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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's birthday, and Star Citizen's new website]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/not-so-massively-cash-moba-tournaments-diablo-iiis-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/not-so-massively-cash-moba-tournaments-diablo-iiis-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/not-so-massively-cash-moba-tournaments-diablo-iiis-birthday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's birthday, and Star Citizen's new website
Dota 2 celebrated the incredible sales of its world championship interactive compendium with free gifts for all players; the compendium has now sold over 266,000 units, raising the prize fund in The International to over $2,000,000 US. Third-person MOBA SMITE has recently entered the competitive tournament scene with two new weekly $1,000 tournaments. Rise of Immortals also announced its first competitive tournament since the Battle For Graxia update and revealed details of its hilariously-named ranged centaur character Murderhoof.

League of Legends revealed the new custom item set feature coming in Patch 3.7 and published a new champion spotlight video on classic ranged carry Ashe. Guardians of Middle-Earth also released its latest paid DLC character, The Mouth of Sauron, based on a character who was originally cut from the cinematic release of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Diablo III celebrated the first anniversary of its release on May 15th with anniversary livestreams and a magic-find bonus for all players. The latest patch also raised the increments in which money can be sold on the Real Money Auction House to ten million in response to massive oversupply. Path of Exile revealed details of its upcoming Patch 0.1.1.0 that will add new party loot options and other features, and Star Citizen showed off its new website with a special e-commerce section in which players can buy ships for cash.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's birthday, and Star Citizen's new website

MassivelyNot So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's birthday, and Star Citizen's new website originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpganniversaryanniversary-eventashebattle-for-graxiabattlenetbirthdayblizzardblizzard-entertainmentCompendiumcompetitive-gamingconsolecustom-item-setCustom-Item-Setsd3dawngatediablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgaslightgodgodsgothic-fantasygraxiagrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesguardians-of-middle-earthinfinite-crisisInteractive-Compendiumisisjokerleague-of-legendslollord-of-the-ringslotrmiddle-earthmobamonolithmonolith-studiosmouth-of-sauronmultiplayermurderhoofnewsnot-so-massivelynsmone-yearone-year-anniversaryonline-multiplayeropinionpath-of-exilepetroglyphpetroglyph-gamesplaystation-networkpoeps3psnpvpriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgskarasmitethe-jokerthe-mouth-of-sauronthird-personvalvevideovideoswarner-brosxboxxbox-360xbox-livexbox360Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Combine your consoles and get new ships in Star Trek Online's expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/combine-your-consoles-and-get-new-ships-in-star-trek-onlines-ex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/combine-your-consoles-and-get-new-ships-in-star-trek-onlines-ex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/combine-your-consoles-and-get-new-ships-in-star-trek-onlines-ex/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Split and combine and split and combine and it's kind of tedious.
If you've already purchased the very expensive Legacy Pack for Star Trek Online's first expansion, there's good news to be had -- you just got more for your $125 investment. For one thing, you've got access to a new ship, the Haakona Advanced Warbird, an assault craft capable of separating into two units for maximum versatility. For another, you've got a set of uniforms based off of the Romulan outfits from the original series, if you want to really hit that "legacy" button as hard as you can.

Whether or not this entices you to drop some additional money, the latest development blog on the official site details the bonuses for slotting Romulan refit consoles together in Legacy of Romulus. These include buffs to turn rate, energy weapons, and defensive systems based on speed. The net result is that owners of both refit and retrofit versions of these vessels can access a new playstyle for the class, a new trick to surprise opponents of the Romulans. Which is apropos.

Gallery: Star Trek Online Gallery

MassivelyCombine your consoles and get new ships in Star Trek Online's expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosexpansionf2pfree-to-playgalleriesgallerylegacy-of-romuluslegacy-packnewsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpre-purchasepweremusromulussci-fiset-bonusessetsstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoTue, 14 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Yet another D3 exploit, Star Citizen pay-to-win debate, and MOBA news]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/not-so-massively-yet-another-d3-exploit-star-citizen-pay-to-wi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/not-so-massively-yet-another-d3-exploit-star-citizen-pay-to-wi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/not-so-massively-yet-another-d3-exploit-star-citizen-pay-to-wi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively Yet another D3 exploit, Star Citizen paytowin debate, and MOBA news
Diablo III was hit with yet another exploit this week as players discovered a way to duplicate gold via a bug in the auction house. Blizzard responded by shutting down the auction house but did not perform a server rollback to reverse the damage. Star Citizen clarified its stance on the lifetime insurance available to veteran backers amidst debate over whether it gives early adopters an unfair advantage over other players. Path of Exile also released a new Letters of Wraeclast lore feature in its latest update, and MechWarrior Online's update 15 added a new Misery mech.

Dota 2 began preparations for its biggest world championship tournament yet with the release of a new Interactive Compendium that players can use to stay up to date with the matches. Rise of Immortals has now officially launched its Battle For Graxia revamp, and Infinite Crisis officially entered closed beta this week with the release of new champion The Joker. Finally, Smashmuck Champions released its hilarious new community-designed champion that's half platypus and half unicorn.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Yet another D3 exploit, Star Citizen pay-to-win debate, and MOBA news

MassivelyNot So Massively: Yet another D3 exploit, Star Citizen pay-to-win debate, and MOBA news originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbatmanbattle-for-graxiabattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-robertscloud-imperiumcompetitive-gamingd3dcdc-comicsdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgothic-fantasygraxiaindieinfinite-crisisinsurancejokerkiz-studioslifetime-insurancemobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayeropinionpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvprise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgsandboxsci-fismashmuckstar-citizensupermanthe-jokerturbinevalvevideovideoswarner-broswonder-womanWraeclastMon, 13 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New WildStar video is all about smooth moves]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/new-wildstar-video-is-all-about-smooth-moves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/new-wildstar-video-is-all-about-smooth-moves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/new-wildstar-video-is-all-about-smooth-moves/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

He's either angry or getting up after a nap. I give even odds either way.
Movement is always important in MMOs; you can't get into arguments about who's standing in the fire if everyone is rooted in place, after all. Since WildStar is promising active combat, it needs to have even more movement than normal so that you can find new and exciting ways not to stand in new and exciting sorts of fire. And the newest DevSpeak video is all about that.

"That" being movement. Not new and exciting sorts of fire. It's still pretty much normal fire.

Some elements will be immediately familiar to anyone who has played a video game on a computer within the past decade. Some elements are a bit more uncommon, like double-jumping or giving every class access to a quick dashing roll. And some elements, like switching positions with a target by tearing a hole in space itself, are pretty well unique. Take a look at all of them just past the break.

[Source: NCsoft press release]

Continue reading New WildStar video is all about smooth moves

MassivelyNew WildStar video is all about smooth moves originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I drink a whiskey drink, I drink a vodka drink, I drink a lager drink, I'm no longer wearing pants.
Sobriety is overrated. Sure, a lot of games give players the options to get characters plastered, but Age of Wushu takes it one step further by incorporating the pop culture notion of drunken fighting into the game. A character with a high alcohol tolerance won't just be able to fight after tipping back a few drinks; he'll actually be able to fight better due to an Evade buff granted after imbibing. Characters with lower tolerance, meanwhile, will just stagger and find themselves unable to react appropriately.

That's not the limit of what you can do with liquor in a fight, though. You can also spray your opponent with spirits in mid-battle, hopefully intoxicating and disorienting the other fighter. Of course, if you attempt to use this technique on someone with a predilection for potables, you might find that you've just handed your nemesis a major advantage. Take a look at some plastered punching in the preview video just past the break.

Continue reading Drinking and fighting are encouraged in Age of Wushu

MassivelyDrinking and fighting are encouraged in Age of Wushu originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-wulinage-of-wushuasiachinachinesechinese-mmodrunken-fightinggame-mechanicsgpotatogvgkidnappingmartial-artsming-dynastynewspreviewpvpsandboxsnail-gamessnail-games-usavideovideoswushuwuxiaTue, 07 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Look behind the living world in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/look-behind-the-living-world-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/look-behind-the-living-world-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/look-behind-the-living-world-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Now why can't every class have its own version of this to pilot all the time?
Have you been out of the loop in Guild Wars 2? There's been big stuff going on with the game's narrative, sure, but it's easy to lose the thread if you're not playing the game on a regular basis. The latest developer video from ArenaNet is meant to address this, with narrative designers Angel McCoy and Scott McGough talking about the events of the Flame and Frost storyline and how the game's previous stories are leading into future developments.

The crux of Flame and Frost is the allegiance between the Dredge and the Flame Legion, with the former lacking in magical artillery and the latter being cut off from traditional Charr machinery. That alliance led to the capture of civilians, which in turn led to a push by two young heroes to free former prisoners... which in turn has led to a population move to an unexpected place. Watch the full video for a glimpse at how the story elements lead into one another and to get hints about what's around the bend.

Continue reading Look behind the living world in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyLook behind the living world in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbackgroundbuy-to-playfantasyflame-and-frostguild-wars-2gw2living-worldlorencsoftnewsstoriesstoryvideovideosTue, 07 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/not-so-massively-moba-patch-week-star-citizen-hits-9-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/not-so-massively-moba-patch-week-star-citizen-hits-9-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/not-so-massively-moba-patch-week-star-citizen-hits-9-million/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset
This week is packed with MOBA news as almost every major title released a new patch. Infinite Crisis introduced new champions Poison Ivy and Gaslight Catwoman and announced that the game's closed beta will start in two days' time on May 8th. SMITE introduced new Norse god Fenrir the Unbound, and League of Legends released a champion spotlight on new Ice Witch champion Lissandra. Dota 2 also released new hero Elder Titan based on the original DotA hero Tauren Chieftain, and Heroes of Newerth released several months of balance changes at once in its colossal version 3.1 update.

Star Citizen celebrated hitting $9 million US in its ongoing crowdfunding campaign, and to celebrate, developers controversially gave all current backers free lifetime insurance on their ships. The title's success has also spurred EVE Online developer CCP Games to show off its own virtual reality dogfighter called EVR that uses the upcoming Oculus Rift headset.

Diablo III's first anniversary is just over a week away; details of any celebrations haven't yet been released. Developers confirmed that the PlayStation 4 version will not be getting mouse and keyboard support and that the PC version won't be getting support for analog controllers. For those of you up for some oldschool dungeon-crawling, Diablo II also announced that its ladder will be reset on May 14th this week and all players will start the game fresh again.

Continue reading Not So Massively: MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset

MassivelyNot So Massively: MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetbetabeta-testbeta-testingblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopccpccp-gameschris-robertscompetitive-gamingconsoled3defense-of-the-ancientsdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportselder-titanesportesportseveeve-onlineevrexploitf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgothic-fantasyhon-tourhontourice-witchinternet-spaceshipsladderladder-resetleagueleague-of-legendslissandralolmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmoculus-riftonline-multiplayeropinionpatch-1.0.8playstationplaystation-3playstation-4Playstation3premiumps4pvpriotriot-gamesroguelikeround-uprounduprpgsandboxsci-fispreadsheets-onlinetauren-chieftaintestingtrailertrailersvideovideosvirtual-realitywitch-doctorMon, 06 May 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar sneaks a peak at Stormtalon's Lair]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/wildstar-sneaks-a-peak-at-stormtalons-lair/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/wildstar-sneaks-a-peak-at-stormtalons-lair/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/wildstar-sneaks-a-peak-at-stormtalons-lair/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Maybe he just has allergies.
Making a new discovery on Nexus is always sort of a double-edged sword. The good news is that the Exile Academy of Science has discovered all sorts of fascinating details about the Thundercall Pell race living in the south of Galeras. The bad news is that some of this has come about as a result of discovering strange energy readings emanating from the caverns known as Stormtalon's Lair and the loss of a science team investigating the region, meaning that WildStar players will have to go in and deal with whatever ate the team that went in the first time.

The latest WildStar Wednesday sheds some light on this early dungeon, explaining the motivations behind the inhabitants of the Lair and some of the mysteries still surrounding them. Players will be tasked with fighting their way into the depths, stopping the Thundercall High Priest from awakening the eponymous Stormtalon. Which means you'll probably arrive just in time to fight Stormtalon before it gets free, because really, how else could this end?

MassivelyWildStar sneaks a peak at Stormtalon's Lair originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetascarbinecarbine-studiosdungeondungeonsncsoftnewspreviewpreviewssandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsWed, 01 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wargaming.net offers special packages for National Veteran Appreciation Month]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/wargaming-net-offers-special-packages-for-national-veteran-appre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/wargaming-net-offers-special-packages-for-national-veteran-appre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/wargaming-net-offers-special-packages-for-national-veteran-appre/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Enjoy explaining to Grampa that he's not supposed to blow up the German tanks on his side.
It's nearly May, and that means that World of Tanks developer Wargaming.net is keeping up a tradition that's run since the game first became playable. May is National Veteran Appreciation Month, and every year the studio offers package deals to players offering a variety of in-game benefits at a discounted price while donating some of the proceeds to veteran support groups.

This year features two bundles. The first offers 2,000 gold and 2 million credits for $23.39; the second offers 10,000 gold, 1.2 million credits, 90 days of premium account status, and a special T-34 tank and garage slot for $115.99. 10% of each sale will be donated to Homes For Our Troops, AMVETS, and the Military Families Fund. So if you want to trundle along in a semi-historical military playground while supporting the brave individuals that made that possible, you can pick yourself up some nice toys in the process.

[Source: Wargaming.net press release]

MassivelyWargaming.net offers special packages for National Veteran Appreciation Month originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charitydonationsf2pfree-to-playhistoricalmilitary-monthnational-veteran-appreciation-monthnewsprofitspromotionpvptanktankswarwargaming.networld-of-tankswotTue, 30 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon's payment systems go kaput, taking Kickstarter with it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/amazons-payment-systems-go-kaput-taking-kickstarter-with-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/amazons-payment-systems-go-kaput-taking-kickstarter-with-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/amazons-payment-systems-go-kaput-taking-kickstarter-with-it/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Well, darn.
Were you planning to be the brave soul to bring Camelot Unchained's Kickstarter project to its goal? You might have missed your chance. Amazon Payments, the system which Kickstarter uses to accept pledges from browsers, started having trouble earlier today, meaning that several Kickstarter projects have run into trouble attracting more pledges or processing pledges for otherwise successful funding. That's bad news for anyone looking to make the last few dollars on a project before the project ticks over the last deadline.

There's currently no ETA on service restoration; quite notably, the payment service is currently the only Amazon service listed as having difficulties. Camelot Unchained is put into a particular pickle with this development, as the project is still more than $200,000 away from its goal with less than two days remaining. Hopefully the service errors will be cleared up before several projects start to feel the sting.

[Thanks to Mark for the tip!]

MassivelyAmazon's payment systems go kaput, taking Kickstarter with it originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively title image
Details of this year's $1,600,000 US Dota 2 world championship have been released ahead of next month's qualifiers for the remaining three competitor spots. Heroes of Newerth began gearing up for its own tournament at DreamHack Summer 2013 with details of a qualifier tournament to determine which teams will face off at the event. Team Stay Green may be in with a chance if it enters, as the group just took home $32,000 US following a decisive win in the HoNTour grand finals.

A new Diablo III exploit that allowed Witch Doctors to farm XP by repeatedly killing their pets was discovered this week and promptly hotfixed. Riot Games released spotlight videos for newly revamped League of Legends champions Trundle and Sejuani, and CLG pro gamer Peter "Doublelift" Peng discussed his challenging road to success and heartbreaking family issues in a fantastic short documentary for Machinima.

Turbine released details of two new Infinite Crisis champions this week with video spotlights on hulking brute Doomsday and the gadget-wielding Gaslight Batman. Russian success Prime World let press into the English language beta for a first look at its castle-building and MOBA style gameplay. Rise of Immortals geared up for the official launch of its Battle For Graxia game overhaul with the addition of a new reputation system. And Star Citizen developer Chris Roberts revealed that he's been holding off on accepting investor deals because of the success of the game's crowdfunding campaigns.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's latest exploit, and city-building with Prime World

MassivelyNot So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's latest exploit, and city-building with Prime World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbatmanbattle-for-graxiabattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbugcash-prizecash-tournamentcastlechris-robertsclgcloud-imperiumcompetitive-gamingcounter-logic-gamingcrowdfundingcrowdsourcingd3dcdc-comicsdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2dreamhackdreamhack-2013dreamhack-summerdreamhack-summer-2012e-sporte-sportsesportesportsexploitf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgaslightgaslight-batmangothic-fantasygraxiaheroes-of-newerthhonhon-tourhontourinfinite-crisisinvestinginvestmentjokerleague-of-legendslolmobamultiplayernewsnivalnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamesprime-worldpro-gamingprofessional-gamingpvevppvpriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamessandboxsci-fistar-citizensupermanswedenthe-internationalthe-international-2013the-jokertournamentturbinevalvevideowarner-broswitch-doctorwonder-womanMon, 29 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[True stories of EVE Online to become comic book and TV series]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/true-stories-of-eve-online-to-become-comic-book-and-tv-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/true-stories-of-eve-online-to-become-comic-book-and-tv-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/true-stories-of-eve-online-to-become-comic-book-and-tv-series/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

True stories of EVE Online to become comic book and TV series
The CCP Presents Keynote at the annual EVE Online Fanfest is usually a fairly tame retrospective on how CCP has a company has done the past year and where it's going in the future, but for EVE's tenth anniversary, CCP broke out the big guns. In addition to announcing a massive new collector's edition, the studio has also revealed plans to turn real stories of events inside the sandbox into professional comic books and even a TV series.

Industry giant Dark Horse Comics, the company responsible for comics like Hellboy and Sin City, will be publishing the 54-page graphic novel this winter in both a paid-for print form and a free digital download. For the lore buffs among us, Dark Horse will also be producing a colossal 184-page glossy colour hardback book covering all of the NPC backstory and lore behind EVE Online and DUST 514. Titled EVE Source, the book will be an in-character almanac of everything in the EVE setting that isn't player-created and will even include previously unreleased concept art.

Continue reading True stories of EVE Online to become comic book and TV series

MassivelyTrue stories of EVE Online to become comic book and TV series originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comiccomicsdark-horsedark-horse-comicsdust-514eveeve-comiceve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2013eve-filmeve-onlineeve-online-fanfesteve-online-fanfest-2013eve-sourceeve-tveve-tv-serieseve-videoeventevent-coveragefactionsfanfestfilmhellboyicelandlorelore-booklore-booksmassively-event-coveragenewsnpc-storyrekyjaviksin-citystorylinestorylinestelevisiontvSat, 27 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online's newest Ask Cryptic takes aim at revamps and Romulans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/star-trek-onlines-newest-ask-cryptic-takes-aim-at-revamps-and-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/star-trek-onlines-newest-ask-cryptic-takes-aim-at-revamps-and-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/star-trek-onlines-newest-ask-cryptic-takes-aim-at-revamps-and-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Do you want to fly technology that's two centuries old in game lore? Apparently some people totally do.
The Romulan faction in Star Trek Online will be unique in many ways, but exactly how the addition will work within the context of the game is still unclear. That's why many of the questions in the latest edition of Ask Cryptic focus on Romulans, such as what ships they will have access to from the C-Store (all ships from a player's chosen allied faction) and how Romulans with different allies will interact (they will not be able to group together for Romulan missions but can group for cross-factional content).

Other topics of discussion include the long-anticipated revamp to Exploration, which is being moved over toward encouraging the use of the Foundry to fulfill a similar niche. Klingon progression will be improved with a full leveling path, including episodes ported over and heavily tweaked from the Federation line as well as unique bits of content just for KDF characters. For the usual buffet of questions and answers you can check out the full installment on the official site.

MassivelyStar Trek Online's newest Ask Cryptic takes aim at revamps and Romulans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcommunity-q-and-acrypticcryptic-studiosexpansionexpansionsf2pfactionsfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgroupinglegacy-of-romulusnewsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweq-and-aquestions-and-answerssci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoteamingFri, 26 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Fanfest 2013 day one: DUST 514, wormholes, and lowsec PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/eve-fanfest-2013-day-one-dust-514-wormholes-and-lowsec-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/eve-fanfest-2013-day-one-dust-514-wormholes-and-lowsec-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/eve-fanfest-2013-day-one-dust-514-wormholes-and-lowsec-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Fanfest 2013 day one roundup DUST 514, wormholes, lowsec PvP and Retribution
The 10th anniversary EVE Online Fanfest is beyond massive, with over 1,400 players piling into Reykjavik's Harpa building for three days of intense internet spaceshippery. Players fly from across the world to meet their corpmates and chat with other players as passionate about EVE as they are. CCP runs a packed schedule of game design presentations, reveals, and roundtable discussions with players, but for many attendees, the event is about being a part of a tight-knit community that usually exists only inside a game server.

CCP made the bold statement to the press team this morning that its goal is "to create virtual worlds more meaningful than real life," and with so many people flying across the world to meet other players face to face, I'd say the studio has succeeded. Today saw talks on EVE's hugely successful Retribution expansion, ship rebalancing, map generation in DUST 514, and lowsec PvP, and of course, we attended the DUST 514 keynote speech. There were also some hilarious shenanigans with the wormhole roundtable room filling to bursting and a guest science lecture on the possibility of faster than light travel in real life.

Continue reading EVE Fanfest 2013 day one: DUST 514, wormholes, and lowsec PvP

MassivelyEVE Fanfest 2013 day one: DUST 514, wormholes, and lowsec PvP originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesconsoledustdust-514eveeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2013eve-onlineeve-online-fanfesteve-online-fanfest-2013eventevent-coveragefanfestfeaturedfpsgraphicsicelandinternet-spaceshipslowsecmassively-event-coveragemmofpsnewspiracypirateplanetary-interactionplaystationplaystation-3previewpreviewsps3pvprekyjaviksandboxsci-fishooterspreadsheets-onlineterritorial-controlvideovideoswormholewormhole-explorationwormholesThu, 25 Apr 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: New Star Citizen column, Path of Exile Season Two, and MOBA news]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/not-so-massively-new-star-citizen-column-path-of-exile-season/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/not-so-massively-new-star-citizen-column-path-of-exile-season/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/not-so-massively-new-star-citizen-column-path-of-exile-season/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
If you've been following the development of upcoming crowdfunded sci-fi sandbox Star Citizen with interest, Massively has a brand-new column you might enjoy. The Diablo III test realm hinted at upcoming boosts to life regeneration and the damage output of a few spells, but Blizzard also suggested that a nerf to the Wizard Archon Form might be on the way. Path of Exile started its second season of race events, with over 200 events to take part in and massive prizes to be won.

Third-person MOBA SMITE added the 34th god to its roster this week with acrobatic assassin Ne Zha entering the fray, and Guardians of Middle-Earth released new DLC character Kili the Dwarf. Rise of Immortals added support for game replays and introduced and interesting new White Knight feature that lets players take over from characters who have disconnected or quit in the middle of a game.

Heroes of Newerth announced a huge upcoming balance patch that may finally get rid of the paid-for early hero access and promises to rebalance much of the game's expansive roster of characters. Dota 2's streamlined abuse report update backfired when players discovered they could use the report feature itself to abuse other players. And Firefall may finally be edging toward release with the announcement of a date for the start of open beta.

Continue reading Not So Massively: New Star Citizen column, Path of Exile Season Two, and MOBA news

MassivelyNot So Massively: New Star Citizen column, Path of Exile Season Two, and MOBA news originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abuseaction-mmoaction-rpgArmillary-Sashbalance-patchbattle-for-graxiabattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcloud-imperiumcompetitive-gamingconsoled3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2dwarfe-sporte-sportseaearly-accessesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfire-batsfree-to-playgothic-fantasygraxiagrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesguardians-of-middle-earthheroes-of-newerthhonhon-tourkilileague-of-legendslollord-of-the-ringslotrmeldingmiddle-earthmobamonolithmonolith-studiosmultiplayerne-zhanewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayeropen-betapatchpatchespath-of-exilepetroglyphpetroglyph-gamesplaystation-networkpoeps3psnpvpray-of-frostred-5-studiosreplayriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamessandboxsci-fistar-citizenterrauniverse-ringvalvevideowarner-broswhite-knightwhite-knight-queuewitch-doctorwizardwrath-of-the-lich-kingxboxxbox-360xbox-livexbox360Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Desert interview talks active combat and the big picture]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/black-desert-interview-talks-active-combat-and-the-big-picture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/black-desert-interview-talks-active-combat-and-the-big-picture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/black-desert-interview-talks-active-combat-and-the-big-picture/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Is it just me or does that guy have a punchable face?
Black Desert is not a game that can be faulted for lack of ambition. A recent interview with the design staff helps show off just how big the game aims to be, which includes territory control, building relationships with NPCs, and an open-world housing system with a limited number of houses. It also discusses the game's combat, which is meant to be realistic active combat with an emphasis on skill and momentum.

The game's combat system will include combat on foot or while mounted, with mounted combat having several obvious advantages -- charging while mounted can be incredibly damaging, and you have an easier time knocking down targets on foot. Combat is meant to be slightly loose rather than forcing characters to have perfect timing, but the emphasis is on "realistic" combat over a string of abilities. For more details, take a look at the full interview (scroll down to see the English version).

MassivelyBlack Desert interview talks active combat and the big picture originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active-combatambitionblack-desertcombatfantasyhousinginterviewkoreakorean-mmomounted-combatnewspearl-abysssandboxupcoming-titlesThu, 18 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft Battle Chest on sale for $10]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/world-of-warcraft-battle-chest-on-sale-for-10/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/world-of-warcraft-battle-chest-on-sale-for-10/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/world-of-warcraft-battle-chest-on-sale-for-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You, too, can experience being a blood elf death knight like every other death knight.
Are you one of the five people on the planet who does not own World of Warcraft in some form? It's kind of been a big deal for the past several years. Having established that you do not already own the game, would you like to pick up the base game plus the first two expansions on the cheap? Even cheaper than their normal prices, that is? Because you have a chance to pick up the whole shebang for just $10 this week.

Normally the World of Warcraft Battle Chest bundle costs $20, but until April 23rd you can pick the whole thing up for half of that. The game also has a free trial you can play if you don't want to take the risk of buying the game without knowing if you'll like it, although at $10 it's almost cheaper to just bite the bullet.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft Battle Chest on sale for $10 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbattle-chestblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdiscountfantasynewspromotionsalewarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 16 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: D3's patch 1.0.8, Dota 2 DDoS, and Prime World's closed beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/not-so-massively-d3s-patch-1-0-8-dota-2-ddos-and-prime-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/not-so-massively-d3s-patch-1-0-8-dota-2-ddos-and-prime-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/not-so-massively-d3s-patch-1-0-8-dota-2-ddos-and-prime-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Patch 1.0.8 was released to the Diablo III public test realm this week, adding some big multiplayer upgrades and fixing quality of life issues with the Wizard class, crafting and the auction house. Path of Exile published its first series of articles in a new Development Manifesto forum looking into the thought process behind upcoming game changes and features. And sci-fi sandbox Star Citizen tackled the age-old problem of letting players have unique names without breaking immersion.

The European Dota 2 servers experienced heavy disruption this week as what appears to be a DDoS attack interfered with the DreamHack Invitationals and the G-1 qualifier tournament. A research firm also claimed that the game had recently passed giant of League of Legends in peak concurrent users despite publicly released statistics to the contrary.

Following on from its huge success in Russia, castle-building MOBA Prime World officially entered its English-language closed beta this week. Newly announced DC Comics MOBA Infinite Crisis released a champion profile video on new hero Green Lantern, and Heroes of Newerth published a classic hero spotlight on fan-favourite Devourer.

Continue reading Not So Massively: D3's patch 1.0.8, Dota 2 DDoS, and Prime World's closed beta

MassivelyNot So Massively: D3's patch 1.0.8, Dota 2 DDoS, and Prime World's closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgarchonauction-housebatmanbattlenetbetablizzardblizzard-entertainmentcallsigncastlechampion-profilechampion-spotlightchampion-spotlight-videocitycity-buildingclosed-betacloud-imperiumcompetitive-gamingd3dcdc-comicsddosdeckard-caindenial-of-servicedenial-of-service-attackdevelopment-manifestodevourerdfcdfc-intelligencediablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidosdotadota-2dreamhacke-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playg-1gothic-fantasygreen-lanterngrinding-geargrinding-gear-gameshandlehero-spotlightheroes-of-newerthhoninfinite-crisisjokerleague-of-legendslolmobamultiplayernamenewsnivalnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayeropen-betapath-of-exilepeak-concurrent-userspoeprime-worldpvevppvpriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamessandboxsci-fistar-citizenstay-a-while-and-read-my-booksteamsupermanteleportthe-jokertournamentturbineusernamevalvevideowarner-broswizardwonder-womanMon, 15 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Massively's plans for EVE Fanfest 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/eve-evolved-massivelys-plans-for-eve-fanfest-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/eve-evolved-massivelys-plans-for-eve-fanfest-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/eve-evolved-massivelys-plans-for-eve-fanfest-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
There's just over a week to go until EVE Online's massive tenth anniversary Fanfest, and you'll be pleased to hear that Massively will be there this year to cover the action! CCP is aiming to make this the biggest Fanfest yet, promising huge reveals and announcements about EVE's summer Odyssey expansion and beyond. We can also expect to hear some big news about upcoming console MMOFPS DUST 514, and fans of Vampire: The Masquerade will undoubtedly get to see some of the year's progress toward making the World of Darkness MMO a reality.

Tickets to this year's Fanfest sold out in record time, so many players who really wanted to be there for EVE's tenth anniversary celebration weren't able to secure a spot. CCP is running its usual livestream of the main talks for those not in attendance, but only certain parts of the event are being streamed. Here at Massively, we plan to give you an inside look at Fanfest with ongoing news coverage from April 25th to April 27th and in-depth opinion pieces on what each announcement means for players.

In this week's short and sweet EVE Evolved, I lay out Massively's plans for in-depth coverage of EVE Fanfest 2013 and ask what you'd like to see reported on.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Massively's plans for EVE Fanfest 2013

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Massively's plans for EVE Fanfest 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-year-anniversary10-year-oldccpccp-gamesconsoledustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2013eve-onlineeventevent-coverageeventsexpansionfanfestfanfest-2013fantasyfeaturedfpsgothichorroricelandlivestreammassivelymassively-event-coveragemmofpsnewsodysseyopinionplaystationplaystation-3ps3reykjaviksandboxsci-fishooterspeculationsupernaturalten-year-anniversaryten-yearstwittervampirevampire-the-masqueradevampiresvideowhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessSun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online lets the light shine in to your Romulan embassy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/star-trek-online-lets-the-light-shine-in-to-your-romulan-embassy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/star-trek-online-lets-the-light-shine-in-to-your-romulan-embassy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/star-trek-online-lets-the-light-shine-in-to-your-romulan-embassy/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The suuuuuun shine iiiiiiinnnnn...
If your fleet has a nice little embassy on New Romulus in Star Trek Online, you'd probably like to make it more than just a square brick building with a handful of desks. That's why the development team has been running a steady series of special projects for players to enjoy, allowing everyone to beautify their diplomatic homes away from home. The newest project is kicking off on April 11th, and it's all about brightening up the place a little.

This new project will improve your embassy's shuttle bay, adding several features including an open ceiling for a brighter atmosphere. Fleets who want to undertake the project will have two weeks to complete it, as it runs until April 25th. However, once it's gone it will stay gone, so it's time to get ready for renovations later this week. It might be a little thing, but be honest, you always wanted a shuttle bay with a skylight.

MassivelyStar Trek Online lets the light shine in to your Romulan embassy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosembassyembassy-projectf2pfree-to-playnewsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplayer-owned-structurespreviewpweromulan-embassysci-fispecial-projectstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoTue, 09 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Jumping on the MOBA bandwagon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/not-so-massively-jumping-on-the-moba-bandwagon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/not-so-massively-jumping-on-the-moba-bandwagon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/not-so-massively-jumping-on-the-moba-bandwagon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
It seems as if everyone is jumping on the MOBA bandwagon lately and trying to cut a slice of the action for himself. Creative Assembly announced that the next game in the Total War series will be a MOBA with RTS elements named Total War: Arena. MMO developer Turbine has also thrown its hat in the ring, teaming up with Warner Bros. and DC comics to develop a MOBA based on the Infinite Crisis DC storyline.

League of Legends continued its plans to revamp old characters with overhauls to Sejuani and Trundle. Developers also revealed upcoming Ice Witch champion Lissandra, a crowd-controlling mage who can cast some of her spells mana-free. Guardians of Middle-Earth finally released Frodo Baggins as a DLC character, and Heroes of Newerth announced that the $60,000 grand final of HonTour Season One will take place later this month in Las Vegas.

In a new Diablo III developer journal, Blizzard discussed its efforts to get players into multiplayer and public games, including some gameplay improvements and a new matchmaking tag system. Path of Exile's Patch 0.10.5 went live today, adding three powerful new support gems, four new unique items, and several balance changes and bug-fixes. And Torchlight II gave modders a huge gift this week by releasing its in-house development tools to the public and officially adding Steam Workshop support to the game.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Jumping on the MOBA bandwagon

MassivelyNot So Massively: Jumping on the MOBA bandwagon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgarchonbandwagonbatmanbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcargo-cultcompetitive-gamingconsolecreative-assemblyd3dcdc-comicsdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidominiondotae-sporte-sportseditoresportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrodofrodo-bagginsgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesguardians-of-middle-earthgutsguts-editorheroes-of-newerthhonhon-tourhoncasthontourice-witchinfinite-crisisjokerleague-of-legendsLissandralollord-of-the-ringslotrmatchmakingmeleemiddle-earthmobamodmoddermoddingmodding-communitymodding-toolsmodsmonolithmonolith-studiosmultiplayermultiplayer-online-battle-arenanewsnightmare-batmannot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exileplaystation-networkpoeps3psnpvpriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgrunic-gamess2s2-gamessegaSejuanisteamsteam-workshopsupermanthe-jokerthe-one-ringtotal-wartotal-war-arenatrundleturbineTurbine-Entertainmentvideowarner-broswizardwonder-womanwyatt-chengxboxxbox-360xbox-livexbox360Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Camelot Unchained discusses the trouble with rendering engines]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/camelot-unchained-discusses-the-trouble-with-rendering-engines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/camelot-unchained-discusses-the-trouble-with-rendering-engines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/camelot-unchained-discusses-the-trouble-with-rendering-engines/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

THEY'RE COMING FOR YOU.
It's been said multiple times by the Camelot Unchained team that this game is meant to be large. The focus is on large-scale sieges, not a couple of guys banging on the front door of a castle. That means the game needs to be able to handle a huge number of players on the screen at any one time. How do you find an engine that can handle that? According to the latest update on Kickstarter, you build one.

While the engine isn't built entirely from scratch, it isn't based off of an established engine, simply because it's being custom-built to handle the game's specific needs. The attached video allows you to see the engine in action, scaling from a handful of characters up to the moving mob pictured in the header. If you want to know more about what makes the game pretty to look at, this will be very relevant to your interests.

MassivelyCamelot Unchained discusses the trouble with rendering engines originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camelotcamelot-unchainedcity-statecity-state-entertainmentcrowdfundingcrowdsourcingcseenginegame-enginegraphics-enginekickstarterkickstarter-updatemark-jacobsnewspreviewpvprenderingrvrWed, 03 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online shining up its starbases for Odyssey]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/eve-online-shining-up-its-starbases-for-odyssey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/eve-online-shining-up-its-starbases-for-odyssey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/eve-online-shining-up-its-starbases-for-odyssey/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

No words yet on making your starbase party central, but we can hope that it's coming.
In theory, player-owned starbases are a major component of EVE Online's gameplay. In practice, the acronym for these structures is seen as being unintentionally appropriate. But if you're an owner of a POS and hoping for some love from the development team, you can take heart that Odyssey is aiming to incorporate several new features to make these bases more desirable and worthwhile. Even if not all of these features are certain inclusions just yet, they're still enticing additions.

Among the major changes coming to starbases are the inclusion of private hangars, repackaging modules within starbase arrays, and the removal of sovereignty requirements from capital ship maintenance arrays. The UI will also be tweaked and improved, and players will be able to swap Strategic Cruiser subsystems from a starbase while accessing any of the starbase's arrays from within the facility's shield. For full details on the hard work being done to improve these structures, check out the full development blog.

MassivelyEVE Online shining up its starbases for Odyssey originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesdevelopment-blogeveeve-onlineexpansioninternet-spaceshipslarge-patchesnewsodysseypatchesplayer-owned-starbasespospreviewsandboxsci-fispreadsheets-onlineTue, 02 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: New Code Electra class sizzles in Elsword trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/massively-exclusive-new-code-electra-class-sizzles-in-elsword/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/massively-exclusive-new-code-electra-class-sizzles-in-elsword/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/massively-exclusive-new-code-electra-class-sizzles-in-elsword/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Massively Exclusive New Code Electra class sizzles in Elsword trailer
If you've wanted more sizzle in your Elsword gaming, you're in luck! Kill3rCombo has revealed Code Electra, the next class in its transformation series. Along with a whole new look, fans of Eve can revel in unleashing powerful electrical attacks and zapping enemies with devastating laser beams.

With the Code Electra class, the queen of a lost robotic race will unlock the El Spectrum ability, allowing her to alter her attacks by switching between multiple modes. Need to scatter the laser beam to hit more enemies? Can do. How about focus the beam for increased damage? Yup. This mode switching will affect all of the various skills available to Eve, offering players a multitude of strategic options.

Check out Eve's new look as Code Electra in the gallery below and watch her new abilities in action in the video after the break.

[Source: Kill3rCombo press release]

Gallery: Elsword Online

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: New Code Electra class sizzles in Elsword trailer

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: New Code Electra class sizzles in Elsword trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Elswordelsword-onlineEveexclusivef2pfree-to-playfreemiumgalleryKill3rCombomassively-exclusivemicrotransactionmicrotransactionsnew-classnewspremiumscreenshotstrailertransformation-classvideoTue, 02 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Release all the MOBA heroes!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/not-so-massively-release-all-the-moba-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/not-so-massively-release-all-the-moba-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/not-so-massively-release-all-the-moba-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
It's been a huge week for MOBAs, with several new characters being released and one game closing its doors for good. League of Legends finally revamped underused champion Karma and released new character Zac, a strange green blob who drops parts of himself all over the battlefield and can even revive after death. Dota 2 released classic hero Bristleback, a spined boar who slows enemies with a disgusting snot attack and slowly peppers them with spiked quills.

SMITE released god of music Apollo, who can deal damage by playing his lyre, sing enemies to sleep, and even power-slide like a rock star. Heroes of Newerth is in between hero releases, but its recent HoN 3.0 update has earned it the title of Best MOBA at PAX East 2013 by gaming website RTSGuru.

Warhammer-themed MOBA Wrath of Heroes officially closed its doors on March 29th, and its website has now been replaced with a message by producer James Casey. Finally, Diablo III's former Game Director Jay Wilson gave a talk at GDC 2013 in which he blamed many of the game's downfalls on both the gold and cash auction houses.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Release all the MOBA heroes!

MassivelyNot So Massively: Release all the MOBA heroes! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgapollobattlenetbest-mobabiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbristlebackchampionchampion-spotlightchampionscomiccompetitioncompetitive-gamingcontestd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportseaelectronic-artsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedflubberfree-to-playgothic-fantasyherohero-spotlightheroes-of-newerthheroshonitemitemisationitemizationitemskarmaleague-of-legendslegendarylegendary-itemslolmobamultiplayermythicmythic-entertainmentnew-championnew-heronewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpvpRigwarlRigwarl-Bristlebackriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgrtsgururvrs2s2-gamessteamvalvevideowarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswohwrath-of-heroeszacMon, 01 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends turns the spotlight on Karma]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/league-of-legends-turns-the-spotlight-on-karma/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/league-of-legends-turns-the-spotlight-on-karma/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/league-of-legends-turns-the-spotlight-on-karma/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Some weird stuff going on with her spine in this art, unfortunately.
A game like League of Legends relies heavily upon the ability to rebalance characters. Sometimes you'll wind up with a particular champion without the necessary abilities to really work in any role, obviating any serious use of that character. But the development team can always rework the character, which is exactly what's been done to the latest spotlighted champion, Karma. With a reworked set of abilities centered around her ultimate skill, Karma's got a new lease on life, or at least being a multi-role support character.

Karma's new playstyle heavily revolves around use of her Mantra ability -- her passive ability reduces its cooldown, and all three of her other abilities are modified when Mantra is activated first. The focus of her abilities is on slowing enemies and protecting allies, but with careful use of Mantra and her skills she can hold her own in a straight contest. Take a look at the full spotlight video past the break for build strategies, tricks for the early game, and more useful information.

Continue reading League of Legends turns the spotlight on Karma

MassivelyLeague of Legends turns the spotlight on Karma originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicechampionscharactersdotae-sportesportf2pfantasyfree-to-playleagueleague-of-legendslolmobanewsnews-itemsredesignriotriot-gamessupportsupport-charactersvideovideosFri, 29 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft West confirms layoffs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/ncsoft-west-confirms-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/ncsoft-west-confirms-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/ncsoft-west-confirms-layoffs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

NCsoftNCsoft has gone through some "restructuring," leading to the termination of several employee and contract positions.

Aion Community Manager Felicia Johnson stated on Twitter that she no longer works for NCsoft. When asked for comment and confirmation, NCsoft PR responded with the following statement:

"In an effort to put a greater focus on the success of the Western-developed games from NCSOFT, and the long-term services MMOs require, the company announced further restructuring allowing for focused support from the studio's internal publishing services. As a result of the realignment, several employees and contract positions were affected. This was a very tough decision to make and wish the best for all NCSOFT employees in their next ventures."

Our best wishes, as ever, go out to those affected.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

MassivelyNCsoft West confirms layoffs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>felicia-johnsonindustrylayofflayoffsmmo-industrync-westncsoftncsoft-westnewsrestructuringThu, 28 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: PAX East 2013, D3 on PS3, and Firefall's TV channel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/not-so-massively-pax-east-2013-d3-on-ps3-and-firefalls-tv-ch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/not-so-massively-pax-east-2013-d3-on-ps3-and-firefalls-tv-ch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/not-so-massively-pax-east-2013-d3-on-ps3-and-firefalls-tv-ch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
A demo of Diablo III running on the PS3 was shown at PAX East 2013 this week, and developers confirmed that the game is not necessarily exclusive to Sony. Many PC players have been enraged by the demo, which showed improved loot and singleplayer features developers had previously said were not possible. Red 5 Studios was also at PAX this week to reveal its ambitious plans for a gaming TV channel. The studio plans to expand its gaming video channel Stage 5 with several new high-quality shows about indie games, cosplay, and gaming tropes. Path of Exile also released information on three completely overpowered new support gems currently in alpha testing for its upcoming Patch 0.10.5.

In MOBA news, League of Legends officially launched in Italy this week with a huge launch ceremony in Rome. Several professional players were unrelatedly banned for boosting other players' stats artificially, and one team was given its final warning for using a DDoS attack during a match. Heroes of Newerth received new melee strength hero Prisoner 945, and Guardians of Middle-Earth released a free map update along with a purchasable spider character DLC. Upcoming MOBA SMITE was given a loose launch window of summer 2013, and Russian MOBA Prime World took a big step toward European and US launches with the translation of much of its Russian website into English.

Continue reading Not So Massively: PAX East 2013, D3 on PS3, and Firefall's TV channel

MassivelyNot So Massively: PAX East 2013, D3 on PS3, and Firefall's TV channel originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's a good start, but I'm hoping we see Red Son Superman.
Ready to unleash your own Crisis on Infinite Earths? Warner Bros. Interactive, Turbine Entertainment, and DC Comics are teaming up to let you do just that with the upcoming Infinite Crisis, a MOBA set against the backdrop of the DC multiverse. If you ever wanted to know who would win in a matchup between normal Batman and steampunk Batman, you'll have the opportunity to find out here.

Infinite Crisis isn't in beta yet, but the launch trailer (embedded past the break) makes it clear that there are already several alternate versions of iconic heroes planned for inclusion. Players can also look forward to destructible environments, major events, and even an overall story arc. If you're worried about breaking your wallet, the game is already planning on launching as a free-to-play title, so everyone can jump in for all of the DC-related antics. You can sign up for beta testing now on the official site.

Continue reading Turbine Entertainment unveils Infinite Crisis, a DC Universe MOBA

MassivelyTurbine Entertainment unveils Infinite Crisis, a DC Universe MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementsdc-comicsf2pfree-to-playicinfinite-crisismobanew-titlesnewsnews-itemsturbine-entertainmentvideovideoswarner-bros-entertainmentMon, 25 Mar 2013 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2013: ArenaNet on Guild Wars 2's near and far future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/pax-east-2013-arenanet-on-guild-wars-2s-near-and-far-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/pax-east-2013-arenanet-on-guild-wars-2s-near-and-far-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/pax-east-2013-arenanet-on-guild-wars-2s-near-and-far-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

To those more accustomed to California, this is how the entire weekend felt.
This year's PAX East is the first one to take place in a post-launch world for Guild Wars 2. Last year, one of the big rewards for panelgoers was scoring a beta key; this year, anyone can grab a copy right now without a problem (just a fee). Consequently, the game hasn't had quite as much presence this year. But the team at ArenaNet decided to do something different this time around by sending out two of the designers to sit down and just answer questions from media representatives.

Before the palaver began in earnest, we were given a brief recap of the game's current state and the overall design focus. At the moment, we know that the game's developers are not looking to release a major expansion, focusing instead on more immediate content releases on a short schedule to make the game as good as it can be. While they don't like to use the term sandbox, they want the game to be a living world where people have a reason to be out in the world instead of stuck in small, instanced areas.

Continue reading PAX East 2013: ArenaNet on Guild Wars 2's near and far future

MassivelyPAX East 2013: ArenaNet on Guild Wars 2's near and far future originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbalancebuy-to-playconconventiondesign-balanceeventevent-coverageeventsexpofantasyfeaturedgame-balanceguild-wars-2gw2massively-event-coveragencsoftnewspatchespaxpax-2013pax-eastpax-east-2013penny-arcade-expopreviewsupcoming-contentupcoming-patchesSun, 24 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Champions Online challenges players to take on the Forum Malvanum]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/exclusive-champions-online-challenges-players-to-take-on-the-fo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/exclusive-champions-online-challenges-players-to-take-on-the-fo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/exclusive-champions-online-challenges-players-to-take-on-the-fo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wait, how will you get wheel spikes on this?
Champions Online players have just braved a full-scale invasion in the appropriately named Lemurian Invasion event. So now the superheroes of Millennium City get to take a long weekend and possibly head to the beach, right? Hardly. A new challenge approaches in the form of the upcoming Forum Malvanum event, throwing heroes into a pitched arena battle run by a mysterious alien race. But it's not quite what you might think.

The aliens behind these gladiatorial games have been running challenges across the galaxy for quite some time, and they've now invited Earth's champions to participate. Should the heroes emerge victorious, they'll reap the rewards of galaxy-spanning wealth and power. Not that you can expect the games of an intergalactic race obsessed with bloodsports to be particularly fair...

Leaving aside the perpetual nightmare that is a superhero's life, this even promises to offer several additions for players. Aside from the almost mandatory new lockbox, the event will contain new content including an arena showdown and a mission focused around a high-speed race. We also had a chance to sit down and ask producer Tom Edwards a few more questions about the upcoming event. Read on!

Gallery: Champions Online Main Gallery

Continue reading Exclusive: Champions Online challenges players to take on the Forum Malvanum

MassivelyExclusive: Champions Online challenges players to take on the Forum Malvanum originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenachampionschampions-onlinechampscocrypticcryptic-studioseventf2pfeaturedforum-malvanumfree-to-playin-game-eventinterviewinterviewslockboxesnewsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpreviewpweracerace-eventssuperherosuperheroesTom-EdwardsvehiclesFri, 22 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gpotato's Sevencore meets an early demise]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/gpotatos-sevencore-meets-an-early-demise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/gpotatos-sevencore-meets-an-early-demise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/gpotatos-sevencore-meets-an-early-demise/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Sevencore screenshot
Despite recently seeing the first of what players hoped would be a string of new content, gPotato's new title Sevencore announced today that it will be closing its doors. A forum post says that the game "has proved to be less attractive to players than anticipated and thus [it's] become unprofitable for the developer to be continued as a game." The developers hope to transition active players by undertaking the following:
  • Reimbursing all gPotatoes spent between the 1st of February and today as well as between 30% and 75% of purchases prior to this date,
  • Closing the in-game shop with immediate effect while considering making all shop items available for free,
  • Keeping the game open until the end of April,
  • Boosting experience gain and running events during the final period of the game, and
  • Encouraging players to migrate to other gPotato games with special enticement packages.
This bad news comes on the heels of the news that Webzen recently purchased gPotato and Gala-Net. Perhaps the purchase will breath new life into the developer after it showed a dip in quarterly sales when compared to the last year.

MassivelyGpotato's Sevencore meets an early demise originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allods-onlinebeau-hindmanclosingclosureclosuresgala-netgpotatonewssevencoreshutdownsunsetsunsetswebzenTue, 19 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: SimCity is not an MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/not-so-massively-simcity-is-not-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/not-so-massively-simcity-is-not-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/not-so-massively-simcity-is-not-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Doubts were cast on SimCity's always-online requirement this week when a player managed to hack the game into playing completely offline despite developers saying it wouldn't be possible. Maxis General Manager Lucy Bradshaw also caught a lot of flack from gamers this week for claiming that the game was in many ways an MMO. Petroglyph's Victory Kickstarter that we announced last week has now been cancelled, making the future of the game uncertain.

League of Legends revealed its plans to finally update two-year-old champion Karma and release new champion Zac, who is literally a pile of green goop. Guardians of Middle-Earth published iconic character Saruman as a new piece of DLC, and SMITE added new god Aphrodite, who heals and supports her teammates with hugs and kisses.

In addition to fixing some major bugs, Diablo III's recent patch 1.07a was shown to have nerfed many popular Wizard builds, including critical mass Energy Twister and Meteor builds. Path of Exile's latest patch added a new Cyclone skill that's reminiscent of the Diablo II Whirlwind skill and introduced three fun new game types for this season's upcoming race events.

Continue reading Not So Massively: SimCity is not an MMO

MassivelyNot So Massively: SimCity is not an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgalways-onlineAphroditebattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcitycity-buildingcompetitive-gamingconsolecritical-masscrowdfundingcycloned3dhalsimdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidisintegratedlcdotadrme-sporte-sportseaenergy-twisteresportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedflubberfree-to-playgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesguardians-of-middle-earthkarmakickstarterleague-of-legendslollord-of-the-ringslotrlucy-bradshawmaxismeteormiddle-earthmobamonolithmonolith-studiosmultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exilepetroglyphplaystation-networkpoeps3psnpvpriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgrtssarumansimcityvictoryvideowarner-broswhirlwindwizardwizard-buildxboxxbox-360xbox-livexbox360zacMon, 18 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Priston Tale 2 shutting down on March 25th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/priston-tale-2-shutting-down-on-march-25th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/priston-tale-2-shutting-down-on-march-25th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/priston-tale-2-shutting-down-on-march-25th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This poor gentleman will never find a shirt. Or build up those arm muscles.
It's never easy to say goodbye to a game you enjoy. Priston Tale 2 has enjoyed a decent lifespan for a small free-to-play title, but after three years of operation, the game is shutting down on March 25th. According to the official shutdown announcement, the game simply hasn't attracted enough of an audience, due in no small part to a lack of support from the game's original developer.

Players looking for a new home are being directed toward the upcoming title The Aurora World, which is currently in closed beta testing. All unspent cash shop currency from Priston Tale 2 will be transferred over to the new game, and players will be able to receive special benefits for having a high-level character if the same account is used for both games. It's not going to stymie the sense of loss, but hopefully it'll take some of the edge off.

[Thanks to Joshua for the tip!]

MassivelyPriston Tale 2 shutting down on March 25th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closureend-of-servicef2pfree-to-playgame-shutdowngamerkraftmmo-industrynewspriston-tale-2pt2server-shutdownshutdownFri, 15 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tracy Hickman tapped for writing duties on Shroud of the Avatar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/tracy-hickman-tapped-for-writing-duties-on-shroud-of-the-avatar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/tracy-hickman-tapped-for-writing-duties-on-shroud-of-the-avatar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/tracy-hickman-tapped-for-writing-duties-on-shroud-of-the-avatar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I'm not saying there are going to be dragons, but there will be dragons.
If you were a fan of fantasy games in the 1980s, you know Richard Garriott from the Ultima series. (Our younger readers are more familiar with him as someone who went to space.) Odds are good that you were also familiar with Tracy Hickman, co-author of the popular Dragonlance novels during the '80s. And if that sounds like two great tastes that taste great together, you'll be happy to know that Tracy Hickman has been announced as the lead story designer for Garriott's upcoming Shroud of the Avatar.

Hickman's writing credits aside from the Dragonlance series include the Death Gate Cycle, the ongoing Dragonships series, and the online serial novel Dragon's Bard. There's no word on whether his frequent co-authors will be joining in on the writing duties as well, but even Hickman alone should make some old-school fantasy fans very happy about the direction of the upcoming game.

MassivelyTracy Hickman tapped for writing duties on Shroud of the Avatar originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingdesign-teamdevelopmentkickstarterloremanagementnewsportalariumrichard-garriottshroud-of-the-avatarsotatracy-hickmanFri, 15 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Take over DUST 514's planets one piece at a time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/take-over-dust-514s-planets-one-piece-at-a-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/take-over-dust-514s-planets-one-piece-at-a-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/take-over-dust-514s-planets-one-piece-at-a-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If you're tired of EVE's figurative backstabbing, go planetside and get literal.
DUST 514 doesn't just interact with EVE Online by being set in the same universe. Taking control of territory and planetary surfaces has always been part of the design goals behind the shooter, reminiscent of the interstellar control offered by the older game, and the latest development blog examines how players will go about taking over a planet. It all starts by taking control of a district on a temperate planet, with each habitable world in the game universe harboring anywhere between five and 24 individual districts.

Controlling a district gives you access to military clones, the backbone of your economy and defense force. You can also use the clones to expand into new territory or sell excess stock. Of course, your facilities are vulnerable during clone production, offering rival corporations a chance to swoop in and take control... possibly with the aid of a tactical orbital strike courtesy of allies in starships. It's a multifaceted system that promises to give players plenty of reasons to conduct negotiations solely via sharp bits of metal.

MassivelyTake over DUST 514's planets one piece at a time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesconquestconsolecontrol-spheresdevelopmentdustdust-514eveeve-onlinefpsmmofpsnewspatchesplanetary-conquestplanetary-controlplaystationplaystation-3previewsps3regional-controlsandboxsci-fishooterupcoming-patchesThu, 14 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: SimCity's launch fiasco, Victory's kickstarter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/not-so-massively-simcitys-launch-fiasco-and-crowdfunding-vict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/not-so-massively-simcitys-launch-fiasco-and-crowdfunding-vict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/not-so-massively-simcitys-launch-fiasco-and-crowdfunding-vict/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Fresh from its work on End of Nations, developer Petroglyph launched a Kickstarter campaign this week for its own online RTS Victory. The campaign hit $19,574 in the first five days but has a long way to go to hit its $700,000 target. SimCity's always-online DRM backfired spectacularly as launch server capacity and stability issues left thousands unable to play what they thought of as a largely singleplayer game.

Diablo III revealed details of its upcoming loot overhaul that will make legendary items a little more legendary and rare items and good bit rarer. Path of Exile's patch 1.10.2 was deployed successfully, adding a few item mods and significantly improving the Duelist class area of the passive skill tree.

League of Legends celebrated its 100th Summoner Showcase with a look back at the community's best creative output and announced a brand-new comic contest that will see players voting for the winner. SMITE announced its $10,000 PAX East invitational tournament, and Guardians of Middle-Earth tempted players back with 75,000 free in-game gold in a new weekend event.

Continue reading Not So Massively: SimCity's launch fiasco, Victory's kickstarter

MassivelyNot So Massively: SimCity's launch fiasco, Victory's kickstarter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgalways-onlinebattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcitycity-buildingcompetitive-gamingconsolecrowdfundingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadueliste-sporte-sportseaelectronic-artsesportesportsf2pfailed-launchfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgames-as-a-servicegames-as-a-service-sucksgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gameshi-rez-studiosinfernoitemitemskickstarterlaunchlaunchesleague-of-legendslegendarieslegendarylegendary-itemslegendary-weaponslogin-queueslollootlord-of-the-ringslotrmaxismiddle-earthmobamonolithmonolith-studiosmultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exilepetroglyphplaystation-networkpoeps3psnpvpriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgrtsserver-downtimeserver-queuessimcityvictoryvideowarner-brosxboxxbox-360xbox-livexbox360Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Petroglyph puts Victory on Kickstarter, hopes for victory]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/06/petroglyph-puts-victory-on-kickstarter-hopes-for-victory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/06/petroglyph-puts-victory-on-kickstarter-hopes-for-victory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/06/petroglyph-puts-victory-on-kickstarter-hopes-for-victory/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

War never changes. Especially not this particular war.
The stack of games made about World War II is pretty thick at this point, but Petroglyph is hoping to add another game to that lineup with its newest Kickstarter project, Victory. Fresh off of its departure from the End of Nations project, the studio is trying something different with the game's formula. It's a strategy game in real-time, but it's not an RTS; rather, it's closer to playing World of Tanks with control over an entire squad.

As the project page outlines, players will be given control of a squad of units, which has to either defeat the enemy units or capture and hold key locations. Units that are killed are gone, with no base management or tech trees to worry about in the thick of gameplay. The game is not being designed as a free-to-play title, but it is meant for online competitive play. If this sounds intriguing enough to cut through the fatigue of endless World War II games, take a look at all the details on the Kickstarter page.

MassivelyPetroglyph puts Victory on Kickstarter, hopes for victory originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingcrowdsourcingkickstartermmortsmobanew-titlesnewspetroglyphpetroglyph-studiossquad-based-strategystrategyvictoryWed, 06 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III's console constroversy and Wrath of Heroes' shutdown]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-console-constroversy-and-wrath-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-console-constroversy-and-wrath-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-console-constroversy-and-wrath-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
It's been a huge week for MOBAs, with the release of several new characters, a ton of balance changes, and even a game closing down for good. League of Legends announced that it will start officially supporting Mac and released a new Smart Ping system designed to help players work together as a team despite language barriers. SMITE showed off its new crowd-controlling water god, Poseidon, and console MOBA Guardians of Middle-Earth released a new Survival game mode DLC.

We heard the unfortunate news that Wrath of Heroes will be closing its doors at the end of the month, and it's not the only game going out of business. Online FPS Bullet Run, formerly known as Hedone, is due to shut down on Friday, March 8th, in a big final event. It's not all doom and gloom, though, as Dota 2 has hit another impressive milestone, passing 300,000 peak concurrent players. The first season of Heroes of Newerth's HoN Tour league is soon to draw to a close, and developers are planning a huge balance patch before the next season kicks off.

Blizzard enraged Diablo III fans this week with the announcement that the console version will not feature the controversial always-online DRM and can be played offline. Path of Exile detailed its next open beta patch, which is due to introduce a new fire skill, a 3v3 dueling arena, and significant Duelist class buffs. Online FPS Firefall produced a new trailer this week showing off its flight gameplay amidst criticism from fans over its lack of beta content. Finally, sci-fi sandbox Star Citizen gave fans a look behind the curtain of game development in its biggest development update video yet.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III's console constroversy and Wrath of Heroes' shutdown

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III's console constroversy and Wrath of Heroes' shutdown originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I'm surprised that no one, including myself, has made more baseball-related puns about these events.
Let's assume for a moment that you're Curt Schilling, formerly of the Red Sox and formerly of the now-defunct 38 Studios. You're facing a massive lawsuit for fraud regarding a $75 million loan from the state of Rhode Island. What do you do? It appears that Mr. Schilling's first approach is to ask the judge on the case to throw out the case entirely, claiming that the basis of the case is itself fraudulent.

The crux of the lawsuit is the state's claim that Schilling and the 38 Studios board of directors willfully obfuscated the company's status from state lawmakers. Schilling has put forth that 38 Studios fully disclosed its status to the state investors on numerous occasion, providing them with an accurate picture of the company's financial situation. Due to this disclosure the allegations of fraud and obfuscation are simply not possible, hence the request for dismissal. Schilling goes on to claim that the entire suit is politically motivated and that the company's failure is chiefly due to Governor Lincoln Chafee not doing enough to save 38 Studios from bankruptcy.

MassivelyCurt Schilling asks judge to dismiss 38 Studios fraud lawsuit originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbankruptcycurt-schillingfraudkingdoms-of-amalurlawsuitlegallegal-storiesnewsproject-copernicusrhode-islandstate-of-rhode-islandMon, 04 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST