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[MMObility: Command and Conquer's new twist on the MMORTS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/mmobility-command-and-conquers-new-twist-on-the-mmorts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/mmobility-command-and-conquers-new-twist-on-the-mmorts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/mmobility-command-and-conquers-new-twist-on-the-mmorts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Command and Conquer screenshot
I've had my fill of MMORTS games. I love them, and I mean love them, but after being asked to look at the 567,386th title from the genre, I am getting a wicked case of tunnel vision. Sometimes I wish I could hit a switch and see these games with the eyes of a brand-new player, to truly judge their quality without any preconceptions. That's not possible, unfortunately.

Luckily, once in a while there comes along a title that feels fresh or does enough with design to seem new and clever. Command and Conquer Tiberium Alliances stands out from the crowd with its interesting combat and a casual approach to hardcore gaming. I have to admit that, at first, I was a bit bummed at having to take a look at yet another epic strategy game that would probably not feel that epic, but my mind was changed after a solid week of playing.

Continue reading MMObility: Command and Conquer's new twist on the MMORTS

MassivelyMMObility: Command and Conquer's new twist on the MMORTS originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedCommand-and-Conquercommand-and-conquer-tiberium-alliancesfeaturedmmobilitymmortsmobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphoneTiberiumFri, 25 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliance browser title launches today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/command-and-conquer-tiberium-alliance-browser-title-launches-toda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/command-and-conquer-tiberium-alliance-browser-title-launches-toda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/command-and-conquer-tiberium-alliance-browser-title-launches-toda/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances trailer
Command & Conquer fans, today's a banner day. The latest entry in the long-running franchise is Tiberium Alliances, a free-to-play browser-based title that's now available. You can pick from either the Global Defense Initiative or Nod factions, then harvest resources, build giant armies, and foster strategic alliances as you will your side to ultimate victory.

Players can take on the AI or each other, and TA's integrated status and news feeds makes it easier than ever to keep abreast of both in-game happenings and development rumblings. The game can be played on your desktop, your smartphone, or your tablet. Head to the official website to sign up and get started. Don't forget to check out the launch trailer after the break, and look for Massively's impressions on the game later this week in MMObility.

[Source: Electronic Arts press release]

Continue reading Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliance browser title launches today

MassivelyCommand & Conquer: Tiberium Alliance browser title launches today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedCommand-and-Conquereaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playlaunchesmmortsrtssci-fistrategytiberium-alliancestrailervideoThu, 24 May 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New End of Nations trailer shines some light on the Shadow Revolution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/new-end-of-nations-trailer-shines-some-light-on-the-shadow-revol/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/new-end-of-nations-trailer-shines-some-light-on-the-shadow-revol/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/new-end-of-nations-trailer-shines-some-light-on-the-shadow-revol/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

End of Nations -- Shadow Revolution
Last month, we got a look at the Liberation Front faction of Trion Worlds' upcoming MMORTS, End of Nations. Today, the company released a trailer highlighting the Liberation Front's enemy of war, the forebodingly named Shadow Revolution.

Players of the Shadow Revolution faction have their choice of two classes: the Wraith class, which focuses on utilizing guerrilla tactics to strike quickly and retreat before counterattacks can be made, and the Phantom class, which takes advantage of cloaking devices in order to launch devastating surprise attacks that can cripple enemy forces before they know what hit them. To get a look at the Shadow Revolution's units in action, just check out the official trailer below.

Continue reading New End of Nations trailer shines some light on the Shadow Revolution

MassivelyNew End of Nations trailer shines some light on the Shadow Revolution originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classclassesend-of-nationseonf2pfactionfactionsfree-to-playmmortspetroglyphpetroglyph-gamesphantomrtssci-fishadow-revolutiontrailertrailerstriontrion-worldsvideovideoswarwraithWed, 09 May 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Aeria Games announces its new MMORTS, Dragon Crusade]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/aeria-games-announces-their-new-mmorts-dragon-crusade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/aeria-games-announces-their-new-mmorts-dragon-crusade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/aeria-games-announces-their-new-mmorts-dragon-crusade/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Not sure exactly where dragons enter in to all this.
While years have gone by without many entries into the MMORTS genre, the list of contenders is slowly but steadily expanding. Add Dragon Crusade to the list; it's an upcoming free-to-play browser title just announced by Aeria Games. The game will feature six different races, each with its own strengths and weaknesses as well as a unique racial capital. The core of the game, however, isn't meant to simply be your choice of race; it's building an actual kingdom over multiple cities.

Kingdoms are meant to add an important strategic resource to the game. Players are responsible for the defense of their cities, forcing a balance between gaining new ground and protecting what's already there. Players will also be granted a variety of different heroes, mounts, and pets, all of which have special development paths to give player forces a unique flair. There's no word yet on when the game will go into general release, but potential players can register for the upcoming closed beta on the official site.

[Source: Aeria Games press release]

Gallery: Dragon Crusade

MassivelyAeria Games announces its new MMORTS, Dragon Crusade originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeria-gamesbrowserbrowser-gameclosed-betadragon-crusadef2pfree-to-playgalleriesgallerymmortsnew-titlesrtsupcoming-betaThu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[End of Nations Liberation Front info and trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/end-of-nations-liberation-front-info-and-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/end-of-nations-liberation-front-info-and-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/end-of-nations-liberation-front-info-and-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

End of Nations - Liberation Front trailer
Trion's End of Nations MMORTS features two playable factions. One of them is the heroic Liberation Front, which is featured in the company's latest video release. The Front boasts two classes: the hard-hitting Spartan, who drives tanks and "other infantry units with high defenses and high damage output," and the Patriot, who specializes in multi-role support units.

Both classes, as well as a number of selectable (and customizable) units, are highlighted in the new trailer, so take a look past the break and get a leg up on building your battle-ready company.

End of Nations is a free-to-play strategy title that is currently in alpha testing.

[Source: Trion press release]

Continue reading End of Nations Liberation Front info and trailer

MassivelyEnd of Nations Liberation Front info and trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>end-of-nationsend-of-nations-classesend-of-nations-factionsend-of-nations-unitsend-of-nations-videoeonf2pfree-to-playliberation-frontmmortspatriotpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamesrtssci-fispartantrailertriontrion-worldsvideowarWed, 25 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Illyriad MMORTS adding emergent mob distribution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/illyriad-mmorts-adding-emergent-mob-distribution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/illyriad-mmorts-adding-emergent-mob-distribution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/illyriad-mmorts-adding-emergent-mob-distribution/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Illyriad player city
Large-scale game changes are a risky endeavor when it comes to MMOs. Today's Illyriad update is no exception, though we're excited to see what happens as the title switches from randomly generated world biology to an "organic and emergent model."

Animal distributions will now take habitats, breeding, and migration into account, and players will notice various critters moving around the map and behaving in a more logical manner. "Now, each pack or herd of animals will be tracked in real time, its population increasing over time, and the pack splitting when the population grows to a certain point. Players will be able to dramatically impact the sizes of animal populations, which will have multiple consequences," says Illyriad founder James Niesewand.

The tweaks are part of a warmup to the game's extended trade and economic revamp which is due later this year.

[Source: Illyriad Games press release]

MassivelyIllyriad MMORTS adding emergent mob distribution originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-migrationemergent-migrationfantasygame-mechanicsillyriadillyriad-mmortsillyriad-patchmmortsmobmob-airtsSun, 22 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Reaching the MMORTS sweet-spot, slowly]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/mmobility-reaching-the-mmorts-sweet-spot-slowly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/mmobility-reaching-the-mmorts-sweet-spot-slowly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/mmobility-reaching-the-mmorts-sweet-spot-slowly/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Relaxed knight
As a player of many MMORTS titles, I have grown to understand that patience is not only a virtue but a necessity. Many titles from the genre are designed to make you spend real time to do anything. It's not that they are boring or tedious; instead, they are representing what it might be like to actually grow an army or trade hub and to explore the often massive world around you. The pacing is meant to be slow. These are not games of instant leveling or non-stop quest grinding. They're meant to be played in as little as a few minutes per day. This explains a lot of their success -- just imagine how popular they are with time-strapped players.

There is a time, however, after months of toiling away at building up various structures, growing a small army, or finally getting to the maxed out level in a certain area, when you can finally settle down for some real gameplay. It might sound silly to have to wait that long for glory, but come on... this is city-building we are talking about. It takes time.

Continue reading MMObility: Reaching the MMORTS sweet-spot, slowly

MassivelyMMObility: Reaching the MMORTS sweet-spot, slowly originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8realmsaeria-gamesbeau-hindmanbrowser-basedcasualfeaturedgolden-ageillyriadjagexmassive-armiesministry-of-warMMObilitymmortsmobilesnail-gamestradingFri, 06 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Trion previews End of Nations' armory]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/massively-exclusive-trion-previews-end-of-nations-armory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/massively-exclusive-trion-previews-end-of-nations-armory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/massively-exclusive-trion-previews-end-of-nations-armory/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

End of Nations - armory
Trion's super-secret End of Nations is moving right along in its alpha cycle, and today Massively has an exclusive piece of news for you regarding the upcoming MMORTS.

The game differs from traditional real-time strategy titles because it doesn't have base-building, but what it does have is something called an armory. Trion tells us that players will "set their loadouts, create companies, modify units, customize skins, and more" inside the armory. The dev team has just revamped the armory mechanics, and you can get a good look at the armory window in the image after the cut (click on it to zoom in!).

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Trion previews End of Nations' armory

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Trion previews End of Nations' armory originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armoryend-of-nationsend-of-nations-armoryeonexclusivef2pfree-to-playmassively-exclusivemmortspetroglyphpetroglyph-gamesrtssci-fitriontrion-worldsuiuser-interfacewarThu, 05 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ensemble Online gears up for beta, launches Kickstarter drive]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/ensemble-online-gears-up-for-beta-launches-kickstarter-drive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/ensemble-online-gears-up-for-beta-launches-kickstarter-drive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/ensemble-online-gears-up-for-beta-launches-kickstarter-drive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Ensemble Online gameplay screen
It's been nearly two years since we first heard of Ensemble Online, a browser-based MMO that combines elements from RPG and RTS titles. SemiFormal Studios is gearing up to launch Ensemble's beta testing phase, and the firm has taken to Kickstarter to help with funding.

SemiFormal bills the game as "the world's first MMORTS"; the company says that it allows you to "tactically control territory, harvest resources, and build buildings anywhere on an expansive, real-time, never-ending map." The game doesn't limit where you can build, either, and there are no text-based battles (nor do you lose your progress when you log out).

If that's piqued your interest, head to the official site to learn more about the game, and don't forget to check out the Ensemble Kickstarter page to contribute.

MassivelyEnsemble Online gears up for beta, launches Kickstarter drive originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaensembleensemble-kickstarterensemble-onlinegame-mechanicskickstartermmortsrtssemiformalsemiformal-studiosWed, 04 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Remanum]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/rise-and-shiny-remanum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/rise-and-shiny-remanum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/rise-and-shiny-remanum/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Remanum screenshot
This week I was lucky enough to come across a pretty cool browser-based MMORTS that offers no combat whatsoever. That's right -- this game is all about trading, conquering your neighbors with prices, and building a reputation that is better than everybody else's. Remanum is brought to us by the makers of the famous Travian set of games. Slowly, but surely, the developers are trying out different styles of gameplay that all offer an art style that is obviously their own. I was thrilled to see them again try out something different with Remanum.

So how boring is a game that offers nothing but trade wars? Well, that all depends on how much you care for scratching your chin, sitting back, and plotting. It's a game of patience and working with others. I never pretend that most MMORTS titles are supposed to move at the same pace as Vindictus or Guild Wars; games just have different styles. Remanum is a great game to enjoy any place and any time, from a few minutes to a few hours a day.

I had a few issues with the game, so let's cover those as well.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Remanum

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Remanum originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-mmofeaturedlivestreammmortsremanumrise-and-shinytraviantravian-gamesvideozandagortSun, 01 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zandagort indie MMORTS features 'finite servers']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/zandagort-indie-mmorts-features-finite-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/zandagort-indie-mmorts-features-finite-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/zandagort-indie-mmorts-features-finite-servers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Zandagort interface
Looking for an indie game to satisfy that online sci-fi strategy itch? Zandagort just might be the one. Or it might not, but seeing as how it's free-to-play, you don't have much to lose. The title is the brainchild of Hungary-based Zanda Games, and it's a browser MMORTS that features tactical starship maneuvers, a vibrant economy, and diverse gameplay options that touch on everything from trade to warfare to ecology.

What's with the name? Zandagort is a malevolent alien ruler who serves as the game's antagonist, and he's also a literal bit of endgame, according to the game's website. The title features something called finite servers, and "Zandagort arrives at the end of each server to destroy mankind. Players who were enemies before have to collaborate to prevail," Zanda says.

If that sounds interesting, give it a whirl and let us know what you think. Don't forget to tip us about other indie MMO projects while you're at it.

[Thanks to Jergis for the tip!]

MassivelyZandagort indie MMORTS features 'finite servers' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfinite-serversfree-to-playindie-mmoindie-mmosmmortsreal-time-strategyrtssci-fistrategyzanda-gameszandagortThu, 29 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 194: Bookah bookah!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/massively-speaking-episode-194-bookah-bookah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/massively-speaking-episode-194-bookah-bookah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/massively-speaking-episode-194-bookah-bookah/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Vanguard
Massively Speaking Episode 194 welcomes aboard resident Star Trek Online expert Terilynn Shull to talk about Tribbles and bits and why Star Trek doesn't have more "The Fly" incidents involving the transporter and local flora or fauna. Captain Archer would have been vastly improved by beaming him into a badger.

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 194: Bookah bookah!

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 194: Bookah bookah! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbrantbrianna-royceccpccp-gamesend-of-nationseonf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegothicguild-wars-2gw2horrorhumorjustin-olivettimassively-speakingmmortsncsoftopinionpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespodcastpodcastingpodcastsromrtsrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxsci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentsupernaturaltaboreatelontriontrion-worldsvampirevampiresvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwarwhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessTue, 27 Mar 2012 13:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 194Massively.com Staff01:05:44podcasts<![CDATA[MMObility: A few bad design apples ruin the whole bunch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/mmobility-a-few-bad-design-apples-ruin-the-whole-bunch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/mmobility-a-few-bad-design-apples-ruin-the-whole-bunch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/mmobility-a-few-bad-design-apples-ruin-the-whole-bunch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ministry of War artwork
The MMORTS genre is easily one of my favorite genres. There's so much potential in a game that is essentially a giant, endless boardgame with thousands of players. An epic scale occurs in even the smallest of titles because players control not only one or two grand heroes but entire armies that swarm from sprawling cities. Though many of Massively's readers might not hear a lot from the genre, I believe this genre to be one of the most popular out there. Browser-based access doesn't hurt, either, and generally the MMORTS titles I find do a great job of covering their design bases.

You know I have to play Devil's Advocate, however. Despite the fact that the genre is packed full of potentially wonderful gaming sessions, there is so, so much that needs to improve. The negative stereotypes exist for a reason, and I want to shine a light on a few of the more popular titles to show just how one or two bad design and business decisions might reflect poorly on the entire genre.

Continue reading MMObility: A few bad design apples ruin the whole bunch

MassivelyMMObility: A few bad design apples ruin the whole bunch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriabeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedevonyf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgolden-ageministry-of-warmmobilitymmortsmobileopinionsnail-gamesstrategyFri, 23 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[End of Nations closed beta to start in spring, open beta in summer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/end-of-nations-closed-beta-to-start-in-spring-open-beta-in-summ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/end-of-nations-closed-beta-to-start-in-spring-open-beta-in-summ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/end-of-nations-closed-beta-to-start-in-spring-open-beta-in-summ/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Replace tyranny with your own brand of tyranny!
If you're a fan of the underrepresented MMORTS genre, you've likely been waiting for news from Trion Worlds regarding the upcoming End of Nations. That makes today quite a good day for you because the team behind the game has just revealed the plan of attack for the game from this moment forward. Beta testing is barreling toward potential players (who are encouraged to register for an upcoming slot), with the game opening up sometime in the spring.

Not in the mood to wait for a closed beta slot? Hoping for one but not trusting your luck? That's all right -- open beta is set to start in the summer, giving everyone a chance to get in on the large-scale persistent tactical battles. Past that, players can expect the game to launch completely free-to-play, most likely sometime in the fall. The announcement video just past the cut also promises that players can look forward to a lot more in the way of news updates, something that should help contribute to the overall good feeling of any MMORTS fans.

[Source: Trion Worlds press release]

Continue reading End of Nations closed beta to start in spring, open beta in summer

MassivelyEnd of Nations closed beta to start in spring, open beta in summer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testingbetabeta-testingend-of-nationseonf2pfree-to-playmmortsnewspetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespreviewrtssci-fitestingtrailertriontrion-worldsvideowarWed, 21 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Utilizing Windows 8 to help with MMO chores]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/mmobility-utilizing-windows-8-to-help-with-mmo-chores/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/mmobility-utilizing-windows-8-to-help-with-mmo-chores/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/mmobility-utilizing-windows-8-to-help-with-mmo-chores/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Windows 8 preview screenshot
Not so long ago, I told you about my acquisition of an Inspiron Duo netbook, a 10-inch device that was not only a small laptop but also a touchscreen tablet device. It is a very sturdy device, and the flip-around screen works well. The main problem with the device was that it came with Windows 7 while only sporting a dual core processor and two gigs of RAM. The other main issue was that the 10-inch screen has a 1366x768-pixel resolution, meaning that it was often uncomfortable to read on it or play games unless I zoomed in.

Recently Microsoft released the Windows 8 public preview, so I downloaded it after reading that it was really geared for tablet or touchcreen devices. Sure enough, the same 10-inch netbook that was not getting a lot of use around here suddenly became faster and much more friendly to the eyes.

It's perfect timing, as well, especially since I will be starting my "chores" experiment in which I see whether scheduling my gameplay each day will help me with an issue I have been having.

Continue reading MMObility: Utilizing Windows 8 to help with MMO chores

MassivelyMMObility: Utilizing Windows 8 to help with MMO chores originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanBigpointbsg-onlinecastle-empirechoresdie2niteduof2pfeaturedfree-to-pftpglitchgolden-agegunshineillyriadinspiron-duojagexjunebud-abmilmominitroopersmiramagiamirimagiammobilitymmortsmobilepocket-legendsriotzonerunescaspacetime-studiosstar-legendstouchscreentwinoidFri, 09 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: My MMORTS is more MMO than your MMORPG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/the-soapbox-my-mmorts-is-more-mmo-than-your-mmorpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/the-soapbox-my-mmorts-is-more-mmo-than-your-mmorpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/the-soapbox-my-mmorts-is-more-mmo-than-your-mmorpg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Golden Age 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.

Have you ever played an MMORTS? No, I'm not talking about a single-player PC strategy game or city sim; I mean an MMORTS. There are so many to choose from that it would be hard for me to even begin to list them all, but I'll try. There's Illyriad, Ministry of War, Evony, Call of Gods, Dragons of Atlantis, Thirst of Night, 8Realms, Lord of Ultima, Golden Age and many, many others. Either you recognize some of those titles or you do not. Oddly enough, I've found that many standard, three-dimensional-world explorers do not consider MMORTS titles to be MMOs. I'm not sure why, but every time I stream an MMORTS live or write about one, I have to answer, at least once, the concern from the audience that what I am playing is not really an MMO.

The reality is that the MMORTS, as a design mechanic, genre, and style, is very much an MMO. I'd like to explain why in the hopes that many of you might grow to enjoy the genre as much as I do and that some much-needed light shines on the fact that the MMORTS is actually one of the last true MMOs around.

I think the task is to define "MMO" and to show how MMORTS fits in. We've attempted it before, but for a quick refresher, let's go over what I consider an MMO to be. You can add your own definitions in the comments section. I have no problems admitting that my definition could probably use some tweaking.

Continue reading The Soapbox: My MMORTS is more MMO than your MMORPG

MassivelyThe Soapbox: My MMORTS is more MMO than your MMORPG originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8realmsbeau-hindmacall-of-godsdefining-mmosdragons-of-atlantisevonyfeaturedgolden-ageillyriadillyriad-gameslord-of-ultimaministry-of-warmmommorpgmmortssoapboxthe-soapboxthirst-of-nightFri, 09 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with End of Nations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/hands-on-with-end-of-nations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/hands-on-with-end-of-nations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/hands-on-with-end-of-nations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

End of Nations
Real-time strategy games aren't exactly in vogue at the moment. The genre is far from dead, but modern RTS games, with the notable exception of StarCraft, don't tend to appeal to as broad an audience as do MMOs. Trion Worlds and Petroglyph's proposed answer to genre stagnation is the upcoming MMORTS End of Nations. In fact, Trion thinks that what's really lacking in the RTS genre is a persistent world, one filled with robots and post-apocalyptic fascism.

The team behind End of Nations has some serious industry cred. Publisher Trion Worlds is notable for its remarkably smooth-launching MMO, RIFT. Developer Petroglyph's pedigree is no less respectable (if a little dated), with titles like 1992's Dune II (widely credited for having inspired the Warcraft series of RTS games) and the original 1995 Command and Conquer under its belt.

My time with this game was spent during the alpha testing phase, and many things might change between now and launch. Still, the bones of the game were there, and I'm happy to share my findings with you, discerning readers. From what I saw and experienced, End of Nations just might have what it takes to become the first "triple-A" MMORTS.

Gallery: End of Nations

Continue reading Hands-on with End of Nations

MassivelyHands-on with End of Nations originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphabetabetasCommand-and-Conquerend-of-nationseonexclusivef2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onimpressionsmmortsorder-of-nationspatriotpetroglyphPetroglyph-Gamespreviewpreviewsriskrtsstarcrafttriontrion-worldsvoice-chatvoipWed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jump into Black Prophecy's past with gamigo's Nexus Conflict]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/jump-into-black-prophecys-past-with-gamigos-nexus-conflict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/jump-into-black-prophecys-past-with-gamigos-nexus-conflict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/jump-into-black-prophecys-past-with-gamigos-nexus-conflict/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Nexus Conflict
The world of Black Prophecy hasn't always been like it is today. In the past, the Second Species Wars raged between the cybernetically augmented Tyi and the genetically modified Genides who fought for control of an area known as the Nexus, where universes collide. In a press release today, gamigo AG announced that its new title, Nexus Conflict, will allow players to take a trip back in time to participate in these wars not behind the controls of a fighter ship but on the command bridge of a colossal battle cruiser.

Nexus Conflict is being billed as a "tactical real-time strategy game," and players will be able to run it right in their browsers thanks to the Unity engine. The title will offer both PvE and PvP missions, meaning that there will be something for the co-operative and competitive crowds alike. And of course, players will be able to customize their ships with a variety of upgrades in order to turn them into the biggest, baddest, planet-blowing-up-est starships in the Nexus.

If this sounds like your idea of a good time, then just head on over to the Nexus Conflict official site (linked below) to sign up for the game's beta test, which is scheduled to begin in March.

[Source: gamigo AG press release]

MassivelyJump into Black Prophecy's past with gamigo's Nexus Conflict originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetasbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfree-to-playgamigo-agmmortsnewnew-titlenew-titlesnexus-conflictreal-time-strategyrtssci-fiscience-fictionstrategyMon, 27 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[L.A.W's post-apocalyptic closed beta phase begins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/l-a-w-s-post-apocalyptic-closed-beta-phase-begins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/l-a-w-s-post-apocalyptic-closed-beta-phase-begins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/l-a-w-s-post-apocalyptic-closed-beta-phase-begins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

L.A.W. - Dudes with guns, also burning trucks
In our humble opinion, you can never have enough post-apocalyptic video games, and that's why we're pretty excited to see more of L.A.W (Living After War). Sure there's Fallout, Wasteland, and when it comes to MMOs, Fallen Earth, but the more the merrier.

Luckily for us (and you), L.A.W is gearing up for its first closed beta phase, and the title is available for download at its official website. You'll need a beta key to participate, of course, and if you don't have one yet, you'll need to sign up for an alaplaya account.

L.A.W is described by alaplaya as a PvP-centric MMOG with an RTS mode, and it "also features classic role-playing elements such as a guild system, dungeons, and extensive skill sets."

