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[One Shots: Bamboo Kat's]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/one-shots-bamboo-kats/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/one-shots-bamboo-kats/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/one-shots-bamboo-kats/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

One Shots
If you followed MJ's Choose My Adventure in City of Heroes throughout the month of May, you know that veterans constantly recommended that she do one thing: roll blueside. More people play superheroes than villains, and if you want to group, Paragon City is the place. But I say the villains of the Rogue Isles surely have the best scenery. Massively reader Jeromai chipped in two gorgeous shots of the grimy skyscrapers of redside with this note:
One of my favorite spots villain-side is the Jackpot area of St. Martial, especially when it gets dark and the building lights are a stark contrast to the gloom of all the other previous zones. Sure, it's still a soulless Las Vegas-style strip wannabe, but I love super-jumping down the street as the music changes. This is my normal view of things when super-jumping. But if you get down to street-level, it's also surprisingly immersive. Notice the Marcone or Family gangster leaning nonchalantly against one building as the cars and pedestrians cruise through.
Both shots (and a few others) are tucked behind the break!

Continue reading One Shots: Bamboo Kat's

MassivelyOne Shots: Bamboo Kat's originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoactivisionbamboo-katsbetablizzardblizzard-entertainmentbluesidebring-back-one-shotscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfantasyfree-to-playfreedomgalleriesgallerymists-of-pandariamopmop-betancsoftnexonnexon-americanexon-entertainmentone-shotspandarenparagonparagon-studiosreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsredsidescreenshotscreenshotssuperherosuperheroesuser-submissionsvindictuswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 27 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: City of Heroes' Mission Architect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/some-assembly-required-city-of-heroes-mission-architect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/some-assembly-required-city-of-heroes-mission-architect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/some-assembly-required-city-of-heroes-mission-architect/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required
The few. The proud. The quest writers.

At the best of times, the fruits of their labors guide us along in our progression of a local or global story, immersing us in the world. Even the nefarious "kill 10 rats" versions can be mini stories that pull players in when done well. But how many of us have ever had a "I could do better than that" moment or have simply wanted to live out a personal story or share in a customized grand adventure with our friends? Someone wished upon the right star because with features like the Mission Architect in City of Heroes you can do just that.

I am just going to come right out and say it -- the quest builder is one of the greatest boons ever for player-generated content in MMORPGs. Besides housing, it is the feature du jour for the creative crowd; I honestly can't see how any game can actually go without one. During this latest round of Choose My Adventure, I had the opportunity to check out the system in City of Heroes and revel in the creativity of others as well as try my hand at developing missions. And I tell you, it is addicting.

Feel like trying your hand at shaping some stories for heroes (and villains) to star in? Stick with me, kid, and you'll be directing your own missions in no time.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: City of Heroes' Mission Architect

MassivelySome Assembly Required: City of Heroes' Mission Architect originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgame-mechanicsmissionmission-architectmission-creatorncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospgcplayer-contentplayer-created-missionsplayer-generated-contentplayer-made-questssandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredsuperherosuperheroesFri, 25 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you leave your current MMO for its sequel?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 Engineer
With Guild Wars 2 in the offing, long-time Guild Wars fans have an interesting dilemma on their hands. Trading up is probably a foregone conclusion in most cases, but abandoning Guild Wars altogether may sting a bit if you've invested a lot of time and energy into the original incarnation of Tyria.

The same could be said for faithful EverQuest fans when EverQuest II rolled around in 2004, and perhaps again whenever Sony Online Entertainment formalizes its EverQuest Next project. For today's Daily Grind, then, we'd like to know how easily you could leave your current MMO if a sequel were to materialize. We know you'd check out the new shiny, but would you leave the older title for good?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you leave your current MMO for its sequel? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdaily-grindeqeq-2eq-iieq-nexteq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-3everquest-iieverquest-nextf2pfantasyfree-to-playguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2mmo-sequelsncsoftopinionsequelssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar Wednesday shows off Eldan technology]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/wildstar-wednesday-shows-off-eldan-technology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/wildstar-wednesday-shows-off-eldan-technology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/wildstar-wednesday-shows-off-eldan-technology/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This has a name! I call her Vera!
Players might be exploring the world of Nexus in WildStar, but it's not their world. It belonged to the Eldan, and while the race itself might not be present, its technology is still everywhere. The newest installment of WildStar Wednesday takes a look at some of the automated robots left behind by the Eldan. They're not directly malicious, but they're also not particularly friendly, pursuing ancient objectives and antiquated functions with single-minded devotion.

While Probes are primarily meant for gathering information and surveillance, the floating eyes are equipped with shielding and directed-energy weapons to keep themselves safe. Protectors have a more direct combat function; the lumbering humanoid robots found gathered around important scientific sites. Last but not least, the Augmentors are rare but potent machines capable of injecting nanomachines into a subject to start a process of mechanical integration known as augmentation. Take a look at all of the machines on this week's installment of the preview column -- even if you don't necessarily want to blow these gadgets up, they don't have any such compunctions about you.

MassivelyWildStar Wednesday shows off Eldan technology originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioseldanhurry-up-and-launchlorencsoftpreviewsandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsWed, 23 May 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The growing, creeping power]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-growing-creeping-power/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-growing-creeping-power/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-growing-creeping-power/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
City of Heroes is a rarity. It's a well-established game that hasn't yet raised the level cap even once. Oh, sure, the Incarnate system is cheating a couple of extra level-like improvements out, but you hit the cap at 50 now just like you did when the game first launched. Compared to World of Warcraft, which ups its top level biannually, the game provides a real sense of security that the cap hasn't changed. Level 50 content is still relevant because the top end of power has remained stable.

Of course, there's a downside to that as well. While having a forever-rising level cap has its own issues, a firm cap has left us with an endgame that's grown bloated as only games with entrenched caps can. We're not constantly having to relearn the entire endgame so much as we're getting new widgets added on, and we're finding ourselves stuck with a growing problem of old-fashioned power creep.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The growing, creeping power

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The growing, creeping power originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercharacter-powercharacter-strengthcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospowerpower-creeppower-levelpowercreepsuperherosuperheroesWed, 23 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet talks about naming Guild Wars 2's world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/arenanet-talks-about-naming-guild-wars-2s-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/arenanet-talks-about-naming-guild-wars-2s-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/arenanet-talks-about-naming-guild-wars-2s-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
While it's easy to get caught up in the big picture side of the development process, we risk overlooking the smaller but crucial work that goes into gluing the game together. One of these tasks is the naming of the world and all that lies within it. Content Designer Annie VanderMeer Mitsoda wrote an ArenaNet blog post about the challenges and decisions that went with labeling everything under the sun in Guild Wars 2.

Mitsoda said that the team has established a system for nailing down names. After coming up with the name, the team sends the moniker through a "sanity check" that makes sure it's not too hard to spell or say. The team also tries to weed out the more obscure or overt pop culture references, then passes along the names to the team's "loremasters," who check it against an internal wiki for consistency.

She goes on to share a few anecdotes about the naming process, such as the evolution of Charr names, the difficulty of putting a label on an animal that has no Earth equivalent, and how the creepy rat-dog Murellow got its name. It's an interesting read into a different side of the development process that often goes unnoticed, so check it out!

MassivelyArenaNet talks about naming Guild Wars 2's world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetAnnie-VanderMeerAnnie-VanderMeer-Mitsodaarenanetbetacharrdev-blogdev-diaryfantasyguild-wars-2gw2loremurellownamenamesnamingncsoftWed, 23 May 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: The last mile]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/choose-my-adventure-the-last-mile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/choose-my-adventure-the-last-mile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/choose-my-adventure-the-last-mile/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Choose My Adventure road trip
You haven't steered me wrong. At least, not yet.

I am pretty sure there is that nagging worry at the back of the Massively writers' minds when they give themselves over to the masses for Choose My Adventure. Sure, there is an element of mystery and excitement, but what if... just what if the majority manifests an evil streak and sends you careening over an embankment to your virtual doom? Or banishes you to tasks that would make you want to lobotomize yourself with your mouse -- things like run Death From Below repeatedly? Thankfully, you all spared me from such torture. And with this week's tour of the Mission Architect system in City of Heroes, you definitely steered me right -- this is my favorite aspect of the game yet!

I am glad to say that my trust in you all has not been unfounded, and I will speak on your behalf to the others. The fact is, I have enjoyed our little road trip immensely and am sad it must come to an end. So let's take one last cruise through City of Heroes together before you drive off into the sunset with Eliot.

Gallery: CMA: City of Heroes

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: The last mile

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: The last mile originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseschoose-my-adventureChoose-my-adventure-city-of-heroeschoose-my-adventure-cohchoose-my-adventure-mj-guthriecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscmacohcovcoxdecoratingf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalleriesgalleryhands-onhousingmission-architectncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-missionspollpollsreaders-choicescreenshotssuperherosuperheroesvotevotingWed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet confirms no beta for this weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/arenanet-confirms-no-beta-for-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/arenanet-confirms-no-beta-for-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/arenanet-confirms-no-beta-for-this-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2 concept art
In response to increased agitation among impatient fans, ArenaNet's Martin Kerstein graced the Guild Wars 2 Facebook page with a bit of confirmation: There will be no beta weekend event this coming weekend. This stretches the BWE schedule longer than the one-per-month that the team is trying to adhere to, but Kerstein included some explanation that will hopefully keep fans from panicking.
Our BWE1 was super successful, we exceeded our expectations. As some of you might have experienced first hand, this lead to some technical issues. To make sure we are not running into the same situation for BWE2, we recently had a stress test, and we are currently deploying a lot of additional hardware in our datacenters.

We will be able to tell you exactly when BWE2 will take place as soon as all the hardware has been deployed.
While this wasn't met with glee by most fans, the news does allow folks to carry on with their lives and make full use of the upcoming holiday weekend. Moreover, the wait will likely be worthwhile, as additional hardware to support the player flood that will descend on the data centers for the next BWE will mean greater enjoyment for more people.

MassivelyArenaNet confirms no beta for this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-weekend-eventbweBWE2community-team-crushers-of-dreamsfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftTue, 22 May 2012 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Touring the Snowden Drifts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-the-snowden-drifts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-the-snowden-drifts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-the-snowden-drifts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
I pretty much went all Norn for the stress test last week. Alone (like a true Norn), I ventured to the highest, loneliest peaks of Snowden Drifts, swam in the darkest ice caves, and faced the largest metric crap-ton of Sons of Svanir imaginable.

As my Necromancer slid what felt like the nine hundredth Son off of her dagger blades, I took the time to look around soak up the view; there's nothing quite like rallying three times in a fight against a whole passel of renegade Norn to make a girl really appreciate the scenery.

Say what you will (and this being the Internet, many folks do) about whether or not having to zone between maps is, like, the ultimate sign that the game isn't truly "massively multiplayer," but each and every map we've seen so far in Guild Wars 2 is packed to the brim with excitement.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Touring the Snowden Drifts

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Touring the Snowden Drifts originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgalleriesgalleryguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftnornopinionscreenshotscreenshotssons-of-svanirTue, 22 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes puts players in the action with its Summer Blockbuster Event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/city-of-heroes-puts-players-in-the-action-with-its-summer-blockb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/city-of-heroes-puts-players-in-the-action-with-its-summer-blockb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/city-of-heroes-puts-players-in-the-action-with-its-summer-blockb/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- City of Heroes
Summer is almost officially upon us, and you know what that means: summer blockbusters! But we're not talking about the movies; we're talking about City of Heroes' Summer Blockbuster Event, which will put players in scenarios straight out of huge summer films, but with a special Paragon Studios twist.

The double-feature begins with Time Gladiator, which puts players in the coliseum's spotlight as they go head-to-head with opponents pulled from across the annals of time, such as "deadly assassins, outlaw gunslingers, cybernetic soldiers... and the mighty God-Champion." Of course, if suave subterfuge is more your style, perhaps The Casino Heist will tickle your fancy. Ocean's Eleven's got nothin' on this scenario, which puts players in charge of busting up the Tyrant's Palace Casino. Of course, they'll have to do something about the Tyrant's "armed guards and state-of-the-art security" first. The Summer Blockbuster Event goes live on July 10th, so grab some popcorn and get ready for action.

[Source: Paragon Studios press release]

MassivelyCity of Heroes puts players in the action with its Summer Blockbuster Event originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxeventsf2pfree-to-playfreedomin-game-eventsncsoftparagonparagon-studiossummer-blockbuster-eventsuperherosuperheroesthe-casino-heisttime-gladiatorTue, 22 May 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 202: Rubbernecking at the scene of an MMO accident]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/massively-speaking-episode-202-rubbernecking-at-the-scene-of-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/massively-speaking-episode-202-rubbernecking-at-the-scene-of-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/massively-speaking-episode-202-rubbernecking-at-the-scene-of-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Online
Massively Speaking Episode 202 is hot at the scene of the 38 Studios disaster, and without hyperbole we can say that this is more tragic than Pompeii, the Titanic, and Showgirls combined. Will Curt Schilling's dream team survive this financial crisis? We brought expert analyst Eliot Lefebvre on the podcast to give us his opinion.

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.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 202: Rubbernecking at the scene of an MMO accident

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 202: Rubbernecking at the scene of an MMO accident originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosaction-rpganetarenanetbattlenetbethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrantbrianna-roycecash-shopcopernicuscurt-schillingd3daggerfalldiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiielder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinef2pfamilyfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgothic-fantasyguild-wars-2gw2humorjustin-olivettikid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentmassively-speakingmorrowindmultiplayerncsoftobliviononline-multiplayeropinionpirate101please-dont-suckpodcastpodcastingpodcastsproject-copernicuspvproguelikerpgsandboxskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpwizard101zenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosTue, 22 May 2012 15:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 202Massively.com Staff01:04:42podcasts<![CDATA[ArenaNet president defends microtransactions and in-game RMT in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/guild-wars-2-president-defends-microtransactions-and-in-game-rmt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/guild-wars-2-president-defends-microtransactions-and-in-game-rmt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/guild-wars-2-president-defends-microtransactions-and-in-game-rmt/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
MMOs have to make money; that's a fact of life (and of business) ArenaNet President Mike O'Brien knows quite well. In an interview with VentureBeat, O'Brien explained how the studio is handling the monetization for Guild Wars 2 and blasts RMT companies for their practices.

O'Brien addressed why Guild Wars 2 is being offered not as a straight free-to-play title but as a retail product with an up-front cost. "The answer is we're really focused on creating the highest-quality MMO, not the lowest-cost MMO," he replied. "I think Guild Wars 2 is one of the best values in gaming, period. Where else can you get this many hours of enjoyment, of content, of polish, of replayability, for $60?"

He also took the opportunity to expand upon his own blog post covering microtransactions from a few weeks ago. "Creating a microtransaction system that doesn't upset or alienate your player base is straightforward, once you clearly define what's in-bounds and what's out-of-bounds," O'Brien stated. He says that ArenaNet wants to be "open and honest" with players regarding the in-game store options and promises that these will be "non-essential additions to the game and convenience services" only.

O'Brien also had strong words about the shady practices of RMT companies, practices that ArenaNet is trying to combat by offering its own in-game RMT system. "Where there's a real profit incentive, someone out there in the world will lie, cheat, and steal to make that profit, " he said. "By letting players trade directly with each other, we take the power away from RMT companies and give it to the entire playerbase."

MassivelyArenaNet president defends microtransactions and in-game RMT in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabusiness-modelbusiness-modelscash-shopfantasyguild-wars-2gw2in-game-storeinterviewitem-shopmicrotransactionMicrotransactionsmike-o-brienmike-obrienmonetizationncsoftreal-money-tradingrmtventurebeatTue, 22 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Touring Tiamaranta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/wings-over-atreia-touring-tiamaranta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/wings-over-atreia-touring-tiamaranta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/wings-over-atreia-touring-tiamaranta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia
If the eeriness of the truce between the Elyos and the Asmodians in Aion's new land of Sarpan wigs you out and makes you long for a good old-fashioned tussle, you can always head on over to Tiamaranta. Although the entire zone is not open for PvP, all four corners and the center are cordoned off for your opponent-bashing pleasure. In fact, Tiamaranta's Eye is often hopping as both sides contest mobs and try to land one of the bosses.

But even if you aren't in the mood for a bloody round of patty-cake, there is plenty of PvE and exploring to be had in this ecologically diverse land with a variety of new mobs to see (and dispatch) and new tasks to accomplish. Not able to make the trip yourself right now? Join Wings over Atreia's guided tour and get a taste of Tiamaranta.

Gallery: Aion: Ascension

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Touring Tiamaranta

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Touring Tiamaranta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionascensionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguideguidesHearts-of-TiamatncsoftopinionpvepvpsiegesiegesTiamarantaTiamarantas-Eyetourwings-over-atreiaMon, 21 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars
As many Guild Wars players know, Guild Wars 2 takes place in the same world and often in the same areas -- just 250 years after its predecessor. Because of this, ArenaNet elected not to wipe the slate clean and start over with 100% new environments but instead to incorporate old locales and landmarks into its upcoming game.

Guild Wars fan Claire became fascinated with this concept and has dedicated a new blog to documenting all of the visual changes in the world between the first and second game. It's called Project Tyria, and each post consists of several Guild Wars locales contrasted with screenshots of the same areas from the sequel.

Claire writes, "I've always loved the graphics of the Guild Wars games and have grown to love the world of Tyria. We were there in the before times, and now we arrive again in the after."

It's fascinating to see how ArenaNet has envisioned 250 years taking its toll on the monuments, cities, and vales of the original game; realizing the importance of keeping the world accurate for the hardcore fans seems to be a noted priority for the team. Head over to Project Tyria to see more on the comparison screenshots.

MassivelyFan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcompare-and-contrastcomparisonfan-blogfan-sitefansitefantasyguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2ncsoftproject-tyriascreenshotstyriaMon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Do you believe that the MMO genre has been stuck in a rut over the past few years? So does Christopher Lye, the global brand director for ArenaNet, who publicly denounced the post-World of Warcraft trend in the industry as stagnant.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Lye stated that Guild Wars 2 is walking the walk when it comes to genuinely challenging the status quo in the industry. "Honestly, I think the problem is that there's been a lack of change in MMO design and that Guild Wars 2 is a reaction to that," he said. "People will call this risky, but we think it's riskier just to churn out the same MMO that everyone has played before."

Lye pointed to Guild Wars 2's scaling dynamic event system and its action combat as examples of how ArenaNet is forging its own path. Observing that player consumption of content is "virtually insatiable," Lye said that the team has developed tools to allow it to implement changes and additions to dynamic events in hours, not weeks.

Is this industry stagnation coming to an end? Lye says yes: "We're finally seeing a point where companies realize that they're not going to create the next great MMO by just copying what's come before."

MassivelyArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatactivisionanetarenanetbetablizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-lyechristopher-lyedynamic-eventsfantasygamasutraguild-wars-2gw2industryinterviewmmo-industryncsoftstagnanttrendwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: The week of May 12th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Previously On banner
What a week of livestreaming! We've got quite the variety and tons of hours of video to watch. What's that? You had to work and missed half of the cool streams we showed? Don't worry! I gather all of the best streams from the week's collection and list them for you right here. Still, you need to bookmark our livestream page so you can see which videos are going to be shown during the week, but if you miss any, you can check out the recap here. That's why we do it.

This week we had a lot to offer. First we had good old Mike jumping into EVE Online for some space action, then into TERA for some scantily clad combat! He then explores some of the great browser-based game Drakensang Online. MJ brought a ton of goodies to the streaming table, goodies like a run-through in EverQuest II, some base-jumping in City of Heroes, a bit of hardcore survival in Xsyon, and a flight around the beautiful lands of Aion. I rounded out the end by streaming some BatMUD, a cool MUD that has been around since many of you have been in diapers!

Click past the cut and grab some popcorn. Keep the butter light but add some salt. Thanks.

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of May 12th

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of May 12th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionascensionBatMUDBigpointblueholebluehole-studiosbrowser-basedccpccp-gamescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdrakensangdrakensang-onlineen-masseen-masse-entertainmenteq-2eq-iiEQ2eqiieveeve-onlineEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedominternet-spaceshipslivestreamingmassively-streamteammassively-tvmudmv-tvmvtvnc-softncsoftnotoriousnotorious-gamesparagonparagon-studiospost-apocpost-apocalypticpvpround-uproundupsandboxsci-fantasysci-fiSOEsonySony-Online-Entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinestreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamsuperherosuperheroesteratruly-freetwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosxsyonSun, 20 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop earnings call adds to Guild Wars 2 release date speculation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/gamestop-earnings-call-adds-to-guild-wars-2-release-date-specula/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/gamestop-earnings-call-adds-to-guild-wars-2-release-date-specula/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/gamestop-earnings-call-adds-to-guild-wars-2-release-date-specula/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Image
Since players aren't tremendously happy with ArenaNet's answer of "when it's ready" every time the question of the Guild Wars 2 release date comes up, any hint of further clarification is something to be prized. As a game retailer, dates are the sort of thing that come up in GameStop's earnings calls. Covering the Q1 conference call released today, Gamespot has CFO Robert Lloyd stating that Guild Wars 2 has been bumped out of the current quarter, putting its release sometime after July. It's worth noting that as of this posting, GameStop's online listing still had the Guild Wars 2 release date as June 26th.

As has been repeated countless times by ArenaNet devs, no information should be treated as official unless it's directly from them. Don't let that stop you from pulling out your favorite tinfoil hat and cooking up some speculations, though.

MassivelyGameStop earnings call adds to Guild Wars 2 release date speculation originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetearnings-callfantasygamespotgamestopguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftreleaserelease-date-speculationrobert-lloydrumormongersoon-TMThu, 17 May 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar Thursday brings the Metal Maw action]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/wildstar-thursday-brings-the-metal-maw-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/wildstar-thursday-brings-the-metal-maw-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/wildstar-thursday-brings-the-metal-maw-action/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

WildStar Metal Maw
Metal Maw, the brain child of a live drawing session conceived at last year's Gamescom, is featured once again in this week's WildStar "Wednesday" -- and this time he's not just some concept art or a 3-D model but a fully animated death-bringer! Along with a test video featuring the big guy in action, this week's blog post has some information about the team's considerations in bringing him to life.

This destructive blue hulk is designed for about 15 level 6 players to fight at once and should give them about a three-minute battle. His abilities are designed so that things get steadily more interesting as the fight progresses. Now that the team's happy with the way he fights, Metal Maw's been put in a crate and shipped on over to the animation and effects team to get his final beauty polish before being totally ready for players in-game.

Skip below the cut to see the big guy in action!

Continue reading WildStar Thursday brings the Metal Maw action

MassivelyWildStar Thursday brings the Metal Maw action originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdont-believe-the-liesmetal-mawncsoftpreviewsandparksci-fantasysci-fithis-was-SO-posted-on-thursdaytrailertrailersvideovideoswildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsThu, 17 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Reserve your Guild Wars 2 character name today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/reserve-your-guild-wars-2-character-name-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/reserve-your-guild-wars-2-character-name-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/reserve-your-guild-wars-2-character-name-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Everyone seems to freak out about grabbing his or her special character name at the launch of a new MMO, and we imagine Guild Wars 2 will invoke the same emotions. Instead of leaving this oh-so-important action to Day One, ArenaNet is giving players a chance to reserve their Guild Wars 2 names... starting today.

The way it works is that ArenaNet will be reserving all current Guild Wars names for the launch, and players attached to those names can then swoop in and collect them from the start. Three caveats are attached to this process, however: You have to log into Guild Wars sometime in 2012, you have to claim your names in Guild Wars 2 by launch day, and you can't secure Guild Wars 2's single names (as Guild Wars forces you to make two-word names).

The studio says that there are 20 million two-word names in use at this point, and we suspect that list will grow much longer after today. These names can be reserved at any point from now until whenever ArenaNet decides to compile its master list. After launch, ArenaNet promises to free up the unclaimed names for others to take.

MassivelyReserve your Guild Wars 2 character name today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetacharacter-namecharacter-name-reservationcharacter-namesclosed-betafantasyguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2namename-reservationname-reservationsnamesncsoftreserve-your-namereserve-your-namesThu, 17 May 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-perfect-ten-the-truth-about-lockboxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-perfect-ten-the-truth-about-lockboxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-perfect-ten-the-truth-about-lockboxes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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

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

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

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcasinoChupacabracity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgamblinggift-packsguild-wars-2gw2humorlockboxlockboxeslootboxlootboxeslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromystic-boxmystic-chestncsoftoddsopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwereal-money-tradingrmtroundupsci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosuper-packsuper-packssuperherosuperheroesthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtreasure-boxesturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Cruisin' with the gang in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/choose-my-adventure-cruisin-with-the-gang/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/choose-my-adventure-cruisin-with-the-gang/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/choose-my-adventure-cruisin-with-the-gang/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Choose My Adventure City of Heroes
You've experienced it, right? That magic moment on any trip of significant length when you've been living and breathing the locale long enough that the place starts to feel more familiar and you settle in, that time when you feel less like a tourist and more like a local. After the last few weeks traveling with you all, I have hit that moment in City of Heroes. While I still may not be able to tell one inspiration from another by sight, I can find my way around the 'hood and know the skyline when zipping about -- well, at least in Atlas Park. Oh, and I found a Mexican restaurant! It's almost like a second home now.

It was upon reaching this comfort zone that City of Heroes got better for me; this past week has been more fun than the previous ones during this Choose My Adventure road trip. (And yes, I'd even call the torture of the expansive character creation fun. Exhausting, but fun!) What transpired this week? Buckle up and step on the gas to see.

Gallery: CMA: City of Heroes

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Cruisin' with the gang in City of Heroes

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Cruisin' with the gang in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventuringchoose-my-adventureChoose-my-adventure-city-of-heroeschoose-my-adventure-cohchoose-my-adventure-mj-guthriecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscmacohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalleriesgallerygroupshands-onmissionsncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospollpollsreaders-choiceroad-tripscreenshotssupergroupssuperherosuperheroesvotevotingWed, 16 May 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Player's real-life journey honored in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/players-real-life-journey-honored-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/players-real-life-journey-honored-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/players-real-life-journey-honored-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars player Kelly Wells became inspired to go on a real-life adventure due to her explorations of Tyria and an encouraging TED talk -- and so she did it. Starting from Maine, Wells and her faithful dog crossed America to California by foot, ending the trip with a visit to ArenaNet in Seattle. The developers were so impressed by Wells' journey that they decided to make her part of Guild Wars 2.

In a new ArenaNet blog post, Lead Content Designer Colin Johanson shares how bowled over the devs were when they met Wells and why her epic journey had to become part of Guild Wars 2. "If we all took that perspective on life, deciding to make positive changes and refusing to let anything get in our way, it'd be amazing to see how much we'd all be able to accomplish," Johanson said. The team then collaborated to come up with a similar figure for its upcoming title.

Thus was born Ameranth, a Sylvari explorer who traverses the width of Tyria with her trusty dog, Anna. When players encounter her, Ameranth is known to say, "Ever since emerging from the Pale Tree, I've had the itch to see what the world has to offer. And what better way than with my own two feet?"

MassivelyPlayer's real-life journey honored in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmeranthanetarenanetbetaColin-Johansonfantasyguild-wars-2gw2inspirationaljourneyKelly-Wellsncsoftted-talktyriawalk-across-americawalk-across-tyriaWed, 16 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 writers talk (at length) about MMO story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/guild-wars-2-writers-talk-at-length-about-mmo-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/guild-wars-2-writers-talk-at-length-about-mmo-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/guild-wars-2-writers-talk-at-length-about-mmo-story/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - Human concept art
What's it like to pen the narrative for one of the most anticipated MMORPGs, well, ever? It's quite different from writing a novel or a screenplay, according to ArenaNet's Angel McCoy. She joins Guild Wars 2 lead writer Bobby Stein and Peter "The Explorer" Fries for an MMO story-flavored sit-down with fan site Under the Pale Tree.

The interview is a lengthy one (who knew that writers could be so wordy?), and it covers a bunch of ground including the megalithic sprawl of GW2's narrative, the challenges inherent in writing particular races, and the differences between in-game dialogue and cutscene exposition. There's more to it, of course, but honestly the thing is so huge that we're going to go finish reading it after we've jotted down this here news post.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 writers talk (at length) about MMO story originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetangel-mccoyarenanetbobby-steinfantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-interviewguild-wars-2-storyguild-wars-2-writersgw2gw2-storyinterviewmmo-storynarrativencsoftpeter-friesstoryWed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Why there are no more Epic Archetypes in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/a-mild-mannered-reporter-why-there-are-no-more-epic-archetypes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/a-mild-mannered-reporter-why-there-are-no-more-epic-archetypes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/a-mild-mannered-reporter-why-there-are-no-more-epic-archetypes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
My weekend plans went cross-eyed, as they often do, but as a result I found myself looking through some old notes for future columns on City of Heroes. There were a lot of notes I took early on when I was first writing columns, some of which I wound up using and some of which wound up being discarded, but one particular idea jumped out at me: a column about potential future Epic Archetypes.

Specifically, I was looking back over and noting how a lot of the archetypes I listed wouldn't actually work at all.

I've gone on record as having been a big fan of EATs right from the beginning, as they're meant to be classes that break up the regular structure of the game's classes. That strikes me as laudable. But even disregarding the technical aspects of the epics that makes them more complex to develop and balance, I think there are some noteworthy basic problems with them on a conceptual level. We may very well never get another one just because the game has been structured to make them almost a design mistake that's never been corrected.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Why there are no more Epic Archetypes in City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Why there are no more Epic Archetypes in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterarachnosarachnos-spidersarachnos-widowsarchetypescity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassescohcovcoxeatsepic-archetypesf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomkheldiansmild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospeacebringerssuperherosuperheroeswarshadesWed, 16 May 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: RIFT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/why-i-play-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/why-i-play-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/why-i-play-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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

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

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

Continue reading Why I Play: RIFT

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmenteaeditorialelectronic-artsfantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2lucasartsmassively-metametancsoftnostalgiaop-edopinionpaxpax-primepax-prime-2010riftrift-literift-planes-of-telarasci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictortriontrion-worldswarcraftwhy-i-playworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrantbrian-greenbrian-psychchild-greenbrianna-roycebricksbrowserbrowser-basedddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineearthrisef2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomguild-wars-2gw2historicalhorrorhumorjustin-olivettilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromassively-speakingmastheadmasthead-studiosmythologynamastenamaste-entertainmentnamaste-incncsoftnew-englandopinionparadoxparadox-interactivepermadeathpgcplayer-generated-contentpodcastpodcastingpodcastspsychochildsalemsandboxsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedstorybricksthe-secret-worldtswturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtual-worldwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 201Massively.com Staff01:03:33podcasts<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Dynomatic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/flameseeker-chronicles-dynomatic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/flameseeker-chronicles-dynomatic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/flameseeker-chronicles-dynomatic/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 concept art: Centaurs from hell
After the first mostly-open beta weekend event, reaction to the dynamic event system of Guild Wars 2 is mixed. Some people see it as the revolution of gameplay that was promised, others think it's a refreshing and solid system, and others feel that it falls short. All of those are fair, although it mightn't be hard to guess that I don't share all of those opinions.

Some people expecting the dynamic event system to be the trumpet that would herald the arrival of the salvation of the MMO world were rather let down. There've been a couple of bits of confusion about the nature and scope of dynamic events, so let's look into them.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Dynomatic

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Dynomatic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcolin-johansondedynamic-eventsdynomaticfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftopinionpveravious-makes-a-good-pointTue, 15 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blade & Soul on track to launch in Korea this July]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/blade-and-soul-on-track-to-launch-in-korea-this-july/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/blade-and-soul-on-track-to-launch-in-korea-this-july/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/blade-and-soul-on-track-to-launch-in-korea-this-july/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Blade & Soul
If all goes well, NCsoft's Blade & Soul will be making its public debut in July. That's the good news; the bad news is that the launch will be confined to Korea for the time being.

The company recently announced in an earnings call that the title is on track to go into open beta testing by June and then launch this July. There's some hope at NCsoft that the release of Diablo III will grow the potential gamer audience in the country, an audience that could be attracted to Blade & Soul come this summer.

Currently the game is in closed beta, with the next round of testing commencing on May 22nd. ThisIsGame reports that Blade & Soul has stirred up controversy with testers due to a vitality system that limits how fast a player can advance his or her character.

MassivelyBlade & Soul on track to launch in Korea this July originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetbetablade-and-soulblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopclosed-betaclosed-beta-testclosed-beta-testingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiiearnings-callfantasygothic-fantasylaunchmartial-artsmartial-arts-mmomultiplayerncsoftncsoft-koreaonline-multiplayeropen-betaopen-beta-testopen-beta-testingreleaseroguelikerpgTue, 15 May 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: This little Daeva went to market...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/wings-over-atreia-this-little-daeva-went-to-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/wings-over-atreia-this-little-daeva-went-to-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/wings-over-atreia-this-little-daeva-went-to-market/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia
Milk
Bread
Red Shell Potcrab
Life Leaf
Bulldozer...

You all know the old adage "Never go grocery shopping while hungry," right? It is sound advice for avoiding filling your cart with impulse purchases that might decimate your budget (and your waistline). How many of you have also used the shopping list tactic to try to minimize said impulse purchases? Well, you just might want to put that skill into practice when visiting Aion's BlackCloud Marketplace.

When the BlackCloud Marketplace launched last month, the inventory had pretty slim pickings for a game that needed to make all of its profit from the cash shop. Since all content in Aion is free, we knew more things would appear; it was just a matter of what and when. And even while there was still some trepidation about what items would be introduced over time (how many would play into the whole pay-to-win debate?), Daevas looked forward to new offerings and wondered what would be available next.

Wonder no more! Those little Shugos came in last Wednesday and stocked the marketplace shelves with over 100 new items. Some items were expected, some were not, and some were even clamored for by the masses. To help you construct your shopping list before heading to the store, Wing Over Atreia has perused the aisles for you to find what's new, what's interesting, and what's on special.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: This little Daeva went to market...

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: This little Daeva went to market... originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionBlackCloud-Marketplacebonus-itemcash-shopcash-shop-bonuscash-shop-itemsCUBEdecoratingf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfurnishingsfurniturehousingmountsncsoftopinionpet-storagepetsspecial-dealsspecialswings-over-atreiaMon, 14 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: EverQuest II's housing vs. Aion's housing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/leaderboard-everquest-iis-housing-vs-aions-housing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/leaderboard-everquest-iis-housing-vs-aions-housing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/leaderboard-everquest-iis-housing-vs-aions-housing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Leaderboard
Everyone loves player housing, right? Oh, quiet you in the back. Look into my eye: Everyone loves player housing. It is the number one most requested, demanded, and mandatory feature of every MMO. In terms of priority, "having monsters to kill in the game" is lower than giving us sweet pads to decorate. This is the way the virtual world should be and always has been.

Well, now that I've dipped into the well of delusion, it's time to emerge with my hair sopping wet and my mind open to the possibility of a player housing revival. With the advent of Aion's 3.0 update, players in this now-free-to-play game can move into a suburban dreamhouse and spend countless hours figuring out the exact decor to match the subtle majesty of the bathroom's toilet.

But is it enough to challenge the de facto leader of player housing, EverQuest II? Mountains of novels have been written on this game's housing system, novels that were then used to construct a giant book fort in the middle of the grand ballroom. Because that's just how flexible that system can be.

So pitted against each other in an interior design contest, which game would emerge triumphant? Cast your vote after the jump!

Continue reading Leaderboard: EverQuest II's housing vs. Aion's housing

MassivelyLeaderboard: EverQuest II's housing vs. Aion's housing originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionascensionbattle-royaldecoreq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playhousinginterior-decorationinterior-designleaderboardncsoftone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionplayer-housingpollpollssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttoilettruly-freeversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 nets 500K Facebook likes, releases Destiny's Edge art to celebrate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/guild-wars-2-nets-500k-facebook-likes-releases-destinys-edge-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/guild-wars-2-nets-500k-facebook-likes-releases-destinys-edge-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/guild-wars-2-nets-500k-facebook-likes-releases-destinys-edge-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
ArenaNet continues to roll out the rewards for being well-liked this week. Guild Wars 2 crossed the half-million Facebook like barrier, and as a result, the studio released a new epic piece of art for its fans.

The picture is of Destiny's Edge, the adventuring group that features so prominently in Guild Wars 2, facing a rather fearsome foe: The Shatterer. According to the Facebook page, this is actually an in-game screenshot that's been "embellished" by ArenaNet artist Daniel Dociu. As with the other pictures that it has released, ArenaNet has made this image available as a high-resolution version as well.

This art release comes at an auspicious time, as Guild Wars 2 is diving into a seven-hour beta stress test starting today at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 nets 500K Facebook likes, releases Destiny's Edge art to celebrate originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetartbetaconcept-artDaniel-Dociudestinys-edgefacebookfantasyguild-wars-2gw2likesncsoftscreenshotstress-testMon, 14 May 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion rewarding decorating skills with contest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/aion-rewarding-decorating-skills-with-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/aion-rewarding-decorating-skills-with-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/aion-rewarding-decorating-skills-with-contest/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aion screenshot
As one of 3.0's most anticipated features, player housing brought a whole new facet of gaming to Aion. Along with the studios, houses, and estates, housing provided Daevas the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity and decorating flair, and players have been taking full advantage of the system. Now, NCsoft wants to reward players for sprucing up their Atreian homes with a contest titled Decorate Your Space.

Think you have a pretty snazzy pad? Then show off those mad decorating skills! All Daevas over level 20 are eligible; just submit up to three unaltered screenshots of your living space via the contest thread or by email to community_aion_en@ncsoft.com by 12:59 a.m. EDT on May 19th. The top three homes judged best decorated will win special 60-day, two-drawer cabinets with an extra 18 slots of storage space.

For full rules, conditions, and the winner release form, visit the official announcement.

MassivelyAion rewarding decorating skills with contest originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.03.0-patchaionascensionawardawardscontestcontestsdecoratingdecorating-contestf2pfantasyfree-to-playhousehousingncsoftnewspatch-3.0truly-freeSat, 12 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brace yourself: The Guild Wars 2 stress test is coming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/brace-yourself-the-guild-wars-2-stress-test-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/brace-yourself-the-guild-wars-2-stress-test-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/brace-yourself-the-guild-wars-2-stress-test-is-coming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
The ArenaNet team is rallying the troops for a Guild Wars 2 stress test this coming Monday. While the existence and details of the test were already known, Rubi Bayer has added a note to participants to the game's Facebook page. The goal of the stress test is to see how the servers handle concentrated activity, so she gave a few tips on how best players can help the company during the short test. No simulation or prediction can ferret out as many problems as letting thousands of players loose on a game, so Rubi encouraged players to pile on the servers, find bugs, and be patient as they, well, find bugs.

The test will run on Monday, May 14th, from 2:00 p.m. EDT to 9:00 p.m. EDT, and will be available to pre-purchasers only. One nice treat is that although the company has mentioned character wipes between beta weekend events, players will still have their darling creations from BWE1 to run around with. Get ready to flood the servers on Monday. Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Fly, my pretties!

MassivelyBrace yourself: The Guild Wars 2 stress test is coming originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeta-weekend-eventbwefantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftrubi-bayerstress-testFri, 11 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lineage II celebrates its eighth anniversary with a Massively giveaway]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/lineage-ii-celebrates-its-eighth-anniversary-with-a-massively-gi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/lineage-ii-celebrates-its-eighth-anniversary-with-a-massively-gi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/lineage-ii-celebrates-its-eighth-anniversary-with-a-massively-gi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lineage II giveaway
To celebrate the eighth Anniversary of Lineage II, NCsoft and Massively have teamed up to bring you a special in-game item to give away. The item is the two-slot head accessory known as the Warrior's Helmet (pictured above), complete with the Vampiric Rage skill, which increases attack speed by 33% and bestows the ability to recover as HP 9% of the physical damage inflicted upon the enemy for one hour. Reuse delay is four hours, and this item is seven-day use only.

If you'd like to grab one of these special items for your Lineage II character, head on over to our giveaway page to grab a code. And be sure to visit the item redemption page for complete instructions on how to add the code to your account!

GET YOUR KEY

MassivelyLineage II celebrates its eighth anniversary with a Massively giveaway originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycontestcontestseighth-anniversaryf2pfantasyfree-to-playgiveawaygiveawayslineagelineage-2lineage-iincsoftvampiric-ragewarriors-helmetFri, 11 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar Wednesday discusses quality of life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/wildstar-wednesday-discusses-quality-of-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/wildstar-wednesday-discusses-quality-of-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/wildstar-wednesday-discusses-quality-of-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

WildStar
Mobility is key when you're adventuring on an exciting frontier planet. Taking this to heart, WildStar developer Carbine Studios is building in some quality of life improvements to speed Settlers along their way.

All players traveling on roads in WildStar will benefit from a speed boost, whether they're on a noble steed or going afoot. Executive Producer Jeremy Gaffney mentions that, more than just cutting down on travel time, this allows developers to plan on players running into each other as they travel through the world as well as aiding in the design of exploration-driven content and proper timing of encounters. If players are really gung-ho about speed and being (profitable) good Samaritans, they'll have opportunities to add new taxi points to remote areas, pitch a vendor stall to sell mounts to lowbies, and set up speed-boosting machines at outposts, among other player-driven additions. Hopefully, this means that the more folks are in an area, the more luxuries are available -- or you can be the pilgrim running out into the wilds to spur on the advance of civilization.

Speaking of running out into the wilds, we know no one likes doing that only to get called in 15 minutes later to pick up a new quest. Players' communicators are a big part of the accessibility of the world in WildStar. Many quests can be picked up and turned in via comm call, freeing players from the drudgery of having to actually track people down. To sum up, Gaffney listed the goals of this design approach. "Focus on the fun parts of the game. Eliminate tedium. Keep the challenge in there for advanced gamers. Overall, let you play the way you want to play."

MassivelyWildStar Wednesday discusses quality of life originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdynomaticfast-travelncsoftquality-of-lifesandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsThu, 10 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mike O'Brien: Guild Wars 2's beta weekend 'overwhelming']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/mike-obrien-guild-wars-2s-beta-weekend-overwhelming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/mike-obrien-guild-wars-2s-beta-weekend-overwhelming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/mike-obrien-guild-wars-2s-beta-weekend-overwhelming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mike O'Brien
Mike O'Brien said that the result of Guild Wars 2's initial public beta weekend was "overwhelming in more ways than one." ArenaNet's president took the time to write up a short blog post reflecting on the outcome of the past beta weekend and the reasoning behind this coming Monday's surprise stress test.

According to O'Brien, while the feedback from the event was quite positive, the team had to struggle with unexpected demand for the game. Even after the management temporarily turned off the ability for players' ability to pre-purchase the title through ArenaNet, the game's 48 servers couldn't contain the influx of testers and beta tourists.

It wasn't just a PR stunt, however. "This was definitely a real beta, designed to find problems, gather player input, and learn what work still needs to be done before we ship the game," O'Brien stated.

The team is anticipating a bigger crowd with the next beta weekend, which is why it's running a seven-hour stress test on May 14th to test new changes.

MassivelyMike O'Brien: Guild Wars 2's beta weekend 'overwhelming' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeta-weekenddev-blogdev-diaryfantasyguideguild-wars-2gw2Mike Shanahanmike-o-brienMikeShanahanncsoftpresidentserversstress-testThu, 10 May 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 hosting a surprise stress test next Monday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/guild-wars-2-hosting-a-surprise-stress-test-next-monday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/guild-wars-2-hosting-a-surprise-stress-test-next-monday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/guild-wars-2-hosting-a-surprise-stress-test-next-monday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

IThat monster does not represent performance issues. Probably.
Are you in withdrawal after the last Guild Wars 2 testing weekend? Feeling the need to get back in the game, even if it's just for one night? If so, you're in luck, as the team has just recently announced that the game will be performing a surprise stress test on Monday, May 14th between 2:00 p.m. EDT until 9:00 p.m. EDT. It's a chance to log back in, play for a bit, and get more of a taste for the game over those seven hours.

Worth noting is that the stress test is only for pre-purchasers, but beyond that there are no specific test requirements -- you can continue using the characters you created during the beta weekend. Players may experience some slight performance issues, since the purpose is to try and alleviate issues before the next beta weekend rolls around. So if you've pre-purchased the game, get ready to head back to Tyria in less than a week's time.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 hosting a surprise stress test next Monday originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-testbeta-weekendbreakingfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpre-purchasestress-testsurprise-testThu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes announces Paragon Market Freebie Fridays]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/city-of-heroes-announces-paragon-market-freebie-fridays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/city-of-heroes-announces-paragon-market-freebie-fridays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/city-of-heroes-announces-paragon-market-freebie-fridays/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

City of Heroes Freebie Fridays
Everyone loves free things, and the folks at Paragon Studios know it. That's why the studio has announced a new treat for City of Heroes players: Paragon Market Freebie Fridays. The program is exactly as it sounds: Every week, the studio will choose a new item to be that week's freebie. Players then simply have to log on during the specified time frame, claim their free items, and enjoy! That's all there is to it, folks.

The premiere Freebie Friday will be taking place this week, beginning on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. EDT and ending at the same time Friday, giving players 24 hours to claim their free stuff. The announcement states that the freebies "could be almost anything currently available in the Paragon Market," so be sure to log in each week and get your goodies!

MassivelyCity of Heroes announces Paragon Market Freebie Fridays originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfree-to-playfreebie-fridaysfreebiesfreedomncsoftparagonparagon-marketparagon-studiospromotionpromotionssuperherosuperheroesWed, 09 May 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-how-city-of-heroes-almost-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-how-city-of-heroes-almost-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-how-city-of-heroes-almost-died/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
If it hasn't become clear over the past two and a half years, I really enjoy speculation. I like crazy theories, I like exploring possibilities, I like thought exercises, and so forth. There's some speculation that I find particularly ill-informed or lacking in some fundamental point of logic, but that doesn't mean I don't learn about them first.

Why am I making a point out of this? Because I've developed a theory about the state of City of Heroes, and I want to make it clear before I launch into this somewhat grim theory that I'm basing this entirely on outside observations. I want it to be clear that I could, in fact, be totally wrong, and when I say that City of Heroes nearly committed unintentional suicide a couple of years ago, I don't want that to be seen as some grand behind-the-scenes revelation.

And if it weren't obvious from that line, yes, that's where I'm going. I think Going Rogue nearly gutted City of Heroes and burned the whole game to the ground. And I think everything the game has done since can be directly traced back to that expansion.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcoh-going-rogueconspiracyconspiracy-theoriescovcoxcrazy-theoriescrazypantscultureexpansionsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgoing-roguemild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosspeculationsuperherosuperheroesWed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Patrolling the park]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/choose-my-adventure-patrolling-the-park/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/choose-my-adventure-patrolling-the-park/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/choose-my-adventure-patrolling-the-park/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Choose My Adventure City of Heroes
Yes, Virginia, there is a game after character creation.

With such extensive customization available, it is quite likely that I would have spent the duration of Choose My Adventure without ever actually logging in to play City of Heroes. For all of the hours I spent in character creation with all the options (enough to completely blow a fuse in your mind), it was easy to lose sight of the fact that there was actually a game to go play once I finally made my character. Now I see the real appeal of the VIP pass with all of those character slots; it has even me thinking wistfully of all the alts that could be.

Luckily I have you folks directing me, forcing me past the costume creator and into my role as defender of truth and justice. If it hadn't been for you, I would have never embarked on my journey of flight and fricasseed evil doers in Atlas Park. Or participated in an impromptu street band performance. Yup, it is all your fault! And I'm looking forward to what we do next as we continue our City of Heroes adventures together.

But first, let's take a look at what mayhem I caused... er, put an end to this past week.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Patrolling the park

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Patrolling the park originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atlas-Parkchoose-my-adventurecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscmacohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfirst-impressionsflightflyingfree-to-playfreedomhands-onncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospollpollspowersquestsreaders-choiceroad-tripsuperherosuperheroesvotevotingWed, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 EST