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[Dungeons & Dragons Online invites players to build a guild]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/dungeons-and-dragons-online-invites-players-to-build-a-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/dungeons-and-dragons-online-invites-players-to-build-a-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/dungeons-and-dragons-online-invites-players-to-build-a-guild/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Fight the Drow, fight random strangers in a bar. Either one.
If you're going to take on the Drow in Dungeons & Dragons Online, you're going to need help. You'll need allies, people you can count on no matter what. In other words, you need a guild. That means recruiting some good players -- and the new Build Your Guild event is aimed at giving players incentives for just that. Running until late June, the event offers players two different ways to gain fantastic advantages just by being in a guild.

All players can gain extra experience and loot by grouping with fellow guild members, whether you're a new player or an old hand. You can also gain special bounties for reaching leveling milestones, which grants bonus guild renown and astral diamonds. Last but not least, guilds will randomly be rewarded a variety of prizes during the length of the event, culminating with a level 85 airship in late June. The event should provide plenty of incentive for players to work together in a guild, and if you happen to get some prizes along the way, so much the better.

MassivelyDungeons & Dragons Online invites players to build a guild originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>build-your-guildddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfantasyfree-to-playguildguildsin-game-eventsnewpromotionsturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 19 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jump into Black Prophecy's past with gamigo's Nexus Conflict]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/jump-into-black-prophecys-past-with-gamigos-nexus-conflict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/jump-into-black-prophecys-past-with-gamigos-nexus-conflict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/jump-into-black-prophecys-past-with-gamigos-nexus-conflict/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Nexus Conflict
The world of Black Prophecy hasn't always been like it is today. In the past, the Second Species Wars raged between the cybernetically augmented Tyi and the genetically modified Genides who fought for control of an area known as the Nexus, where universes collide. In a press release today, gamigo AG announced that its new title, Nexus Conflict, will allow players to take a trip back in time to participate in these wars not behind the controls of a fighter ship but on the command bridge of a colossal battle cruiser.

Nexus Conflict is being billed as a "tactical real-time strategy game," and players will be able to run it right in their browsers thanks to the Unity engine. The title will offer both PvE and PvP missions, meaning that there will be something for the co-operative and competitive crowds alike. And of course, players will be able to customize their ships with a variety of upgrades in order to turn them into the biggest, baddest, planet-blowing-up-est starships in the Nexus.

If this sounds like your idea of a good time, then just head on over to the Nexus Conflict official site (linked below) to sign up for the game's beta test, which is scheduled to begin in March.

[Source: gamigo AG press release]

MassivelyJump into Black Prophecy's past with gamigo's Nexus Conflict originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetasbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfree-to-playgamigo-agmmortsnewnew-titlenew-titlesnexus-conflictreal-time-strategyrtssci-fiscience-fictionstrategyMon, 27 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The new player experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/eve-evolved-the-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/eve-evolved-the-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/eve-evolved-the-new-player-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Ever since a graph showing a downward trend in daily peak concurrent logins started to make the rounds on blogs, players have insisted that EVE Online's recent Incarna expansion has been a complete failure. I mentioned in an earlier article that we should really have expected this as the captain's quarters were primarily designed with new players in mind. Starting the game as an avatar, even one who's been grounded in his space-room by his space-dad, helps people identify with their characters in a way that bridges the gap between EVE and traditional avatar-based MMOs. By introducing a player to his character as a person rather than a ship, the new player experience may also help make the loss of a ship not such a big deal.

It's all fine and well to theorise about Incarna's success or failure, but ultimately it's only new players who can make that determination. If the captain's quarters do their job of flattening that initially jarring part of EVE's learning curve, the expansion's effect on subscriptions would be to convert more free trials into paid accounts -- an effect that wouldn't be immediately noticeable until another exciting and heavily advertised gameplay expansion brings in large numbers of new players. To help figure out if the captain's quarters have been successful in that regard, we have to turn to people who have never played EVE before.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I finally convince my friend Kajatta to try EVE for the first time. I delve into his first experiences with the game to find out what EVE does right and wrong in the new player experience.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The new player experience

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescommunitycorpcorporationseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedincarnainterveiwinterviewkajattanewnew-playernew-player-experiencenew-playerstutorialuser-interfaceSun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Singing the skill grind blues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/choose-my-adventure-singing-the-skill-grind-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/choose-my-adventure-singing-the-skill-grind-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/choose-my-adventure-singing-the-skill-grind-blues/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Well, here we are folks, smack dab in the middle of our Darkfall run for Choose My Adventure. With three weeks down and three weeks to go, I have to be honest: I feel pressed for time. There's so much to see and do in this game that six weeks simply isn't enough to really do it justice (to say nothing of the fact that it's not nearly enough time to build a competitive character in terms of the skill grind).

In any event, I'll do what I can to give you an accurate read on the game, and as my first couple of columns have admittedly erred on the side of fresh-faced enjoyment, today's entry will touch on a few of the game's less than savory aspects. In addition to that, I'll recap a few of my gameplay highlights from the past week.

Join me after the cut for a look at my Darkfall present and future as well as a video diary of my adventures thus far.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Singing the skill grind blues

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Singing the skill grind blues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonaventurineaventurine-sachoose-my-adventurechoose-my-adventure-darkfalldarkfalldarkfall-onlinefeaturedgraphicsgrindhammerdalelord-zannulNEWopinionpolishpvepvpshadowsskill-gainskillingswiftsnoutvideovisualszealotWed, 08 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Special treatment, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the gank]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/choose-my-adventure-special-treatment-or-how-i-learned-to-stop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/choose-my-adventure-special-treatment-or-how-i-learned-to-stop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/choose-my-adventure-special-treatment-or-how-i-learned-to-stop/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Well, so much for the theory that the Darkfall community has banded together to ensure I only see the good side of the game. This past week was an interesting one, and despite an encounter that most players would probably consider griefing -- as well as various and sundry inconvenient ganks -- I remain enamored of Agon.

Aside from recurring instances of the Darkfall version of "special treatment," much of the week was spent leveling greatswords on my public main and crafting/harvesting on my private alt. In between there was a NEW-sponsored PvP event, a kracken run, and various dungeon excursions, not to mention more exploring than I've done in my last three MMOs combined. Finally, I'm also beginning to see the grind that a lot of current and former subscribers complain about.

Join me after the cut to see how I dealt with it as well as a recap of week two.

Gallery: Choose My Adventure - Darkfall Gallery #2

Chasing a gold farmerCopperdaleCross countryFighting a forest gollumGollum hunt

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Special treatment, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the gank

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Special treatment, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the gank originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonaletheides-lightcrownalmost-famousaventurineaventurine-sachoose-my-adventurechoose-my-adventure-darkfallcmadarkfalldarkfall-onlineerock-darkhollowfantasyfeaturedgallerygreen-chiligrindingmahirimNEWopinionprincess-synapvepvpscreenshotsskillsswiftsnoutzealotWed, 01 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: The Wayback Machine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/choose-my-adventure-the-wayback-machine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/choose-my-adventure-the-wayback-machine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/choose-my-adventure-the-wayback-machine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Darkfall rough riders
Whew.

Well, my first week in Darkfall has come to a close and, at the risk of fanboying it up, holy cow was that fun! It's hard to believe this is the same game that I was unable to purchase on launch day (and unable to play for more than a few weeks at a time over the course of 2009 due to a lack of interested friends). Darkfall isn't so much a game as it is a lifestyle -- and as far as MMOs go, it's a really nifty time machine.

In six days and a little under 30 hours of play time, I've managed to move across the map from my racial homeland to my clan city and to assist in taking down two Gardorocs, a Dark Dragon, more deadly wraiths than I can count, and a couple of giant stone dudes whose name escapes me at the moment. I've also gotten a good start on skilling up my spell-casting, archery, and greatsword abilities, and I even did a bit of crafting and gathering. In true Darkfall tradition, the first mount I made was promptly shot out from under me by a gaggle of the game's frightening mobs. And in case you're wondering, yes, I also got ganked. Though it's only happened once (so far), it was a doozy.

Join me after the cut for a rundown of the week's mayhem and an earnest attempt at maintaining my objectivity.

Gallery: Choose My Adventure - Darkfall Gallery #1

The floating villageBridge to the floating villageSunsetThrough the forestRed Moon sewer entrance

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: The Wayback Machine

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: The Wayback Machine originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonaventurineaventurine-sabuadthan-ludhurstchoose-my-adventurechoose-my-adventure-darkfallcmadarkfalldarkfall-onlinedungeonsfantasyfeaturedgreen-chilimahirimNEWopinionpvepvpswiftsnoutuiwitch-killerWed, 24 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Swiftsnout theCrotchety]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/choose-my-adventure-swiftsnout-thecrotchety/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/choose-my-adventure-swiftsnout-thecrotchety/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/choose-my-adventure-swiftsnout-thecrotchety/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Aaaaaaooooooooooooo... er, sorry.

I was just getting into character a bit early, I suppose. Welcome back, loyal readers and Aventurine subscribers alike, to Choose My Adventure. With the past couple weeks' worth of voting formalities behind us, it's time for the main event. As we speak, I'm rolling up a brand-spanking-new Darkfall character, the better to suffer at the hands of my new PK overlords -- and hopefully get a good look at the world of Agon prior to writing about it over the next six weeks.

Join me after the cut to see the results of last week's voting and get a sneak peek at what I'll be doing first.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Swiftsnout theCrotchety

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Swiftsnout theCrotchety originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonaventurineaventurine-sachoose-my-adventurechoose-my-adventure-darkfallcmacombat-focuseddarkfalldarkfall-onlinefantasyfeaturedmahirimNEWnew-clannew-player-experiencenewborn-on-agonopinionpvepvpswiftsnoutWed, 17 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you get game wanderlust?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-get-game-wanderlust/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-get-game-wanderlust/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-get-game-wanderlust/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We gamers are a fickle bunch. Perhaps you're a veteran player of Guild Wars and have always loved the game, even when you knew the sequel was coming. But you saw the recent Ranger reveal, and when you logged in you were suddenly struck by an overwhelming urge to play Guild Wars 2 immediately, not this crappy old game that you hate and is terrible. It's not that you're actually dissatisfied with the game, but the promises of new shiny things have left you feeling an urge to pick up and go somewhere new.

The allure of something new and good can be a powerful intoxicant, and it can bring people into strange new locations. Do you find yourself wanting to head off into a new game despite there being nothing wrong with your current main game? Are you tempted to try out newer titles on a regular basis, even if you know you'll end up going back? Or do you convince yourself not to go anywhere when you'll just turn around in the end?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you get game wanderlust? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealburnoutguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2newnew-thingsshinystupid-old-gamestdgthe-daily-grindwanderlustSun, 18 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: I would like to have been there]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/the-daily-grind-i-would-like-to-have-been-there/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/the-daily-grind-i-would-like-to-have-been-there/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/the-daily-grind-i-would-like-to-have-been-there/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Launch day, whether it's for a new game or just a new expansion, is usually a pretty crazy time. Everything is new and untested, which means that some builds and classes will be overpowered, some elements of the game aren't working as intended, and there are going to be bugs. But even with all of that, there's something that only can be found in that rush toward the new classes, new level cap, new areas, or even just to see the most of the world in a short span of time. The game is never new again, after all.

With our current amount of knowledge about every facet of a game's release schedule, not to mention plenty of open and closed betas to get pre-launch information, we're generally able to be there for any game we want on the ground floor. Still, there are probably games from yesterday that you missed for whatever reason, or games that you didn't play then that you can't play now. What game do you wish you had been involved with from the beginning? Is it a game whose updates massively changed how it worked, a game that didn't last as long as you'd like, or one that's still going but just wasn't on your list back then?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: I would like to have been there originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beginninggame-shutdownlaunchlaunchesnewnew-car-smellnew-gamestartstdgthe-daily-grindWed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkfall gets its own analog of EVE University: Newborn on Agon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/darkfall-gets-its-own-analog-of-eve-university-newborn-on-agon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/darkfall-gets-its-own-analog-of-eve-university-newborn-on-agon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/darkfall-gets-its-own-analog-of-eve-university-newborn-on-agon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The settings of Darkfall and EVE Online are worlds apart, but there is some common ground between the titles. PvP combat permeates both sandbox games, and given a potentially hostile environment when starting out, it's always good to have a helping hand. EVE Online players have training corps like EVE University to show them the ropes in what can sometimes be a brutal game. Darkfall now has an analog of EVE University called "NEW" which Syncaine recently pointed out on his blog, Hardcore Casual. NEW is short for "Newborn on Agon", a North American server clan that provides training in most any facet of the game for those willing to learn.

Although Darkfall can be harsh to newer players, NEW provides a (comparatively) safe environment where players can spend 30 days learning what interests them, or developing the skills to succeed in the game once it's time to move on. The clan is politically neutral and owns the city of Hammerdale, contributing to NEW's potential to become a haven for new players. Also, some of Darkfall's major alliances support the idea of NEW which could be beneficial in the long run.

It's great to see things like this happen in sandbox MMOs, and hopefully Darkfall will continue to see its players establish lasting institutions in the game.

MassivelyDarkfall gets its own analog of EVE University: Newborn on Agon originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancesaventurineaventurine-sabloggersclansdarkfalleve-onlineeve-universityfantasyguildshammerdalehardcore-casualinstructionnewnewborn-on-agonpoliticspvepvpsandboxsyncaineFri, 30 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic celebrates Chapter II release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/runes-of-magic-celebrates-chapter-ii-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/runes-of-magic-celebrates-chapter-ii-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/runes-of-magic-celebrates-chapter-ii-release/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The Runes of Magic community has been waiting a long time, and now, Chapter II: The Elven Prophecy has arrived! With new raids for the community to enjoy; new elven characters; new Druid and Warden classes; and a few different contests to participate in, you'd think that Frogster Interactive and Runewaker Entertainment would have more than enough to celebrate!

Well, it turns out that not only have they managed to release a huge new chunk of content extremely smoothly, they've also managed to attract 1.9 million players to their game since the initial launch a scant six months ago. With the continual focus on improvements, the gifts to the player-base in the form of the occasional diamonds, armor sets, and the like, we're not too surprised. Runes of Magic is a F2P that seems determined to make their mark. With an expansion, almost 2 million players, and a bunch of free fun for their player-base, we're curious to see how the next 6 months go for them. In the meantime, we'll be in Taborea, leveling our Druids and Wardens.

Gallery: Runes of Magic: The Elven Prophecy

Gallery: Runes of Magic: The Weeping Coast

New InstanceBloodfangButterfly wings and Icarii

MassivelyRunes of Magic celebrates Chapter II release originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chapter-2chapter-iicontestdruidselvesexpansionf2pfree-to-playfrogster-interactivenewromrunes-of-magicrunewaker-entertainmentthe-elven-prophecywardensWed, 16 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Warrior Epic set to launch on the 19th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/16/warrior-epic-set-to-launch-on-the-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/16/warrior-epic-set-to-launch-on-the-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/16/warrior-epic-set-to-launch-on-the-19th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


After going back into closed beta no less than three times to work out pre-launch bugs and continue to polish the game, the folks at Possibility Space have announced that the time has come for the launch of Warrior Epic. This free-to-play game will be available at 5pm Pacific on Tuesday the 19th for everyone to get their warrior fight on.

Jeff Lujan, Founder and Chairman of True Games remarked on the launch. "Our beta testers have given us a lot of great feedback and we are confident that the game is now reaching a point where we can provide the Warrior Epic community an engaging and compelling experience." What we're waiting to see more of is this "intriguing death mechanic" we've heard about that will allow players to become free-roaming spirits that can be bound to weapons to increase stats. Should be interesting!

MassivelyWarrior Epic set to launch on the 19th originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>launchmmonewpossibility-spacerelease-datetrue-gameswarrior-epicSat, 16 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's EVE Online new player guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/massivelys-eve-online-new-player-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/massivelys-eve-online-new-player-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/massivelys-eve-online-new-player-guide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Since I began writing the EVE Evolved column, I've always prided myself on making the articles I write as accessible as possible to new EVE Online players and even people who don't play the game. From my first guide on EVE's skill system to my most recent guide series on the art of tanking, I like to think people of all levels of familiarity with EVE can get something out of them.

In the past few months, the column has been aimed at informing new and prospective players about the varied world of New Eden and giving them the helping hand they deserve in getting started. In this handy wrap-up (or should I say warp-up?) article, I've collected all of the articles aimed at new and prospective players into a set of handy clickable image links.


Gallery: Exploring New Eden

The Blue PlanetAcceleration gateYan Jung ruinsAzure Canyon tourist resortThe Caldari titan

MassivelyMassively's EVE Online new player guide originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexplorationfeaturedgallerygrindguidejoystiqfeatureslearning curveLearningCurvenewnewbiescreenshotskilltrialMon, 19 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST