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[Jumping out an airlock is a legitimate mode of travel in Line of Defense]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/jumping-out-of-an-airlock-is-a-legitimate-mode-of-travel-in-line/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/jumping-out-of-an-airlock-is-a-legitimate-mode-of-travel-in-line/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/jumping-out-of-an-airlock-is-a-legitimate-mode-of-travel-in-line/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Line of Defense
Contrary to many of Derek Smart's previous expansive computer titles, Line of Defense will be "streamlined" to focus on a small corner of the galaxy. In a new dev blog, Smart outlines the scope of the MMO's territory and how it connects to his previously established game universe.

Line of Defense consists of four space regions, each with its own planets and moons. The regions are connected by jump gates in the Sirius/Barnard's Star systems pathway. However, when the game first launches, players will only have access to the planet of Lyrius, with other planets and moons coming afterward.

Players can teleport from base to base on planets using Dynamic Jump Pads or can transfer to a station via a carrier. Jumpgates, however, will allow players in vehicles to traverse entire regions. But probably the most interesting mode of transportation is to let loose with an orbital drop from a space station down to the planet surface below.

The one thing that Line of Defense won't have, however, is the ability to seamlessly transition between planets, bases, and regions without loading screens.

MassivelyJumping out an airlock is a legitimate mode of travel in Line of Defense originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>derek-smartdev-blogdev-diarydr-derek-smartdynamic-jump-padgame-universegame-worldjump-gatejump-gatesjumpgatejumpgatesline-of-defenselodlyriusmoonsplanetssectorstransportationtravelWed, 28 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Bringing back the glory days]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/eve-evolved-bringing-back-the-glory-days/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/eve-evolved-bringing-back-the-glory-days/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/eve-evolved-bringing-back-the-glory-days/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
In years gone by, exploring the unknown far reaches of the EVE Online universe meant setting a course for nullsec. With no way to install a permanent residence in the most lucrative far-off systems, players would launch dangerous expeditions into the deep with the hope of striking it rich. Nullsec was the only place to mine rare ores containing megacyte and zydrine, and piracy wasn't as common as it is today. For putting themselves at the risk of pirates, miners were rewarded with an income stream greater than that of any other profession in the game. It was a golden age in exploration that wasn't to repeat itself until March 2009's Apocrypha expansion opened 2500 hidden wormhole systems for exploitation.

Things have changed considerably since those early days of EVE. Player-built starbases and outposts have transformed the face of nullsec, allowing alliances to build themselves an empire in the void. December 2009's Dominion expansion brought a complete revamp of the nullsec sovereignty mechanics, allowing alliances to upgrade their space but dramatically increasing the cost of system ownership. Despite all of these updates and improvements, over the past several years we have somehow lost a lot of what made nullsec great in its glory days. Local industry has been replaced by risk-free logistics, and nullsec's risky but rewarding mining profession is now greatly overshadowed by safe highsec mission-running.

With a new iterative nullsec revamp scheduled to begin this winter, I use this week's EVE Evolved to speculate on what can be done to bring back the glory days of nullsec industry.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Bringing back the glory days

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Bringing back the glory days originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkonorbistotccpccp-eveccp-gamescrokitedysprosiumeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedglory-daysindustrymanufacturingminingmoonmoonsoreoutpostplayer-generated-contentplayer-housingplayer-owned-stationpvestarbasetech-1tech-2tech-3territorial-warfareSun, 21 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Graphical upgrades for EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/18/eve-evolved-graphical-upgrades-for-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/18/eve-evolved-graphical-upgrades-for-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/18/eve-evolved-graphical-upgrades-for-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Some time ago, I looked at the different graphical updates EVE Online has received over the years and what was to come. The ship graphics were renovated years ago with the Trinity expansion and much of the rest of the game was left looking dated in comparison. The Apocrypha expansion picked up on the upgrades where Trinity left off, with re-developments of asteroid graphics and most of the game's special effects. Future updates were planned, with promises of bringing new life to planets and everything else that hasn't been improved. With the Dominion expansion on the horizon, it now seems that those promises are being fulfilled. We've seen new planet graphics and even shiny new starfields on the test server but are there other parts of the game that could benefit more from a graphical overhaul?

In this short opinion piece, I take a quick look at the graphical overhauls that are coming with the Dominion expansion and ask which other aspects of EVE's graphics are long overdue for an upgrade.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Graphical upgrades for EVE Online

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Graphical upgrades for EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asteroidsccpccp-gameseffectseveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedgraphicsmoonsnebulaopinionplanetsprocedural-generationsci-fishipsupdateupgradeSun, 18 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online devs explain their plans for revamping the sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/eve-online-devs-explain-their-plans-for-revamping-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/eve-online-devs-explain-their-plans-for-revamping-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/eve-online-devs-explain-their-plans-for-revamping-the-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


EVE Online's sandbox approach to game design is one where where centralized, well-developed clusters of solar systems are controlled by NPC factions while vast, lawless tracts of space can be claimed by the players themselves. This 0.0 space (aka nullsec) contains some of EVE's most valuable resources plus offers complete freedom from the laws imposed in high security NPC space. It's the frontier -- the wild west -- that alliances of EVE's capsuleers clash with one another to control.

For all the freedom to use diplomacy, espionage, and outright warfare to get the most out of 0.0 space, players have long been hindered by the game mechanics of "sovereignty" -- EVE's system of establishing control over territory and reaping the various rewards that come with such control. The changes CCP Games are making to the game with the Dominion winter expansion aren't just about altering a few game mechanics related to territorial control -- they're about changing the rules of the sandbox itself.

Continue reading EVE Online devs explain their plans for revamping the sandbox

MassivelyEVE Online devs explain their plans for revamping the sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancesccp-greyscaledev-blogdominionemergent-gameplayeve-onlineexpansionsgame-mechanicsguildsmoonssandboxsci-fisovereigntyterritorial-controlTue, 15 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST