Does Lord of the Rings Online's Moria benefit from a brighter night-light? The folks over at A Casual Stroll to Mordor went on the test server to investigate just how different the underground zones look now that Turbine's gone back to give the area additional lighting effects.

The fansite examines four different locales on both the live and test server and took screenshots to document the changes. The Great Delving, Silvertine Lodes, The Waterworks, and Durin's Way are the stops on the tour, and out of all of them, Silvertine is the most noticeably brighter.

"While playing, I can say that I do feel like it's easier to see," Goldenstar writes. "I don't know if I would fall into 'it's too bright' category. It still feels like Moria to me."

A revamp to half of Moria is planned with Update 7. Head on over and check out the differences for yourself!

MassivelyLooking at the brighter Moria in Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcompare-and-contrastf2pfantasyfree-to-playlightinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriamoria-brighteningmoria-revampmoria-updatepatch-7shades-of-the-pastturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-7Mon, 07 May 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Seven player events you must attend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-road-to-mordor-seven-player-events-you-must-attend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-road-to-mordor-seven-player-events-you-must-attend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-road-to-mordor-seven-player-events-you-must-attend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
More than any other MMO I've played, Lord of the Rings Online seems to draw out player events like crazy. Maybe it's the setting, Tolkien's world-building, the renaissance fair outfits, or the disproportionately large RP crowd, but LotRO seems to be graced with far more of these kinds of player-driven initiatives than elsewhere.

As such, today I wanted to scout around the forums and official calendar to highlight a few of the many, many events that festoon this great game of ours. These are great to check out, particularly when you're a little bored with the same-old, same-old of questing, raiding, skirmishing, or PvMPing. The ingenuity and spirit of these events is often quite infectious, and I never regret going to one once I make the effort.

So check out seven great player events in LotRO, coming to a server near you!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Seven player events you must attend

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Seven player events you must attend originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ales-and-talesf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionplayer-driven-eventplayer-eventplayer-musicroad-to-mordorroleplayroleplayingrpthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentweatherstockweatherstock-2012weatherstock-ivSat, 05 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online explains Moria revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
Since the word came down recently that Turbine is revamping much of Lord of the Rings Online's Moria, players have been buzzing about the merits and scope of such a project. Content Developer Lauren Salk posted an article on the official site explaining the reasoning behind the decision as well as the specific changes involved.

Salk said that Turbine wanted to respond to player complaints about the difficulty and pace of Moria's leveling experience. She admits that the quests did not always lead to the best places and resulted in a frustrating stint underground instead of an amazing journey. Salk confessed that the zone even frustrated her mother, who never made it all the way through.

With Update 7, LotRO will update half of Moria, while the latter half will come later on down the road. In addition to a smoother quest flow, additional quests, and an easier difficulty level, Turbine's adding tasks for all to enjoy.

Travel through Moria will become more pleasant, as the lighting will be adjusted, additional stable routes added, monsters moved out of the major pathways, and a no-reputation goat made available from the start.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online explains Moria revamp originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengedev-blogdev-diarydev-postdifficulty-levelf2pfantasyfree-to-playlauren-salklord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriamoria-revampshades-of-the-pasttravelturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-7Fri, 04 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO Update 7 to add new skirmish, revamp old content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lotro-update-7-to-add-new-skirmish-revamp-old-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lotro-update-7-to-add-new-skirmish-revamp-old-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lotro-update-7-to-add-new-skirmish-revamp-old-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
Even a good anniversary celebration can't delay Turbine from delivering the content through snow, rain, and volcanic ash from Mount Doom. The team has posted an outline of Lord of the Rings Online's next content patch, Update 7, with word that it will go to the test server soon.

Update 7: Shades of the Past promises to add a new endgame skirmish called Storm on Methedras. The skirmish will be free for VIP players and tasks groups of one to 12 players with taking on Saruman's ally, Gwyllion, in the Misty Mountains.

The update will also contain two huge renovations to existing content. Turbine will be divvying up the massive Fornost dungeon into four scalable instances accessible from levels 30 on up. More importantly, the team is renovating great parts of Moria with better graphics and a smoother quest flow.

MassivelyLotRO Update 7 to add new skirmish, revamp old content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-patchcontent-updatef2pfantasyfornostfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriarevampshades-of-the-pastskirmishStorm-on-Methedrasturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-7Fri, 04 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Is LotRO's questing system over the hill?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-road-to-mordor-is-lotros-questing-system-over-the-hill/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-road-to-mordor-is-lotros-questing-system-over-the-hill/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-road-to-mordor-is-lotros-questing-system-over-the-hill/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
There's a good chance you're not reading this column right now but instead are fully immersed in the weekend beta for Guild Wars 2: Guild Harder. That's OK. I won't hold it against you -- I may even be playing it as well. Oh, those ArenaNet folks. They make such lofty promises, don't they? They're going to rewrite MMOs as we know them and show us once and for all that we've been playing with Tinker Toys when we could have fully functional jetpacks and whatnot.

I don't harbor any ill will against Guild Wars 2; in fact, I'm quite looking forward to it. But as everyone's focused on the game's excising of traditional questing as popularized by World of Warcraft, I thought it would be worth examining just how dated Lord of the Rings Online's questing system has become, if at all.

In an era of dynamic events, public quests, full voice-over, and other techniques designed to get us away from the text box questing model, will LotRO hold its ground against these fads or is it truly becoming a relic of the past? Let's dig in!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Is LotRO's questing system over the hill?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Is LotRO's questing system over the hill? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmenteaelectronic-artsepic-questsepic-storyepic-storylinef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguild-wars-2gw2jrr-tolkienlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsncsoftopinionquestquestingquesting-systemriders-of-rohanriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararoad-to-mordorsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republicthe-road-to-mordortolkientortriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 28 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do MMO studios owe us item restoration?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SHINIES!
MMOs vary widely in their account and item restoration policies. In some games, like some of NCsoft's offerings, if you're hacked or you lose access to your account because your memory is toast, it's game over unless you happen to have your original account key. In games like Lord of the Rings Online, you're not guaranteed full reimbursement of your money or gear if a hacker strips you naked and leaves you dancing on a mailbox. BioWare won't refund guild bank items stolen by rogue guildies, either.

In World of Warcraft, you'll almost always get your account back if you're hacked or you accidentally delete your favorite hat, but it might take an agonizingly long time. This week, Blizzard launched a new item restoration service that attempts to solve the second problem by simplifying the process of reclaiming lost trinkets (though not items stolen by hackers). I was surprised that Blizzard considers this a problem worthy of automation, but maybe it's more common than I thought.

So now I'm wondering whether companies are actually obligated to restore items we've lost through our own goof-ups. Do you consider this a vital service of a support team, and would you quit a game if your items were truly gone for good?

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 MMO studios owe us item restoration? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-restorationBlizzardbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinditemitem-restorationitemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftopinionreimbursementrestorationtdgthe-daily-grindturbineWorld-of-WarcraftwowSat, 28 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine extends LotRO anniversary festival]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/turbine-extends-lotro-anniversary-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/turbine-extends-lotro-anniversary-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/turbine-extends-lotro-anniversary-festival/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - fireworks horse
Still working feverishly on your Eriador Cartographile title? Take heart (and take a breather) because Turbine has just announced that it is extending Lord of the Rings Online's fifth anniversary festival.

This weekend was originally slated to mark the end of beer brawling and mass firework displays, but now the tomfoolery will continue through May 9th. If you're a festival newb and in need of some direction, A Casual Stroll to Mordor has a pretty extensive guide to point you on your way. You might also want to check out the LotRO wiki for a complete list of items attainable via the various festival quests and activities.

MassivelyTurbine extends LotRO anniversary festival originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryf2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-5th-anniversarylotro-anniversary-festivallotro-festival-extendedlotro-fifth-anniversaryturbineturbine-entertainmentFri, 27 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/why-i-play-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/why-i-play-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/why-i-play-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - Oatbarton archway
It's confession time, folks. I change MMOs like most people change socks, so while many of my colleagues write about their long-term MMO love and possibly a backup game or two in this column, I'm more inclined to write about four different titles in as many weeks. In fact, by the time you finish reading this, I may well have moved on to something else.

That's OK, though, and that's one of the great things about the modern MMO space: There are just so damn many games that there's really no excuse for ever getting bored. And this week's infatuation is Lord of the Rings Online.

Continue reading Why I Play: Lord of the Rings Online

MassivelyWhy I Play: Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-inn-leaguelotro-music-systemmassively-metametamiddle-earthmmo-musicmusicmusic-systemnon-combatnon-combat-gameplaynostalgiaop-edopinionplayer-generated-contentroast-muttontolkienturbineturbine-entertainmentuser-generated-contentwhy-i-playwhy-i-play-lotroWed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate Lord of the Rings Online's 5th Anniversary with free stuff from Massively!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/celebrate-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-5th-anniversary-with-free-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/celebrate-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-5th-anniversary-with-free-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/celebrate-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-5th-anniversary-with-free-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard
Exactly five years ago today, Lord of the Rings Online launched to eager MMO fans, bringing J.R.R. Tolkien's world to life in a persistent land for the first time in a video game. The game has enjoyed consistent success since then, keeping the MMO world on its toes with three expansion packs and a move to free-to-play that earned the game several awards and more success than most MMOs are able to enjoy long after launch.

To help celebrate this success after five years, Turbine has teamed up with Massively to offer special prizes for three lucky winners: 5,000 Turbine Points, 10,000 Turbine Points, and a Lifetime account!

To be eligible, you must reside in North America (these are for NA accounts) and be over 18 years of age. If that checks out, just head on over to our contest post in our forums and leave a reply to the thread letting us know what your favorite moment was from the last five years of LotRO. Be sure to get your responses in before 8 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 27th. We'll then randomly select the first-, second-, and third-place winners and notify them by the end of the day Friday.

Also be sure to check out the 5th anniversary video just after the cut below. Best of luck to everyone!

CONTEST FAQ OFFICIAL RULES

Continue reading Celebrate Lord of the Rings Online's 5th Anniversary with free stuff from Massively!

MassivelyCelebrate Lord of the Rings Online's 5th Anniversary with free stuff from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lord of the Rings Online - map of the Shire
Lord of the Rings Online's anniversary festival has another six days to go, which just might be enough time for me to grind out the tokens necessary to complete my map collection (and the spiffy Eriador Cartographile title that comes with it).

I say "grind" here pretty loosely, as the horse-races, fireworks displays, and dwarven beer-brawling are highly enjoyable even though I've done them dozens of times each at this point.

What about you, dear readers? What's your tolerance when it comes to grinding for fluff items? Do you do it, and what's the best (or worst) such grind you've ever experienced?

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 grind for fluff items? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindf2pfantasyflufffluff-itemsfree-to-playgrindlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-anniversaryopiniontdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 24 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Happy fifth anniversary, LotRO!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-road-to-mordor-happy-fifth-anniversary-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-road-to-mordor-happy-fifth-anniversary-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-road-to-mordor-happy-fifth-anniversary-lotro/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Image
Great Ghost Bear, has it really been five years? Why... it must have been, although it truly seems like yesterday that a magazine article caught my eye about an upcoming game based on Lord of the Rings. Just yesterday it was, when I called my brother-in-law to tell him that he could drop his World of Warcraft subscription because something better was on the horizon. It wasn't but a day ago that we Founders jumped into the head-start and power-leveled all the way to 15.

Let me tell you, those Tuckborough Library raids were brutal back then!

So it has indeed been five years since Lord of the Rings Online released, a half-decade of Middle-earth stomping, Brandywine swimming, and Weathertop free-climbing. I can't even believe that this is the third such anniversary that I've covered for Massively; boy, how the time flies.

Perhaps to make up for last year's lackluster and flawed anniversary celebration, Turbine's pulled out all the stops to make LotRO's birthday an event to remember. We've got a lot to cover and plenty of fireworks left to shoot off, so let's get to it!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Happy fifth anniversary, LotRO!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Happy fifth anniversary, LotRO! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5th-anniversaryanniversaryanniversary-festivalf2pfantasyfeaturedfestivalfifth-anniversaryfree-to-playgrindaversaryin-game-eventlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionroad-to-mordorthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 21 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you play classes you don't like?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-classes-you-dont-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-classes-you-dont-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-classes-you-dont-like/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - view from the rez pad
I recently returned to Lord of the Rings Online in anticipation of the Rohan-themed expansion pack due later this year.

As I was looking over my character page and deciding which of my toons I should take to 75, I reluctantly decided to abandon my highest level avatar. You see, he's a Guardian, and despite the fact that I'm basically throwing away 58 levels and some pretty decent gear, I simply can't bear the thought of playing what is absolutely the most boring class in any MMO, ever.

Why did I roll one, then? Mainly because my launch-day guild was going for class balance, and no one else wanted to play a tank. And that's my long-winded way of leading into today's Daily Grind question. Do you play classes you don't like (and if so, why)?

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 play classes you don't like? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesdaily-grinddo-you-play-classes-you-dont-likef2pfantasyfree-to-playguardianlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelord-of-the-rings-online-guardianlotrolotro-guardianmiddle-earthopinionrohanrohan-expansiontankingtankstdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 17 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Executive Producer, Daniel Stahl]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/captains-log-interview-with-star-trek-onlines-executive-produ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/captains-log-interview-with-star-trek-onlines-executive-produ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/captains-log-interview-with-star-trek-onlines-executive-produ/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Image
Next in this series of interviews conducted on my visit to Cryptic Studios in Los Gatos, California, last month is a chat with Daniel Stahl, Executive Producer of Star Trek Online.

I first asked Stahl to give me an overview of his responsibilities as Executive Producer, as there are many people who are either new to STO (or even to gaming overall) who may not have a clear understanding of his role entails.

He stated his job is "similar to making movies." He has several direct reports, the first being the software person or the person responsible for the team of people who actually create the code for the game. The second is the Content Lead, who is responsible for new missions, new features, and anything to with player experience. Finally, the Quality Assurance team also reports to him.

Continue reading Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Executive Producer, Daniel Stahl

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Executive Producer, Daniel Stahl originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-logchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahldaniel-stahlf2pfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewinterviewslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoturbineTurbine-EntertainmentMon, 16 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Hobbits vs. Gnomes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/leaderboard-hobbits-vs-gnomes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/leaderboard-hobbits-vs-gnomes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/leaderboard-hobbits-vs-gnomes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Leaderboard
We shorties have been looked down upon our entire lives, so it's not without some sympathy that I champion the cause of the shorter races in MMOs. Happily, there are a lot of them, and they have their ardent supporters, with the added bonus of seemingly irritating the "Tallies" around them.

Yet out of all of the diminutive races in online games, two seem to stand out as the kingpins of the Shortie Empire. The first is Hobbits, the classic heroes of Tolkien's novels as well as Lord of the Rings Online. With their genial attitude, disregard for shoes, and fondness for multiple breakfasts, they've endeared themselves to millions and influenced the development of the RPG genre. The second is Gnomes, the tenacious inventors of the underworld who seem to pop up in every MMO that isn't afraid of a steampunk fringe.

So if a Hobbit and a Gnome fell into a pit together and there was only one breakfast to be had, which would go hungry and which would be satisfied? In other words, which race rules more than the other? Vote after the jump!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Hobbits vs. Gnomes

MassivelyLeaderboard: Hobbits vs. Gnomes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalf2pfantasyfree-to-playgnomegnomeshobbithobbitsleaderboardlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollssecond-breakfastturbineturbine-entertainmentversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 16 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO launches its Fifth Anniversary Festival]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/lotro-launches-its-fifth-anniversary-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/lotro-launches-its-fifth-anniversary-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/lotro-launches-its-fifth-anniversary-festival/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

LotRO
Lord of the Rings Online's fifth anniversary is upon us, and Turbine is determined to make it a party to remember! Today the studio has released LotRO's Update 6.1, the centerpiece of which is the completely revamped and upgraded Anniversary Festival.

While the anniversary was perceived as a haphazard affair in previous years, Turbine's devs have fleshed it out to rival the other four annual festivals. The focus of the Anniversary Festival is on fireworks and lots of them. There are several new quests to discover, a new fireworks-themed mount to obtain, and beer battles to win.

Because reaching five years is a big deal for any MMO, Turbine's also showering players with free gifts if they log in during this period. The gifts range from fireworks to cloaks to a special mount that is reserved for five-year veterans of the game.

During the anniversary, monsters will drop special tokens that can be redeemed for a wide variety of prizes. There's also a double-XP weekend coming up, which will run from April 24th through the 30th.

MassivelyLotRO launches its Fifth Anniversary Festival originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5th-anniversary5th-anniversary-festival6.16.1-updateanniversaryanniversary-festivalf2pfantasyfestivalfifth-anniversaryfifth-anniversary-festivalfireworksfree-to-playgiftslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromountpatchpatch-6.1patch-notesprizesturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-6.1update-notesMon, 16 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: The truth behind weapon damage types]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-road-to-mordor-the-truth-behind-weapon-damage-types/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-road-to-mordor-the-truth-behind-weapon-damage-types/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-road-to-mordor-the-truth-behind-weapon-damage-types/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
Part of the allure of Lord of the Rings Online is its surprising depth and complexity, particularly for those who like to get the best performance out of their characters. Part of the frustration of LotRO is its obtuse or absent explanations behind the many systems in the game.

One of these systems remained on the outer edges of my attention span until one day I gave it my full focus. This was the field of weapon damage types, a subject I was vaguely aware of yet assumed I didn't have to know much about it to get along in the game. After some examination, I realized that while you don't need to understand weapon damage types to have an enjoyable play experience, it does affect the game in a small but important way.

So if you've ever wondered what "Beleriand" or "Westernesse" in your weapon tooltip was all about, today's column is here to help you navigate the somewhat confusing area of damage types.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The truth behind weapon damage types

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The truth behind weapon damage types originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
With the fifth anniversary of Lord of the Rings Online a little over a week away, Turbine has sprung a most excellent contest to reward the hardiest Hobbits and most fanatical Fellowshippers in the community. By creating and submitting a fan video, one lucky player will win a trip to visit Turbine's studio in Boston, Massachusetts.

Entering the Who is the Biggest LotRO Fan Contest is pretty simple. To do so, you'll need to head over to the contest site, download a package of assets, and then create your own fan video celebrating the game's big milestone. Each player can submit one entry, due by May 4th, which is then judged on creativity, composition, and appropriateness to theme.

While there will be 500 TP daily winners in the contest, the big grand prize is a trip for two to Boston, a three-day stay in a hotel, a tour of Turbine's offices, a lifetime membership to LotRO, and 1,000 TP.

MassivelyWin a trip to Turbine by making a LotRO fifth anniversary fan video originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bostoncontestf2pfan-contestfan-made-videofan-videofantasyfree-to-playlifetime-membershiplord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrotpturbineturbine-entertainmentturbine-pointsvideoWho-is-the-Biggest-LotRO-Fan-ContestwinnerwinningsWed, 11 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: If you want to sell special items, just do it already]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/the-soapbox-if-you-want-to-sell-special-items-get-to-it-alread/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/the-soapbox-if-you-want-to-sell-special-items-get-to-it-alread/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/the-soapbox-if-you-want-to-sell-special-items-get-to-it-alread/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Vanguard screenshot
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I've argued before about the merits of being an honest cash-shop salesperson. You have to be upfront, blunt, and willing to take some heat. Bigpoint is one of my favorite examples of a cash-shop dependent developer simply because it says what it means and means what it says. It sells items, sometimes powerful items, in several different titles. Granted, the studio usually offers a way to get those same items through in-game means, but that doesn't make for as good a story.

We reported on Bigpoint a while ago when its reps essentially said that if a developer is going to make an effort to sell in-game items, it should do it the right way by making those items have a significant impact on the game by being either powerful or desirable. I cannot agree more. Bigpoint is a car lot that sells beautiful luxury automobiles. It also sells junkers and even gives out a lot of cars for free, but its charity once again does not make for a good dramatic write-up. I tend to think that if you you are going to make a cash-shop, depending on the style of game, of course, you as a developer have got to consider just what sort of impact you want that cash-shop to have on your players, and you can't be afraid to push your idea from the beginning.

But just get on with it.

Continue reading The Soapbox: If you want to sell special items, just do it already

MassivelyThe Soapbox: If you want to sell special items, just do it already originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanBigpointbsg-onlinecash-shopccpcylonsdark-orbiteditorialeve-onlinefeaturedlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroMicrotransactionsop-edopinionrantrantssoapboxthe-soapboxvirtual-goodsTue, 10 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard report card]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-report-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-report-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-report-card/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
It's been a half-year since Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion, Rise of Isengard, opened the doors to Dunland and beyond. It was an interesting expansion compared to what came before in several ways: It finally took us into the pages of The Two Towers, it introduced Rohan and the Rohirrim, and it introduced what I consider to be the most compelling villain this game has seen to date.

While the game's hinted and alluded to Saruman and his White Hand back-up dancers leading up to RoI, the expansion finally unveiled the mastermind behind many of the machinations of Middle-earth's mischief. His was not an overt city-crushing type of evil; instead, he's a crafty politician-type who attempts to woo and seduce minds to his cause. More than the Witch-king of Angmar or Sara Oakheart, Saruman gives us a perfect target for our justified outrage. This is a guy we don't want to see succeed, ever.

So with six months under our belt, I thought it would be a great time to evaluate as much of Rise of Isengard as I've experienced with the ol' report card treatment. Where does it get good marks -- and where does it need tutoring?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard report card

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard report card originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evaluationexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaopinionpvereport-cardreviewriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorrohanrohirrimsiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 07 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: None shall pass... until the sun comes out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/one-shots-none-shall-pass-until-the-sun-comes-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/one-shots-none-shall-pass-until-the-sun-comes-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/one-shots-none-shall-pass-until-the-sun-comes-out/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

LotRO
Who dares attempting to pass? You? Are you trying to pass the Great and Terrible White Wizard? Well, please don't. He wouldn't like it very much. In fact, he might become so put out that he'll cast a spell with his +5 staff of mockery and turn you into another piece of coal for his suit.

For years I have wanted to pass by this snowman in Lord of the Rings Online but chickened out each and every time I came under his glare. Just look into those eyes and tell me that you don't feel your will melting away and your feet frozen into place. Back away, my friend. Back away slowly and never return.

Do you have a picture of a favorite MMO anthropomorphic pile of snow? The very first thing you should do is not send it in to us at oneshots@massively.com, along with your name, the game, and a description of the scene, and we won't publish it. Bring back One Shots!

MassivelyOne Shots: None shall pass... until the sun comes out originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-foolsapril-fools-2012april-fools-daybring-back-one-shotslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromockerynobody-reads-tagsone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotssnow-wizardsnowmanwhite-wizardSun, 01 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Will the instance finder take off?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/the-road-to-mordor-will-the-instance-finder-take-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/the-road-to-mordor-will-the-instance-finder-take-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/the-road-to-mordor-will-the-instance-finder-take-off/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
When World of Warcraft released its dungeon finder in late 2009, the online gaming community fractured into two distinct camps. There were those who loved and embraced the dungeon finder for its ease of grouping, its bonus rewards, and its accessibility. Then there was the other camp, whose members grew to loathe this system, claiming that it fractured the community (especially when it went cross-server) and trivialized the teamwork and bonding that dungeon groups cultivated in the past.

Love it or hate it, the dungeon finder was a massive hit and quickly became a staple in many other MMOs, such as RIFT and yes, Lord of the Rings Online. I've always been a huge proponent of the system because LFG tools and channels are typically insufficient and inefficient. Plus, dungeon finders cater to those of us who aren't as naturally outgoing and chatty when it comes to finding or starting groups, and I think this is why it became so embraced. Many of us felt denied this content simply because we weren't in a gung-ho guild or weren't proactive enough to build a group, but this became a game-changer.

Instead of releasing LotRO's instance finder in its full glory all at once, Turbine's rolled out the replacement to its lackluster LFF interface in stages. With Update 6, we now have an improved system to examine, although there's certainly work that needs to be done.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Will the instance finder take off?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Will the instance finder take off? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeon-findereverquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playinstance-finderlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionrewardsriftroad-to-mordorthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-6world-of-warcraftwowSat, 31 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine outlines 2012 festivals, mentions new Farmer's Faire event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/turbine-outlines-2012-festivals-mentions-new-farmers-faire-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/turbine-outlines-2012-festivals-mentions-new-farmers-faire-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/turbine-outlines-2012-festivals-mentions-new-farmers-faire-eve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - players celebrating Spring Festival
Spring has sprung, and that usually means it's Spring Festival time in Lord of the Rings Online. This year, though, Turbine has pushed the annual in-game event into the month of May due to its busy schedule, which raised questions about the rest of LotRO's yearly shindigs.

Turbine took to its forums yesterday to address the concerns, and while the dates aren't set in stone as of yet, it looks like all of the regular events are present and accounted for. LotRO's fifth anniversary festival leads things off next month, followed by the Spring Festival in May, the Farmer's Faire in July, the Summer Festival in August, and the Fall Festival in October.

Wait, the Farmer's Faire? Yep, that's a new event, and we'll keep an eye out for news on that going forward.

MassivelyTurbine outlines 2012 festivals, mentions new Farmer's Faire event originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfarmers-fairefestivalsfree-to-playin-game-eventslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-farmers-fairelotro-festivalsspring-festivalturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 29 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Ride to ruin and the world's ending!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/the-road-to-mordor-ride-to-ruin-and-the-worlds-ending/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/the-road-to-mordor-ride-to-ruin-and-the-worlds-ending/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/the-road-to-mordor-ride-to-ruin-and-the-worlds-ending/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
Mounted combat's been on my mind a lot lately, particularly when I was galloping around Dunland and various clansmen knocked me off my horse. It was then that I wished I had a skill called "Trample to a Bloody Pulp -- For Rohan!" and that Turbine would finally earn that AO rating it's always craved. Barring that skill, I would just love a massive war horse that would send enemies fleeing from me instead of making a beeline for my knees (which are a prime target for arrows).

I'm both excited and nervous about the mounted combat system coming in Riders of Rohan. I'm excited that it will open up a new style of gameplay in this five-year-old game and nervous that it'll drag Lord of the Rings Online down if it's not done right. Whatever type of horseback combat we might envision will surely be different than the final product, and that uncertainty leaves me feeling in limbo.

More than anything else, Riders of Rohan is about mounted combat. Turbine's centering the expansion around it, dedicating an entire zone to it, and developing loads of assets and skills for it, and the company will undoubtedly be hyping it strongly over the course of the summer. It's a bold step to take but a necessary one as well, as the IP and nation of Rohan are steeped in mounted combat, and it's been a little weird that we've had to dismount to swing a sword ever since leaving the shire.

So will mounted combat prevail, fail, or muddle in the middle?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Ride to ruin and the world's ending!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Ride to ruin and the world's ending! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Age-of-Conanargent-tournamenteast-plainsf2pFallen-EarthfantasyfeaturedForsaken-Worldfree-to-playjoustinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromountmounted-combatmountsopinionriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorrohanTales-of-Fantasythe-road-to-mordortrampleturbineturbine-entertainmentwar-horseswar-steedwar-steedswarbandsworld-of-warcraftSat, 24 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online's Spring Festival rescheduled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/lord-of-the-rings-onlines-spring-festival-rescheduled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/lord-of-the-rings-onlines-spring-festival-rescheduled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/lord-of-the-rings-onlines-spring-festival-rescheduled/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Even Middle Earth is not free of crazy cat ladies.
Spring is beginning to... well, spring, and for denizens of Middle-earth, that generally means the Spring Festival is just around the corner. This year, however, there's been a small adjustment to the schedule. Since Lord of the Rings Online's fifth anniversary is coming up in April, the Spring Festival is being pushed back until after the anniversary celebrations have concluded.

While we don't have an official start date for the festival, Casual Stroll to Mordor points out that the game's anniversary is April 24th; those celebrations will likely take place the week of said anniversary. Therefore, we should probably expect the Spring Festival to kick off sometime in May. As CSTM also notes, this may help bridge the rather sizeable gap between the Spring, Summer, and Fall Festivals as well, so maybe a little schedule-shifting isn't so bad.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online's Spring Festival rescheduled originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5th-anniversaryanniversaryeventsf2pfantasyfree-to-playin-game-eventslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrospringspring-festivalturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 22 Mar 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Types of loot that get me excited]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/the-perfect-ten-types-of-loot-that-get-me-excited/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/the-perfect-ten-types-of-loot-that-get-me-excited/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/the-perfect-ten-types-of-loot-that-get-me-excited/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
Loot's not something that I see discussed much these days among MMO players. It's probably because loot's been around since the beginning of online time and is such a staple that we'd only really notice it if it went away completely or if the object in question were a major game-changer for us.

Random loot from mobs is a reward mechanic that is bordering on archaic, having been supplanted by dependable quest rewards and barter vendors that give us the gear we so desire. Of course, now we've come around the weird circle to the point that dropped lockboxes hold interesting loot, but we've got to pay for the privilege of seeing what's inside.

But let's not go there today! Instead, I'm going to share with you the 10 general types of loot that still get me excited while playing. They will shock, amaze, and radically reshape your life, as long as you've had a recent brain wipe and are awaiting brand-new neural instructions.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Types of loot that get me excited

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Types of loot that get me excited originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcrypticcryptic-studioseaelectronic-artserotic-roleplayerpf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguild-warsgwhumorlootlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsncsoftnon-combat-petsopinionp10perfect-10perfect-tenperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweroundupsci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstosubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtorturbineturbine-entertainmentvanity-petswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 22 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Lime Odyssey]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/rise-and-shiny-lime-odyssey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/rise-and-shiny-lime-odyssey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/rise-and-shiny-lime-odyssey/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Lime Odyssey screenshot
Lime Odyssey is an Anime-themed free-to-play MMO brought to us from publisher Aeria Games. It features three unique races and... oh, forget it. You already know this probably. The game has a lot of buzz behind it, and Aeria is known to put out some great titles. I knew that when I was invited to check out the alpha for a first impression of Lime Odyssey, I would find a game that was high-quality and beautiful and ran well.

Sure enough, I did find that game. There's something magical about so many Korean titles. Many of them sport some of the most refreshing and original artwork and music, and the engines that many of those titles use is perfectly fit for almost any machine. Yes, there are the three races to choose from, the great Anime graphics, the neat crafting system, and combat systems and much more. My only regret is that I was able to spend only a few days in the game.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Lime Odyssey

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Lime Odyssey originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaallods-onbeau-hindbeau-hindmanblizzardbrowser-basf2pfeaturedfree-tofree-to-playftpgpotatohands-onlivestreamlord-of-thelotromassively-tvrealm-of-the-mad-godrise-and-shirise-and-shinystreamstreaming-videturbinetwitchtwitch-tvtwitchtvvideoworld-of-warwowSun, 18 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A soldier to call my very own]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/the-road-to-mordor-a-soldier-to-call-my-very-own/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/the-road-to-mordor-a-soldier-to-call-my-very-own/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/the-road-to-mordor-a-soldier-to-call-my-very-own/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

LotRO
So how are you liking Update 6 so far? No, I can't hear you right now -- you're probably going to have to leave a comment or something. Maybe I should do the talking for a while.

With its new zone, massive PvP upgrades, class rebalancings, Landscape Soldier ability, updated barter wallet, and the Instance Finder 2.0, there's so much to chew on with Lord of the Rings Online's latest patch that it's going to take most of us some time to figure out what's what. I've heard a lot of praise for the new epic storyline, in particular the dream sequence, and it's definitely good that players who had tapped out Rise of Isengard's content now have more world goodness to explore.

I am not in The Great River, not yet; I dug my level 65 Captain out of retirement and am plugging my way back up through RoI quite happily. However, I was incredibly curious about two of the most debated features of the patch -- the barter wallet and the ability to bring skirmish soldiers out into the world -- and I spent some time evaluating each. While I question the way Turbine's handling the cost of these features, I definitely came away impressed with what the wallet and soldiers do for the game.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A soldier to call my very own

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A soldier to call my very own originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barter-walletf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlandscape-soldierslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storeopinionrise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorshores-of-the-great-riversoldiers-on-landscapethe-great-riverthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-6Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Gaikai
Imagine that you're reading up on an MMO on a site such as Massively (far-fetched, but stay with us on this). The words intrigue you and you think it might be worth checking out. You make a mental note to do so in the future -- to head over to the game's site, see if there's a trial, download it, set up an account, and give it a whirl -- but time gets away from you and none of that actually happens.

Now imagine that right after you read that article there was a single button or link. Clicking on it, a Java window opens up on top of your screen and tells you that you're now playing a trial of the game. There's no wait, no download, no lengthy form to fill out -- just click and play, right away. You go from interested to inside the game within mere seconds, your computer specs (mostly) aren't an issue, and your curiosity is immediately sated.

This isn't a far-fetched dream but the here-and-now reality. This is cloud-streaming MMOs brought to you by Gaikai. And it just might be the future of MMOs as we know it.

Continue reading Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser

MassivelyGaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2moonsacclaimactivisionage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbest-buyblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrowser-mmochronicles-of-spellborncloudcloud-streamingconandave-perryddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaea-originearthworm-jimf2pfamilyfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgaikaigaikai-inchyboriaipadkid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrostreaming-mmothe-darknessturbineturbine-entertainmentunchainedwalmartwarcraftwbwizard101world-of-warcraftwowyoutubeWed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST