Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Star Trek Online adds a new flavor of cat people]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/star-trek-online-adds-a-new-flavor-of-cat-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/star-trek-online-adds-a-new-flavor-of-cat-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/star-trek-online-adds-a-new-flavor-of-cat-people/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yo dawg, I heard you like cats, so I put some cats next to your cats so you can fight cats with your cats.
Do you like cats? Hopefully you do, as Star Trek Online has just seen the felinoid Ferasan added to the C-Store. But wait, didn't the game already add Caitians? Yes, but the Caitians are a Federation race, while the Ferasan are exclusive to the KDF, thereby allowing you to play as a kitty on whichever faction you choose. The Ferasan are related to the Caitians but apparently are not quite the same species (presumably akin to the Romulans and Vulcans).

The Ferasan possess only one specific trait, Predatory Instincts, which increases jump height, melee damage, exploit damage, stealth, and perception. Unlocking the race costs 480 Cryptic Points and also unlocks new customization options for Caitian characters on the Federation side. On the other hand, if you just want to have one on the bridge, you can place a requisition for a Ferasan bridge officer for 400 Cryptic Points. So if you've felt that there's a distinct lack of feline members in the KDF, you've now got an option to rectify that situation.

MassivelyStar Trek Online adds a new flavor of cat people originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bridge-officersc-storecaitiancatscrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfelinoid-racesferasanfree-to-playkittiesmicrotransactionsnew-itemsnew-racesperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoTue, 15 May 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Realms Online introduces the Lamai]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/realms-online-introduces-the-lamai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/realms-online-introduces-the-lamai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/realms-online-introduces-the-lamai/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

They make their home in a valley. It's almost uncanny.
Adding a new race to a factional PvP game is always a dicey proposition with regard to faction balance, but Realms Online is taking a measured approach with its newest race. The diminutive Lamai have just been added, and they aren't beholden to any single faction -- they can join any realm and play as any class. That flexibility is meant to reflect their nature as an ancient race that left the planet ages ago.

Of course, there's also the problem that if you're enticed by the new race, you'll have to start all over from the first level. As a promotion to help players interested in playing a Lamai, GameSamba is offering a sale on experience boosts in the game's shop. It's 25% off of level 30 scrolls, and 10 XP boosters for the price of eight. Not a bad deal if you want to level a new character, whether it's a lamai or something else.

[Source: GameSamba press release]

MassivelyRealms Online introduces the Lamai originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfactionsfree-to-playgamesambanew-racespromotionspvpraceracesrealms-onlinesalesThu, 26 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FFXIV's Yoshida answers fan questions in live producer letter video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/ffxivs-yoshida-answers-fan-questions-in-live-producer-letter-vi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/ffxivs-yoshida-answers-fan-questions-in-live-producer-letter-vi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/ffxivs-yoshida-answers-fan-questions-in-live-producer-letter-vi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Final Fantasy XIV - campfire
If you're a Final Fantasy XIV fan -- and you're looking for a way to kill 90 minutes -- you might want to take a gander at the new producer letter video that's just been posted on the game's official website. Naoki Yoshida recently answered fan questions during a lengthy livestream session, and we've embedded the complete clip after the cut.

If wading through an hour and a half of rapid-fire Japanese (sans subtitles) isn't your thing, Square-Enix has provided a few text highlights to help you make sense of the Q&A session. Among the interesting tidbits are potential new races (to include demi-humans and dragons) as well as a mention of the dev team's priority focus on improving FFXIV's linkshell system and its party formation features.

Yoshida also offers a quick progress report on the process of transforming FFXIV from its launch state into a proper Final Fantasy game. "To be honest, I consider that we're about half-way to the point where we can confidently call it Final Fantasy," he says.

Continue reading FFXIV's Yoshida answers fan questions in live producer letter video

MassivelyFFXIV's Yoshida answers fan questions in live producer letter video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eorzeafantasyffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-xivlfg-toolslinkshell-revampnaoki-yoshidanew-racesparty-formation-toolsproducer-letterproducer-letter-videoquestion-and-answer-videosquaresquare-enixvideoFri, 07 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Need For Speed World adds Team Escape]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/need-for-speed-world-adds-team-escape/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/need-for-speed-world-adds-team-escape/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/need-for-speed-world-adds-team-escape/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Why get chased by the cops alone when you can do it with friends? Need For Speed World has opened the freeways with six new Epic Escapes. This time you're not running from the cops alone; you and your friends can high-tail it away from smokey together. Not only is NFSW stepping it up a notch with team pursuits, but it's also upped the danger by giving the cops all-new tactics for catching you lawbreakers. And just to make things more interesting, the times for these runs have been extended to up to eight minutes, so you'd best slap on those high-endurance tires.

Of course, the game doesn't give something to the cops without giving something to you. Because this is a team effort, the devs have given the racer two new team abilities: Team Emergency Evade, which saves your team from getting arrested when you need its help, and Team Slingshot, which provides a powerful boost of speed to your team when it needs it the most.

Check out the full details on the Need For Speed World website. If this gets your adrenaline pumping, then keep watching Massively; we have some special Team Escape events coming up soon!

MassivelyNeed For Speed World adds Team Escape originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-Artsepic-escapesf2pfree-to-playftpneed-for-speed-worldnew-racesNFSWpatchPursuitsteam-escapeupdateTue, 29 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dungeons and Dragons Online previews new Update 7 screenshots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/dungeons-and-dragons-online-previews-new-update-7-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/dungeons-and-dragons-online-previews-new-update-7-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/dungeons-and-dragons-online-previews-new-update-7-screenshots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Update 7 is coming for Dungeons and Dragons Online, and while the title of the update is Half-bloods, the patch promises to be anything but half-baked. Introducing two new races, a new raid, free quests, UI improvements, and more besides, the update promises to be one of the largest for the game since its switch to free-to-play last year. Turbine has shared a few new screenshots from the Droaam adventure pack, highlighting both the adventure and some of the coming UI improvements.

The UI improvements previewed offer several streamlined and clarified interfaces, while the Droaam screenshots show off a wide-ranging adventure that spans a number of different adversaries and settings. If the gallery sparks your interest, you can take a look at our recent tour through some of the content coming in Update 7 and get a bit more context. Dungeons and Dragons Online players can look forward to the patch later this month, which seems like a fine reason to assume that the cup is half-full.

Gallery: Dungeons and Dragons Online Update 7 Preview

MassivelyDungeons and Dragons Online previews new Update 7 screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-packd-n-d-onlineddoddo-unlimiteddungeons-and-dragons-onlineendgameendgame-contentf2pfree-adventure-packfree-to-playgalleryhalf-bloodshalf-elfhalf-orchigh-level-contentnew-adventurenew-racespreviewracesscreenshotsturbineturbine-entertainmentu7update-7Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Asheron's Call shifts gears in latest update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/asherons-call-shifts-gears-in-latest-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/asherons-call-shifts-gears-in-latest-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/asherons-call-shifts-gears-in-latest-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It might show its age a little, but Asheron's Call is one of the oldest MMOs still running, and it continues receiving regular content updates from the fine team at Turbine. June has brought with it another huge influx of new content, starting with the inclusion of an entirely new race known as Gear Knights. These clockwork entities interact with gear in unique ways, requiring them to integrate their armor directly into their being. The addition of a new race carries with it a free extra character slot, as well as some introductory fiction explaining these new arrivals.

Not content to simply add a new race for free, however, Turbine has also put the Town Portal Network into play, updated the landscape textures, and added several other improved touches to the game. The full hub for June updates is located here, and the full patch notes can be read here. Amidst everything else going on at the studio, it's good to see that Asheron's Call is still high enough on the priority list for some impressive upgrades.

[Thanks to Greg for the tip!]

MassivelyAsheron's Call shifts gears in latest update originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac-june-updateasherons-callasherons-call-june-updategear-knightsjune-updatenew-racespatchesracesturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 10 Jun 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: A Cryptic opinion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/anti-aliased-a-cryptic-opinion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/anti-aliased-a-cryptic-opinion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/anti-aliased-a-cryptic-opinion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

So, wow, what a set the last week and a half has been. There seems to be a very strong theme going on in my inbox recently, and that's, without a doubt, Cryptic Studios. I've read unflattering comments about my integrity as a journalist, the usual statements of how this site is Cryptic's lapdog due to all of the Star Trek Online and Champions Online coverage, and, even more oddly, people want to know my opinion of Cryptic's recent actions -- specifically Star Trek Online and Vibora Bay.

Well, I was never one to shirk from the truth. I've been wanting to give my personal opinion on these events since Vibora Bay hit, so I might as well dedicate this column to my evaluation of Cryptic Studios. But, before we get to Cryptic, I have a few ground rules that I want to go over with you guys. Some facts that I'd like to set straight for, oh, I dunno, the fifth time.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: A Cryptic opinion

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: A Cryptic opinion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedbusinesschampions-onlinecommentscrypticcryptic-studiosfeaturedferengiforumskitchen-sink-patchklingonmanagementmicrotransactionsnew-racesopinionperformanceqaquality-assurancestar-trek-onlinetestingvibora-bayThu, 04 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New races, continent, skills, and more coming to Mabinogi]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/30/new-races-continent-skills-and-more-coming-to-mabinogi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/30/new-races-continent-skills-and-more-coming-to-mabinogi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/30/new-races-continent-skills-and-more-coming-to-mabinogi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Nexon America as just informed us of a huge expansion coming to Mabinogi, titled Pioneers of Iria, which will be featuring a huge brand new continent, two new races for players to create characters as, new skills, new magic, a new exploration system, dungeons, cities, the works.

Pioneers of Iria, due to release sometime late in February, will introduce the brand new continent of Iria -- a land mass over three times bigger than the current continent of Ulad. Iria is also the home of the races of Elves and Giants, which will be featured as brand new player races.

Continue reading New races, continent, skills, and more coming to Mabinogi

MassivelyNew races, continent, skills, and more coming to Mabinogi originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingelfexpansionexplorationexploration-expgiantmabinoginew-racesnew-skillspioneers-of-iriaFri, 30 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST