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 Wars: The Old Republic to launch in the Asia Pacific region on March 1st]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/star-wars-the-old-republic-to-launch-in-the-asia-pacific-region/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/star-wars-the-old-republic-to-launch-in-the-asia-pacific-region/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/star-wars-the-old-republic-to-launch-in-the-asia-pacific-region/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you play Republic, get used to this art.
On launch day, fans of Star Wars: The Old Republic were able to start logging into the game simultaneously across the world... assuming "the world" meant North America and Europe. The Pacific regions were unfortunately deferred to a later launch date, something that provoked some ire from fans in that area. However, the wait is now over for an official launch day. A launch of March 1st has been announced for Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong.

Naturally, there are fans in those regions who would prefer to play on regional servers but have already started play on existing servers via imported copies of the game. BioWare is promising that players in these regions will be able to transfer characters for free for a limited time following the launch date, allowing everyone to move to regional servers if desired. The game is also available for pre-order now, so if you're in the affected region and want a copy, best take a look at stores near you for order options.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic to launch in the Asia Pacific region on March 1st originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiaaustraliabiowareeaea-biowareelectronic-artsglobal-launcheshong-konglaunch-regionslauncheslocalizationmmo-industrynew-zealandnewspacificregional-launchesregionssingaporestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 14 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR invites Australia and New Zealand into testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/swtor-invites-australia-and-new-zealand-into-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/swtor-invites-australia-and-new-zealand-into-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/swtor-invites-australia-and-new-zealand-into-testing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR game testing
We know that Star Wars: The Old Republic is set to release in the United States and Europe on December 20th and 22nd respectively. As of yet, however, we do not have a release date for oceanic countries like Australia and New Zealand. We know these SWTOR fans are champing at the bit to get their hands on the game just as much as the rest of the world.

Today, hot on the heels of the official European testing announcement, BioWare Community Coordinator Allison Berryman announced that the latest round of testing invites just left the Austin offices. This smaller group is designed to test out the west coast server for a limited time, and much to the delight of players, the group includes players from Australia and New Zealand.

Berryman reminds readers that this does not mean BioWare has a defined release date yet for that region, but the community team will let everyone know as soon as it does.

MassivelySWTOR invites Australia and New Zealand into testing originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Allison-Berrymanaustraliabeta-testingBioWareEAElectronic-Artsgame-testingLucasArtsnew-zealandStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicSWTORthe-old-republicTORTue, 11 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR launch day questions answered]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/swtor-launch-day-questions-answered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/swtor-launch-day-questions-answered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/swtor-launch-day-questions-answered/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR: The wait is just about over
The community team at BioWare told us that we would know when the train was coming, but it came crashing through our house when half of us were still sleeping. As we reported earlier, Star Wars: The Old Republic set its launch day for December 20th for North America and December 22nd for Europe. All the fans exhaled in relief, then promptly started asking more questions.

First off, the Australian and New Zealand launch dates have not been set, and BioWare cannot commit to a launch day yet for that region. However, back in August, Senior Community Manager Stephen Reid posted on the official forums that "There are no plans to 'region lock' or 'IP block' players from the game. You may experience some latency issues if you're not playing in a launch territory." This still holds true today.

To prevent signup issues on launch day, log-ins will be throttled. However, pre-order customers will still gain early access to the game. Senior Community Coordinator Allison Berryman reported on the official forum: "The beginning of Early Game Access will depend on a number of factors, including results from our Game Testing Program and Pre-Orders, but there will be multiple days of access."

Lastly, in case you missed it earlier, BioWare did announce the subscription costs. It comes as no surprise to most MMO gamers that the first month is free with the purchase of the game. After that it's $14.99 per month (£8.99 or €12.99), $41.97 for 3 months (£25.17 or €35.97), or $77.94 for six months (£46.14 or €65.94). There have been no lifetime subscription announcements as of yet, but we will let you know if we hear anything.

MassivelySWTOR launch day questions answered originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Allison-BerrymanaustraliaBioWareEAearly-accessElectronic-Artsip-blockslaunchlaunch-datelaunch-dayLucasArtsnew-zealandregion-lockedStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidsubscriptionsubscription-modelswtorthe-old-republicthrottledtorSat, 24 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A talk with the crew of The Fellows Hip: Rise of the Gamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/the-road-to-mordor-a-talk-with-the-crew-of-the-fellows-hip-ris/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/the-road-to-mordor-a-talk-with-the-crew-of-the-fellows-hip-ris/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/the-road-to-mordor-a-talk-with-the-crew-of-the-fellows-hip-ris/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Buzz has been increasing about an intriguing independent film that looks to blend Tolkien love, geek pride, and Lord of the Rings Online fandom into one epic adventure. Called The Fellows Hip: Rise of the Gamers, this movie is about a group of friends who undertake a journey to a convention in order to participate in a LotRO gaming competition (and stick it to some bullies while they're at it).

Many blogs, such as LOTRO Reporter and A Casual Stroll to Mordor, have promoted this up-and-coming film, and after seeing the trailer, we too became fascinated with what could be a fun movie that puts MMO gaming front and center.

One may not simply walk into Mordor, but with the right connections, one could phone the folks up there. We got on the line with three crew members for The Fellows Hip -- Ron Newcomb (producer, director and writer), Scott Mathais (producer and writer), and Shane McClung (producer) -- to see just what type of lovable insanity would cause a group of people to throw together such a movie.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A talk with the crew of The Fellows Hip: Rise of the Gamers

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A talk with the crew of The Fellows Hip: Rise of the Gamers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorconventiondragonconfan-filmfeaturedfred-savagegeekgeeksgooniesharry-potterindie-filminterviewjrr-tolkienlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-reportermiddle-earth-enterprisesmines-of-moriamonster-playmorianapoleon-dynamitenew-zealandpeter-jacksonpeter-parkerpvmppvprevenge-of-the-nerdsRon-NewcombScott-MathaisShane-McClungthe-fellows-hipthe-fellows-hip-rise-of-the-gamersthe-gooniesthe-wizardtolkientronturbineturbine-entertainmentzero-charismaFri, 01 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[QVS to distribute RIFT in Australia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/qvs-to-distribute-rift-in-australia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/qvs-to-distribute-rift-in-australia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/qvs-to-distribute-rift-in-australia/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The global distribution picture for Trion Worlds' RIFT MMORPG just got a bit clearer thanks to an announcement made by the developer earlier today. Trion signed a multi-year retail deal with QVS, a renowned publisher in both Australia and New Zealand.

Thanks to the new agreement, Kiwis and Aussies alike will be saying g'day to RIFT's dynamic content, familiar class-based gameplay, and lush graphics along with the rest of the world when the title launches in early 2011. "We are excited to join forces with QVS to bring RIFT to gamers throughout Australia and New Zealand. Working with QVS allows us to expand our commitment to deliver quality games to gamers worldwide," says Trion's David Reid.

MassivelyQVS to distribute RIFT in Australia originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiafantasymmo-industrynew-zealandpublisherpublishingqv-softwareqvsriftrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsWed, 15 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cities XL announces delay, new October 8 and 9 European launches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/15/cities-xl-announces-delay-new-october-8-and-9-european-launches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/15/cities-xl-announces-delay-new-october-8-and-9-european-launches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/15/cities-xl-announces-delay-new-october-8-and-9-european-launches/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It looks like our European readers are going to have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on Cities XL, a new title that will bring MMO elements to a city-building game. Cities XL developer Monte Cristo Multimedia announced today that they're pushing back that September launch date to early October.

The game will release on October 8th for these European countries: France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Austria. The French and German language versions of the game will be distributed by Focus and Flashpoint. October 8th will mark the Australian and New Zealand launches as well, with Namco Bandai Partners distributing the English language version of Cities XL. The English version will also launch the following day, October 9th, in the UK, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, and Italy.

Continue reading Cities XL announces delay, new October 8 and 9 European launches

MassivelyCities XL announces delay, new October 8 and 9 European launches originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiacities-xlcity-buildercity-buildingdelaydelayseuropelaunchesmonte-cristomonte-cristo-multimedianew-titlesnew-zealandrelease-datesWed, 15 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco Bandai to distribute Cities XL in United Kingdom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/namco-bandai-to-distribute-cities-xl-in-united-kingdom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/namco-bandai-to-distribute-cities-xl-in-united-kingdom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/namco-bandai-to-distribute-cities-xl-in-united-kingdom/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Fresh off their merger and complete with a new-ish name, Namco Bandai has announced a UK publishing deal for urban management MMO Cities XL. More specifically, the publisher is set to distribute the Monte Cristo developed title in the UK, Italy, Nordic countries, Iberica, New Zealand and Australia. Distribution elsewhere will be handled by Monte Cristo themselves.

If you're looking for more information on Cities XL, we've got a detailed hands-on preview written by our very own Shawn Schuster. Plus, we're still offering the opportunity to win a shiny beta key so you can try the game out for yourself. It's a good time to be both an MMO and city builder fan, which is strange to write but feels oh-so-good.

MassivelyNamco Bandai to distribute Cities XL in United Kingdom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabetacities-xlgamesindustry.bizhands-onibericaitalymonte-cristonamco-bandainew-zealandnordicpublishingukunited-kingdomWed, 08 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR beta reaches down under]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/war-beta-reaches-down-under/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/war-beta-reaches-down-under/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/war-beta-reaches-down-under/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


It seems that oftentimes Australia and the Oceanic region gets the shaft when it comes to MMO server allocation. Most of the time, Aussies find themselves choosing between an American or European server, with incompatible peak playing times.

Today, Warhammer Online fans in the Oceanic region will be pleased to hear that their own server has not gone ignored, as the WAR Oceanic Beta has officially begun. Players in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore should check their inboxes for a beta invite which will pave the way for the simultaneous launch of Warhammer Online across North America, Europe and the Oceanic region on September 18th.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWAR beta reaches down under originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabetaea-mythicmalasianew-zealandoceanicsingaporewarwarhammer-onlineFri, 08 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PotBS officially launches in Australia and New Zealand -- free cockatoo!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/potbs-officially-launches-in-australia-and-new-zealand-free-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/potbs-officially-launches-in-australia-and-new-zealand-free-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/potbs-officially-launches-in-australia-and-new-zealand-free-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Although it's been possible to purchase Pirates of the Burning Sea online since its release, the official launch for Australia and New Zealand means that the dedicated Oceanic server is up, and Bigpond's free game offer is in effect. There is also still time to apply for an Ambassador position to help new player's on the Oceanic server, and score a year's free playtime in return.

But there is one other very important thing to note about this launch -- any character made on the Australia/NZ server within its first month of opening will get a cockatoo to show off on their shoulder. This is certainly pretty neat, but don't expect to be the coolest cat in the Caribbean, because everyone on the server will have one of these squawkers.

MassivelyPotBS officially launches in Australia and New Zealand -- free cockatoo! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aussieaustraliaaustraliancockatooflsflying-labnew-zealandnzoceaniaoceanicpotbsWed, 27 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST