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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Betawatch: May 18 - 24, 2013]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/betawatch-may-18-24-2013/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/betawatch-may-18-24-2013/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/betawatch-may-18-24-2013/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betawatch/" rel="tag">Betawatch</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/betawatch-may-18-24-2013/"><img alt="Space troopers always look space trooper-y." data-src-height="291" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/betawatch-epl-524.jpg" /></a></div>
This has been quite the week if you're interested in hearing about what's going on behind the curtain. <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Destiny/">Destiny</a></em> offered everyone <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/watch-destinys-law-of-the-jungle-trailer/">a new trailer</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/WildStar/">WildStar</a> gave us <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/massively-surveys-wildstars-scientist-and-settler-paths-the-es/">plenty of information to chew on</a>, <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/The-Elder-Scrolls-Online/">The Elder Scrolls Online</a></em> talked <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/elder-scrolls-online-elaborates-on-crafting-and-exploration/">crafting</a>, and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Final-Fantasy-XIV/">Final Fantasy XIV</a></em> announced <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/final-fantasy-xivs-relaunch-set-for-august-27/">a definite date for its relaunch</a> with a new video. Tons of stuff behind the scenes.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Eldevin/">Eldevin</a></em> quietly moved into its second phase of closed beta. Oh, and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Neverwinter/">Neverwinter</a></em>'s economy <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/neverwinter-days-the-great-economic-collapse-of-2013/">completely collapsed</a>, which is either bad for the beta or bad for the game's launch depending on how you see the game's current state.<br />
<br />
How do we see it? Well, you can take a look at our testing list for an idea. In fact, you might want to take a look at the list anyway just to see what's out there. If you notice something erroneous on there, feel free to let us know so we can take a look ourselves.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/betawatch-may-18-24-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Betawatch: May 18 - 24, 2013</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/betawatch-may-18-24-2013/">Betawatch: May 18 - 24, 2013</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 24 May 2013 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/betawatch-may-18-24-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20583410/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/betawatch-may-18-24-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>alpha</category><category>alphas</category><category>beta</category><category>beta-test</category><category>beta-testing</category><category>betas</category><category>betawatch</category><category>closed-beta</category><category>destiny</category><category>eldevin</category><category>featured</category><category>final-fantasy-xiv</category><category>game-testing</category><category>launch</category><category>launches</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>open-beta</category><category>roundup</category><category>testing</category><category>the-elder-scrolls-online</category><category>wildstar</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter State of the Game announces public test shard, raid content]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/neverwinter-state-of-the-game-announces-public-test-shard-raid/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/neverwinter-state-of-the-game-announces-public-test-shard-raid/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/neverwinter-state-of-the-game-announces-public-test-shard-raid/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/bugs/" rel="tag">Bugs</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/neverwinter-state-of-the-game-announces-public-test-shard-raid/"><img alt="Neverwinter State of the Game announces public test shard, raid content" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/09f31d3761af2788f09b06f6f659f7231369347856.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
While still <em>technically </em>beta, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> joined the rank and file of MMOverse three weeks ago with a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/">soft launch</a>. Since then, the game has experienced its share of issues, bugs, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/neverwinter-counters-foundry-exploit-by-nerfing-xp-rate/">exploits</a>. To address those, as well as give players a heads-up on what's incoming, Lead Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/andy-velasquez/">Andy Velasquez</a> shared the fantasy game's first <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=896631">State of the Game address</a>.<br />
<br />
Velasquez jumped right into discussing the bugs and exploits that have affected the game since open beta started and outlined the fixes that were implemented to squash them. He went on to talk about the top issues that the team was working on currently and then reveal what players can expect to see in the next few weeks. A Public Test Shard is coming to <em>Neverwinter</em> (to hopefully catch bugs and exploits before going live), as is new endgame raid PvE/PvP content called Gauntlgrym. Other new content includes updates in the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/neverwinter-dev-blog-delves-into-the-foundry/">Foundry</a> and new companions, zones, mounts, mechanics, Paragon Paths, and a new "ranged" class.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/neverwinter-state-of-the-game-announces-public-test-shard-raid/">Neverwinter State of the Game announces public test shard, raid content</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 24 May 2013 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/neverwinter-state-of-the-game-announces-public-test-shard-raid/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20582829/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/neverwinter-state-of-the-game-announces-public-test-shard-raid/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>Andy-Velasquez</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dev-blog</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>Foundry</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>new-content</category><category>open-beta</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>public-test-server</category><category>public-test-shard</category><category>pwe</category><category>raid-content</category><category>raids</category><category>soft-lunch</category><category>state-fo-the-game</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plastic Wax Studios targets MMO and mobile cinematics]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/plastic-wax-studios-targets-mmo-and-mobile-cinematics/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/plastic-wax-studios-targets-mmo-and-mobile-cinematics/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/plastic-wax-studios-targets-mmo-and-mobile-cinematics/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/plastic-wax-studios-targets-mmo-and-mobile-cinematics/"><img alt="Plastic Wax Studios targets MMO and mobile cinematics" data-src-height="226" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/nevertrailer.jpg" /></a></div>
If you found yourself impressed when you watched the four-minute cinematic opening for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/"><em>Neverwinter</em></a>, then address all kudos and praise to <a href="http://www.plasticwax.com/">Plastic Wax Studios</a>. The company has previously focused on console titles, although it recently stated that it is branching out to provide cinematics for MMOs and mobile titles as well.<br />
<br />
Executive Vice President <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/dane-maddams">Dane Maddams</a> touts the studio's high fidelity and skill when it comes to these trailers: "We aimed to really push technology and art to compelling and cutting edge realism with our recent release of the Director's Cut cinematic for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perfect-world/">Perfect World's</a> <em>Neverwinter</em>. The cinematics were carefully designed to enhance the story in a never seen before narrative and build anticipation for the title to new heights."<br />
<br />
If you haven't watched the <em>Neverwinter </em>cinematic yet, you can do so after the jump.<br />
<br />
[Source: Plastic Wax Studios press release]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/plastic-wax-studios-targets-mmo-and-mobile-cinematics/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Plastic Wax Studios targets MMO and mobile cinematics</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/plastic-wax-studios-targets-mmo-and-mobile-cinematics/">Plastic Wax Studios targets MMO and mobile cinematics</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 23 May 2013 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/plastic-wax-studios-targets-mmo-and-mobile-cinematics/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20581733/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/plastic-wax-studios-targets-mmo-and-mobile-cinematics/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cgi</category><category>cinematic</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>Dane-Maddams</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>plastic-wax-studios</category><category>pwe</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter Days: The great economic collapse of 2013]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/neverwinter-days-the-great-economic-collapse-of-2013/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/neverwinter-days-the-great-economic-collapse-of-2013/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/neverwinter-days-the-great-economic-collapse-of-2013/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/bugs/" rel="tag">Bugs</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter-days/" rel="tag">Neverwinter Days</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/neverwinter-days-the-great-economic-collapse-of-2013/"><img alt="Neverwinter Days The great economic collapse of 2013" data-src-height="277" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/never1-1369252124.jpg" /></a></div>
So funny story: In planning out in advance what I wanted to talk about in this biweekly <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> column, I had selected something that recently caught my eye about the game and made me happy. That something was the<em> </em><a href="https://gateway.playneverwinter.com/"><em>Neverwinter</em> Gateway</a>, a web portal that allows out-of-game players the ability to fiddle with their character sheets, auctions, professions, guilds, and mail. I thought -- and I still do -- that this was a nifty service that deserved a day in the sun.<br />
<br />
As I was getting set to write that column, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/"><em>Neverwinter's</em></a> economy exploded and then imploded over the course of a weekend, thanks to a nasty exploit that involved, yup, the Gateway. Suddenly my topic had to shift from "isn't this a neat tool?" to "check out what the tools are doing with this tool." Seeing the economy effectively destroyed in a matter of hours and how <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic-studios/">Cryptic Studios</a> dealt with this PR nightmare might be old news at this point, but it's definitely worthy of reflection, analysis, and speculation as to how trust can be rebuilt in this fledgling title.<br />
<br />
Let's get cracking -- we have a lot of ground to cover!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/neverwinter-days-the-great-economic-collapse-of-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Neverwinter Days: The great economic collapse of 2013</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/neverwinter-days-the-great-economic-collapse-of-2013/">Neverwinter Days: The great economic collapse of 2013</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/neverwinter-days-the-great-economic-collapse-of-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20570109/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/neverwinter-days-the-great-economic-collapse-of-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>astral-diamonds</category><category>bug</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>economic-collapse</category><category>economic-meltdown</category><category>economy</category><category>exploit</category><category>exploiters</category><category>exploits</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>foundry</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gateway</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>neverwinter-days</category><category>neverwinter-gateway</category><category>neverwinter-nights</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>PGC</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>pwe</category><category>the-foundry</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Captain's Log Supplemental: An Exclusive Q&amp;A with STO's Daniel Stahl]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/captains-log/" rel="tag">Captain's Log</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s"><img alt="STO LoR Logo Header" data-src-height="350" data-src-width="580" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/lor-logo-header.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 320px;" /></a></div>
After months of waiting, we can finally say that <em><a href="http://startrekonline.com">Star Trek Online's</a></em> <em><a href="http://sto.perfectworld.com/legacyofromulus">Legacy of Romulus</a></em> expansion is upon us! After yesterday's launch, it's now possible to play as a member of the new Romulan Republic faction. It's now possible to begin a Klingon faction character from level 1! There's a new adventure zone and a completely overhauled user interface.<br />
<br />
We recently had the opportunity to ask <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Star-Trek-Online/">Star Trek Online's</a></em> Executive Producer, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Daniel-Stahl/">Daniel Stahl</a>, some questions regarding the update. We were also given a lot of screenshots of the new material, and all are included in the new gallery below. There was a lot to cover, so let's get to it!<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/star-trek-online-legacy-of-romulus/">Star Trek Online Legacy of Romulus</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/star-trek-online-legacy-of-romulus/#5902094"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/lor-01-g_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/star-trek-online-legacy-of-romulus/#5902095"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/lor-02-g_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/star-trek-online-legacy-of-romulus/#5902096"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/lor-03-g_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/star-trek-online-legacy-of-romulus/#5902098"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/lor-04-g_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/star-trek-online-legacy-of-romulus/#5902099"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/lor-05-g_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Captain's Log Supplemental: An Exclusive Q&amp;A with STO's Daniel Stahl</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s/">Captain's Log Supplemental: An Exclusive Q&amp;A with STO's Daniel Stahl</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 22 May 2013 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20580081/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>captains-log</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dan-stahl</category><category>daniel-stahl</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>kdf</category><category>klingon</category><category>klingons</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>Q  A</category><category>romulan</category><category>romulans</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-mmo</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Terilynn Shull]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter team offers token of peace for beta mess]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/neverwinter-team-offers-token-of-peace-for-beta-mess/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/neverwinter-team-offers-token-of-peace-for-beta-mess/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/neverwinter-team-offers-token-of-peace-for-beta-mess/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/neverwinter-team-offers-token-of-peace-for-beta-mess/"><img alt="Neverwinter team offers token of gratitude for beta mess" data-src-height="277" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/9d6afed4981fc314be7badf622bd2a281369118442.jpg" style="margin:4px" /></a></div>
So <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Perfect-World-Entertainment/">Perfect World Entertainment</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Cryptic-Studios/">Cryptic Studios</a> figure that <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Neverwinter/">Neverwinter</a></em> players may not exactly be happy about the list of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/neverwinter-counters-foundry-exploit-by-nerfing-xp-rate/">game-breaking bugs</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-returns-with-seven-hour-rollback-after-exploit/">exploits</a> found in the game's open beta over the last few weeks. To help alleviate that player frustration, the developers are offering up an olive branch of sorts in the form of the <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=894471">Caturday Survivor's Pack</a> full of in-game goodies.<br />
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For all characters created before 8 a.m. EDT (5 a.m. PDT) on Sunday, May 19th, this pack is waiting in their in-game mailbox. In it, each character will find a Stone of Health, a Dwarven Facemask, five teleport scrolls to the Protector's Enclave, two Adventurer's XP boosters, and a Cape of Catastrophe. Hey, at least they have a sense of humor about it.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/neverwinter-team-offers-token-of-peace-for-beta-mess/">Neverwinter team offers token of peace for beta mess</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 21 May 2013 10:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/neverwinter-team-offers-token-of-peace-for-beta-mess/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20577891/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/neverwinter-team-offers-token-of-peace-for-beta-mess/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>Caturday</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 10:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Stream Team: Monocle Day edition,  May 20 - 26, 2013]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/polls/" rel="tag">Polls</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/livestream/" rel="tag">Livestream</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-stream-team/" rel="tag">The Stream Team</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/"><img alt="The Stream Team Monocle day edition,  May 20  26, 2013" data-src-height="320" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/monocle-header.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
Two weeks ago, y'all had the chance to select a new holiday to help add some cheer to the otherwise bland weeks in the middle of May. The choices teased and tantalized you, but you're a discriminating crowd. In a race fraught with nail-biting suspense, only one ultimately prevailed. And so it is with further ado we bring to you: Monocle Day!<br />
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This Tuesday, May 21st, has been selected to be the auspicious day of this most storied celebration. Why? Because 5/21 splits into 5 + 2 + 1, which of course = 8, and we all know that 8 is just two monocles stacked on top of each other! And as always, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/livestream">Massively TV</a> is here to help you ring in the new holiday, with special shows throughout the entire week. Check out the full schedule of celebratory events hosted by <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-stream-team/">The Stream Team</a> after the break. Then let us know if you'll be wearing your own monocle in honor of the festivities.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Stream Team: Monocle Day edition,  May 20 - 26, 2013</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/">The Stream Team: Monocle Day edition,  May 20 - 26, 2013</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20569311/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Achaea</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>activision</category><category>agon</category><category>anet</category><category>Anno-Online</category><category>arenanet</category><category>aventurine</category><category>bioware</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-based</category><category>buy-to-play</category><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>city-of-steam</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>darkfall</category><category>darkfall-unholy-wars</category><category>dc-universe</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>df</category><category>dnd</category><category>DotA-2</category><category>dragon</category><category>Dragonrealms</category><category>dragons</category><category>dragons-prophet</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>elsword</category><category>eq-2</category><category>eq-ii</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>faction</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>fr</category><category>free-realms</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>goblin</category><category>guild-wars</category><category>gw</category><category>hi-rez</category><category>hi-rez-studios</category><category>historical</category><category>horror</category><category>housing</category><category>infernum</category><category>infernum-productions</category><category>internet-spaceships</category><category>kid-friendly</category><category>kids</category><category>kids-mmo</category><category>livestream</category><category>livestreaming</category><category>livestreams</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>massively-tv</category><category>mechanist</category><category>mechanist-games</category><category>meta</category><category>moba</category><category>multiplayer-online-battle-arena</category><category>mv-guide</category><category>mv-tv</category><category>mvguide</category><category>mvtv</category><category>mythology</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>open-pvp</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>plane</category><category>planes</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>playstation3</category><category>poll</category><category>ps3</category><category>pvp</category><category>pwe</category><category>runewaker</category><category>runewaker-entertainment</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>secret-world</category><category>skill-based</category><category>Smite</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>spreadsheets-online</category><category>star-wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>steampunk</category><category>stream</category><category>stream-schedule</category><category>stream-team</category><category>streamers</category><category>streaming</category><category>streamteam</category><category>subscriptionless</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>swtor</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>the-stream-team</category><category>threshold-rpg</category><category>tor</category><category>tsw</category><category>twitch</category><category>twitch-tv</category><category>unholy-wars</category><category>war</category><category>warcraft</category><category>wargaming.net</category><category>warplane</category><category>warplanes</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>world-of-warplanes</category><category>wow</category><category>wowp</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When are rollbacks and wipes absolutely necessary?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/bugs/" rel="tag">Bugs</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/" rel="tag">Diablo III</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/"><img alt="When are rollbacks absolutely necessary" data-src-height="334" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/neverwinterscreenshotrothevalley041613jpeg16.jpg" /></a></div>
In the last few weeks, two big games we cover on Massively have been slammed with exploits that have injured their respective economies: <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Diablo-III/">Diablo III</a></em> and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Neverwinter/">Neverwinter</a></em>. In <em>Diablo III's</em> case, a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/diablo-iii-gold-dupe-bug-fixed-with-no-rollback/">gold duping bug</a> apparently pumped insane amounts of cash into the economy. <em>Neverwinter's</em> exploits run the gamut from <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/neverwinter-counters-foundry-exploit-by-nerfing-xp-rate/">Foundry abuses</a> to <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?261422-How-to-make-Bilions-of-ad">negative auction hall bids</a> that don't consume gold to classes that can <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Neverwinter/comments/1eb4rk/critical_bug_that_one_shots_every_boss_ingame/">one-shot bosses</a> making farming trivial. According to these claims, <em>NW</em> exploiters are making off with <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Neverwinter/comments/1eebyi/an_exploiter_claims_to_have_made_almost_six/">thousands of real-life dollars</a> when cashing out their ill-gotten funds.<br />
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In both cases, players called for <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?234911-Game-needs-a-full-Character-Wipe">characters wipes</a> and rollbacks, believing each exploit severe enough to merit a clean slate. But in <em>Diablo III</em>'s case, while the studio <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/diablo-iii-restores-auction-house-donates-duped-proceeds-to-cha/">dealt</a> harshly with the exploiters, the developers disagreed with the need for wipes and do-overs, presumably having concluded that such drastic measures would impact the legit playerbase far more than would a dented economy. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-returns-with-seven-hour-rollback-after-exploit/"><em>Neverwinter</em></a>, on the other hand, chose to roll back the servers, causing widespread uproar.<br />
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That brings us to today's question: Which studio was right? How bad does an exploit have to be before character wipes and server rollbacks are absolutely necessary?<br />
<br />
 <img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/">The Daily Grind: When are rollbacks and wipes absolutely necessary?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20575181/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Blizzard</category><category>brianna-royce-tdg</category><category>character-wipe</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>daily-grind</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>economy</category><category>exploit</category><category>exploits</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>rollback</category><category>rollbacks</category><category>server-wipe</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>wipe</category><category>wipes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter returns with seven-hour rollback after exploit]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-returns-with-seven-hour-rollback-after-exploit/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-returns-with-seven-hour-rollback-after-exploit/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-returns-with-seven-hour-rollback-after-exploit/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/buy-to-play/" rel="tag">Buy-to-Play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-returns-with-seven-hour-rollback-after-exploit/"><img alt="Neverwinter returns with sevenhour rollback after exploit" data-src-height="262" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/nwdungeon-1369047654.jpg" style="margin:4px" /></a></div>
Over the weekend, a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/exploits-plague-neverwinter-economy-cryptic-responds">massive exploit</a> plagued <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Perfect-World-Entertainment/">Perfect World Entertainment</a>'s <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Neverwinter/">Neverwinter</a></em> beta as players discovered a way to make billions off of the auction house and Astral Diamond Exchange.<br />
<br />
After initially closing the economy to explore the company's options, PWE decided to do a <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?266901-5-19-13-Server-Status-Update-and-Important-Announcements">seven-hour rollback of the servers</a> that affects the progress made between 8:20 a.m. EDT (5:20 a.m. PDT) and 3:20 p.m. EDT (12:20 p.m. PDT) yesterday for all players.<br />
<br />
"Rest assured, the issue has been corrected and we have taken appropriate action against all players who took advantage of the bug, including but not limited to enforcing permanent bans," the announcement reads.<br />
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[Thanks to everyone who sent this one in!]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-returns-with-seven-hour-rollback-after-exploit/">Neverwinter returns with seven-hour rollback after exploit</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-returns-with-seven-hour-rollback-after-exploit/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20575697/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-returns-with-seven-hour-rollback-after-exploit/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>exploits</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>rollback</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Exploits plague Neverwinter economy, PWE responds [Updated]]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/exploits-plague-neverwinter-economy-cryptic-responds/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/exploits-plague-neverwinter-economy-cryptic-responds/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/exploits-plague-neverwinter-economy-cryptic-responds/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/bugs/" rel="tag">Bugs</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Neverwinter" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/279582e72bacc5e59c676942cd5ce16f1367601340-1367615016.jpg" /></div>
Multiple Massively sources and <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/forumdisplay.php?688-General-Discussion">forum users</a> are reporting that a serious auction hall exploit involving negative bids has turned the fledgling economy of <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Neverwinter/">Neverwinter</a></em> on its head. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Perfect-World/">Perfect World</a>/<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Cryptic/">Cryptic</a> appear to be <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?262692-For-those-concerned-The-latest-on-the-current-AH-exploit">locking down forum threads on the topic</a> and have posted <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?260462-Exploit-Follow-up">the following in response</a> to the exploits:

<blockquote class="bq-standard">We currently are in the process of taking action against a subset of accounts that were confirmed to have utilized exploits that affected the game balance or economy. These accounts may be banned, temporarily or permanently, depending on the severity of exploit utilization. Anyone who is affected by this will receive notification via email. [...] Thank you for your patience and support while we continue to do everything in our power to ensure that Neverwinter remains a fair and balanced game experience.</blockquote>
The post also encourages anyone banned unfairly to contact customer support for resolution. A <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?260462-Exploit-Follow-up&amp;p=3367771&amp;viewfull=1#post3367771">followup post</a> by a Cryptic moderator from last night tells players that "there are no plans for another wipe at this time." And a message on the <em>Neverwinter's</em> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NeverwinterDE?fref=ts">German-language Facebook page</a> suggests that the Neverwinter Gateway has been taken offline while the issue is investigated. We'll keep you posted as the story develops. [Thanks to Dan, J, Ehra, David, Dixa, Mike, xpac, Jan, and Zaph for the tips!]<br />
<br />
[Update: Cryptic has posted a <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?262972-Astral-Diamond-Exchange-and-Auction-House-Offline">new response to the latest exploit</a>: "The Astral Diamond Exchange and the Auction House have been temporarily taken offline to resolve a high priority bug. At this time we are still investigating the details regarding the issue and will post more information as the situation progresses. As the issue involves in-game currency, we understand that there may be questions regarding the follow up actions needed to ensure that the economy remains fair and balanced. At this time we are still in the process of collecting the data, but plan to share details regarding follow up actions once the investigation concludes. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we continually smooth out issues during open beta."]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/exploits-plague-neverwinter-economy-cryptic-responds/">Exploits plague Neverwinter economy, PWE responds [Updated]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 19 May 2013 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/exploits-plague-neverwinter-economy-cryptic-responds/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20575210/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/exploits-plague-neverwinter-economy-cryptic-responds/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>bug</category><category>bugs</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>economy</category><category>exploit</category><category>exploits</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 19 May 2013 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter Days: The 14 guides you need to read]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/neverwinter-days-the-14-guides-you-need-to-read/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/neverwinter-days-the-14-guides-you-need-to-read/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/neverwinter-days-the-14-guides-you-need-to-read/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guides/" rel="tag">Guides</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter-days/" rel="tag">Neverwinter Days</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/neverwinter-days-the-14-guides-you-need-to-read/"><img alt="Neverwinter Days The 14 guides you need to read" data-src-height="311" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/never2.jpg" /></a></div>
I've had a strange start with <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com"><em>Neverwinter</em></a>, to be honest. While I did get in on the 25th with the early-early crowd, shortly thereafter I had to boogie on off to a vacation that canceled out eight days of soft launch gaming time. So even though I got an early start, I'm probably behind many of you -- even those who started on the 30th.<br />
<br />
That's OK; I'm not in a rush. I'm not the type to get into a speed race or feel the compulsion to become an instant expert by the end of week one. My experience so far has been feeling out what <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> has to offer, mostly by going through the solo quest line, participating in skirmishes, and queuing up for dungeon runs when time permits. And I'm enjoying myself so far, although I still have that "slightly lost" feeling that comes with exploring a brand-new MMO. I need to learn how to create Foundry missions and I haven't even touched professions yet.<br />
<br />
Maybe you're like me. Maybe you assume that everyone already knows the ins and outs of the game as though he's been playing it for years, while you're an ignorant noob wandering the streets. I don't think you're alone if that's the case, and to help both you and me out, I've done some research to find the top 14 most helpful threads, sites, and articles that all fledgling <em>Neverwinter</em> adventurers should at least skim over.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/neverwinter-days-the-14-guides-you-need-to-read/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Neverwinter Days: The 14 guides you need to read</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/neverwinter-days-the-14-guides-you-need-to-read/">Neverwinter Days: The 14 guides you need to read</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 15 May 2013 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/neverwinter-days-the-14-guides-you-need-to-read/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20562184/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/neverwinter-days-the-14-guides-you-need-to-read/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>advice</category><category>classes</category><category>companions</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>foundry</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>guide</category><category>guides</category><category>help</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>neverwinter-days</category><category>neverwinter-nights</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>PGC</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>professions</category><category>pwe</category><category>the-foundry</category><category>tip</category><category>tips</category><category>tricks</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter dev blog delves into the Foundry]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/neverwinter-dev-blog-delves-into-the-foundry/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/neverwinter-dev-blog-delves-into-the-foundry/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/neverwinter-dev-blog-delves-into-the-foundry/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-generated-content/" rel="tag">Player-Generated Content</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/neverwinter-dev-blog-delves-into-the-foundry/"><img alt="Neverwinter dev blog delves into the Foundry" data-src-height="320" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/foundry.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
Have you heard tell about this "Foundry" thingy-ma-bob in <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter">Neverwinter</a></em>, but you're not exactly sure what it is? Then <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic/">Cryptic's</a> latest <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=882931">dev blog</a> is for you! In it, Foundry producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/rob-overmeyer/">Rob Overmeyer</a> gives a heaping helping of the what, the why, and the how of the fantasy game's player-made content generator.<br />
<br />
Of course the Foundry is a tool for creating stuff. But more than that, Overmeyer emphasizes that "it's a place where your stories come to life." With extensive customization available in the map editors (both internal and external) and dialogue editors (for both people and objects), players can become immersive storytellers. For a look at what's possible, check out Overmeyer's overview. Then jump in game and test it out for yourself.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/neverwinter-dev-blog-delves-into-the-foundry/">Neverwinter dev blog delves into the Foundry</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 13 May 2013 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/neverwinter-dev-blog-delves-into-the-foundry/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20566789/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/neverwinter-dev-blog-delves-into-the-foundry/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dev-blog</category><category>dev-diary</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>Foundry</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>PGC</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>player-generated-missions</category><category>pwe</category><category>Rob-Overmeyer</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2013 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Stream Team:  MLT edition, May 13 - 19, 2013]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/livestream/" rel="tag">Livestream</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-stream-team/" rel="tag">The Stream Team</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/"><img alt="The Stream Team    May 13  19, 2013" data-src-height="320" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/planes-header.jpg" style="margin:4px" /></a></div>

<div>Nothing beats an MLT, especially when the tomato is nice and ripe! Except maybe <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/livestream">Massively TV</a>. MMmm mmmm. Now there's something you can really sink your teeth into -- the wild and crazy antics of your favorite <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-stream-team">Stream Team</a> hosts! And they've got a menu for all tastes this week, from space adventures to dragons to WWII planes. Of course, it all comes with a side of reruns and a dessert highlight to complete your meal.<br />
<br />
So pull up a chair and grab yourself a helping or two... or 10. Hey, there's no limit here; enjoy as much as you like! While you're enjoying the spread, be sure to join in the after-dinner chat in Outtakes.</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Stream Team:  MLT edition, May 13 - 19, 2013</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/">The Stream Team:  MLT edition, May 13 - 19, 2013</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 13 May 2013 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20558550/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>activision</category><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>agon</category><category>anet</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>arenanet</category><category>ark</category><category>ark-hunter</category><category>arkfall</category><category>aventurine</category><category>bioware</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>buy-to-play</category><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>city-of-steam</category><category>conan</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>darkfall</category><category>darkfall-unholy-wars</category><category>dc-universe</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>defiance</category><category>df</category><category>dnd</category><category>dota-2</category><category>Dragonrealms</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>elsword</category><category>eq-2</category><category>eq-ii</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>faction</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>goblin</category><category>guild-wars</category><category>gw</category><category>hi-rez</category><category>hi-rez-studios</category><category>historical</category><category>horror</category><category>hyboria</category><category>internet-spaceships</category><category>livestream</category><category>livestreaming</category><category>livestreams</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>mabinogi</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>massively-tv</category><category>mech</category><category>mechanist</category><category>mechanist-games</category><category>mechs</category><category>mechwarrior</category><category>mechwarrior-mmo</category><category>mechwarrior-online</category><category>meta</category><category>mmo-shooter</category><category>moba</category><category>multiplayer-online-battle-arena</category><category>mv-guide</category><category>mv-tv</category><category>mvguide</category><category>mvtv</category><category>mwo</category><category>mythology</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>nexon</category><category>nexon-america</category><category>open-pvp</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>piranha</category><category>piranha-games</category><category>plane</category><category>planes</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>playstation3</category><category>poll</category><category>ps3</category><category>pvp</category><category>pwe</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>secret-world</category><category>shooter</category><category>skill-based</category><category>Smite</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>spreadsheets-online</category><category>star-wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>steampunk</category><category>stream</category><category>stream-schedule</category><category>stream-team</category><category>streamers</category><category>streaming</category><category>streamteam</category><category>subscriptionless</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>swtor</category><category>syfy</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>the-stream-team</category><category>third-person-shooter</category><category>tor</category><category>tps</category><category>transmedia-synergy</category><category>trion</category><category>trion-worlds</category><category>tsw</category><category>tv</category><category>twitch</category><category>twitch-tv</category><category>unchained</category><category>unholy-wars</category><category>war</category><category>warcraft</category><category>wargaming.net</category><category>warplane</category><category>warplanes</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>world-of-warplanes</category><category>wow</category><category>wowp</category><category>xbox</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2013 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[One Shots: A light in the dark]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/one-shots-a-light-in-the-dark/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/one-shots-a-light-in-the-dark/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/one-shots-a-light-in-the-dark/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest/" rel="tag">EverQuest</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/one-shots/" rel="tag">One Shots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/tera/" rel="tag">TERA</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/one-shots-a-light-in-the-dark/"><img alt="One Shots A light in the dark" data-src-height="354" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/o1.jpg" /></a></div>
Reader Andrew is quite impressed with the look of <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/"><em>Neverwinter</em></a>, saying that it is visually "amazing!" Without descending into hyperbole, I have to agree. It's a good-looking title with plenty of interesting details if you take the time to stop and smell the corpses.<br />
<br />
Corpses? Well, Andrew is standing in the middle of a whole bunch of dead folks here with his spectral flashlight (AA batteries not included). I wouldn't touch that treasure chest if I were you, Andrew. I'm guessing it might be a mimic. Oh no!<br />
<br />
As we stumble through the dark, what other visions might we encounter in this week's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/One-Shots/">One Shots</a>?<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/one-shots-a-light-in-the-dark/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>One Shots: A light in the dark</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/one-shots-a-light-in-the-dark/">One Shots: A light in the dark</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 12 May 2013 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/one-shots-a-light-in-the-dark/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20559181/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/one-shots-a-light-in-the-dark/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>bluehole</category><category>bluehole-studios</category><category>bring-back-one-shots</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>en-masse</category><category>en-masse-entertainment</category><category>eq</category><category>eq1</category><category>everquest</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>galleries</category><category>gallery</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>one-shots</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pics-or-it-didnt-happen</category><category>pwe</category><category>reader-screenshots</category><category>reader-submissions</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>screenshot</category><category>screenshots</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-mmo</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>tera</category><category>user-submissions</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 12 May 2013 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter teases module 1 update]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/neverwinter-teases-module-1-update/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/neverwinter-teases-module-1-update/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/neverwinter-teases-module-1-update/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/neverwinter-teases-module-1-update/"><img alt="Neverwinter teases module 1 update" data-src-height="315" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/module.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic/">Cryptic's</a> got a tiny surprise for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> players today: <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/module1">a teaser page for its module 1 update</a>. The studio posted a splash page featuring a mystical forest with the phrase "They would seize from the moon the way to ruin and riches" floating above it.<br />
<br />
 <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/">In an interview with Massively</a> a few weeks ago, Lead Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/andy-velasquez/">Andy Velasquez</a> acknowledged that the team was hard at work on this update even before <em>Neverwinter </em>went into open beta: "For the rest of the team, they've spent the last couple of weeks working on the first update which will come out a couple of months after the launch."<br />
<br />
Cryptic says that more details on module 1 are coming soon, but in the meanwhile, why don't we engage in a fun round of speculation as to what this update could be?<br />
<br />
[Thanks to Mark for the tip!]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/neverwinter-teases-module-1-update/">Neverwinter teases module 1 update</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/neverwinter-teases-module-1-update/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20563893/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/neverwinter-teases-module-1-update/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>module-1</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>patch</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>preview</category><category>pwe</category><category>splash-page</category><category>teaser</category><category>update</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter counters Foundry exploit by nerfing XP rate]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/neverwinter-counters-foundry-exploit-by-nerfing-xp-rate/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/neverwinter-counters-foundry-exploit-by-nerfing-xp-rate/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/neverwinter-counters-foundry-exploit-by-nerfing-xp-rate/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-generated-content/" rel="tag">Player-Generated Content</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/neverwinter-counters-foundry-exploit-by-nerfing-xp-rate/"><img alt="Neverwinter counters Foundry exploit by nerfing XP rate" data-src-height="343" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/never1.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic/">Cryptic</a> is cracking down on player-created missions <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?196582-Exploit-Maps-What-s-the-deal-Who-gets-punished">that utilize certain exploits</a> to gain XP <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?205661-New-best-exp-in-the-game-Is-this-an-Exploit-2-3-levels-hr">faster than normal</a> in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter's</em></a> Foundry. While the studio temporarily banned authors for making these missions in the Foundry, it looks as though <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?201931-Patch-Notes-NW-1-20130416a-16">a recent patch</a> has addressed the situation by "tweaking" the amount of XP that a player can gain within a set period of time.<br />
<br />
Apparently some Foundry authors had been creating missions designed to pay out the maximum amount of XP by allowing near-nonstop combat. The patch has slowed that rate down by allowing players to earn only so much XP in five minutes before turning off the XP spigot altogether until the time limit is up.<br />
<br />
Players have been reacting <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?204491-Foundry-Nerfs">to the Foundry nerf</a> <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?206821-Petition-Bring-back-Foundry-EXP">with dismay</a>, particularly <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?203581-Worried-about-XP-nerf-IOW-quot-Why-we-can-t-have-nice-things-quot-%29">non-exploit-using authors</a> who feel as though they are being punished with the rest of the class by the XP nerfs (though "legit" farming maps appear to have escaped deletion so far). <a href="http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?203581-Worried-about-XP-nerf-IOW-quot-Why-we-can-t-have-nice-things-quot-%29&amp;p=2767322&amp;viewfull=1#post2767322">One player noted</a> called this situation an "endless cat and mouse game" that has happened in other similar systems.<br />
<br />
[Thanks to Zaph for the tip!]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/neverwinter-counters-foundry-exploit-by-nerfing-xp-rate/">Neverwinter counters Foundry exploit by nerfing XP rate</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 08 May 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/neverwinter-counters-foundry-exploit-by-nerfing-xp-rate/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20562389/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/neverwinter-counters-foundry-exploit-by-nerfing-xp-rate/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>exploit</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>foundry</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pgc</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>pwe</category><category>ugc</category><category>user-generated-content</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Leaderboard: What's your favorite player-generated content tool?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/leaderboard/" rel="tag">Leaderboard</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-generated-content/" rel="tag">Player-Generated Content</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/"><img alt="Leaderboard - What's your favorite player-generated content tool?" data-src-height="300" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/nw-foundry-epl-924.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> recently launched, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic">Cryptic's</a> Forgotten Realms MMO brought with it a substantial player-generated content toolset called the Foundry. The Foundry isn't the first of its kind, however, or even the first of its name. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> boasts an earlier version of Cryptic's Foundry, and other games going back a decade or more have also tried their hand at user content suites.<br />
<br />
Assuming you've played around with a few of these tools, which one is your favorite? Vote after the cut!<br />
<br />
 <img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/10/vs.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Leaderboard/">Leaderboard</a>, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!</em><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Leaderboard: What's your favorite player-generated content tool?</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/">Leaderboard: What's your favorite player-generated content tool?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20558492/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>battle-royal</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>leaderboard</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>one-on-one</category><category>one-vs-one</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>player-content</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>poll</category><category>polls</category><category>pwe</category><category>sandbox</category><category>user-generated-content</category><category>versus</category><category>vote</category><category>votes</category><category>voting</category><category>vs</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Stream Team:  Seis de Mayo edition, May 6 - 12, 2013]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/polls/" rel="tag">Polls</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-stream-team/" rel="tag">The Stream Team</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/"><img alt="The Stream Team  Seis de Mayo edition, May 6  12, 2013" data-src-height="320" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/random-aion-header-2.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
You have to agree, May is one month that's full of holidays. The first week alone contains May Day, (unofficial) Star Wars Day, and Cinco de Mayo. But the party doesn't stop there! Following quickly on the heels of these is perhaps one you are less familiar with: Seis de Mayo.<br />
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Not unlike its cousin the day before, Seis de Mayo is a day of celebration; however, this celebration centers on freedom from boredom via visual entertainment. No, really! And to commemorate the day, we're releasing an all-new <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/livestream">Massively TV</a> schedule, giving you the means to celebrate the whole week through with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-stream-team">The Stream Team</a>. If you can't celebrate live, just tune into a rerun and party whenever.<br />
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Well, even if you don't believe us, you can still commemorate the occasion with us. Just check out the past the cut for a heaping helping of daily festivities.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Stream Team:  Seis de Mayo edition, May 6 - 12, 2013</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/">The Stream Team:  Seis de Mayo edition, May 6 - 12, 2013</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 06 May 2013 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20546247/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>activision</category><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>agon</category><category>aion</category><category>anet</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>arenanet</category><category>ark</category><category>ark-hunter</category><category>arkfall</category><category>ascension</category><category>aventurine</category><category>bioware</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-based</category><category>buy-to-play</category><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>clone-wars</category><category>clone-wars-adventures</category><category>conan</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>cwa</category><category>darkfall</category><category>darkfall-unholy-wars</category><category>dc-universe</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>defiance</category><category>df</category><category>dnd</category><category>dota-2</category><category>dragon</category><category>dragons</category><category>dragons-prophet</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>eq-2</category><category>eq-ii</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>family</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>fps</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>guild-wars</category><category>guild-wars-2</category><category>gw</category><category>gw2</category><category>heroes-and-generals</category><category>hi-rez</category><category>hi-rez-studios</category><category>housing</category><category>hyboria</category><category>infernum</category><category>infernum-productions</category><category>internet-spaceships</category><category>kid-friendly</category><category>kids</category><category>kids-mmo</category><category>kingsisle</category><category>kingsisle-entertainment</category><category>livestream</category><category>livestreaming</category><category>livestreams</category><category>lobby</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>mabinogi</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>massively-tv</category><category>mech</category><category>mechs</category><category>mechwarrior</category><category>mechwarrior-mmo</category><category>mechwarrior-online</category><category>meta</category><category>minigame</category><category>mmo-shooter</category><category>mmofps</category><category>moba</category><category>multiplayer-online-battle-arena</category><category>mv-guide</category><category>mv-tv</category><category>mvguide</category><category>mvtv</category><category>mwo</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>nexon</category><category>nexon-america</category><category>open-pvp</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>piranha</category><category>piranha-games</category><category>planetside</category><category>planetside-2</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>playstation3</category><category>poll</category><category>ps2</category><category>ps3</category><category>pvp</category><category>pwe</category><category>runewaker</category><category>runewaker-entertainment</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>shooter</category><category>Smite</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>spreadsheets-online</category><category>star-wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>stream</category><category>stream-schedule</category><category>stream-team</category><category>streamers</category><category>streaming</category><category>streamteam</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>swtor</category><category>syfy</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>the-stream-team</category><category>third-person-shooter</category><category>tor</category><category>Torchlight-2</category><category>torchlight-ii</category><category>tps</category><category>transmedia-synergy</category><category>trion</category><category>trion-worlds</category><category>truly-free</category><category>tv</category><category>twitch</category><category>twitch-tv</category><category>unchained</category><category>unholy-wars</category><category>warcraft</category><category>warmage-battlegrounds</category><category>wizard101</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><category>xbox</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2013 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Betawatch: April 27 - May 3, 2013]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/betawatch-april-27-may-3-2013/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/betawatch-april-27-may-3-2013/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/betawatch-april-27-may-3-2013/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betawatch/" rel="tag">Betawatch</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/betawatch-april-27-may-3-2013/"><img alt="You get a week, then I'm calling your bluff." data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/betawatch-epl-503.jpg" /></a></div>
So <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Neverwinter/">Neverwinter</a></em> launched this week. Or it went into open beta. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/">Or it did both</a>. We've kind of got a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/ask-massively-a-new-era-of-soft-launches/">Schr&ouml;dinger's Launch</a> going on here. You can read <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/pantsless-first-impressions-of-neverwinters-open-beta-headstar/">our first impressions of the game</a> if you're curious about its overall quality regardless of whether it really launched or not. <a href="http://playlostsaga.com/"><em>Lost Saga</em></a> enjoyed a comparatively unambiguous launch, complete with new content compared to beta.<br />
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There's not a full open beta for <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em> yet, but you can still <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/marvel-heroes-gets-an-open-beta-weekend-in-honor-of-iron-man-3/">jump into the game this weekend</a> in celebration of some new movie or another. Representing the other major superhero franchise is <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Infinite-Crisis/">Infinite Crisis</a></em>, which announced that the start of its closed beta testing will be <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/infinite-crisis-closed-beta-starts-may-8/">on May 8th</a>.<br />
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Oh, and there's the usual assortment of games in testing listed just past the cut. See something amiss? Feel free to let us know about it down in the comments.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/betawatch-april-27-may-3-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Betawatch: April 27 - May 3, 2013</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/betawatch-april-27-may-3-2013/">Betawatch: April 27 - May 3, 2013</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 May 2013 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/betawatch-april-27-may-3-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20557917/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/betawatch-april-27-may-3-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>alpha</category><category>alphas</category><category>beta</category><category>beta-test</category><category>beta-testing</category><category>betas</category><category>betawatch</category><category>closed-beta</category><category>featured</category><category>game-testing</category><category>infinite-crisis</category><category>launch</category><category>launches</category><category>lost-saga</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>open-beta</category><category>roundup</category><category>testing</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Neverwinter video takes you to the Whispering Caverns]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-neverwinter-video-takes-you-to-the-whispering-caverns/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-neverwinter-video-takes-you-to-the-whispering-caverns/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-neverwinter-video-takes-you-to-the-whispering-caverns/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-neverwinter-video-takes-you-to-the-whispering-caverns/"><img alt="New Neverwinter video takes you to the Whispering Caverns" data-src-height="201" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/279582e72bacc5e59c676942cd5ce16f1367601340-1367615016.jpg" /></a></div>
Have you explored <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter's</em></a> Whispering Caverns yet? No? Well, what in the nine hells are you waiting for? You can load up the game and do it in real time, it's free-to-play you know, or you can head to the official website and watch <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic">Cryptic's</a> latest video.<br />
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There's an accompanying dev diary, too, and it's all about the labyrinth of forgotten tunnels northwest of <em>Neverwinter</em>. All manner of underdark nasties are calling the place home nowadays, from evil dwarves to mindflayers to the drow House Xorlarrin. Click past the cut for a look-see.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-neverwinter-video-takes-you-to-the-whispering-caverns/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New Neverwinter video takes you to the Whispering Caverns</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-neverwinter-video-takes-you-to-the-whispering-caverns/">New Neverwinter video takes you to the Whispering Caverns</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 May 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-neverwinter-video-takes-you-to-the-whispering-caverns/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20557770/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-neverwinter-video-takes-you-to-the-whispering-caverns/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>neverwinter-trailer</category><category>neverwinter-video</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><category>whispering-caverns</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ask Massively: A new era of soft launches]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/ask-massively-a-new-era-of-soft-launches/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/ask-massively-a-new-era-of-soft-launches/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/ask-massively-a-new-era-of-soft-launches/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/ask-massively/" rel="tag">Ask Massively</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Events (Massively's Coverage)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/ask-massively-a-new-era-of-soft-launches/"><img alt="Neverwinter. It's blue." data-src-height="348" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/bloo.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> soft launched this week. What's a soft launch? It's when a game really shouldn't be launching yet and knows it and yet has to launch anyway for reasons probably involving money. Soft launches are incredibly confusing to old school gamers who are used to a certain kind of testing and release cycle, the uncomplicated kind that involves, you know, some testing and a release. Soft launches make games writers uncomfortable too. Why won't your weird special snowflake of a game launch fit into our perfectly planned box?<br />
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Massively reader <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/?hubRefSrc=permalink#lf_comment=71183664">zmeul</a> expressed his annoyance with us thusly: "I can't understand why some games get this 'soft launch' from you and others do not, even if the criteria are met."<br />
<br />
It's a brave new world out there, zmeul!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/ask-massively-a-new-era-of-soft-launches/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ask Massively: A new era of soft launches</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/ask-massively-a-new-era-of-soft-launches/">Ask Massively: A new era of soft launches</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 May 2013 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/ask-massively-a-new-era-of-soft-launches/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20553735/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/ask-massively-a-new-era-of-soft-launches/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>advice</category><category>advice-column</category><category>ask-massively</category><category>beta</category><category>brianna-royce-ask-massively</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>featured</category><category>humor</category><category>launch</category><category>launches</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>meta</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>open-beta</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>soft-launch</category><category>star-conflict</category><category>testing</category><category>war-thunder</category><category>warframe</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which classes would you like to see in Neverwinter?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-daily-grind-which-classes-would-you-like-to-see-in-neverwin/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-daily-grind-which-classes-would-you-like-to-see-in-neverwin/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-daily-grind-which-classes-would-you-like-to-see-in-neverwin/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-daily-grind-which-classes-would-you-like-to-see-in-neverwin/"><img alt="Neverwinter Control Wizard" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/dbb6ca9529cc2eebc3f4da9eb3919dd4.jpg" /></a></div>
I haven't dipped a toe into the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> pool yet, but I'm doing a bit of preliminary research for some potential playtime this weekend. One of the things that I'm finding is that the game's class roster is a bit light on, well, classes. Specifically, there are five to start with, which seems somewhat spartan for a title based on Dungeons and Dragons.<br />
<br />
Notably absent is my preferred ranged DPS. There's the Control Wizard, of course, and he sounds mighty interesting, but the <em>Neverwinter</em> wiki says his <a href="http://neverwinter.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Classes">primary role</a> is crowd-control. What about you, <em>Neverwinter</em> players? What sorts of classes would you like to see available in the future?<br />
<br />
 <img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-daily-grind-which-classes-would-you-like-to-see-in-neverwin/">The Daily Grind: Which classes would you like to see in Neverwinter?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 May 2013 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-daily-grind-which-classes-would-you-like-to-see-in-neverwin/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20554656/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-daily-grind-which-classes-would-you-like-to-see-in-neverwin/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>classes</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>daily-grind</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>neverwinter-classes</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pantsless: First impressions of Neverwinter's open beta headstart]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/pantsless-first-impressions-of-neverwinters-open-beta-headstar/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/pantsless-first-impressions-of-neverwinters-open-beta-headstar/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/pantsless-first-impressions-of-neverwinters-open-beta-headstar/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/first-impressions/" rel="tag">First Impressions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons/" rel="tag">Dungeons</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-generated-content/" rel="tag">Player-Generated Content</a></p><center><img alt="Pantsless First impressions of Neverwinter's open beta" data-src-height="280" data-src-width="500" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/nwheader.jpg" /></center>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/neverwinter/"><i>Neverwinter's</i></a> launch into open beta began last week, and through the grace of my press account, my <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/neverwinter-closes-in-on-another-beta-weekend-with-the-great-wea/">Great Weapon Fighter</a> was lucky enough to begin her digital life alongside players who forked over $199.99 for the Hero of the North Founder's Pack. I lack any of the Founders Pack bonuses, so off my plucky human character went, surrounded on her first day almost exclusively by panther-having Drow.<br />
<br />
Justin's been serving up <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/massivelys-neverwinter-early-access-launch-diary-day-one/">a delicious helping</a> of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/massivelys-neverwinter-launch-diary-day-two/">launch diary goodness</a>, but he's relaxing on a cruise ship this week, so you're stuck with me! Join me as we sally forth into my launch-but-not-really-launch-it's-open-beta-okay-guys-but-we-aren't-deleting-characters-anymore-no-really-it's-still-open-beta-look-it-says-so-in-this-blog-post impressions! The first section is about thighs.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/pantsless-first-impressions-of-neverwinters-open-beta-headstar/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Pantsless: First impressions of Neverwinter's open beta headstart</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/pantsless-first-impressions-of-neverwinters-open-beta-headstar/">Pantsless: First impressions of Neverwinter's open beta headstart</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/pantsless-first-impressions-of-neverwinters-open-beta-headstar/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20553035/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/pantsless-first-impressions-of-neverwinters-open-beta-headstar/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>First-Impressions</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>hands-on</category><category>impressions</category><category>launch</category><category>launch-day</category><category>launches</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>pwe</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jasmine Hruschak]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter's open beta soft launches today]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/first-impressions/" rel="tag">First Impressions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/"><img alt="Neverwinter concept art" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/1335790838311.jpg" /></a></div>
Ever wonder what the heck an MMO soft launch actually is? Me too, which is funny because you'd think I'd know, working for an MMO site and whatnot. Soft launch implies that somewhere out in game land there's also a hard launch, which is a term that I've never heard once despite following the industry for decades now.<br />
<br />
Is soft launch merely a marketing construct, or perhaps devspeak for a free-to-play MMO that operates in some sort of perpetual beta in spite of a working cash shop? Or is it simply a term that denotes the beginning of an open beta period that is free of character wipes, as is the case with today's <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> pseudo-release? The definition is up to you, I suppose, and while you're mulling that one over, you can also click past the cut for a roundup of our best pre-soft-launch <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> coverage.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Neverwinter's open beta soft launches today</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/">Neverwinter's open beta soft launches today</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20553025/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/neverwinters-open-beta-soft-launches-today/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>launch-roundup</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>neverwinter-launch</category><category>neverwinter-launch-roundup</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>roundup</category><category>soft-launch</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Captain's Log: More Romulan ships coming in Star Trek Online]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/captains-log/" rel="tag">Captain's Log</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online"><img alt="STO D'Deridex HEADER" data-src-height="350" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/dderidex-retrofit-header.jpg" /></a></div>
Late last week, <em><a href="http://startrekonline.com">Star Trek Online</a></em> community manager <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Brandon-Felczer/">Brandon Felczer</a> posted an enormous <a href="http://sto.perfectworld.com/news/?p=869551">dev blog</a> delving into the details surrounding the influx of new ships heading into the game the moment the <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Legacy-of-Romulus/">Legacy of Romulus</a></em> expansion goes live.<br />
<br />
So today I'd like to touch on these new ships and the new Legacy Pack and Starter Packs that were announced as being available for <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Star-Trek-Online/">Star Trek Online</a></em>!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Captain's Log: More Romulan ships coming in Star Trek Online</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/">Captain's Log: More Romulan ships coming in Star Trek Online</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20550802/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ask-cryptic</category><category>brandon-felczer</category><category>captains-log</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>daniel-stahl</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>federation</category><category>fleet-ships</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>klingon</category><category>legacy-of-romulus</category><category>legacy-pack</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>romulan</category><category>Romulans</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>ships</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-mmo</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>starter pack</category><category>sto</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Terilynn Shull]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Stream Team: Fuzzy slippers edition, April 29 - May 5, 2013]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-stream-team-fuzzy-slippers-edition-april-29-may-5-2013/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-stream-team-fuzzy-slippers-edition-april-29-may-5-2013/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-stream-team-fuzzy-slippers-edition-april-29-may-5-2013/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-stream-team/" rel="tag">The Stream Team</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-stream-team-fuzzy-slippers-edition-april-29-may-5-2013/"><img alt="The Stream Team  Fuzzy slippers edition, April 29  May 5, 2013" data-src-height="320" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/slippers-header.jpg" /></a></div>

<div>Comfort food is a pretty universally understood concept. And most folks can also easily envision the security of a blanket a la Linus in the Peanuts cartoons. But what do gamers turn to for stability and comfort during stressful times? I mean, we all know that sometimes games get pretty intense. If you don't believe me, just watch <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/livestream">Massively TV</a>! Death and glory, victory and defeat: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-stream-team/">The Stream Team</a> experiences it all.<br />
<br />
Some folks have specific food or drinks on hand for their gaming sessions. I know one gamer with a bobble-head. Me? I've got my fuzzy slippers! Yes, really. When I wear them, glorious victories are all the sweeter and harrowing defeats lose their sting. And I swear they bring me luck. Gaming is just better in fuzzy slippers. If you haven't tried it, I totally encourage you to. Uncertain? Try it, you might like it! Grab a pair and give them a test run while watching this week's shows. Or if you have your own can't-do-without gaming accessory, let us know what it is in the Outtakes.</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-stream-team-fuzzy-slippers-edition-april-29-may-5-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Stream Team: Fuzzy slippers edition, April 29 - May 5, 2013</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-stream-team-fuzzy-slippers-edition-april-29-may-5-2013/">The Stream Team: Fuzzy slippers edition, April 29 - May 5, 2013</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-stream-team-fuzzy-slippers-edition-april-29-may-5-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20546246/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-stream-team-fuzzy-slippers-edition-april-29-may-5-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>activision</category><category>all-points-bulletin</category><category>all-points-bulletin-reloaded</category><category>anet</category><category>apb</category><category>apb-reloaded</category><category>apbr</category><category>arenanet</category><category>bioware</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-based</category><category>buy-to-play</category><category>clone-wars</category><category>clone-wars-adventures</category><category>crime</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>cwa</category><category>dnd</category><category>dragon</category><category>dragons</category><category>dragons-prophet</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>eq-2</category><category>eq-ii</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>faction</category><category>family</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>fps</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>g1</category><category>gamersfirst</category><category>guild-wars</category><category>guild-wars-2</category><category>gw</category><category>gw2</category><category>Heroes-and-GeneralsHeroes-and-Generals</category><category>hi-rez</category><category>hi-rez-studios</category><category>historical</category><category>horror</category><category>housing</category><category>infernum</category><category>infernum-productions</category><category>kid-friendly</category><category>kids</category><category>kids-mmo</category><category>kingsisle</category><category>kingsisle-entertainment</category><category>livestream</category><category>livestreaming</category><category>livestreams</category><category>lobby</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>massively-tv</category><category>meta</category><category>minigame</category><category>mmo-shooter</category><category>mmofps</category><category>moba</category><category>multiplayer-online-battle-arena</category><category>mv-guide</category><category>mv-tv</category><category>mvguide</category><category>mvtv</category><category>mythology</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>plane</category><category>planes</category><category>planetside</category><category>planetside-2</category><category>poll</category><category>ps2</category><category>pvp</category><category>pwe</category><category>runewaker</category><category>runewaker-entertainment</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>secret-world</category><category>shooter</category><category>skill-based</category><category>Smite</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>star-wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>stream</category><category>stream-schedule</category><category>stream-team</category><category>streamers</category><category>streaming</category><category>streamteam</category><category>subscriptionless</category><category>swtor</category><category>The-Lost-Titans</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>the-stream-team</category><category>tor</category><category>Torchlight-2</category><category>torchlight-ii</category><category>tsw</category><category>twitch</category><category>twitch-tv</category><category>war</category><category>War-Thunder</category><category>warcraft</category><category>wargaming.net</category><category>WarMage-Battlegrounds</category><category>warplane</category><category>warplanes</category><category>wizard101</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>world-of-warplanes</category><category>wow</category><category>wowp</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massively's Neverwinter early access launch diary: Day two]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/massivelys-neverwinter-launch-diary-day-two/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/massivelys-neverwinter-launch-diary-day-two/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/massivelys-neverwinter-launch-diary-day-two/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/first-impressions/" rel="tag">First Impressions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter-days/" rel="tag">Neverwinter Days</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/massivelys-neverwinter-launch-diary-day-two/"><img alt="Massively's Neverwinter launch diary Day two" data-src-height="345" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/launch-1366983252.jpg" /></a></div>
After <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/massivelys-neverwinter-early-access-launch-diary-day-one/">yesterday's initial foray</a> into <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/"><em>Neverwinter</em></a>, I was eager to get back to it. I was still trying to figure everything out, including frustrating little issues (is there a screenshot key that saves to a folder? Can I keep the little notifications from constantly popping out of the side of the map?). There's that period of acclimation in new games when you're excited but also feel a little lost. I'm guessing it's going to be another day or two before I truly feel comfortable in my <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> home.<br />
<br />
From what I can figure out, there are six main options for a typical <em>Neverwinter </em>play session. There are general PvE quests, skirmishes (think instanced public quests), zone-wide events, group dungeon runs, Foundry missions, and PvP fights. There's also playing the auction house, crafting, and making your own Foundry missions.<br />
<br />
Yesterday was about the first two, so I decided that the second day would be all about the Foundry. At a certain level or part of the quest line (around level 11), you gain access to daily Foundry quests. These give you astral diamonds as incentive to run player-made content, so I figured I had nothing to lose and everything to gain!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/massivelys-neverwinter-launch-diary-day-two/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively's Neverwinter early access launch diary: Day two</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/massivelys-neverwinter-launch-diary-day-two/">Massively's Neverwinter early access launch diary: Day two</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/massivelys-neverwinter-launch-diary-day-two/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20549605/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/massivelys-neverwinter-launch-diary-day-two/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>foundry</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>hands-on</category><category>launch</category><category>launch-day</category><category>launch-diary</category><category>launches</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>neverwinter-days</category><category>neverwinter-nights</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>PGC</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>pwe</category><category>the-foundry</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massively's Neverwinter early access launch diary: Day one]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/massivelys-neverwinter-early-access-launch-diary-day-one/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/massivelys-neverwinter-early-access-launch-diary-day-one/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/massivelys-neverwinter-early-access-launch-diary-day-one/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/first-impressions/" rel="tag">First Impressions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter-days/" rel="tag">Neverwinter Days</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/massivelys-neverwinter-early-access-launch-diary-day-one"><img alt="Massively's Neverwinter launch diary Day one" data-src-height="345" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/launch.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/"><em>Neverwinter's</em></a> launch isn't so much a launch as a gradual roll-out that's happening in several phases and operating under the code-name of "open beta." While the doors won't be open for the general public until April 30th, purchasers of the founder's packs are able to get in a few days early. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Cryptic">Cryptic's</a> invited the media to join the day one festivities alongside of those who've plunked down $200 for a Hero of the North package, which is how I'm able to bring to you a day-by-day account of the first week of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> live.<br />
<br />
While I've participated in two of the beta weekend events and have been following <em>Neverwinter</em> for a few months now <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter-days/">as part of my column coverage</a>, much of the game is virgin territory to me. I like going into a launch relatively unspoiled (or as unspoiled as a writer who covers MMOs can be), so this launch diary isn't going to be the voice of great experience. It's going to be the voice of experiences. See what I did there?<br />
<br />
Noon on April 25th finally arrived... and we were off to the D&amp;D races!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/massivelys-neverwinter-early-access-launch-diary-day-one/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively's Neverwinter early access launch diary: Day one</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/massivelys-neverwinter-early-access-launch-diary-day-one/">Massively's Neverwinter early access launch diary: Day one</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/massivelys-neverwinter-early-access-launch-diary-day-one/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20549020/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/massivelys-neverwinter-early-access-launch-diary-day-one/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>devoted-cleric</category><category>diary</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>first-impressions</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>hands-on</category><category>impressions</category><category>launch</category><category>launch-day</category><category>launch-diary</category><category>launches</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>pwe</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter founder early access begins today [Updated]]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/neverwinter-founder-early-access-begins-today/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/neverwinter-founder-early-access-begins-today/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/neverwinter-founder-early-access-begins-today/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/buy-to-play/" rel="tag">Buy-to-Play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/neverwinter-founder-early-access-begins-today/"><img alt="Neverwinter founder early access begins today" data-src-height="201" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/d1acd0dd0e1a04bf0330c7fc0d13a8091366756556.jpg" style="margin:4px" /></a></div>
If you're a diehard <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Neverwinter/">Neverwinter</a></em> fan (i.e., you threw down $200 for the <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/founderspack/hero">Hero of the North founder's pack</a>), you're probably sitting at home in your PJs, notebook full of character names in hand, ready to hit the <em>Neverwinter</em> open beta running. Or you might be at work/school wishing you played sick this morning.<br />
<br />
Either way, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Cryptic-Studios/">Cryptic Studios'</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Perfect-World-Entertainment/">Perfect World Entertainment</a>'s D&amp;D-based MMO <em>Neverwinter</em> is celebrating a soft launch this morning as the open beta early access period will begin at 12 p.m. EDT (9 a.m. PDT). For those who purchased the <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/founderspack/guardian">Guardian of Neverwinter founder's pack</a> ($60 US), your early access begins at 12 p.m. EDT (9 a.m. PDT) on April 27.<br />
<br />
Good luck to everyone and watch the open beta trailer after the jump below to get you pumped up!<br />
<br />
[Update: We've altered this post to remove a bit about stressing over character name reservations since <em>Neverwinter</em> allows you to grab any character name you want under your global handle. Sorry for the confusion!]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/neverwinter-founder-early-access-begins-today/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Neverwinter founder early access begins today [Updated]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/neverwinter-founder-early-access-begins-today/">Neverwinter founder early access begins today [Updated]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/neverwinter-founder-early-access-begins-today/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20548924/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/neverwinter-founder-early-access-begins-today/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>open-beta</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>soft-launch</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Perfect World releases Neverwinter Helm's Hold video, pics]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/perfect-world-releases-neverwinter-helms-hold-video-pics/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/perfect-world-releases-neverwinter-helms-hold-video-pics/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/perfect-world-releases-neverwinter-helms-hold-video-pics/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<img alt="Perfect World releases Neverwinter Helms Hold video, pics" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/2e6fb82eaf030660b1ef13764109cf441366765431.jpg" /></div>
Is it irony or subtle PR manipulation that a new <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> update focused on Helm's Hold has released on the same day as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine's</a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/helms-deep"><em>Helms Deep</em></a> announcement?<br />
<br />
We're not really sure, and in the end you're probably more interested in the content than the things that make game bloggers chuckle. So, yes, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perfect-world">Perfect World</a> has released a video and some screen shots of Helm's... er, Hold, the latter of which you can view after the cut and former of which you can view at the official <em>Neverwinter</em> website.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/perfect-world-releases-neverwinter-helms-hold-video-pics/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Perfect World releases Neverwinter Helm's Hold video, pics</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/perfect-world-releases-neverwinter-helms-hold-video-pics/">Perfect World releases Neverwinter Helm's Hold video, pics</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/perfect-world-releases-neverwinter-helms-hold-video-pics/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20548412/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/perfect-world-releases-neverwinter-helms-hold-video-pics/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>helms-hold</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Extreme DIY makeover edition]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/polls/" rel="tag">Polls</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/choose-my-adventure/" rel="tag">Choose My Adventure</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/"><img alt="Choose My Adventure Extreme DIY makeover edition" data-src-height="233" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/cma-construct-header-1366740958.jpg" /></a></div>
Life may be like a box of chocolates, but gaming is like a Do-It-Yourself project. It may not be as mouth-watering an analogy, but it is certainly fitting: MMOs are a giant construction zone where players build their own experiences in a virtual world using tools from the game and their own imagination.<br />
<br />
Each project is a unique undertaking, bearing the personal touches of the builder, whether the builder is an individual or a group like a guild. Some players prefer to build a single residence and settle in, while others enjoy moving from project to project, exploring new territory and testing new tools. Me? I tend toward the former; I'm the kind who tinkers around in one place over a long period of time. But all that's about to change. Again.<br />
<br />
That's right, folks; it's my turn to break ground on yet another <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/choose-my-adventure/">Choose My Adventure</a>! For the next six weeks I am leaving the comfy confines of my familiar surroundings and allowing you to direct my next MMO project. Yes, my dear Massively friends, you will be the foreman of this endeavor, determining every step of the construction, from where I'll build my newest experience to what tools I'll get to use.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Choose My Adventure: Extreme DIY makeover edition</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/">Choose My Adventure: Extreme DIY makeover edition</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20544347/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>age-of-wulin</category><category>age-of-wushu</category><category>agon</category><category>allods</category><category>allods-online</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>ark</category><category>ark-hunter</category><category>arkfall</category><category>asia</category><category>astrum-nival</category><category>aventurine</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-based</category><category>china</category><category>chinese</category><category>chinese-mmo</category><category>choose-my-adventure</category><category>choose-my-adventure-mj-guthrie</category><category>clone-wars</category><category>clone-wars-adventures</category><category>cma</category><category>conan</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>cwa</category><category>darkfall</category><category>darkfall-unholy-wars</category><category>dc-universe</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>defiance</category><category>df</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>family</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>gala-net</category><category>gpotato</category><category>gvg</category><category>hands-on</category><category>historical</category><category>hyboria</category><category>kid-friendly</category><category>kidnapping</category><category>kids</category><category>kids-mmo</category><category>kingsisle</category><category>kingsisle-entertainment</category><category>lobby</category><category>lord-of-the-rings</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>mail-ru-games</category><category>mail.ru-games</category><category>mailru-games</category><category>martial-arts</category><category>ming-dynasty</category><category>minigame</category><category>mmo-shooter</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>open-pvp</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pirate</category><category>pirate101</category><category>pirates</category><category>plane</category><category>planes</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>playstation3</category><category>poll</category><category>polls</category><category>ps3</category><category>pvp</category><category>pwe</category><category>readers-choice</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>shooter</category><category>snail-games</category><category>snail-games-usa</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>star-wars</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>syfy</category><category>third-person-shooter</category><category>tps</category><category>transmedia-synergy</category><category>trion</category><category>trion-worlds</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>tv</category><category>unchained</category><category>unholy-wars</category><category>Vendetta-Online</category><category>vote</category><category>voting</category><category>war</category><category>wargaming.net</category><category>warplane</category><category>warplanes</category><category>world-of-warplanes</category><category>wowp</category><category>wushu</category><category>wuxia</category><category>xbox</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Stream Team: Spring has sprung edition, April 22 - 28, 2013]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-stream-team-spring-has-sprung-edition-april-22-28-2013/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-stream-team-spring-has-sprung-edition-april-22-28-2013/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-stream-team-spring-has-sprung-edition-april-22-28-2013/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/livestream/" rel="tag">Livestream</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-stream-team/" rel="tag">The Stream Team</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/music/" rel="tag">Music</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-stream-team-spring-has-sprung-edition-april-22-28-2013/"><img alt="The Stream Team  Spring has sprung edition, April 22 28, 2013" data-src-height="320" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/spring-header-3.jpg" /></a></div>
If you live in the Northeast, chances are you ignore both the calendar and the furry little four-footed weatherman when it comes to anticipating the arrival of spring. In fact, you just don't believe it until you see it! Plenty of kids in that region are pros at gathering Easter eggs in a snowsuit. Although some might argue that the four seasons are actually Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Road Construction, I contend that they can experience an actual spring. And after a week of sunshine and non-frosty temperatures, I say it's finally made an appearance!<br />
<br />
Doh! I spoke to soon: It's back to the 20s. Tricksy weather, you almost fooled me. Oh well, I guess I can dive back under some blankets and watch more <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/livestream">Massively TV</a> instead of venturing into that thing called "outdoors." You, too, can take refuge from the never-ending winter by watching <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-stream-team">The Stream Team</a> visit virtual lands of sun, warmth, even lava. Whom am I kidding? They will probably taunt us in another world of snow!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-stream-team-spring-has-sprung-edition-april-22-28-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Stream Team: Spring has sprung edition, April 22 - 28, 2013</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-stream-team-spring-has-sprung-edition-april-22-28-2013/">The Stream Team: Spring has sprung edition, April 22 - 28, 2013</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-stream-team-spring-has-sprung-edition-april-22-28-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20542463/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-stream-team-spring-has-sprung-edition-april-22-28-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>activision</category><category>all-points-bulletin</category><category>all-points-bulletin-reloaded</category><category>anet</category><category>apb</category><category>apb-reloaded</category><category>apbr</category><category>arenanet</category><category>ark</category><category>ark-hunter</category><category>arkfall</category><category>bioware</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>buy-to-play</category><category>crime</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>defiance</category><category>dnd</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>eq-2</category><category>eq-ii</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>g1</category><category>game-of-thrones-ascent</category><category>gamersfirst</category><category>guild-wars</category><category>guild-wars-2</category><category>gw</category><category>gw2</category><category>hi-rez</category><category>hi-rez-studios</category><category>historical</category><category>livestream</category><category>livestreaming</category><category>livestreams</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>massively-tv</category><category>meta</category><category>might-and-magic</category><category>might-and-magic-duel-of-champions</category><category>mmo-shooter</category><category>moba</category><category>multiplayer-online-battle-arena</category><category>mv-guide</category><category>mv-tv</category><category>mvguide</category><category>mvtv</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>plane</category><category>planes</category><category>poll</category><category>pvp</category><category>pwe</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>shooter</category><category>Smite</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>spring</category><category>springtime</category><category>star-wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>stream</category><category>stream-schedule</category><category>stream-team</category><category>streamers</category><category>streaming</category><category>streamteam</category><category>swtor</category><category>syfy</category><category>telon</category><category>the-aurora-world</category><category>The-Lost-Titans</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>the-stream-team</category><category>third-person-shooter</category><category>tor</category><category>Torchlight-2</category><category>torchlight-ii</category><category>tps</category><category>transmedia-synergy</category><category>trion</category><category>trion-worlds</category><category>tv</category><category>twitch</category><category>twitch-tv</category><category>vanguard</category><category>vanguard-saga-of-heroes</category><category>vg</category><category>war</category><category>warcraft</category><category>wargaming.net</category><category>warplane</category><category>warplanes</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>world-of-warplanes</category><category>wow</category><category>wowp</category><category>xbox</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part two]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/"><img alt="Massively Exclusive Neverwinter prelaunch interview, part two" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/winter1.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 298px;" /></a></div>
We're back with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic/">Cryptic</a> Lead Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/andy-velasquez/">Andy Velasquez</a> to continue our discussion of <em><a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/">Neverwinter's</a></em> beta lessons, launch preparations, and post-launch plans. We also touch on some of the comments and concerns that players had for the title and how Cryptic is addressing them.<br />
<br />
If you missed the first part of this interview, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-one/">make sure you check it out before continuing</a>!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part two</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/">Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part two</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20545435/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>andy-velasquez</category><category>balance</category><category>behind-the-scenes</category><category>beta</category><category>beta-testing</category><category>champions-online</category><category>classes</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>exclusive</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>launch</category><category>launch-day</category><category>launches</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>pwe</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>update-1</category><category>update-2</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part one]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-one/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-one/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-one/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-one"><img alt="Massively Exclusive Neverwinter prelaunch interview" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/never1-1366327591.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/andy-velasquez/">Andy Velasquez</a> has seen his fair share of MMO launches, but that doesn't make a new one any less exhilarating or terrifying. As lead producer, he's the captain of the <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> ship and must make sure it's seaworthy before slipping out of drydock and heading into the unknown waters of release. Metaphor or no, it's a daunting job with little downtime, especially in this final week leading up to the soft launch of open beta.<br />
<br />
Velasquez took a half-hour out of his busy schedule to sit with us and talk about the preparations being made for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/"><em>Neverwinter's</em></a> big moment. Read on for his candid insights into beta stories, launch day, and making tough calls when tough calls had to be made.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-one/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part one</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-one/">Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part one</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-one/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20545244/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-one/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>andy-velasquez</category><category>balance</category><category>behind-the-scenes</category><category>beta</category><category>beta-testing</category><category>champions-online</category><category>classes</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>exclusive</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>launch</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>pwe</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>update-1</category><category>update-2</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New dev blog details Neverwinter's crafting]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/new-dev-blog-details-neverwinters-crafting/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/new-dev-blog-details-neverwinters-crafting/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/new-dev-blog-details-neverwinters-crafting/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/crafting/" rel="tag">Crafting</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/new-dev-blog-details-neverwinters-crafting/"><img alt="Is that Kira Carsen?" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/52a09b86195b41a3ddd6026270546cf11366255918.jpg" /></a></div>
How would you feel about a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> professions blog? No, you're not expected to write one, silly, but you can certainly <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=867851">read one</a> if you're interested in the game's crafting mechanics.<br />
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In a nutshell, crafting involves hiring numerous NPC assets to complete crafting-related tasks. These NPCs include Leadership Mercs, Platesmithing Miners, Mailsmithing Prospectors, Leatherworking Skinners, and Tailoring Weavers. Over time, completing various tasks will award profession XP as well as resources and rewards.<br />
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Your NPC assets will work on your tasks while you're out adventuring, and you can also "tinker with your professions on the <em>Neverwinter</em> Gateway website when you're outside of the game client," according to the diary. Learn more at the game's official site.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/new-dev-blog-details-neverwinters-crafting/">New dev blog details Neverwinter's crafting</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/new-dev-blog-details-neverwinters-crafting/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20545031/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/new-dev-blog-details-neverwinters-crafting/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>crafting</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>neverwinter-crafting</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter Days: Choosing your first class]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/neverwinter-days-choosing-your-first-class/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/neverwinter-days-choosing-your-first-class/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/neverwinter-days-choosing-your-first-class/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter-days/" rel="tag">Neverwinter Days</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/neverwinter-days-choosing-your-first-class/"><img alt="Neverwinter Days Choosing your first class" data-src-height="290" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/never1.jpg" /></a></div>
Ready to play some <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/"><em>Neverwinter</em></a>? It looks as though <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic">Cryptic</a> is ready to pull the trigger on this bad boy, with a soft launch (<a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=849741">open beta with no wipes</a>) starting on April 25th for founders and April 30th for everyone else. While I'm not surprised that the studio is moving ahead with the launch, I still wish that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> were being held back a few months to get more testing time and to add more classes.<br />
<br />
You see, five classes doesn't seem like enough to me, especially in a D&amp;D MMO. Yes, there's plenty of room for growth here, and I'm sure that Cryptic will be charging for each new class rolled out, but five? That's pretty paltry, especially when you read <a href="http://www.ign.com/wikis/neverwinter/Neverwinter_Classes">this prospective list</a>.<br />
<br />
But I'm not in charge of development and schedules; I'm just a humble gamer and writer. So I'll lift my chin and get excited for the fact that, hey, we're going to be playing non-wipeable <em>Neverwinter </em>soon! That means that we all have just a couple of weeks to make a crucial decision: What class will we roll first? Let's take a look at the big five and see what the options are.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/neverwinter-days-choosing-your-first-class/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Neverwinter Days: Choosing your first class</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/neverwinter-days-choosing-your-first-class/">Neverwinter Days: Choosing your first class</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/neverwinter-days-choosing-your-first-class/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20533792/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/neverwinter-days-choosing-your-first-class/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>beta</category><category>class</category><category>classes</category><category>control-wizard</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>devoted-cleric</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>foundry</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>great-weapon-fighte</category><category>guardian-fighter</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>neverwinter-days</category><category>neverwinter-nights</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>PGC</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>pwe</category><category>the-foundry</category><category>trickster-rogue</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are head starts worth the hassle?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/the-daily-grind-are-head-starts-worth-the-hassle/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/the-daily-grind-are-head-starts-worth-the-hassle/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/the-daily-grind-are-head-starts-worth-the-hassle/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/one-shots/" rel="tag">One Shots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/the-daily-grind-are-head-starts-worth-the-hassle/"><img alt="The Daily Grind Are head starts worth the hassle" data-src-height="257" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/headstart.jpg" /></a></div>
We're getting into the spring launch season, what with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-wushu/"><em>Age of Wushu</em></a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/defiance"><em>Defiance</em></a>, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter</em></a> (not to mention expansions and whatnot). It's an exciting time of year, kind of the groundhog coming out of his digital hole to break the cold dry spell of winter.<br />
<br />
As with any launch, there's usually the question of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/early-access">early access</a> and how much you're willing to jump through hoops to get in a couple days before the rest of the crowd. As a player who's done anything he can to get in there on the pre-launch day, I can attest that it's pretty important for me. I like knowing I'm in there right at the start, that I can reserve my names, and that I don't have to twiddle my thumbs while knowing that other players are enjoying the game.<br />
<br />
But that's just me. What about you? Are <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/head-start/">head starts</a> worth the extra effort and money to join? Do those extra few days matter in any significant way?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/the-daily-grind-are-head-starts-worth-the-hassle/">The Daily Grind: Are head starts worth the hassle?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/the-daily-grind-are-head-starts-worth-the-hassle/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20540684/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/the-daily-grind-are-head-starts-worth-the-hassle/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-wushu</category><category>bring-back-one-shots</category><category>defiance</category><category>early-access</category><category>galleries</category><category>gallery</category><category>head-start</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>one-shots</category><category>pics-or-it-didnt-happen</category><category>reader-screenshots</category><category>reader-submissions</category><category>screenshot</category><category>screenshots</category><category>user-submissions</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter's Rothe Valley]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/massively-exclusive-neverwinters-rothe-valley/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/massively-exclusive-neverwinters-rothe-valley/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/massively-exclusive-neverwinters-rothe-valley/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/massively-exclusive-neverwinters-rothe-valley/"><img alt="Massively Exclusive Neverwinter's Rothe Valley" data-src-height="315" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/farmer.jpg" /></a></div>
With <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter"><em>Neverwinter's</em></a> open beta right around the corner, now is the time to get a good feel for this game world. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic">Cryptic's</a> released a new video and screenshots on a new region called Rothe Valley. It's a peaceful farming community that's come under attack by evil Drow who have enslaved the people. The spider-queen Lolth is behind it all, and players who want to help out the farmers will be entering her dark domain for a counter-attack.<br />
<br />
Get your first look at Rothe Valley in the gallery below and in the video after the jump.<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/neverwinter-rothe-valley/">Neverwinter: Rothe Valley</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/neverwinter-rothe-valley/#5813709"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/neverwinterscreenshotrothevalley041613jpeg1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/neverwinter-rothe-valley/#5813710"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/neverwinterscreenshotrothevalley041613jpeg2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/neverwinter-rothe-valley/#5813711"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/neverwinterscreenshotrothevalley041613jpeg3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/neverwinter-rothe-valley/#5813712"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/neverwinterscreenshotrothevalley041613jpeg4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/neverwinter-rothe-valley/#5813713"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/neverwinterscreenshotrothevalley041613jpeg5_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/massively-exclusive-neverwinters-rothe-valley/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter's Rothe Valley</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/massively-exclusive-neverwinters-rothe-valley/">Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter's Rothe Valley</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/massively-exclusive-neverwinters-rothe-valley/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20541605/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/massively-exclusive-neverwinters-rothe-valley/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>beta</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>exclusive</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gallery</category><category>lolth</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>rothe-valley</category><category>screenshots</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/darkfall/" rel="tag">Darkfall</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guides/" rel="tag">Guides</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-next/" rel="tag">EverQuest Next</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/archeage/" rel="tag">ArcheAge</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/some-assembly-required/" rel="tag">Some Assembly Required</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wildstar/" rel="tag">WildStar</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-wushu/" rel="tag">Age of Wushu</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/camelot-unchained/" rel="tag">Camelot Unchained</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-repopulation/" rel="tag">The Repopulation</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-generated-content/" rel="tag">Player-Generated Content</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-citizen/" rel="tag">Star Citizen</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/shroud-of-the-avatar/" rel="tag">Shroud of the Avatar</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/elite-dangerous/" rel="tag">Elite: Dangerous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/origins-of-malu/" rel="tag">Origins of Malu</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pathfinder-online/" rel="tag">Pathfinder Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and"><img alt="Some Assembly Required - Massively's guide to sandboxes" data-src-height="330" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/sarheaderplansfinal.jpg" /></a></div>
Welcome to Massively's guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond. I've collected the essential details on all the major sandbox titles releasing this year and in the near future in one easy-to-reference article. If you're wondering whether <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/634/feature/6374/PostPAX-Interview.html/page/1"><em>ArcheAge</em></a> forces you to PvP, or if you can't tell <a href="http://www.therepopulation.com"><em>The Repopulation</em></a> from <a href="http://www.originsofmalu.com"><em>Origins of Malu</em></a>, this is your post.<br />
<br />
I'll be updating it as game features are added, removed, or revealed, so be sure to use the comments to let me know if I've overlooked a particularly noteworthy item. Finally, I want to point out that this isn't an exhaustive list because of the sheer number of sandbox projects ongoing. For now, I'm choosing to focus on the ones that will be playable in 2013/2014 as well as the projects that have a big-name developer attached.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Some Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/">Some Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20533128/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2013-sandbox-guide</category><category>2013-sandboxes</category><category>aa</category><category>above-and-beyond</category><category>above-and-beyond-technologies</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>age-of-wulin</category><category>age-of-wushu</category><category>agon</category><category>arche-age</category><category>archeage</category><category>asia</category><category>avatar</category><category>aventurine</category><category>carbine</category><category>carbine-studios</category><category>china</category><category>chinese</category><category>chinese-mmo</category><category>chris-roberts</category><category>cloud-imperium</category><category>cloud-imperium-games</category><category>crowdfunding</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dangerous</category><category>darkfall</category><category>david-braben</category><category>df</category><category>dnd</category><category>elite</category><category>elite-dangerous</category><category>eq</category><category>eq-next</category><category>eqn</category><category>everquest</category><category>everquest-next</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>frontier</category><category>frontier-developments</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>gpotato</category><category>gvg</category><category>internet-spaceship</category><category>internet-spaceships</category><category>kickstarter</category><category>kidnapping</category><category>lord-british</category><category>martial-arts</category><category>massivelys-sandbox-guide</category><category>ming-dynasty</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>open-pvp</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pgc</category><category>player-content</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>pvp</category><category>pwe</category><category>repopulation</category><category>richard-garriott</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sandbox-guide</category><category>sandpark</category><category>sar</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>shroud</category><category>shroud-of-the-avatar</category><category>snail-games</category><category>snail-games-usa</category><category>soe</category><category>some-assembly-required</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>SOTA</category><category>space</category><category>spaceship</category><category>spaceships</category><category>star-citizen</category><category>the-repopulation</category><category>wildstar</category><category>ws</category><category>wushu</category><category>wuxia</category><category>xl-games</category><category>xlgames</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neverwinter closes in on another beta weekend with the Great Weapon Fighter]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/neverwinter-closes-in-on-another-beta-weekend-with-the-great-wea/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/neverwinter-closes-in-on-another-beta-weekend-with-the-great-wea/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/neverwinter-closes-in-on-another-beta-weekend-with-the-great-wea/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/neverwinter-closes-in-on-another-beta-weekend-with-the-great-wea/"><img alt="I'm going to fight this weapon so hard." data-src-height="300" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/neverwinter-weekend-epl-411.jpg" /></a></div>
Some people are pretty good at fighting weapons, but sometimes you just need a <em>great</em> weapon fighter. Someone who really fights weapons better than...<br />
<br />
Wait, we're sorry. <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Neverwinter/">Neverwinter</a></em>'s Great Weapon Fighter is a class that fights with great weapons, not a great fighter <em>of</em> weapons. The name can be read a couple of different ways, but <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=859381">since the class is on display in the latest spotlight</a> (complete with video past the break) you can clear up any misconceptions about it fairly easily.<br />
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Of course, you can't quite clear up those misconceptions via open beta, since <em>Neverwinter</em> isn't opening the gates until April 30th. Founders and other beta testers can enjoy the game's latest beta weekend very soon, however, with the test period <a href="http://nw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=859351">starting on Friday at 3:00 p.m. EDT</a>. This latest weekend is featuring both the crafting system and the new Gateway system, so testers should look forward to several new features starting on Friday.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/neverwinter-closes-in-on-another-beta-weekend-with-the-great-wea/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Neverwinter closes in on another beta weekend with the Great Weapon Fighter</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/neverwinter-closes-in-on-another-beta-weekend-with-the-great-wea/">Neverwinter closes in on another beta weekend with the Great Weapon Fighter</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/neverwinter-closes-in-on-another-beta-weekend-with-the-great-wea/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20538104/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/neverwinter-closes-in-on-another-beta-weekend-with-the-great-wea/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>beta</category><category>beta-schedule</category><category>beta-test</category><category>beta-weekend</category><category>class</category><category>classes</category><category>closed-beta</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dnd</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>open-beta</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>