[Source: alaplaya press release]

MassivelyL.A.W's post-apocalyptic closed beta phase begins originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alaplayabetaclosed-betaf2pfree-to-playlawliving-after-warmmogmmortspvprtsThu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Empires Online ventures north with the Celts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/age-of-empires-online-ventures-north-with-the-celts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/age-of-empires-online-ventures-north-with-the-celts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/age-of-empires-online-ventures-north-with-the-celts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Age of Empires Online
Age of Empires Online has been bringing free-to-play RTS action to the masses since August of last year, but so far players have had access to just three civilizations: Greek, Egyptian, and Persian. All of that is about to change, though, so ready your shillelaghs as the Celts join the battle. This new civilization, which seems to draw inspiration predominantly from Irish and Scottish folklore, will bring players a variety of new units and strategies with which to drive the opposition to its knees. Whether you're wreaking havoc with the speedy Woad Raiders or sacrificing a deer with the druidic Augur, the Celts will certainly bring new twists to any playstyle.

And of course, a new civilization also means new quests. The Celts' quests will have players battling it out in the frigid north, where the icy weather will slowly sap the health of any unit caught in the elements. The Celts will also introduce stealth missions, such as infiltrating an enemy fortress without waking the sleeping guards. To see the new civilization in action, just click past the cut for a bagpipe-filled teaser video, then head on over to the game's official site to get in on the action for yourself. Sláinte!

Continue reading Age of Empires Online ventures north with the Celts

MassivelyAge of Empires Online ventures north with the Celts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empiresage-of-empires-onlineaoebagpipescelticceltscivilizationcivlizationsf2pfree-to-playgas-powered-gamesmicrosoft-studiosmmortsreal-time-strategyrtsthe-celtstrailertrailersvideovideosMon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Thirst of Night]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/rise-and-shiny-recap-thirst-of-night/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/rise-and-shiny-recap-thirst-of-night/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/rise-and-shiny-recap-thirst-of-night/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thirst of Night screenshot
I love my MMORTS games, for sure. I've had to work on my ability to look at them with the freshest eyes that I can possibly muster, mainly because I see so many of them. It really is a genre of details. The gameplay in different titles is often almost exactly the same, but little details will set them apart. Thirst of Night, a new MMORTS by Kabam, tries hard to set itself apart from the pack, but does it do enough?

I also have to consider that, for many players, these experiences I go through every week are brand-new experiences. For a good number of people, the games I cover are their first or second ones. While it is hard for me to fathom, I have to keep that in mind. So while I saw a game this week that was lacking and tired in some areas, I know that those same areas would be pretty exciting to a new gamer.

Like I said, I'm working on it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Thirst of Night

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Thirst of Night originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpkabamlivestreammmortsrise-and-shinythirst-of-nighttwitch-tvurban-rivalsvideoSun, 22 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: Week of January 16th, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/previously-on-mv-tv-week-of-january-16th-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/previously-on-mv-tv-week-of-january-16th-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/previously-on-mv-tv-week-of-january-16th-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Rusty Hearts
Welcome to Previously on MV TV! Our livestreaming schedule has picked up a lot over the past few weeks, and our readers have busy lives, so we know it's impossible to watch every single streaming event live. Fortunately for you, we save all of our streams all for posterity on Massively's Twitch TV channel so that you can view them at your leisure. Even better, we've got a roundup of a few of last week's MV TV highlights from the livestream team. Follow along after the jump for the best of the best!

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: Week of January 16th, 2012

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: Week of January 16th, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dawn-of-fantasydc-universe-onlinedcuoleague-of-legendslivestreamlivestreaminglolmassively-tvmmortsmv-tvperfect-world-entertainmentpreviously-on-mv-tvpwereverie-studiosriotriot-gamesrusty-heartssoesonySony-Online-Entertainmenttwitch-tvSun, 22 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aeria opens new server for Call of Gods MMORTS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/aeria-opens-new-server-for-call-of-gods-mmorts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/aeria-opens-new-server-for-call-of-gods-mmorts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/aeria-opens-new-server-for-call-of-gods-mmorts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Call of Gods - gameplay map
Call of Gods may not be a household name when it comes to MMORTS titles, but the free-to-play offering from Aeria Games must be doing something right. The company has just announced the addition of a fifth server, as well as a list of server-wide events designed to bring fame and fortune to some of its players.

Events include a ranked player competition, group boss fights, alliance quests and upgrades, special hero and gear customizations, and "mystical rewards" for the top five alliances.

Call of Gods is a browser-based MMORTS, and you can learn more about it at its official website.

[Source: Aeria press release]

MassivelyAeria opens new server for Call of Gods MMORTS originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamescall-of-godseventsf2pfantasyfree-to-playmmortsnew-serverReal-Time-Strategyrtsserver-eventstrsFri, 20 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: January 16-22, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/mv-guide-january-16-22-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/mv-guide-january-16-22-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/mv-guide-january-16-22-2012/#commentsFiled under: , ,

APB: Reloaded
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: January 16-22, 2012

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameapb-gamebiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorccpccp-eveccp-gameschampions-onlinecodc-universe-onlinedcuoeaelectronic-artsEVEeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-interactiveg1gamersfirstglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-stdioes-global-agendahi-rez-studiosjagexkabamliden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmilmommortsmv-guideperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweromrunes-of-magicrunescaperusty-heartssecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoesony-online-entertainmentst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicstosw-torswtorthe-old-republicthirst-of-nighttrek-onlinevirtual-worldMon, 16 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pick up a free copy of Dawn of Fantasy from Massively and Reverie Studios]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/pick-up-a-free-copy-of-dawn-of-fantasy-from-massively-and-reveri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/pick-up-a-free-copy-of-dawn-of-fantasy-from-massively-and-reveri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/pick-up-a-free-copy-of-dawn-of-fantasy-from-massively-and-reveri/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This is Dawn of Fantasy. You can have it free. You're welcome.
It feels like we've barely recovered from the giveaway whirl that was Massively's 12 Days of Giveaways, but don't think that's it for freebies from us. Our latest giveaway is a big one, and it's sure to warm the hearts of MMORTS fans far and wide.

Dawn of Fantasy has a purchase price of $29.99 US -- unless you happen to be a Massively reader. Reverie Studios has given us 1,000 digital copies of the game to share with some of our community. Simply visit our giveaway page to pick up your code, then get the game via our download link. When you're asked for your CD key during installation, enter the key you picked up from us and you're all set!

The codes are only good until January 27th, so grab yours right away, enjoy the game, and thanks to Reverie Studios for the giveaway!

[Sorry, all codes have been claimed]

MassivelyPick up a free copy of Dawn of Fantasy from Massively and Reverie Studios originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontestsdawn-of-fantasygiveawaygiveawaysmmortsreverie-studiosFri, 13 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Supremacy readying new update, Facebook contest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/star-supremacy-readying-new-update-facebook-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/star-supremacy-readying-new-update-facebook-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/star-supremacy-readying-new-update-facebook-contest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Supremacy - MMORTS interface screenshot
The dev team behind Star Supremacy is gearing up for its first update of 2012. The Colony Starship patch features new optimizations to the alliance system, under-the-hood performance tweaks, and new items in the cash shop (as well as a few price changes).

The patch isn't quite live yet, but you can look for it this time tomorrow. In the meantime, Barbily Games has also issued a reminder about its latest Facebook promotion. When the game reaches the 500- and 1,000-like milestones, all players will receive in-game gifts. When the 30,000-like barrier is broken, three randomly selected players will win Ear Force X11 headsets.

MassivelyStar Supremacy readying new update, Facebook contest originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barbily-gamescolony-starshipcolony-starship-patchcontestf2pfacebookfree-to-playgiveawaylikesmmortsrtssci-fistar-supremacyThu, 12 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Empires Online readying skirmish mode, new booster pack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/age-of-empires-online-readying-skirmish-mode-new-booster-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/age-of-empires-online-readying-skirmish-mode-new-booster-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/age-of-empires-online-readying-skirmish-mode-new-booster-pack/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Age of Empires skirmish video
Age of Empires Online is getting a skirmish mode courtesy of the upcoming Skirmish Hall booster pack. The new gameplay will allow players to team up and fight AI opponents in pursuit of experience and loot.

Skirmish mode will pit you and a friend (or computer ally) against four computer-controlled enemies, and each AI can take on a variety of different playstyles. Each style is represented by a unique leader, and there are eight of these to choose from.

Also of note is the fact that skirmish mode unlocks all of the game's units regardless of your overall level. If you want to preview some powerful Age of Empires units that are hidden away behind hours of advancement gameplay, skirmish mode is the way to go. Check out the skirmish mode trailer after the break for more details.

Continue reading Age of Empires Online readying skirmish mode, new booster pack

MassivelyAge of Empires Online readying skirmish mode, new booster pack originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empiresage-of-empires-onlineaibooster-packcomputer-allycomputer-enemymicrosoftmmortsReal-Time-Strategyrtsskirmishskirmish-hallstrategytrailerunitsvideoWed, 11 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dawn of Fantasy shows off the Online Kingdoms mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/dawn-of-fantasy-shows-off-the-online-kingdoms-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/dawn-of-fantasy-shows-off-the-online-kingdoms-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/dawn-of-fantasy-shows-off-the-online-kingdoms-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

War is not super-pretty even in a fantasy world.
If you've followed stories on Dawn of Fantasy, you know that the game offers an MMORTS mode in addition to its offline modes. What you may not know is exactly how the MMO side of gameplay works out in practice, and that's the sort of thing that's really important to know before you dive into a game. The team at Reverie World Studios has helpfully put together a video diary detailing the Online Kingdoms mode, showing off how players can experience the game in a persistent online world.

The focus of the game, naturally, is on creating and running one's own city; it takes some time to turn your plot of land into a functional city, and in the midst of all that you still have troops to recruit, train, and improve. It's a mixture of quest-based gameplay and more traditional RTS mechanics, but you don't need to take our word for it. Jump past the break to watch the full video and see if it looks like the right mix of both tastes for you.

[Source: Reverie World Studios press release]

Continue reading Dawn of Fantasy shows off the Online Kingdoms mode

MassivelyDawn of Fantasy shows off the Online Kingdoms mode originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>505505-gamesdawn-of-fantasymechanicsmmortsmode-walkthroughonline-playonline-strategyreverie-worldreverie-world-studiosrtsvideovideo-documentaryvideoswalkthroughTue, 10 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The argument for a time-limited server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/mmobility-the-argument-for-a-time-limited-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/mmobility-the-argument-for-a-time-limited-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/mmobility-the-argument-for-a-time-limited-server/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Travian banner
If there is one thing we MMO gamers love about our favorite games, it's the fact that they go on almost forever. Even when we log off, the virtual worlds we inhabit exist without us. Players continue to adventure, craft and explore the game world as we sleep. It's exciting, and it separates MMOs from the rest of the gaming flock. But what if the world ended? What if the ending of the world was part of the gameplay, an understood happening that marked not only the end of one chapter but the fresh beginning of another?

Time-limited servers end, just as I described. While I have not seen the mechanic much in "standard" MMOs, only appearing really in a handful of titles like A Tale in the Desert, there are quite a few MMORTS titles that use it. In fact, some of the most popular MMORTS games out there use time limits in their games. It would seem that many players enjoy the occasional destruction or closing of their worlds.

Would the mechanic work for other games? How can mobile gaming benefit from the short-term servers?

Continue reading MMObility: The argument for a time-limited server

MassivelyMMObility: The argument for a time-limited server originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tale-in-the-desert-6aloriahbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedMMObilitymmortsmobiletime-limited-servertimed-servertraviantravian-gamesFri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: 1100 AD]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/01/rise-and-shiny-recap-1100-ad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/01/rise-and-shiny-recap-1100-ad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/01/rise-and-shiny-recap-1100-ad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

1100 AD screenshot
1100 AD is a new browser-based MMORTS that is published by Aeria Games. It's new to me, at least, even though I find a lot of the design and ideas behind the title to be pretty familiar. The truth is that the MMORTS genre is about as repetitive and ordinary as the standard MMO model. Players will come across the same concepts as they have seen in a score of other titles. It's sort of the quandry of the massively multiplayer player: You have to play a lot of games to find that one true gem.

Where does 1100 AD fall in the grand line of copycat MMORTS games? Well, it's hard to say within a week, especially since I have not experienced much of what the game might have to offer like massive wars, alliances or world-changing events. But I can comment on what I found so far in this short week of playing.

Click past the cut and I'll tell you!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: 1100 AD

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: 1100 AD originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1100-adaeriaaeria-gamesasymmetric-publicationsbeau-hindmanfeaturedkingdom-of-loathingmmortsopinionrise-and-shinySun, 01 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joyfort releases sci-fi MMORTS Light of Nova]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/joyfort-releases-sci-fi-mmorts-light-of-nova/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/joyfort-releases-sci-fi-mmorts-light-of-nova/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/joyfort-releases-sci-fi-mmorts-light-of-nova/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Light of Nova
A new MMORTS bursts onto the scene as Joyfort releases its latest title, Light of Nova. The title takes place in a sci-fi universe "thousands of years in the future after humans have colonized outer space." Players are tasked with building the ultimate spacefaring armada, destroying their enemies, and uncovering the mysteries of the universe through the game's storyline. For the full details on this new F2P title and to get in on the action for yourself, just click below to go to Light of Nova's official site.

MassivelyJoyfort releases sci-fi MMORTS Light of Nova originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playjoyfortlaunchlauncheslight-of-novammortsreal-time-strategyrtssci-fispacestrategyWed, 21 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Supremacy needs space-men to help Santa find his space-sleigh!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/star-supremacy-needs-space-men-to-help-santa-find-his-space-slei/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/star-supremacy-needs-space-men-to-help-santa-find-his-space-slei/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/star-supremacy-needs-space-men-to-help-santa-find-his-space-slei/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Supremacy
Fun fact about Santa: Not only does he have to visit all of the houses across the world in the span of a single night, but apparently he's on galaxy duty as well. Jolly St. Nick will be making the rounds in Star Supremacy during the game's Xmas event, during which he'll be making appearances on the neutral planets twice a day. He's not there for pleasantries, however; Santa needs players to help him find his sleigh, and he's prepared to dish out Christmas stocking bounties as rewards.

Barbily Games is also preparing to roll out its Gemini update, which will bring back three PvP systems for players to conquer. The update will also include a helping hand to lowbies' energy regeneration, new equipment, improved construction, and the ability to retreat.

You can get a good look at the update in our new Star Supremacy gallery below!

Gallery: Star Supremacy

MassivelyStar Supremacy needs space-men to help Santa find his space-sleigh! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barbilybarbily-gameschristmaseventf2pfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygeminigemini-updatein-game-eventmmortsretreatsantascreenshotscreenshotsstar-supremacyxmasWed, 21 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Illyriad keeps players on edge with new live event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/illyriad-keeps-players-on-edge-with-new-live-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/illyriad-keeps-players-on-edge-with-new-live-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/illyriad-keeps-players-on-edge-with-new-live-event/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Illyriad screenshot
Who says MMOs don't have live events anymore? Triple-A titles, listen up: Your F2P brethren are doing what you won't. On Thursday, the citizens of Illyriad awoke to find that a massive rift had opened in the Northern section of the in-game map. A forum post later detailed the events and told of a mage from the Circle of Five who had recently been tampering with magical uses for the body parts of animals. Soon after, a blast was "felt by all for hundreds of miles in every direction." Scouts, armies and caravans were dispatched from curious cities. The next night, skeleton armies poured from the rift and attacked the investigators.

Illyriad is a free-to-play MMORTS that features city-building, resource management, deep strategy, free-for-all PvP, and a player-driven market. Thanks to HTML5, it works on any device. If dynamic live world events sound interesting to you, check the game out at the official site.

MassivelyIllyriad keeps players on edge with new live event originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddynamic-eveneventf2pffa-pvpfree-to-playillyriadillyriad-gameslive-eventsmmortspvpSat, 17 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[End of Nations Warfront 03: Interrogation edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/end-of-nations-warfront-03-interrogation-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/end-of-nations-warfront-03-interrogation-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/end-of-nations-warfront-03-interrogation-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- End of Nations
It's time for another episode of End of Nations Warfront, and this week, Cole Marshall takes players' questions from last week's warfront and interrogates Community Manager Myll_Erik, also known as Lance James. James answers players' questions as best as he can, speaking on PvP tournaments, tutorial videos, and life at the Trion Worlds offices. He also discusses the challenges of being a CM and details how the forums will be handled when the trash talk begins. For the full video, just click on past the cut and have a look for yourself.

Continue reading End of Nations Warfront 03: Interrogation edition

MassivelyEnd of Nations Warfront 03: Interrogation edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>end-of-nationseonf2pfree-to-playlance_jamesmmortsmyll_erikpetroglyphPetroglyph-Gamestriontrion-worldsvideovideoswarfrontwarfront-03Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Winners chosen in Star Supremacy ship design contest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/winners-chosen-in-star-supremacy-ship-design-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/winners-chosen-in-star-supremacy-ship-design-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/winners-chosen-in-star-supremacy-ship-design-contest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Star Supremacy logo
Designing your own spaceship is probably pretty high up on the list of things to do for most sci-fi geeks. If you're a sci-fi geek and a free-to-play browser-based MMORTS fan, Star Supremacy is a title that might be of interest.

The devs recently held a design-your-own-starship contest, and according to a post on the game's official boards, the results are in. Barbily Games is also open to player suggestions for similar events in the future, and the company is actively soliciting related feedback on the forums.

Star Supremacy is set in the far future and it features three human factions locked in a struggle for expansion and conquest in the wake of a resource shortage on the planet Earth.

MassivelyWinners chosen in Star Supremacy ship design contest originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barbilybarbily-gamesbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-mmocontestsdesign-your-own-starshipf2pfeedbackfree-to-playmmortsrtsstar-supremacyThu, 15 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Command & Conquer: Tiberian Alliances MMORTS announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/command-and-conquer-tiberian-alliances-mmorts-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/command-and-conquer-tiberian-alliances-mmorts-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/command-and-conquer-tiberian-alliances-mmorts-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Command and Conquer
"I gotta present for ya!" What RTS fan doesn't remember the classic Command & Conquer franchise with extreme fondness? If you're one of the legions of supporters, then this is a good time to be alive. It seems as though C&C is slated for a revival soon, with BioWare working on Command & Conquers Generals 2 and EA prepping Command & Conquer: Tiberian Alliances.

The recently announced Tiberian Alliances is being shaped as a free-to-play MMORTS in which players can choose one of three factions (The Forgotten, GDI, and NOD) and duke it out over a war-torn battlefield. Developed by German studio Phenomic, Tiberian Alliances will be playable in a browser and is currently accepting applications for its beta testing program.

Will this be the MMORTS for you or will you call in an orbital strike on its prospects? Hit the jump to see the announcement trailer for your first taste of the latest chapter in C&C history.

Continue reading Command & Conquer: Tiberian Alliances MMORTS announced

MassivelyCommand & Conquer: Tiberian Alliances MMORTS announced originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarec-and-ccnccommand-and-conquercommand-and-conquer-generals-2command-and-conquer-tiberian-allianceseaf2pfree-to-playmmortsphenomicreal-time-strategyrtstiberian-alliancetiberian-alliancestrailervideoThu, 15 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Checking out 8Realms from Jagex]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/mmobility-checking-out-8realms-from-jagex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/mmobility-checking-out-8realms-from-jagex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/mmobility-checking-out-8realms-from-jagex/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

8Realms screenshot
Jagex, maker of the very popular browser-based MMO RuneScape, has branched out into the world of the MMORTS. I call this a good thing, especially since I am such a fan of the genre. There are literally scores and scores of the strategy-based city builders out there. Many of them not only are similar to each other but offer nothing new, not even a slight twist in design. I have a few favorites like Illyriad, Golden Age, and Aloriah, so I was eager to jump into this new one, given that it is made by one of my favorite design studios.

8realms seems to sport a unique design. Players are asked to build up their cities and advance through different ages, from ancient times all the way up to the modern day. A trailer on the front page of the official website shows a commander admiring his army of sword- and spearmen, until suddenly a modern-day jet fighter nukes them to smithereens. All I could think was, "Is this game balanced?"

If you would like to join in on the fun along with me, you can join in VIP access by going to the official site and using the code MASSIVELY15 when prompted. Then come back and click past the cut to hear all about my experience!

Continue reading MMObility: Checking out 8Realms from Jagex

MassivelyMMObility: Checking out 8Realms from Jagex originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8realmsbeau-hindmanbrowser-basedevonyfeaturedgolden-ageillyriadjagexministry-of-warMMObilitymmortsmobilerunescapesmartphoneFri, 09 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[End of Nations' Warfront 02 details large-scale battles, new comic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/end-of-nations-warfront-02-details-large-scale-battles-new-com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/end-of-nations-warfront-02-details-large-scale-battles-new-com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/end-of-nations-warfront-02-details-large-scale-battles-new-com/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

End of Nations Warfront 02
In this week's End of Nations Warfront, Cole Marshall takes a close look End of Nations' massive scale and the new End of Nations comics from DC. It even gives the community an opportunity to interrogate Community Manager Myll_Erik. Players are given a glimpse at the large-scale battles of End of Nations as Marshall talks about massive, planet-wide battles.

He then announces the release of End of Nations #1 from DC Comics. The issue can be bought in stores or online at Comixology, and readers can pick up a small teaser issue, End of Nations #0, for free online. To top it off, the community is given the opportunity to "interrogate" Community Manager Myll_Erik. So head on over to the game's official Facebook page and interrogate away, but first, click on past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading End of Nations' Warfront 02 details large-scale battles, new comic

MassivelyEnd of Nations' Warfront 02 details large-scale battles, new comic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cole-marshallcomiccomicscomixologyend-of-nationseonf2pfree-to-playhumormmortsmyll-erikmyll_erikpetroglyphtrion-worldsvideovideoswarfrontwarfront-02Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dawn of Fantasy tosses Dwarves and discounts at players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/dawn-of-fantasy-tosses-dwarves-and-discounts-at-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/dawn-of-fantasy-tosses-dwarves-and-discounts-at-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/dawn-of-fantasy-tosses-dwarves-and-discounts-at-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dawn of Fantasy
Tired of just controlling one measly avatar in MMOs? Does your ego go unfulfilled by such restrictions? Then this might be the time to try something a little more... large-scale with Dawn of Fantasy.

This interesting MMORTS allows players to create entire armies, build up castles, and attempt to conquer the world -- and it's currently available for the masses. To promote the title, Reverie World Studios is offering the title at 33% off the normal price of $30, bringing it down to $20. Dawn of Fantasy has no subscription cost, so once you have a copy you can play indefinitely.

Reverie also extended its Dwarven Invasion promotion, in which players will receive free Dwarf mercenaries and a special quest for no additional charge. These promotions are only available for the next week, so if you're interested, you might want to get a move on. We've included the launch trailer for the game after the jump if you're looking to get a feel for what's going on in this game world.

Continue reading Dawn of Fantasy tosses Dwarves and discounts at players

MassivelyDawn of Fantasy tosses Dwarves and discounts at players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>505505-games505-studiosdawn-of-fantasydealdwarfdwarven-invasionlaunchlaunch-trailermmortspromotionreal-time-strategyreverie-world-studiosrtssaletrailervideoTue, 06 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny Recap: Evony]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/rise-and-shiny-recap-evony/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/rise-and-shiny-recap-evony/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/rise-and-shiny-recap-evony/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Evony screenshot
Yes, you read the title correctly. This week I revisited Evony. But don't worry -- I tend to write about a game's gameplay and how it made me feel, not the politics surrounding it, especially during a time when people are talking more about an instance of poor taste in lieu of a discussion about how fun the game is. In other words, I will only speak about the infamous Evony ads at the end of this column. if you want more opinionated stuff, check out our Soapbox column!

I knew going in that the game had changed since I last played it. I also knew that it would not blow me away as far as gameplay is concerned, simply because I have played scores of MMORTS games over the last year. But what did I find? What was good and bad about the game? And what about those ads?

Click past the cut and we'll chat about it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny Recap: Evony

MassivelyRise and Shiny Recap: Evony originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowser-baseddigimon-mastersevaevonyfeaturedjoymaxJustin-TVLiveStreammmortsrise-and-shinytwitch-tvvideoWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 20 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST