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[War of Legends celebrates Chinese new year with prizes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/war-of-legends-celebrates-chinese-new-year-with-prizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/war-of-legends-celebrates-chinese-new-year-with-prizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/war-of-legends-celebrates-chinese-new-year-with-prizes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Game developer Jagex is perhaps best known for its popular browser MMO RuneScape, which is still going strong after over 10 years of development. Just over a year ago, the company made a move into the MMORTS market with its free-to-play browser game War of Legends. Last month, the game celebrated its first anniversary by giving players a free birthday cake filled with items to speed up construction, resource gathering and other parts of the game. With that celebration barely over, War of Legends has launched head-first into yet another event with the Chinese New Year.

As War of Legends is based heavily on ancient Chinese mythology, the Chinese New Year is a big time of year for the game. In keeping with a traditional Chinese theme, Jagex will be giving away red envelopes containing prizes to players every day for the next two weeks. Each envelope contains in-game items valued by the company at up to $20 US, and players have the opportunity to find more prizes by invading the Wildlands during the two-week celebration period. For those players who want something simpler, Jagex will also be running some limited-time daily tasks during the Chinese New Year with a variety of helpful rewards.

MassivelyWar of Legends celebrates Chinese new year with prizes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinesechinese-new-yeareventjagexjagex-game-studiosnew-yearwar-of-legendsThu, 03 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: My wish list for 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-my-wish-list-for-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-my-wish-list-for-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-my-wish-list-for-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

January is always a month of denial for me because it usually takes a full 30 days for the reality of a new year to settle into my skull. It can't be a new year! I just, just got used to the old one! I'm going to forget the real year when I sign my checks and then I'll be denounced as a fraud! What horrible teenage fad will be inflicted on us this year?

Seriously, Ke$ha was the final straw for me. She's like all four horsemen of the apocalypse melted down and recast as a talentless banshee with an ironic dollar sign smack in the middle of her name. But that's my problem.

A new year also means a virgin slate for all of our MMOs. What happened last year was so last year -- now we turn our eyes to the future. We know a little of what's upcoming for Lord of the Rings Online, but that doesn't mean we can't have wishes. You know what they say: If wishes were horses, I'd have the Steed of Night.

So in honor of '11, I've come up with an 11-point wish list of what I'd love to see in LotRO this year. I fully expect Turbine to drop everything -- everything -- to get on it!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: My wish list for 2011

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: My wish list for 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcosmetic-outfitcosmetic-weaponsfeaturedhobbithousingiconsinstance-joinitem-storekeshalegendary-itemslegendary-weaponslfflfglilooking-for-fellowshiplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storemiddle-earthnew-yearpiesplayer-housingsteed-of-nightthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentturbine-pointsuiuser-interfacevovoice-overvolume-2wardrobewish-listWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 14 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are you looking forward to in 2011?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/the-daily-grind-what-are-you-looking-forward-to-in-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/the-daily-grind-what-are-you-looking-forward-to-in-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/the-daily-grind-what-are-you-looking-forward-to-in-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Farewell, 2010 -- hello 2011! As many of us prepare to ring in the new year tonight, our thoughts turn to the future as they typically do at the end of the year. What will 2011 bring for you? Will it be a banner year of excellence, or a year that would best be experienced on fast-forward?

I have a better idea: Let's talk about what we're looking forward to in 2011 -- in MMOs, I mean. It's promising to be an exciting year as major projects such as Guild Wars 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic and Rift come to a head, and that's only the surface of 2011's potential.

So what, if anything, has you jazzed about next year? What do you wish were already here -- a new game, an expansion, a special event -- so that you could enjoy it?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What are you looking forward to in 2011? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20102011end-of-the-yearend-of-the-year-2010guild-wars-2gw2new-yearnew-yearsnew-years-eveopinionriftrift-planes-of-telarastar-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgthe-daily-grindtorFri, 31 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What will you change in 2010?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/31/the-daily-grind-what-will-you-change-in-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/31/the-daily-grind-what-will-you-change-in-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/31/the-daily-grind-what-will-you-change-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We can't, sadly, warp time to go back a full year. Once we do something, for better or for worse, we're stuck with it. But we can try and learn from things that happened the last time around, and there have certainly been things to learn from 2009, which we touched on yesterday. That's where the whole tradition of resolutions for the new year comes from. And as we all know, the second-best way to force yourself to do something is to make it public. (The first is to have someone following you around with a shotgun.)

So, today we ask you just before the clock ticks over: what are you going to do differently in the coming year? Was there a single event that you learned from, or were there multiple events that contributed to you wanting to make a change? It could be anything from trying to avoid getting too invested in the pre-launch hype of a game to just trying not to die quite so often when playing a melee character, but we're sure you have at least one thing you'd like to try differently in the new year. (And if you do find a way to rewind time, please, let us know.)

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What will you change in 2010? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010braidend-of-2009lessons-learnednew-yearnew-years-resolutionsresolutionstdgthe-daily-grindtime-travelThu, 31 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AAA MMO developers offer up their 2009 resolutions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/aaa-mmo-developers-offer-up-their-2009-resolutions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/aaa-mmo-developers-offer-up-their-2009-resolutions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/aaa-mmo-developers-offer-up-their-2009-resolutions/#commentsFiled under: , ,


So far this year we've talked about some resolutions for game developers that touch on World of Warcraft, and some player-offered resolutions for the developers of Warhammer Online. MTV Multiplayer's Tracey John one-upped both by tracking down developers from most of the AAA MMO studios to ask about their upcoming year. She spoke with some big names you've no doubt seen many times on Massively, the likes of Jeffrey Steefel, Josh Drescher, Matt Miller, and Craig Morrison.

Their resolutions are great, on a number of levels. Some, such as Morrison's hopes for Age of Conan, are bold proclamations of their future plans. Others, like Miller's proclamation that City of Heroes will continue to be seen as the best super-hero MMO, reflect the ways the industry will be changing this year. Our favorite is probably Noah Ward's lookahead to EVE's 2009, a massive statement of purpose for the coming few months. He concludes, "I predict that in 2009 we will finally see the day where there are more EVE subscribers than Icelandic citizens. There will be more 'pew pew' than ever before." Read through to the article for the full resolution buffet.

MassivelyAAA MMO developers offer up their 2009 resolutions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009age-of-conanbreakingccpcity-of-heroeseve-onlinefuncomlord-of-the-rings-onlinemmo-developersmythic-entertainmentnew-yearresolutionsturbinewarwarhammer-onlineFri, 09 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Take a look back]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/behind-the-curtain-take-a-look-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/behind-the-curtain-take-a-look-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/behind-the-curtain-take-a-look-back/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brace yourself for the obligatory 'New Year' post. I'd resolve to lose weight, tone up and be kinder to my fellow man, but I'd be lying. Not because I'm weak and won't follow through on them, but because I don't need to. I'm practically perfect in every way.

Except not really. I'm lying. I also hate Mary Poppins with a cold, implacable hatred. But that's neither here nor there.

It's been a year of ups and downs in the MMO world. We've seen World of Warcraft go from strength to strength with an expansion pack which knocked the socks off of Burning Crusade. Say what you will about Blizzard, but it's always good to see a company that's willing and able to learn not only from its past mistakes, but its past successes. We've seen the long-awaitied launch of Warhammer Online, but we've also seen some downers, with Tabula Rasa going down the tubes, and Fury falling over. Although, not as many people were upset about Fury, given that it was terrible from start to finish.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Take a look back

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Take a look back originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtainburning-crusadefeaturedfurynew-yearretrospectivetabula-rasawarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingSat, 03 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Happy new year!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/01/the-daily-grind-happy-new-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/01/the-daily-grind-happy-new-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/01/the-daily-grind-happy-new-year/#commentsFiled under: ,


Another twelve months have gone by, the earth has revolved around the sun once more, and a brand new year stretches out before us. And while the rest of the world may be thinking up new year's resolutions of a more practical nature, this is Massively and you can't expect a conversation with us not to involve MMOs. So what are your MMO resolutions for 2009? Planning on playing less? Playing more? Diversifying your MMO portfolio? Leveling an alt of each class? For our part, we plan on playing as much of as many games as possible -- or to the extent we can get away with telling our significant others, friends, family, and household pets that, though it may look like we're killing giant lizards, we're actually working. Have any resolutions for 2009 you'd like to share?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Happy new year! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009new-yearnew-yearsnew-years-resolutionsresolutionstdgThu, 01 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Looking towards 2009]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/26/the-daily-grind-looking-towards-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/26/the-daily-grind-looking-towards-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/26/the-daily-grind-looking-towards-2009/#commentsFiled under: , ,


This year's joyous non-denominational festive season (to borrow a phrase from our own Tateru) has come to a close -- and there's probably more than one unfortunate reader out there who has trudged into the office today. (To those readers, we offer our greatest sympathies. At least the greatest sympathies we're capable of offering while grinding the rest of the way to level 80.) But as 2008 winds down towards the new year, we have a question to pose you, whether you find yourself at home, at work, or anywhere in between: with this year mostly behind us, what are you looking forward to in the future? We have an array of exciting games on the horizon: SWTOR, DCUO, and STO just to name a few of the easily acronymized options. Are you looking forward to any juicy new releases in the next year or is your new year's wish something that's not on our radar?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Looking towards 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009new-yearnew-yearspredictionstdgFri, 26 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adventurers beware, mysterious rodents in FFXI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/adventurers-beware-mysterious-rodents-in-ffxi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/adventurers-beware-mysterious-rodents-in-ffxi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/adventurers-beware-mysterious-rodents-in-ffxi/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Hopefully you all like rodents, because if you happen to log into Final Fantasy XI anytime before January 14th you'll be greeted to the mysterious rodent-like beastman of Vana'diel. Said beasties could be "divine disciples" or "unsavory swindlers" and the only way to find out seems to be to brave the wide world. Ending their announcement with a wish of good fortune, the team behind FFXI don't seem to have the desire to divulge any more information beyond that. Seems pretty cryptic to us, but when you're basing your entire new years concept on the Chinese zodiac I suppose that it calls for a little exotic flavor.

I'd like to think that these rodents are kind creatures sent to give us all cooking advice, but I suppose not all of them are going to be friendly. Would it be too much to hope for a Master Splinter-type of rodent to train players? It might not be, considering that the year of the rat is just around the corner anyhow. Our only word of advice is to bring along a big chunk of cheese with a nice, strong aroma.

[Via Ten Ton Hammer]

MassivelyAdventurers beware, mysterious rodents in FFXI originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheesechinese-zodiacffxifinal-fantasy-xiholidayin-game-eventsnew-yearsquare-enixyear-of-the-ratWed, 02 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST