Massively

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[Ask Massively: Artists I actually dislike edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/ask-massively-artists-i-actually-dislike-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/ask-massively-artists-i-actually-dislike-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/ask-massively-artists-i-actually-dislike-edition/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, Opinion, Humor, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

It got way worse after this.

For whatever reason, Rob Liefeld has become a mini-meme on my more meta columns of the week. He's a bad artist, yes, but as I've mentioned in the past, I don't actively dislike him. There are many people far more deserving of dislike. Case in point: Pat Lee. I'm not going to explain in depth right here, but suffice to say that the man has history of hobbies like not paying his employees and taking credit for the work of others. And he's not a very good artist.

So let's move on from that meme, shall we? Great.

Of course, if I'm talking about mini-memes on Ask Massively, that must mean that it's time for this week's installment, yes? Yes. And this week, we're talking about the now almost ubiquitous case of the Kickstarter project. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of Ask Massively, leave it in the comments below or mail it to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Artists I actually dislike edition

Ask Massively: Artists I actually dislike edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelycaptialfeaturedfundinghumorkickstarterkickstarter-projectsmassively-metametammo-industryopinionventure-capitalThu, 24 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Vanguard, Saga of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/why-i-play-vanguard-saga-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/why-i-play-vanguard-saga-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/why-i-play-vanguard-saga-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Opinion, Vanguard, Why I Play

vanguard

"How is Vanguard?"

If there's one question that comes up time and time again, it's that one. It experienced a launch disaster, lack of content post 35+, bugs, duping, exploits, performance issues, and the sad "parking lot layoffs," yet Vanguard: Saga of Heroes always seems to generate buzz any time it comes up in conversation.

There's a certain aura surrounding this game, and even though it languished with low subscription numbers for years, it always seems to attract attention when it's covered at Massively. There's something about Vanguard that kept me playing solidly well past launch and still pulls me back from time to time. With a free-to-play launch just around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to explain why I play Vanguard.

Continue reading Why I Play: Vanguard, Saga of Heroes

Why I Play: Vanguard, Saga of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playkaren-bryanmassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionsandboxsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttelonvanguardvanguard-dungeonsvanguard-flyingVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvanguard-shipsvgwhy-i-playWed, 23 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: What it means to be a game journalist]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-soapbox-what-it-means-to-be-a-game-journalist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-soapbox-what-it-means-to-be-a-game-journalist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-soapbox-what-it-means-to-be-a-game-journalist/#commentsFiled under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

How we see ourselves. Well, when we're playing Champions Online, anyhow.

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. Additionally, this article is written in contrast to Jef Reahard's Soapbox on how video game journalists are not real journalists; Massively's writers' opinions on the subject vary.

People have, on a few occasions, asked me for advice on becoming a game journalist. My usual response, which is only half-joking, is, "Don't."

In just a handful of months, I'll be hitting my three-year anniversary for working Massively. That means I've had one of the longest tenures at the site, which is kind of staggering in my mind. I still fundamentally think of myself as one of the new kids on the block. But for better or worse, I've been doing this for a while and have a pretty good grasp of what the job entails.

Of course, that's still a subject of debate. As with a lot of topics, people as a whole can't even decide on what makes someone a game journalist instead of just an enthusiast with some advertising revenue. To some people, it's not even a real job, just a hobby. I'm one of those people who never like to pin down an exact definition of something that's ambiguous... but I can define what I see as my responsibilities in this job.

Continue reading The Soapbox: What it means to be a game journalist

The Soapbox: What it means to be a game journalist originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialfeaturedgame-journalismjobjournalismjournalistsmassively-metametanews-reportingop-edopinionrantrantsresponsibilitiessoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 22 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: May 21 - 27, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/#commentsFiled under: Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

EverQuest II

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively Stream Team logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises each week, so you'll find a variety of titles to watch. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, or simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule, and let us know if there's a specific game you'd like to see streamed next week!

Continue reading MV Guide: May 21 - 27, 2012

MV Guide: May 21 - 27, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlivestreamlivestreamingmassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-guidemv-tvmvtvstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 21 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

Diablo III

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

We got you started in Diablo III this week with our best tips, a guide for MMO players, details on the starter edition, videos, warm fuzzies, and friendly rivalries. Hopefully, that gave you plenty to read during all of the downtime. Ouch!

Meanwhile, gamers everywhere looked on as the 38 Studios ship continued to founder. Early in the week, we learned that the studio might default on its state loan, leaving the debt to Rhode Island taxpayers. A few emergency meetings later, 38 Studios' employees' paychecks are going unpaid and the state governor is throwing out release dates for the seemingly doomed MMO Project Copernicus. But hey, flythrough video, right?

More of the week's top MMO stories are prepped for your eyes after the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary

MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 20 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Overwhelming changes edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/ask-massively-overwhelming-changes-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/ask-massively-overwhelming-changes-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/ask-massively-overwhelming-changes-edition/#commentsFiled under: Culture, New titles, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

This would actually have been pretty useful in DS9.

I have to be honest, the Caitian Carrier for Star Trek Online kind of makes me want to give the game a shot again. I liked it when I played it before, but I just had no time to play it on top of everything else. But then I think about all the work I'd need to do just to get caught up to normal, and... yeah, that's about the point when my gumption evaporates. Still, though. Carrier.

In other and far more relevant news, it's time for this week's installment of Ask Massively, which talks about the cycle of game announcement and subsequent disappointment. (Apropos of the recent beta weekends for The Secret World, naturally.) If you've got a question you would like to see answered in a future installment of the column, send it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Overwhelming changes edition

Ask Massively: Overwhelming changes edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelybeta-eventsbeta-testsbeta-weekendsfeaturedhands-onhumormassively-metametaopinionreleasereleasestestsThu, 17 May 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: RIFT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/why-i-play-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/why-i-play-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/why-i-play-rift/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Opinion, RIFT, Why I Play

RIFT

Is it possible for a top-tier MMO to come out of nowhere and bowl you over? Considering that I follow these games not only for a hobby but as a writer for Massively, I always assumed the answer to that was "no." Until it happened, that is. Until RIFT.

It's not as though RIFT was a big secret or anything, but up until the late hours of 2010, it was very low on my -- and many of my friends' -- radars. I often got it confused with TERA, for Pete's sake! It wasn't until I got my hands on it at PAX that year and then saw how huge the beta got that I realized there was more to this supposedly generic fantasy title than I'd assumed. It truly felt like it came out of nowhere, and before I knew it, I was enjoying what became one of my favorite games of 2011.

So why did I play RIFT, and why do I still log in on occasion today? Trust me, it's not for the Elves.

Continue reading Why I Play: RIFT

Why I Play: RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmenteaeditorialelectronic-artsfantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2lucasartsmassively-metametancsoftnostalgiaop-edopinionpaxpax-primepax-prime-2010riftrift-literift-planes-of-telarasci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictortriontrion-worldswarcraftwhy-i-playworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: May 14 - 20, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/mv-guide-may-14-20-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/mv-guide-may-14-20-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/mv-guide-may-14-20-2012/#commentsFiled under: Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

Lord of the Rings Online - The Shire

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively Stream Team logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises each week, so you'll find a variety of titles to watch. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, or simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule, and let us know if there's a specific game you'd like to see streamed next week!

Continue reading MV Guide: May 14 - 20, 2012

MV Guide: May 14 - 20, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlivestreamlivestreamingmassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-guidemv-tvmvtvstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 14 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: It's a conspiracy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/mmo-week-in-review-its-a-conspiracy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/mmo-week-in-review-its-a-conspiracy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/mmo-week-in-review-its-a-conspiracy/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

TSW

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

The Secret World is becoming less secret by the week, which is good news for potential players (and the one million beta applicants) who are curious about Funcom's next big thing due out in just over a month. This week, on the eve of the game's first beta weekend, Massively's own conspiracy-debunkers got some hands-on time with the Templars and the Illuminati and logged a few hours trying on tinfoil hats in the character creator. (Tinfoil hats sold separately.)

The rest of this week's top MMO stories are lurking just beyond the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: It's a conspiracy

MMO Week in Review: It's a conspiracy originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 13 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Always on the wrong weekends edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/ask-massively-always-on-the-wrong-weekends-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/ask-massively-always-on-the-wrong-weekends-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/ask-massively-always-on-the-wrong-weekends-edition/#commentsFiled under: Game mechanics, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

Hopefully I'll get some time to play, but I'm not expecting any miracles.

So for those of you wondering, the move went quite well. The expected problems occurred at times of minimal inconvenience, and we almost completely finished unpacking at the new place in one weekend. But we still have to finish up at the old apartment, so of course the first beta for The Secret World is scheduled to be this weekend when we're slotted to head down there. Just like how Guild Wars 2 scheduled a beta weekend for our last pre-move weekend. So that's awesome.

This week's Ask Massively does not discuss this particular state of awesome. Instead, it discusses the deferred awesomeness of switching combat styles on the fly and what games feature something similar. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, leave it in the comments below or send it to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Always on the wrong weekends edition

Ask Massively: Always on the wrong weekends edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelyfeaturedfighting-stylegame-mechanicshumormassively-metamechanical-ideasmetaopinionstyleswapping-stylesThu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Global Agenda]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/why-i-play-global-agenda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/why-i-play-global-agenda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/why-i-play-global-agenda/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Global Agenda, Why I Play

Global Agenda screenshot

Among the Massively staff, I'm known as the obsessive competitor who plays every game in a hardcore fashion. It's no surprise that I gravitate toward high-skill, difficult games that test skill instead of the typical MMO grinds. But it should be a bit of a surprise that I don't really like competitive shooters. Shooters take a lot of the elements I really love about competition such as mindgames and positioning and marginalize them in favor of raw aiming and twitch reflexes. I'm fond of saying "You must be this tall to ride this ride" when it comes to shooters that are very twitch-based.

Global Agenda is a different beast than other shooters, though. The competitive shooter market is saturated with class-based shooters whose emphasis is more on teamwork than on aiming, and Global Agenda really takes it to eleven. Aiming is still important, but it's hardly the most important skill in the game, and every class has a way of minimizing the need for aiming skill. In fact, most of the more effective builds in GA don't require aiming. The emphasis in GA is on teamwork, mobility, and good decision-making. Even though it's a shooter, I find it really easy to spend far too much of my time playing it. It's just great fun.

Continue reading Why I Play: Global Agenda

Why I Play: Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitioncompetitive-gamingcompetitive-shootereditorialf2pfeaturedfpsfree-to-playgaglobal agendahi-rezhi-rez-studiosjetpacksjetpacks-are-awesomemassively-metametammofpsnostalgiaop-edopinionsci-fishooterspy-fithird-person-shootertpswho-doesnt-like-flyingwhy-i-playWed, 09 May 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: May 7 - 13, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/mv-guide-may-7-13-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/mv-guide-may-7-13-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/mv-guide-may-7-13-2012/#commentsFiled under: Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

EVE Online

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: May 7 - 13, 2012

MV Guide: May 7 - 13, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlivestreamlivestreamingmassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-guidemv-tvmvtvstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 07 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Seen any elves?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/mmo-week-in-review-seen-any-elves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/mmo-week-in-review-seen-any-elves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/mmo-week-in-review-seen-any-elves/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

Any excuse for an Oblivion screenshot!

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

This week, all those terrible/wonderful rumors about The Elder Scrolls Online were proved true, thanks to a series of leaks and an official trailer that promises the world of Tamriel will soon be headed to an MMO near you. Even if you're one of those fans whose immediate reaction was terror and dread, you still have to be thinking that the genre could use another three-faction PvP game. Personally, I just feel sorry for the dev who has to design terrains for the province of Morrowind. Hope you like brown, bro!

Follow on for the rest of the week's top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Seen any elves?

MMO Week in Review: Seen any elves? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 06 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Moving shop edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ask-massively-moving-shop-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ask-massively-moving-shop-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ask-massively-moving-shop-edition/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Events, in-game, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

My new home is in a trackless expanse of desert with a stew pot.

As you read this, I'm making my final preparations to move from my home for the past three years into a new and much nicer home. Of course, this brings with it certain concerns. Will the utility companies reconnect everything correctly? Will the movers drop something I can't easily replace? Will I forget something in the old apartment and have to go back?

So, if my posts next week seem a bit off, assume that the move resulted in fiery death all around and I've been replaced by a crude AI pasted in Visual Basic.

This week's Ask Massively, sadly, does not include anything about AI or my new apartment. Instead, it's about player-run events and why we cover some of them but not all. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, send it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Moving shop edition

Ask Massively: Moving shop edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelyeventsfeaturedhumorin-game-eventsmassively-metametaopinionplayer-eventsplayer-run-eventsThu, 03 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: April 30 - May 6, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/mv-guide-april-30-may-6-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/mv-guide-april-30-may-6-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/mv-guide-april-30-may-6-2012/#commentsFiled under: Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: April 30 - May 6, 2012

MV Guide: April 30 - May 6, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlivestreamlivestreamingmassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-guidemv-tvmvtvstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 30 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Sold out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/mmo-week-in-review-sold-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/mmo-week-in-review-sold-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/mmo-week-in-review-sold-out/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

GW2

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

Guild Wars 2's first prepurchase beta event ends in just a few short hours, bringing to a close what's probably the most hyped week in ArenaNet history. We were treated to new art, the Asuran starting experience, a tour of the offices, and details on world transfers. As if to taunt us about not-yet-public races, our own Lis Cardy delighted us with a look at the lore of the Sylvari, who swear they are trees and not elves.

Meanwhile, classic Guild Wars is celebrating its seventh year of operation with a big ol' party, which hopefully gave you something to do if you were one of the unlucky procrastinators whose beta dreams were partially dashed when ANet shut down GW2's digital prepurchase options temporarily on Thursday.

Enjoy the rest of our top MMO stories after the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Sold out

MMO Week in Review: Sold out originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 29 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: This hat has ruined everything edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/ask-massively-this-hat-has-ruined-everything-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/ask-massively-this-hat-has-ruined-everything-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/ask-massively-this-hat-has-ruined-everything-edition/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, Opinion, Massively Meta, Humor, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

I don't care for hats.

I was having trouble coming up with a topic for this week's header, so I tried writing down a bunch of different topics on pieces of paper and sticking them in a hat. Then I put the hat on. Now I still don't know what to write for this week's header, and I have an ugly hat on my head. Plus, little bits of paper are jammed against my head, and it's itchy. I knew this would be a problem starting with the bowler hat.

This week's Ask Massively will go on despite my itchy scalp and ugly hat. And in this edition, I'm talking about potential Eastern games for a player looking for new games and beta invitations. If you'd like to have a question answered in a future installment of the column, send it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: This hat has ruined everything edition

Ask Massively: This hat has ruined everything edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelybeta-invitationseasterneastern-gamesfeaturedhumormassively-metametaopinionThu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:00 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: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, Why I Play

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

Why 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[MV Guide: April 23 - 29, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/mv-guide-april-23-29-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/mv-guide-april-23-29-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/mv-guide-april-23-29-2012/#commentsFiled under: Previews, Opinion, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

Guild Wars 2

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: April 23 - 29, 2012

MV Guide: April 23 - 29, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlivestreamlivestreamingmassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-guidemv-tvmvtvstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 23 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: To the pain]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/mmo-week-in-review-to-the-pain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/mmo-week-in-review-to-the-pain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/mmo-week-in-review-to-the-pain/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

TERA

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

To everyone but legal scholars and fanboys, the ongoing NCsoft/TERA copyright duel probably seems beyond bizarre, but the latest bout was conducted this week through En Masse's bellicose official statements in response to media and fan concern over recent South Korean court proceedings, which confirmed the convictions of former Lineage 3 developers accused of taking assets and trade secrets to Bluehole Studios. Nevertheless, seemingly unhindered for the moment, TERA's launch marches onward with an open beta weekend, launch trailer, and prologue cinematic.

Read on for this week's other top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: To the pain

MMO Week in Review: To the pain originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 22 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: I approve of more staves edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/ask-massively-i-approve-of-more-staves-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/ask-massively-i-approve-of-more-staves-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/ask-massively-i-approve-of-more-staves-edition/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, Free-to-play, Massively Meta, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

There's no better way to beat up enemies and try out for the school's color team at once.

You know what we need more of? Staves used as melee weapons instead of a caster's Set of Stats in a Stick. Usually, what we get is closer to a cane than an actual staff, so it makes sense that a curvy stick with a lawn ornament on one end isn't much for actual combat. But come on, folks. You can do some serious damage with a metal pole and a few witless mooks. City of Heroes is ahead of the curve here.

This week's installment of Ask Massively has nothing to do with staves, however. It has to do with a few more lingering questions about the comment system and some wide-ranging "best of" topics. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, you can leave it in the comments or mail it to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: I approve of more staves edition

Ask Massively: I approve of more staves edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelycolumnscommentsfeature-ideasfeaturedhumorideasmassively-metametaopinionThu, 19 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/why-i-play-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/why-i-play-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/why-i-play-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Why I Play

STO

It was a cold, dreary Saturday morning in January 2010 when I told my wife that we had a quest to accomplish. It was absolutely imperative that we drive into unsafe areas of Detroit to locate one of the very few Del Tacos in the area in order to buy cups. On these cups, as I explained to my increasingly incredulous spouse, were codes for shuttle pets in the upcoming Star Trek Online. I had to get some, I insisted; Captain Kirk was depending on me.

An hour later, our mission was accomplished, and my wife had another tale of husband-geekery to share around the office. To her credit, the very next week she happened to be driving by another Del Taco and purchased me six additional cups to give away to fans who otherwise couldn't get one. That's how awesome she is.

I tell you this story because it is indicative of my relationship with Star Trek Online: silly yet passionate, excitable yet frivolous, and flawed yet fascinated. I've played this game off and on for the past couple of years and have become convinced that while it's clunky and lacking in areas, it's an MMO gem that deserves much better than the slander it's endured.

This is why I play it.

Continue reading Why I Play: Star Trek Online

Why I Play: Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studioseditorialf2pfeaturedfree-to-playmassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestowhy-i-playWed, 18 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: April 16 - 22, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/mv-guide-april-16-22-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/mv-guide-april-16-22-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/mv-guide-april-16-22-2012/#commentsFiled under: Previews, Opinion, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

Aion

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: April 16 - 22, 2012

MV Guide: April 16 - 22, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlivestreamlivestreamingmassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-guidemv-tvmvtvstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 16 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: TORtanic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/mmo-week-in-review-tortanic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/mmo-week-in-review-tortanic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/mmo-week-in-review-tortanic/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

SWTOR

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

BioWare ought to be basking in the accomplishment of sending the much-touted Legacy update off on its maiden voyage, but instead, Star Wars: The Old Republic has been hindered by obstacles far worse than Titanic jokes. The studio cut ranked PvP from the patch at the last minute, and then a maintenance patch blooper took the servers offline for the better part of Friday. To its credit, BioWare is compensating players for the downtime, and if you're really lucky, you won't even need to be level 50 or grind Legacy points to receive said compensation.

Sail on for an overview of the week's most popular MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: TORtanic

MMO Week in Review: TORtanic originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 15 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: These are not Firefall beta impressions edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/ask-massively-these-are-not-firefall-beta-impressions-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/ask-massively-these-are-not-firefall-beta-impressions-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/ask-massively-these-are-not-firefall-beta-impressions-edition/#commentsFiled under: News items, Opinion, Massively Meta, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

I do actually like my character in Firefall, though. Aside from the random mangled Spanish.

So near as I can tell from my limited time in the beta thus far, Firefall is a game in which you play a character with remarkably poor conceptions about the function of armor, especially if your character is a girl. I log in, jump around with a pair of rocket boots, and shoot things, and then my computer crashes for some reason after about 20 straight minutes of playing, so I haven't formed many other opinions. The parts I've played have been pretty satisfying, though.

But as this week's headline for Ask Massively explains, these are not actually beta impressions. Instead, this is a column covering a couple of the weird issues with our new comment system, something that I have absolutely no doubt will come up again later. If you'd like to have a question answered in a future installment of the column, send it along to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: These are not Firefall beta impressions edition

Ask Massively: These are not Firefall beta impressions edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelycomment-systemcommentsfeaturedhumormassively-metametanew-systemsoh-great-new-comment-systemopinionThu, 12 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: EverQuest II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Humor, Sandbox, Why I Play

EverQuest II screenshot

Because.

Remember back when this answer was lobbed at you as the definitive answer (often by moms tired of incessant "why"s or as a precursor to "I said so!")? But since I am not your mom -- and more importantly, the boss isn't about to pay me for a one word article -- let me elaborate, though, I warn you, you may regret it; once I get going I may not be able to stop! Seriously, they had to restrain me from taking over Why I Play. Obviously I broke free mwuahahahaha!

Simply put, I love EverQuest II. I log into it daily. Sometimes I don't leave for more hours than I am willing to admit. I can hum the guild hall music from memory. I have a list of things I want to do so long I can't possibly get it all done. All this after taking a multi-year break. Yes folks, I left the game for a long time -- a move I am still kicking myself for. But certain features pulled me back, and let me just say, I am so glad I came back.

So why do I play EQII? Where to begin...

Continue reading Why I Play: EverQuest II

Why I Play: EverQuest II originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearance-itemsappearance-slotsCollectionscreativitycustomizationdecoratingdungeon-makereditorialeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedflying-mountsfree-to-playhousingmassively-metamentoringmentoring-systemmetanostalgiaop-edopinionplayer-generated-contentshinysoesonysony-online-entertainmentwhy-i-playWed, 11 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: April 9 - 15, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/mv-guide-april-9-15-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/mv-guide-april-9-15-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/mv-guide-april-9-15-2012/#commentsFiled under: Previews, Opinion, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

Stronghold Kingdoms

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: April 9 - 15, 2012

MV Guide: April 9 - 15, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlivestreamlivestreamingmassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-guidemv-tvmvtvstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 09 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/mmo-week-in-review-pax-on-pax-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/mmo-week-in-review-pax-on-pax-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/mmo-week-in-review-pax-on-pax-off/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

PAX East 2012

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

This week, Massively sent four feisty writers to PAX East 2012 to bring back interviews and impressions of the games on offer, and boy did they ever deliver! We got hands-on time with The Secret World, World of Warplanes, SMITE, PlanetSide 2, TERA, Neverwinter, Firefall, Guns of Icarus and Dungeons and Dragons Online... and we're not finished yet!

Read on for a roundup of this week's other top MMO stories!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off

MMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconventionexpofeaturedjoystiqmassively-metametapaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-exporounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 08 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: The week of March 31st]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-31st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-31st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-31st/#commentsFiled under: Video, Events, in-game, Previews, Opinion, Massively Meta, Humor, Livestream, Miscellaneous, Previously on MV TV

What a week, huh? We had all sorts of great livestreaming for you to enjoy. If you missed some of the cool things we put on live during the week, no worry! Just check back here every week and you'll be able to recap many of the best moments from our week of live video games. Each week is something new, and this week is no different. We've got quite the variety!

This week, we have Mike jamming on some EVE Online and then jumping into RIFT for horrible magical adventures. Richie ventured into the Mists of Pandaria beta for World of Warcraft to show off cute, cuddly, and furry butts while wielding a weapon of destruction! I had to check out some of the good and bad points about Second Life's Linden Homes, free structures that come with any premium account; I also jumped into Luvinia Online to participate in a huge PvP event, and let me just give you two words to entice you to watch: giant chickens. Blake took some time to shoot things in Global Agenda, and finally, we had MJ taking on some Bristlebane quests in EverQuest II, following it up by attacking stuff all over Aion! Check us out!

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of March 31st

Previously on MV TV: The week of March 31st originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionbeau-hindmaneq-iieq2eve-onlineeverquest-iifeaturedglobal-agendalinden-labLiveStreamlivestreamingluvinia-onlinemassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-tvmvtvpreviously-on-mv-tvriftsecond-lifeSOESony-Online-Entertainmentstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtriontwitchtwitch-tvtwitchtvvideoWorld-of-WarcraftwowSun, 08 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Ransom edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/wrup-ransom-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/wrup-ransom-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/wrup-ransom-edition/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous

Ransom

PAX East is holding Eliot hostage! We've just learned that the infamous Boston gaming con is planning to force Eliot, Matt, Lis, and Karen to play video games for money indefinitely. But don't worry; I'm sure you guys can have Eliot and his Dadaist commentary back once I get those cookies. I mean, once PAX gets those cookies. Yeah.

In the meantime, let's do this WRUP thing after the break! We'll talk about what we think of beta weekends and what we're playing, and then you can do the same using our brand-new comment system that so totally doesn't have any bugs (see, I can be absurd like Eliot!).

Continue reading WRUP: Ransom edition

WRUP: Ransom edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredmassively-metametaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 07 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: The diversity of New England edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/ask-massively-the-diversity-of-new-england-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/ask-massively-the-diversity-of-new-england-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/ask-massively-the-diversity-of-new-england-edition/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, Massively Meta, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

Admittedly, it all looks pretty much the same in Google Maps 8-Bit.

Every year, when I head up to PAX East, some well-intentioned soul will point out that it must be nice to have a convention so close to home. Except it's really not. I live in Connecticut, and PAX East is in Boston. Despite what years of media exposure may have led you to believe, New England is not a uniform sea of snow, lobsters, and wizened old men spouting curmudgeonly wisdom. The lobsters are pretty much all Maine, for instance, and Rhode Island has the mafia instead of wizened old men. Also, no one in Connecticut says "cah." We say "car."

But you didn't click on through for me waxing poetic about my home region, I imagine. No, you came here for this week's installment of Ask Massively, which is all about how we schedule articles and why it seems like time occasionally passes us by. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, leave it down in the comments or mail it along to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: The diversity of New England edition

Ask Massively: The diversity of New England edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelyfeaturedhumormassively-metametaopinionschedulesThu, 05 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What's this? A new commenting system on Massively? Is this real life? [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/whats-this-a-new-commenting-system-on-massively-is-this-real/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/whats-this-a-new-commenting-system-on-massively-is-this-real/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/whats-this-a-new-commenting-system-on-massively-is-this-real/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta

Comments

We've augmented the post-post punditry on the Joystiq network with a new conversation platform called Livefyre. You'll see it at the bottom of this post and every news story, review and feature following it. There are a couple of major differences between this new vector for your opinions, and the ancient, rickety thing we optimistically called a commenting system:

It's not the worst thing ever!
It allows for real-time updates and lets you create and follow nested conversations.
You can sign in with any one of six different social network accounts, including Twitter, Facebook and Gmail (just click "Sign in" at the top left of the Livefyre window to get started).
You can blast your wittiest comments back out to your friends on Twitter and Facebook, even if they don't read Massively.
Feel free to flag comments for being off-topic or inappropriate. You can be more granular with your grievances now, as opposed to the generic "report" function we had before. This will make it much easier for us to ban the true trolls!
On-screen bubbles notify you when a new comment has been made above or below the point you're currently reading.
By clicking on "Settings" on the upper-right corner of the Livefyre window, you can adjust your personal information and when you'd like to receive email notifications (if any).

If you've been a reader for a very long time, you may be irked to learn that we are not importing your old comments into Livefyre. Rather than delay the upgrade in order to preserve so much content of questionable relevance, we opted to start everything anew.

Provided you're already part of the supported social networks, signing in will be a cinch, and we hope the reduced anonymity will make for friendlier conversation. (Protip: Choose a unique handle and/or a clean Twitter account if you don't wish your posts here to link to your real personae.) We'll be ironing out some bugs too, so let us know if you see anything weird and upsetting throughout the night.

With your help, we'll get this new comment system up and running little by little, and you won't even need to deal with the word "Unverified" anywhere.

Continue reading What's this? A new commenting system on Massively? Is this real life? [Updated]

What's this? A new commenting system on Massively? Is this real life? [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commenting-systemcommentsmassively-metametaWed, 04 Apr 2012 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: April 1 - 8, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/mv-guide-april-1-8-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/mv-guide-april-1-8-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/mv-guide-april-1-8-2012/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

Vanguard

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: April 1 - 8, 2012

MV Guide: April 1 - 8, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlivestreamlivestreamingmassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-guidemv-tvmvtvstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 02 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Beta bits]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/mmo-week-in-review-beta-bits/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/mmo-week-in-review-beta-bits/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/mmo-week-in-review-beta-bits/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

Guild Wars 2

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

This week, we reveled in Massively's latest round of Guild Wars 2 beta coverage! We looked at the game from the perspective of both a Guild Wars fan and a total newbie to the franchise; we showed off the game's stellar character creation system; we discussed glory and world vs. world PvP; we demonstrated how the player Charr storylines diverge; and we answered some of your best beta questions.

In between all that, we even covered some other MMO news, the best of which is summed up after the break!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Beta bits

MMO Week in Review: Beta bits originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: How is it time for PAX edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/wrup-how-is-it-time-for-pax-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/wrup-how-is-it-time-for-pax-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/wrup-how-is-it-time-for-pax-edition/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous

Hooray for booking a hotel back in November.

Holy anything, next weekend it's time for my annual trip up to Boston for PAX East. This strikes me as intensely strange, and not just because it's taking place later than usual this year. It's going to be absolutely insane. I also don't have any major events surrounding me for the first time, so I'll hopefully be able to relax a little more. Seriously, I'm still not mentally done with January; I'm not ready for it to be this late in the year already.

This week's WRUP does not entirely focus on PAX, of course, mostly because that's not happening this weekend. But we do talk about our plans for the current weekend as well as our opinions on the pervasive shroud of muscled men that make up MMO beefcake. Take a look at what we'll be up to past the cut, and let us know what you're planning on playing over the weekend in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: How is it time for PAX edition

WRUP: How is it time for PAX edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metametaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 31 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: A confluence of awesome edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/ask-massively-a-confluence-of-awesome-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/ask-massively-a-confluence-of-awesome-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/ask-massively-a-confluence-of-awesome-edition/#commentsFiled under: Game mechanics, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous, Crafting

If you'd like to complain about the ending, please avoid spoilers, be polite, and don't. Just don't.

Every so often, awesome things happen. Apparently, for reasons I cannot begin to explain, I can now dress my characters in Final Fantasy XIII-2 in N7 armor from Mass Effect 3. This makes me happy in countless ways. I'd like to have full-on armor customization for the suits, but then, I'd also like the game to be a totally separate storyline as opposed to providing a wholly unnecessary epilogue to Final Fantasy XIII. So I'm focusing on combining an awesome game system with a visual element of an awesome game.

This week's Ask Massively has nothing to do with combining one thing with another thing. Or maybe it sort of does, seeing as how it's all about crafting and gathering instead of killing stuff. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment, send it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: A confluence of awesome edition

Ask Massively: A confluence of awesome edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelycraftingfeaturedgame-mechanicsgatheringhumormassively-metametaopinionThu, 29 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/why-i-play-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/why-i-play-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/why-i-play-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Economy, Game mechanics, Opinion, Roleplaying, Sandbox, Dungeons, Crafting, Why I Play

EVE Online - Gallente Iteron hauler warping past a planet

I can't for the life of me convince my friends to sign up for EVE Online. In their defense, the game can feel like a job at first. There are no skinner box particle effects or angelic choirs signifying your latest achievement, nor does anyone shower you with virtual confetti as you graduate from the newbie island.

For these reasons and others like them, CCP seems to have topped out somewhere around half a million active subs at the game's high point. EVE is seen as unfriendly in some ways, but in actuality it's the friendliest MMO around if you're an imaginative sort with the desire to direct your own in-game destiny.

Could the tutorials be better? Sure. Could PvE missions be more engaging? Absolutely. Does either of these failings, or numerous others, detract from what is the genre's premier emergent experience?

Nope.

Continue reading Why I Play: EVE Online

Why I Play: EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescomplexitycraftingeconomyeditorialeveeve-onlinefeaturedinternet-spaceshipsmassively-metametanew-edenop-edopinionplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentroleplayroleplayingsandboxSchadenfreudesci-fiuser-generated-contentwhy-i-playWed, 28 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: March 26 - April 1, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/mv-guide-march-26-april-1-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/mv-guide-march-26-april-1-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/mv-guide-march-26-april-1-2012/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: March 26 - April 1, 2012

MV Guide: March 26 - April 1, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlivestreamlivestreamingmassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-guidemv-tvmvtvstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 26 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Panda express]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/25/mmo-week-in-review-panda-express/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/25/mmo-week-in-review-panda-express/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/25/mmo-week-in-review-panda-express/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

Mists of Pandaria - Mist sold separately

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

When the embargo for World of Warcraft's Mists of Pandaria media event dropped last week, few of us had any idea that the expansion's beta itself was so near. In fact, an NDA-less beta launched on Thursday, complete with an exhaustive FAQ and access scandal. Our sister site WoW Insider attended the event and assembled a splendiferous guide to MoP, covering everything from pet battles and female Pandaren to dungeons and battlegrounds.

If pandas -- I mean, Pandaren -- aren't your thing, stop fretting: Blizzard is already working on MoP's successor. And if WoW itself isn't your thing, then enjoy Massively's other top MMO stories behind the break!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Panda express

MMO Week in Review: Panda express originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 25 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Misunderstandings about our robot overlords edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/ask-massively-misunderstandings-about-our-robot-overlords-editi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/ask-massively-misunderstandings-about-our-robot-overlords-editi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/ask-massively-misunderstandings-about-our-robot-overlords-editi/#commentsFiled under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

Unfortunately, afterwards there will still be a lot of novelty robots out of a job.

As I personally have no real reservations about the impending destruction of human society by perfect killer robots, I thought I'd take the opportunity to dispel certain misunderstandings about living under the thumb of mechanical overseers. Specifically, I'd like to dispel the idea that we'll be living. Robots wouldn't be sending us to work in mines; they can build machines to do that faster than our frail organic bodies. Not to mention that those machines would whine a lot less. So don't worry! You won't be toiling for a monolithic AI for years; you'll just be obliterated or used as organic building material. Doesn't that make things better?

In unrelated news, it's time for this week's installment of Ask Massively, which focuses on the question of raw, unfettered action. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, mail it along to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Misunderstandings about our robot overlords edition

Ask Massively: Misunderstandings about our robot overlords edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionadviceadvice-columnask-massivelycombatculturedevelopmentfeaturedgame-mechanicshumorindustry-trendsmassively-metamechanicsmetaopinionThu, 22 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST