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Marvel Heroes shows off Iron Man in action

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, Marvel Heroes

Everyone wants to pretend to be Iron Man. You've got all of the ingredients of greatness: a crippling alcohol problem, a problem with authority, a tendency toward self-destruction... wait, those parts aren't cool. So perhaps it's for the best that Marvel Heroes focuses instead on the fun parts of Iron Man, wherein you have totally awesome power armor and the ability to fly. The latest trailer for the game cashes in on excitement for the upcoming movie, showing off everything that you can do inside the suit.

All of the standard Iron Man powers are on display, ranging from repulsor beams to flight to force fields. But which version of the armor do you have to use? Whichever one you want, as the game sports variants ranging from the original Iron Man armor up to ones lifted from the upcoming film. But you don't have to take our word for it, as you can watch the full video just past the break.

Continue reading Marvel Heroes shows off Iron Man in action

Marvel Heroes shows off Iron Man in action originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sam Raimi discusses why he's not doing the World of Warcraft movie

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Culture, Interviews, MMO Industry, News Items

If you're of the mindset that a World of Warcraft movie directed by Sam Raimi would be a nice thing, Blizzard Entertainment is the reason you can't have nice things. That's Raimi's story, at least. He discussed his withdrawal from the project in a recent interview regarding other films and several projects he's no longer involved with, but the World of Warcraft departure merits a lengthy aside.

According to Raimi, he had read the script that Blizzard had put forth and wanted to put together something better, so he enlisted the aid of screenwriter Robert Rodat. Rodat wrote the story, but when the story was pitched to Blizzard, the company wasn't terribly enthusiastic. He and Rodat continued to work on refining the script, only to find out later that Blizzard had completely rejected what they had done and wanted to go in an entirely different direction. You can read more details on the story from Raimi in the full interview.

Sam Raimi discusses why he's not doing the World of Warcraft movie originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Players look to crowdsourcing for EVE Online documentary

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, Events (Real-World), Sandbox

It's called A Tale of Internet Spaceships, and it's a movie that hasn't happened yet. A group of Swedish EVE Online players are turning to crowdsourcing in order to fund a documentary of their favorite online game, asking for a total of $6,000 through Indiegogo from fans.

If funded, A Tale of Internet Spaceships will be filmed at this spring's EVE Fanfest in Iceland.
Following the convention, the "full-length" documentary will be pieced together and finished by later this year.

"We'll be bringing our cameras to document the community in action: to capture the spirit of the game and to explore the sometimes complicated relationship between said community and CCP Games themselves," said project manager Petter Mårtensson. "We hope to find the answer to why the players love and live EVE Online in the way they do."

Players look to crowdsourcing for EVE Online documentary originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Taking The Hobbit back to LotRO

Justin Olivetti — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Culture, Free-to-Play, The Road to Mordor

Like many of you and what seems to be the entire population of South America, my wife and I got to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey this past weekend. It was slightly difficult in that we also had to bring a baby along, but an early morning matinee and strong sleeping pills (just kidding!) helped in that regard. After all, I couldn't miss a brand-new Tolkien movie, now could I?

What did we think? We both really enjoyed it and wouldn't mind seeing it again. It was a great return to Peter Jackson's vision of Middle-earth and several of the beloved characters from the previous Lord of the Rings films. As the resident Lord of the Rings Online writer here at Massively, I couldn't help walking away from the theater with an increased desire to log back into the game and perhaps roll a new character.

Maybe a Dwarf.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Taking The Hobbit back to LotRO

The Road to Mordor: Taking The Hobbit back to LotRO originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saga Kingdoms MMO and movie rev up dual Kickstarter projects

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, MMORTS

Gnome Templar, the maker of Saga and Captains of Darktide, is hard at work on the next step of its franchise with Saga Kingdoms. That the studio is looking to fund the project via Kickstarter might not surprise you in this day and age, but the fact that its also running a second fundraiser to finish its film based on the same IP might.

Saga Kingdoms is a persistent MMORTS in which players customize a hero avatar and look to expand their island nation through quests and conflict. One of its most interesting features is that it connects to a mobile RPG that acts as a two-way street for experience and loot.

The devs love the world they've created so much that they are also wrapping up a film in that universe called The Shadow Cabal. They claim that the movie's scenes have been fully shot, but it still needs about $20,000 for additional special effects and editing. Watch the trailer after the jump and let us know whether this is worth a few bucks or not!

Continue reading Saga Kingdoms MMO and movie rev up dual Kickstarter projects

Saga Kingdoms MMO and movie rev up dual Kickstarter projects originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Defiance takes the lid off of its open world PvP

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, PvP, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Dev Diaries, Defiance

"Player vs. player in Defiance is like nothing console players have ever seen," promises Trion Worlds Creative Lead Bill Trost. "Everything's different, everything's fresh, every time you play."

Thus begins Trion's latest Defiance dev diary, this one focusing on the game's open world PvP system. The team has dubbed this system the Shadow War and said that it is integrated fully with the game's PvE experience. Players have a choice whether to participate in it or not, but the action will be happening across a shared landscape.

Why is it this way? The devs say that they didn't want a typical FPS experience, in which players went through a solo campaign and then hit the reset button for multiplayer. The progression between PvE and PvP is the same, although there are special outfits for hardcore PvPers.

We've got the full dev diary for you after the break, so don't be shy!

Continue reading Defiance takes the lid off of its open world PvP

Defiance takes the lid off of its open world PvP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: Goosebump trailers

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Trailers, Video, Warhammer Online, Star Trek Online, Guild Wars 2, The Secret World, Global Agenda, DC Universe Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous, PlanetSide 2, WildStar

I love trailers. Man, I love trailers. I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but sometimes I'll spend a shameful hour just flipping through all of my favorite movie and game trailers. When the editing is tight and the music spot-on, my spine becomes infused with epicness and I feel a heady buzz that comes from seeing so much awesome crammed into such a short clip.

Just as in the movie industry, MMO studios are hit or miss with their trailers. There have been so many generic, forgettable videos that I pad the lining of my imaginary dog's crate with them. They're very absorbent and release the fresh scent of pine. But once in a while, there comes along a trailer that acts like the Dark Crystal, sucking my soul right into it before shaking it around and then releasing it. Trailers like that give me goosebumps, and here are 10 of them, all in a row.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Goosebump trailers

The Perfect Ten: Goosebump trailers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marvel Heroes whips up Avengers movie costumes

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Super-hero, Marvel Heroes

If you haven't seen this summer's Avengers movie, you totally should, and if you have, then you might be interested to hear that the upcoming Marvel Heroes is embracing the blockbuster's wardrobe.

The superhero MMO will be including the film versions of Thor's, Iron Man's, Black Widow's, Hawkeye's, Hulk's, and Captain America's costumes. The game's devs assured players that the costumes won't just be for eye candy alone but "will also tie in key game systems in fun and unique ways."

Marvel Heroes will offer many costume variants based on both the comics and the films, although the devs say that covering all of them might be a task that only a true superhero could accomplish. "Some of those experimental looks didn't exactly stand the test of time," the announcement explains.

Marvel Heroes whips up Avengers movie costumes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scope out MechWarrior Online's high-octane action

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Free-to-Play, MechWarrior Online, MOBA

It's one thing to hear about how exciting an upcoming game might be, but it's something else to see it for yourself. While we were certainly impressed with what we heard and saw about MechWarrior Online from this past week's GDC, we weren't able to show you how the game actually plays. Until now, that is!

Piranha Games just released its first public video showing in-game footage of MechWarrior Online. In it, three 'Mechs -- an Atlas, a Jenner, and a Hunchback -- are duking it out in one of the game's wilderness arenas. While the video is short, there's plenty of sweet details to pick out, such as a barrage of missiles arcing toward a foe, battle-damage on enemy 'Mechs, and serious-looking warnings that pop up on the player's HUD.

MechWarrior Online is slated for a summer 2012 release. You can check out the gameplay video after the jump!

Continue reading Scope out MechWarrior Online's high-octane action

Scope out MechWarrior Online's high-octane action originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: Age of Wushu's launch trailer flips over the heads of the competition

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Free-to-Play

Tomorrow, Snail Games USA will officially announce its newest title, Age of Wushu -- but we've got an exclusive sneak peek to share with you before that happens!

Sporting heavy Chinese themes and aesthetics, Age of Wushu is designed to allow players to pull off mystical, physics-defying martial arts moves like those you would see in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (or, really, any Kung Fu film).

The official trailer for the title, which you can see after the jump, showcases Age of Wushu's beauty and grace... as well as its lethal underpinnings. Characters attack in slow-motion while performing seemingly impossible Matrix-like jumps through space.

We'll be looking forward to seeing if the allure of fantastic martial arts will be enough to set Age of Wushu apart from the pack, but considering that the devs are promising that we can run up the sides of buildings, we suspect it might be one to check out no matter what. Plus, "wushu" is way fun to say.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Age of Wushu's launch trailer flips over the heads of the competition

Massively Exclusive: Age of Wushu's launch trailer flips over the heads of the competition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Baggins of Bag End

Justin Olivetti — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Culture, Free-to-Play, The Road to Mordor

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years to the month since The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring came out in movie theaters. It's even harder to process that Peter Jackson will be bringing us back to Middle-earth with the two Hobbit films starting a year from now. The Jackson trilogy, while beloved by many (including, I assume, gamers), hasn't gotten a lot of space in this column to date. The general consensus from the community is that the films and the MMO are separate interpretations of the same source material, and never the twain shall meet -- nevermind all the other LotR games, like War in the North.

While that may be true, they do meet in the hearts of those who simply love this franchise. I adore the movies, am a huge fan of the game, and like (yes, just "like") the books. But I think that it's worthwhile to go to the films for LotRO players because they do give a different perspective and perhaps clarify a few plot points that shoot over our heads in-game. If nothing else, if the movies can revitalize our excitement about exploring the lands of Lord of the Rings Online, then they've done well by us.

I mention all this because this past week saw the release of the first Hobbit trailer, which I must have watched a good dozen times, and it got me pumped up once more for this game world. In today's column, I want to use this trailer to springboard a discussion of how LotRO and the films share a common bond and how the Hobbit movies use many elements that Turbine's been working on for years now. Plus, a bonus Hobbit Tribute Tour!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Baggins of Bag End

The Road to Mordor: Baggins of Bag End originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEE Games confirms Total Recall browser MMO

Matt Daniel — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Browser

A few months ago, we reported that SEE Virtual Worlds had acquired a number of well-known intellectual properties, including the upcoming Total Recall remake. At the time, however, it was unknown how the company would put those properties to use.

Well, wonder no more. SEE has announced that it is working on a browser-based Total Recall MMO which will tie into the upcoming film remake. The game will be free-to-play and supported by microtransactions. No release date has been announced yet, but the movie itself is tentatively scheduled for August 3rd, 2012, so a similar release date for the game wouldn't be unreasonable.

SEE Games confirms Total Recall browser MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Video, Dark Age of Camelot, EverQuest, Culture, Star Wars Galaxies, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous

Today we're going to start a new feature of this column in which we devote a week to catching up with previous Game Archaeologist spotlights and see what's going on in these classic MMOs. I figured that it was a shame to give these titles a big burst of publicity and then dump them like yesterday's news. After all, if these games' communities are still alive and kicking, and if the developers are churning out new content, then it's worth a monthly mention, don't you think?

I won't just be regurgitating news here; I'll also peek at the various official forums to see what the community is talking about and highlight discussions and debates that are of interest. Not every classic MMO will be featured every month in this space, as I'll try to rotate around to make sure they all get their fair share of mentions.

October was an interesting month for classic MMOs in that several of them produced extremely newsworthy stories that got front-page mention on Massively. On a special note, I won't be covering Asheron's Call today as we're prepping a special anniversary tribute for later this month!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October

The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turbine celebrates Rise of Isengard's launch with monsters and movies

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Free-to-Play

"The more we pretend that Middle-earth is safe, the blacker the enemy's shadow grows," an ominous voice proclaims at the start of the Rise of Isengard launch trailer. While Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion was officially slated to be released today, Turbine jumped the gun and got it out yesterday afternoon -- complete with patch notes.

We'll be digging deep into Rise of Isengard this week on Massively, including broadcasting it on Massively TV and analysing the first few days of play in the next Road to Mordor column.

To celebrate Rise of Isengard's arrival, Turbine is treating its fans to an inspirational launch trailer and several new screenshots demonstrating the fearsome might of Saruman's forces. You know the drill: screenshots below, trailer after the jump!

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Core Gallery

Continue reading Turbine celebrates Rise of Isengard's launch with monsters and movies

Turbine celebrates Rise of Isengard's launch with monsters and movies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Catch The Raid's world premiere for free

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Video, Culture, Endgame, Miscellaneous

Hot on the heels of 2009's Second Skin, MMO players are once again the subject of an in-depth documentary about their lives and playing styles as Gamebreaker.TV is hosting the world premiere of The Raid for all to enjoy.

Directed by gamer Kevin Johnson, The Raid follows a guild of World of Warcraft players who tackle some of the toughest challenges of the game and open up about what being a raider means to them. The 20-minute runtime examines what drives players to the raiding scene and introduces outsiders to the collaboration and competition that goes on during these events. The primary focus, however, is on the social aspect of raiding and how it binds a group of people together for a single purpose.

You can catch the documentary after the jump until Wednesday evening at 10 p.m. EDT. Please note that the film starts around the 26-minute mark if you don't want to sit through the pre-show interviews. Give it a watch and let us know what you think -- did The Raid hit the spot or miss its target?

Continue reading Catch The Raid's world premiere for free

Catch The Raid's world premiere for free originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lord of the Rings Online fan film trailer released

Jef Reahard — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Lord of the Rings Online, Culture, News Items, Free-to-Play

Game-related fan films are a dime a dozen at this point, and if there's an MMO out there, chances are someone's made a movie out of its in-game footage and uploaded it to the web. The Fellows Hip: Rise of the Gamers is a horse of a different color, though, as most of its footage is live-action and it focuses on Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online as a plot element instead of the narrative canvas proper.

A Casual Stroll to Mordor is currently featuring a new trailer for the film, which tells the tale of a geeky guy who finds meaning (and apparently, a girl) while questing his way toward the top prize in a LotRO gaming competition. Check out the trailer after the cut, and read more about the flick at The Fellows Hip website.

Continue reading Lord of the Rings Online fan film trailer released

Lord of the Rings Online fan film trailer released originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alter-Ego: In blackest night, no pilot's light, awaits the city frights

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 14 May 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Lore, Consoles, DC Universe Online, Alter-Ego

Another week passes when those of us who want to get back to stomping around in DC Universe Online are left to our own devices. Meanwhile, Sony is continuing to work toward restoring its service as the days of the longest large-network MMO outage tick by. (We are, after all, all about the MMOs here at Massively!) Since last week's column, Sony Online Entertainment has announced that not only will subscribers be getting the free month plus a day for each day the network is down along with the Batmask, but there will be additional goodies as well.

For DC Universe Online players, that means the previously mentioned Batman and new Two-Face inspired masks (no word on whether this will be one mask per side or both masks for both sides) and 30 Marks of Distinction. Station subscribers will also get 500 Station Cash, and Lifetime subscribers get 10 additional Marks of Distinction. (For those not familiar, Marks of Distinction are what you need to get Tier 2 raiding gear.) Personally, I think the marks are a wise choice of bonus since locked out players re essentially losing the chance to run dailies and raiding, both of which involve timers. The amount is also especially wise -- it's a good portion based on outage time but isn't so huge that people can immediately jump into lots of T2 gear. The cheapest piece (back-slot) would take all 40 marks a Lifetime subscriber had.

Meanwhile, as SOE remains locked in its security and networking cocoon, we're left on our own to hunt down other DC Comics entertainment. As I'm also a player cut off from running around and then using this column to write about things I'm experiencing in the game, this week I figured I'd once again diverge from the game to the larger DC Comics universe and take a look at a few cool DC things to come.

Continue reading Alter-Ego: In blackest night, no pilot's light, awaits the city frights

Alter-Ego: In blackest night, no pilot's light, awaits the city frights originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython

Brianna Royce — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Video, Classes, Events (Real-World), Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Previews, PvE, Opinion, Hands-On, Roleplaying, Hands-On (Massively's), Events (Massively's Coverage), Star Wars: The Old Republic

Last month, Massively was invited to LucasArts for a whole day's experience with BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic. One of the perks of living on the West Coast is that I get to attend all these awesome in-depth Silicon Valley events and really expand on Massively's sessions at various conventions!

For all my enthusiasm, I have to admit I approached this hands-on with no small amount of trepidation. I'm a huge Star Wars fan (I still play Star Wars Galaxies!), but I fell out of "expert" range on the saga a decade ago. Like many of you readers, I've been wary of the hype and even warier of delusions of grandeur on the part of game companies trying to do justice to the IP. I was really afraid that it wouldn't be as good as I'd hoped and that I'd walk away disappointed.

And given the parts I saw, SWTOR's not as good as I'd hoped. It's better.

Gallery: SWTOR Jedi Immersion Day

Continue reading Hands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython

Hands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mmmmmm... SWTOR smuggler video

Larry Everett — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, Classes, New Titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic

In case you missed it last week, Machinima.com gave the world an exclusive look at the Star Wars: The Old Republic smuggler class. "When the Republic needs someone to get the job done, they always call me," the narrator snorts smugly in the video. He has the best ship in the galaxy, a sneaky set of abilities, and moral compass that allows him to do things the Republic would rather not be made public. Plus, he's got all the best connections to the underworld, right?

Do you have what it takes to dual-wield pistols or slip past guards undetected? Maybe you just like to be a smart aleck to people in authority. BioWare wrote the smuggler class for you. Dodge past the break and catch a glimpse of the smuggler's snarky class video. Don't miss the the shots of SWTOR's stealth and cover systems in action nor the Millennium-Falcon-type interior of the smuggler's starship. And was that a quick glance of a Wookiee companion at 1:01? Judge for yourself.

Continue reading Mmmmmm... SWTOR smuggler video

Mmmmmm... SWTOR smuggler video originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week on the MMO Report

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, News Items, Humor, The MMO Report

We can't always get the warm security of the familiar, and this week the MMO Report drives that home with a special guest host. Yes, Casey Schreiner is off for the week, which leaves Blair Herter to fill in on a summary of the week's important MMO news. And going into a weekend with two major conventions that promises to be filled with news, it's probably for the best that you have a roundup of what you should be angry about before it happens.

This week's edition covers the newest information to come out of The Secret World, the massive brouhaha that Final Fantasy XIV stirred up with the open beta and fatigue system, and ongoing woes of Realtime Worlds. There's also the Guild Wars 2 necromancer reveal, the announcement of The Bible Online, and the usual dip inside of the mailbag. If you can steel yourself against separation anxiety, you can find the newest episode with its guest host past the cut. As always, stay tuned for a new installment each week from G4tv and Massively.com.

Continue reading This week on the MMO Report

This week on the MMO Report originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battle of the Immortals launches an expansion teaser

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, Battle of the Immortals

There's something to be said for verisimilitude. Despite the fact that we've all accepted limitations in just how much a game can model at any given time, it's nice to be able to break things when you unleash whatever horrible ultimate spell your character of choice is packing. Battle of the Immortals recognizes this, and that's why one of the big features in their new teaser trailer is the addition of destructible environments to the game.

While the game's first major expansion update is ramping up for release, this trailer is for an addition not slated for arrival until spring of 2011. It's a bit of a wait, but the trailer already looks detailed and interesting, promising several graphical and environmental upgrades for the game. Take a look past the cut for the full trailer, and keep your eyes peeled for more news on the updates for Battle of the Immortals, as they seem to be coming fast and furious.

Continue reading Battle of the Immortals launches an expansion teaser

Battle of the Immortals launches an expansion teaser originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Getting down to earth with Stonefield in Rift: Planes of Telara

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Previews, News Items, RIFT

The team at Trion Worlds has been stepping up its game of late with Rift: Planes of Telara, showing off more and more of the gameplay and zones. The preview of the Fire Rift was appropriately dynamic, but with the most recent preview at Rift Nexus, the game shows off a more grounded region in Stonefield. An early zone for the Defiant faction, the area features battles against both titans and undead for low-level characters on their way through the leveling process.

The ancient Eth were responsible for bringing the titans to the land, using them as guards for the precious mines of the area... until the titans raised an army and engaged in a brutal war against their would-be masters. Now the titans are imprisoned within the earth, but their influence still spreads throughout the zone. It's quite possible they're behind the undead that are slowly spreading from Granite Falls, something players will have to investigate for themselves. The description alone doesn't do the zone justice, however, so click past the break for an embedded flythrough of the region. Rift: Planes of Telara doesn't yet have a solid release date, but it's shaping up nicely, especially if it continues to build upon such a solid foundation.

Continue reading Getting down to earth with Stonefield in Rift: Planes of Telara

Getting down to earth with Stonefield in Rift: Planes of Telara originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A look at Gamescom 2010: Part two

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Events (Real-World), Interviews, MMO Industry, Massively Meta, Hands-On, Humor, Interviews (Massively's), Hands-On (Massively's), Events (Massively's Coverage)

As promised earlier this week, we present part two of our video series documenting Gamescom 2010 from the good people at Maverick Media. In this one, we have a look at Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online, TERA, End of Nations, The Secret World's amazing booth and Ben before his morning coffee and makeup.

If you enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek humor of the first video, you'll certainly love this second video found just after the jump. So check it out and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Continue reading A look at Gamescom 2010: Part two

A look at Gamescom 2010: Part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's hands-on with End of Nations' PvE and PvP

Brianna Royce — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Events (Real-World), Game Mechanics, New Titles, Previews, PvP, PvE, Opinion, War, Hands-On, MMORTS

You know that scene in Contact in which Jodie Foster is looking out at the cosmos, telling the folks at mission control that they should have sent a poet? All the while I was playing End of Nations at Trion World's Gamer's Day event, I kept thinking, "Massively should have sent a StarCraft guru!" I initially felt very much out of my element. MMOs and RPGs are my shtick; I only rarely dive into turn-based strategy games. And RTS games? Forget it. They don't agree with me. If it doesn't have a pause button, I probably don't have time for it. I'm too easily distractible, too impatient, and too exhausted after a work-day of multi-tasking to spend my playtime multi-tasking even more. There's just no time for cooking meals, browsing lolcats, and chatting with the spouse when you're neck-deep in an RTS. RTS games are serious business; they require my undivided attention and concentration, and I don't like doing things halfway.

And yet maybe that makes me just the right person to try out an MMORTS hybrid like Trion's EoN. Most people who give it a spin when it hits the market will probably have a lot in common with me -- they'll be loyalists to one side or the other, not to both. Maybe an RTS novice is just the sort of person who can test out the game, present it to MMO gamers, and explain just what the heck this game thinks it's doing playing around in our end of the pool.

Or maybe I'll end up sobbing amidst the charred remains of my tank minions. You'll never know if you don't hit the break!

Gallery: End of Nations Gamer's Day

Continue reading Massively's hands-on with End of Nations' PvE and PvP

Massively's hands-on with End of Nations' PvE and PvP originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Soul Master trailer highlights battle

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Free-to-Play

Soul Master has been in open beta for almost a week now, and the latest trailer gives us a more extensive view of battle than we've had before, while hinting at some exciting options for alliances.

The game is designed to be an action-oriented MMORTS, and while there's certain to be an emphasis on strategy and planning, the gameplay we see in the trailer looks to be pretty fast-paced. There is talk of never fighting alone, units rushing to you in battle, and deadly attacks -- the blending of RTS and action seems to be coming along nicely.

Follow along after the jump for the latest look at Soul Master.

Continue reading New Soul Master trailer highlights battle

New Soul Master trailer highlights battle originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New LEGO Universe trailer: "Bring your world to life" [Updated]

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Trailers, Video, Game Mechanics, LEGO Universe, Family

The newest trailer from the team at LEGO Universe gives a closer look at what most players consider to be the core of the game: building and customization.

Developers Ryan Seabury, Mads Purup, Randall Furino, and Scott Brown lead us through the different building models that offer varying amounts of freedom and creativity, along with some interesting LEGO twists on character customization. Among other things, the game allows you to decide how you want to die. Do you want to fall apart into a pile of LEGO bricks, or something else?

Want to see all the options for yourself? Follow along after the jump for the newest look at LEGO Universe!

[Editor's note: At the request of NetDevil, we've replaced the European version of the trailer with the US version. Enjoy!]

Continue reading New LEGO Universe trailer: "Bring your world to life" [Updated]

New LEGO Universe trailer: "Bring your world to life" [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frogster releases Mythos cinematic

Jef Reahard — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New Titles, News Items, Mythos, Free-to-Play

Looking to get your Mythos fix prior to the game's 2011 release? Look no further than the just-released trailer courtesy of Frogster. The video, which runs a little over a minute and a half, serves as both a teaser and the upcoming free-to-play MMO's opening cinematic.

Mythos, a throw-back dungeon crawler, has somewhat of a checkered history, given that it was originally developed by now-defunct Flagship Studios before being shuttered and subsequently kick-started by HanbitSoft. The game is now being published by Redbana in North America and Frogster in Europe, and it features solo and group PvP, three distinct classes, and a unique visual style inspired by comic books.

Check out our interview with the Mythos dev team and don't forget to sample the trailer after the cut.

Continue reading Frogster releases Mythos cinematic

Frogster releases Mythos cinematic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lineage II readies Freya update

Jef Reahard — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Lineage 2, Patches, News Items

NCsoft's Aion and City of Heroes may get more press here in the States, but the workhorse of the Korean MMORPG maker's worldwide stable continues to be Lineage II. The long-running fantasy title is gearing up for yet another substantial update, with the much-anticipated Freya patch scheduled to hit the public test server on July 29th.

Lineage II's updates have always been rather meaty (and free of charge, provided you have an active subscription) and Freya is no different. Included in the patch is everything from new weapons, armor, and abilities to entirely new overland and dungeon areas. Small touches aren't left out either, with new social emotes -- including partner dances -- scheduled for inclusion, as well as reduced teleportation fees and an increase in available quest journal space.

The patch notes have yet to be released, but you can get a sneak peek at the projected additions on the Freya wiki page. Additionally, mark your calendar for the Freya reveal festivities and don't forget to read the official press release. Finally, check out some of the new armors after the cut.

[Thanks Justin!]

Continue reading Lineage II readies Freya update

Lineage II readies Freya update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Mytheon

Beau Hindman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Events (In-Game), Opinion, Hands-On, Humor, Mytheon, Rise and Shiny

Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play, indie or unusual game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet each Tuesday and Friday night at 9 p.m. EDT (8 p.m. CDT time) followed by this column the Sunday after. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau@massively.com.

I'm a simple man. I need a strong cup of coffee in the morning, walks with my two dogs, a kiss from my wife -- and giants. Lots of giants. Mytheon is a perfect game for a simple man like me. It installs easily and the controls are basic. It is by no means perfect, but I am not sure that it is trying to be. Like me, it's simple. It wants you to control miniature armies of centaurs, cyclopses and skeletons, and it wants you to kill things while controlling that army.

See? Simple.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Mytheon

Rise and Shiny recap: Mytheon originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garriott's Mission trailer offers a sneak peek before SXSW

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, MMO Industry, News Items

You may love him, or you may hate him; but nobody can deny the influence Lord British has had on the MMO industry. Many feel that Ultima Online was a shining example of MMO mechanics, not since repeated in quite the right combination. Later, Richard Garriott went on to create Tabula Rasa for NCsoft -- a game beloved by some, reviled by others. As part of his own trip to space, he launched Operation Immortality, in an attempt to draw more interest to Tabula Rasa. He went up in space, he came back down, NCsoft released him. We all know the story by now.

But what you may not know is that Garriott had a crew filming the entire time he was involved with the space program. They've compiled the footage into a documentary called Man on a Mission, which is slated to be released later this year at South by Southwest. However, for those who would like a little taste what life was like for Garriott during those hectic days juggling public appearances and training in Russia, you can check out the trailer on his Facebook page now.

[via GameSetWatch]

Garriott's Mission trailer offers a sneak peek before SXSW originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Aion server queue survival guide

Seraphina Brennan — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Culture, Events (In-Game), Forums, Launches, MMO Industry, Humor

So you pre-ordered Aion and you're super excited to jump into the game during the headstart release that's going on right now. You've set aside a whole block of time for your game play, you have your snacks at your side and your DVR ready to play some great entertainment while you grind your night away. You type in your username and password, accept the EULA, select the server that you made your character on during the pre-selection annnndd.....

...you get slapped in the face with a 2 hour wait time.

Don't worry, we've been there. Trust us on that. But here at Massively, we're not going to let you down in your moment of need. We've compiled a great list of fun things to do while you wait for that server queue to drop. Follow along after the break, and we'll be happy to show you the golden road to boredom elimination.

Continue reading The Aion server queue survival guide

The Aion server queue survival guide originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO documentary "Second Skin" debuts in theaters today

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, Machinima

It's not often that we talk about movies here on Massively, but the new(ish) documentary entitled Second Skin is definitely right up our alley. Today marks the debut of Second Skin in select theaters across the United States, as well as a free showing of the film at various websites.

Is the movie worth seeing if you're heavily into MMOs? Well, we try not to do reviews here (MMO reviews at least), but I would say it's definitely worth checking out if you enjoy MMOs even a tiny bit. The film showcases the lives of several MMO gamers (mostly WoW and EverQuest) to show how these games have affected their lives. There's a fairly good balance of good and bad, showing everything from the marriage of people who met in these games to a tragic suicide that was blamed on an MMO. Check it out all this week online at Fancast or SnagFilms, or at participating theaters across America.

MMO documentary "Second Skin" debuts in theaters today originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"EverCracked! The Phenomenon of EverQuest" to debut at SOE Fan Faire

William Dobson — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, EverQuest, Culture, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items

We don't doubt that many of our readers first got their feet wet in the world of MMOs with EverQuest, a game that gave rise to addictions so severe that it was often referred to as "EverCrack" by its loyal fans. It's these folks (this blogger amongst them) that will likely get the most enjoyment out of a new documentary called EverCracked! The Phenomenom of EverQuest that is set to debut at SOE Fan Faire 2009 later this month.

The documentary is hosted by Jason "Jace" Hall (of the Jace Hall Show) and features interviews not only with some of the main brains behind the game, but also with another very important group of people -- the players. We aren't sure yet when those who aren't visiting Fan Faire will be able to see it, but for now, check after the break for a preview trailer.

Continue reading "EverCracked! The Phenomenon of EverQuest" to debut at SOE Fan Faire

"EverCracked! The Phenomenon of EverQuest" to debut at SOE Fan Faire originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Will you watch the Watchmen?

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events (Real-World), New Titles, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Okay, so we know we're nowhere nearly the only folks in the MMO universe who also happen to be enormous comic book geeks. (If we were, City of Heroes and Champions Online would have a wee teeny population.) So you can imagine what the general level of Watchmen nerditry is like today in the virtual Massively offices as we all wait for the opening tonight at midnight. This morning, we thought we'd see how many fellow Watchmen geeks are out there, so we wanted to ask - how many of you are headed to catch the movie? Will you be checking it out at midnight, or later this weekend? Are you as excited as we are? Also, to make this a somewhat MMO related question - will you be checking out the Watchmen iPhone MMO or snagging the Watchmen goodies on PlayStation Home when they come out? Or are you sticking to blowing your extra cash on seeing the movie again?

The Daily Grind: Will you watch the Watchmen? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: The top ten EVE videos of all time

Brendan Drain — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, EVE Online, Culture, Forums, MMO Industry, PvP, Opinion, Machinima, Roleplaying, Virtual Worlds, EVE Evolved

Whether you like EVE Online or hate it, I think everyone can agree that it's a visually stunning game. Combined with the enthralling PvP experiences to be had in the game, it's not surprising that the game lends itself well to making some excellent videos. Films of EVE gameplay have been around since EVE began and large fleets now routinely bring a camera specialist pilot in a cloaked covert ops frigate to film their action. With the release of the premium client and the proliferation of good video editing software, the quality of EVE videos has improved significantly over the past few years.

In this article, I run down my list of the top ten EVE videos of all time.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The top ten EVE videos of all time

EVE Evolved: The top ten EVE videos of all time originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WoW movie still needs a writer, Blizzard's CGI team won't be involved

Samuel Axon — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Culture, News Items

When you've just released an expansion pack that sold more copies than most major stand-alone releases, all in less than 24 hours, you know you're sitting on a goldmine of a franchise. Blizzard, of course, is aware of this, what with World of Warcraft getting a licensed miniature game and a coming feature film adaptation.

And speaking of the feature film adaptation, we have some elusive news about that. MTV's Multiplayer blog had a chat with Blizzard's Frank Pearce about the project. The scoop is that the studio, Legendary Pictures, is still looking for a screenwriter and director. Obviously, that means the movie is very early in development.

MTV also asked Pearce if Blizzard's own world-renowned CGI animators would be involved in producing the special effects for the movie. Pearce said that the suggestion has "come up in discussions but it's not something we've really considered because it takes so long to generate just the brief amount of footage that we create for the game."

WoW movie still needs a writer, Blizzard's CGI team won't be involved originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Since the WoW movie probably won't happen anyway, here's why it shouldn't

Samuel Axon — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Culture, Opinion

Above is the sole bit of evidence that the World of Warcraft movie has seen any completed work at all -- one item of concept art. We know very little about the film, and the only news we've gotten recently is that Uwe Boll will not be directing it (admittedly that's very good news). Joystiq blogger Kevin Kelly is perfectly fine with that, as he wrote a blog entry over at Spout about why this movie really oughtn't ever get made at all.

Three reasons were provided: Dungeons & Dragons was a disaster, it couldn't earn back its huge budget even if every WoW player in the world went to see it, not even most WoW players know what the story of the game really is. There was a fourth reason, too, but it isn't so much a reason as why it shouldn't be made as why it won't be -- the concept art is all we have after two years.

It's true that the movie couldn't make it on WoW players alone; it'd have to be appealing to people unfamiliar with the franchise, too. But we really doubt that's going to happen, and it doesn't matter anyway because, as we said, it probably will never get made!

[Via WoW Insider]

Since the WoW movie probably won't happen anyway, here's why it shouldn't originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO / movie mashup wins award, opens in New York

Michael Zenke — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, ArchLord, Culture

Some of you may already be aware than an MMO is playing a major part in a motion picture currently seeing release in the New York city indie film scene. The film, entitled Ben X, follows the exploits of a young man dealing with the pressures of ... being a young man. He struggles with bullying and self esteem issues, but does so in a somewhat filmicly-novel way: by playing an MMO. It got a mention at GamePolitics, pointing at a New York Times review of the Flemish movie.

Despite winning an award at a Montreal film festival, the NYT reviewer doesn't seem to think the film is all that great: "However representative of the chaos in his head, the film's relentlessly paranoid aesthetics come off more as a formal exercise in social dissonance than an empathetic study of human suffering." From this bloggers perspective the MMO in question - Archlord - just isn't that great either. So ... good to see an MMO get bigtime recognition on the silver screen, but we'll wait for the World of Warcraft movie.

MMO / movie mashup wins award, opens in New York originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wanted movie spawns "Fan Immersion Game"

Akela Talamasca — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, Culture, Launches, New Titles, Browser, Casual

That fabled beast, Convergence, draws closer every day. Proponents of this phenomenon believe that one of these days, all media will be intertwined -- you'll watch a movie online, see a product, click on it to launch its related website or download its video game tie-in -- that sort of thing. As the Internet matures, and Hollywood wises up, we'll see more of this happening.

A step in this direction is the new "Fan Immersion Game" based on the Angelina Jolie action film Wanted. Developed by Stillfront AB, this is a web-based MMO in which players rise through the ranks of a fraternal order of assassins. Stillfront CEO Marco Ahlgren says in the press release "The concept of different fraternities of assassins lends itself perfectly to the design of a casual MMOG, and the unique objects ingrained in the property -- from ancient weapons to intricately woven hit orders -- are well-suited for a microtransaction model. The Wanted FIG provides an addictive game play experience for fans while generating online brand awareness leading up to the film release, and well beyond." Check out that marketing speak, wouldja? Decide for yourself if the game lives up to its own hype and we'll see you in the movie theaters.

Wanted movie spawns "Fan Immersion Game" originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Conan vs. Schwarzenegger's Conan

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Age of Conan, Launches, New Titles, Opinion, Humor

With most great movies, the videogame version will fall drastically short of expectations. Here we are, looking the official retail launch of Age of Conan right in the eyes, and we have to ask ourselves: will Age of Conan deliver on the promise of this 80's cinema staple? From everything we've seen AoC delivers in regards to action, scenic beauty, gameplay and excitement. If you have the computer muscle, this will be a gaming tour-de-force. Just the same, the Arnold Schwarzenegger Conan movies are writ large in your mind. You may still have lingering questions.

Today, we'll put those questions to rest. We've compared five aspects of the game versus the film classics. Not only that, but we've kept score. Plus, as an added treat, each argument in the movie's defense includes a wonderfully cheesy video clip to get that full effect. Read on to see who wins: the Austrian all-star or the Norwegian newcomer?

Gallery: Conan vs. Conan

Age of Conan vs. Schwarzenegger's Conan originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 May 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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