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Mark Jacobs: Camelot Unchained can succeed with just 50K subs

MJ Guthrie — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Crafting, Crowdfunding, Camelot Unchained

In a recent interview, Mark Jacobs stated that unlike some other big titles, Camelot Unchained will be financially successful with fewer paid subscribers. "We don't need one million subs to make money," he said. "If we get 50K paying subscribers a month it will justify the $5 million development budget." Of course, he admitted that they'd certainly be happy with more.

Jacobs also touched on other topics, including crafting and the absence of PvE. Players who want to both fight and craft extensively will need to rely on alts. as fighters will have limited crafting options. And don't think the world will be empty just because there will be no traditional PvE; Jacobs assured that there will be NPCs, noting "You can skin them, get materials off them, salvage their weapons, armor, etc. but you cannot level your RvR skills by doing that."

[Thanks to Mikkel for the tip!]

Mark Jacobs: Camelot Unchained can succeed with just 50K subs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars: The Old Republic looks at Makeb's movers and shakers

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Expansions, Lore, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic's expansion is sending players into a three-way warzone between the Empire, the Republic, and the Hutt Cartel. Winning that war will require getting the right friends and eliminating the right enemies. Whether you're an early order getting to jump in tomorrow or a player waiting until the official launch, you can benefit from a crash course on some persons of interest on Makeb, courtesy of Imperial Intelligence.

Considering the focus on the Hutt Cartel, it's unsurprising that two of the most prominent figures are Hutts -- Szajin and Toborro. Szajin bucks the usual Hutt trend of self-serving greed, modeling himself as a partisan for his people across the galaxy without concern for profit. Toborro, meanwhile, sits at the top of all operations on Makeb, setting himself as a personal lord for the Hutts to rally behind as the Cartel expands its influence. Check out the full intel rundown for more details on the Hutts as well as other persons of note.

Star Wars: The Old Republic looks at Makeb's movers and shakers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fox News discusses Star Wars: The Old Republic's gay expansion planet

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Culture, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Humor, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic fans already know that Makeb is the Planet of Gay, containing far more gay than even the fabled Gay Level on Coruscant. Or perhaps it's just the sight of the game's upcoming expansion, Rise of the Hutt Cartel, which will feature the first implementation of same-gender romances in the game. These romances will be limited to characters already on the planet rather than new or existing companions. This is not new information for most players. However, it's news to Fox News, whose take on the planet's status is... slightly different.

According to Fox News, Makeb will be the "gay planet" added in the expansion, likening the current limitation of this new content to segregation and noting that many players are opposed the inclusion of same-sex relationships in the game. There is no mention of the number of players requesting the feature, nor of the variety of (presumably) non-gay quests and content available on Makeb. In short, it's missing a number of nuances regarding the situation, something that might be good for a raised eyebrow or two from fans and detractors alike.

Fox News discusses Star Wars: The Old Republic's gay expansion planet originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log: (Over)analyzing the Final Fantasy XIV trailer

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log

Sadly, January 7th did not see the release of the new Final Fantasy XIV benchmark. It did, however, see the release of both the beta tester application and the full trailer for the new version, both of which are relevant to the interests of any Final Fantasy XIV fan. The trailer is likely of greater interest, seeing as how most current fans are likely already flagged as Legacy players and thus don't need to apply for testing, but the point is that both are out there.

Of course, the new opening movie is the only piece of information we've had about the game for a little while, but it seems worth analyzing and examining even on its own merits. No, I'm not talking about speculating as to whether or not the guy on the horse who looks exactly like Odin is in fact Odin or not (spoiler, doy). I want to talk about what this means for the lore, what the overall effect is, and whether or not this monster of a trailer succeeds at what it's meant to do.

Continue reading The Mog Log: (Over)analyzing the Final Fantasy XIV trailer

The Mog Log: (Over)analyzing the Final Fantasy XIV trailer originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log: The story so far (and yet to come) in Final Fantasy XIV

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log

I have several friends who don't play Final Fantasy XIV but still saw the trailer ending the first version. After all, it's been hard to miss. Almost every single person has said the same thing: "It was awesome. I have absolutely no idea what was going on with any of it, but it looked really cool."

This isn't just because Final Fantasy XIV isn't in their rotations. Final Fantasy games are usually dense pieces of work, filled with references back and forth that make sense only if you know all of the players involved and have a solid understanding of the game's magical whoosits. If you've missed some steps along the way to the ending trailer, it's easy to watch and not understand what actually went down, and even if you did, there were some parts that could be really easily missed.

So let's take a step back and look at the story so far. It's not the same as playing through the story for the past two years, but it should at least clarify what in the world happened.

Continue reading The Mog Log: The story so far (and yet to come) in Final Fantasy XIV

The Mog Log: The story so far (and yet to come) in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flameseeker Chronicles: My Guild Wars 2 wishlist

Elisabeth Cardy — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Bugs, Game Mechanics, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles

Having hit level 80 on one character, finished the personal storyline, delved into dungeons, been handed my backside in PvP, conquered keeps in WvW, and run around like a chipmunk on crack with multiple alts, I feel that I am totally in a position to pass absolute judgment on Guild Wars 2.

Well, I've at least had enough time to draw some firm opinions about the game. There are a lot of things I like, but there are also things I wish were different. This is by no means a conclusive list of those things. What are they? You'll never know unless you skip below the jump. Go on. You know you want to.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: My Guild Wars 2 wishlist

Flameseeker Chronicles: My Guild Wars 2 wishlist originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What characters do you love to hate?

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Kaliyo Djannis is one of my favorite companions in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Not because I like her as a person; she's really pretty unambiguously awful. But she's entertainingly awful, and working around the hindrances she provides makes the overall experience more entertaining.

Every MMO has its important NPCs, and some of them either are just plain annoying or fade into the woodwork. But then there are the enemies you love to hate, the allies who frustrate you in amusing ways. Some of the Guild Wars henchmen (Orion and Alesia in particular) were half-useless, but charmingly so. Every Final Fantasy XI player got nightmares about running from goblins, but they had a strange charm despite that.

So what about you? What's your favorite character whom you love to hate? An ally who's totally useless but makes life more interesting? An enemy who kills you in entertaining ways? Or just a story character who prompts a smile at his or her ineptitude?

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

The Daily Grind: What characters do you love to hate? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WildStar discusses the exotic and alien human race

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Lore, Previews, News Items, Races, WildStar

Humans are the standard basis for comparison in games that feature non-human races, almost as if said games were being made by humans for other humans. But there's still a distinct flavor to the human race depending on the setting. Case in point, the latest WildStar "interview" with one of the three lore characters from the cinematic trailer gives players a peek at a typical human, and he's a bit different than what you might have been expecting.

While the other major characters identify a specific world as "home," humans are portrayed as being a bit more free-forming, having roamed out in space for so long that they're really not bound to a location. The entry also discusses some of the lore behind being an Explorer and some of the perils associated with intentionally venturing into the unknown (it involves lots of things that try to eat you, if you need the short version). If you've been enjoying the flavor of the world Carbine Studios is slowly building, you'll probably enjoy this latest look as well.

WildStar discusses the exotic and alien human race originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes performs 'Death of a Statesman'

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Video, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Events (In-Game), Lore, News Items, Free-to-Play

He's been the face on the package, the man on the cover, the big guy above all other big guys. But today, he is no more. Statesman, the most iconic hero in the City of Heroes lore, is going to meet his end, and it's time for everyone to say goodbye. Episode 5 of the signature story arc is live today, and while the titular question "Who Will Die?" has been answered, it's time to see what happens when Statesman does meet his end.

There's more to do than just go play through the arc, however. A new issue of the Intrepid Informer is available in which Matt Miller discusses why the team decided that now is the right time to kill off the game's biggest hero. And if you need a little more help catching up with the story so far, the final vidoc on the arc is embedded just past the cut, giving players a recap of what the Freedom Phalanx is, what is represents, and what this death means for Paragon City.

Continue reading City of Heroes performs 'Death of a Statesman'

City of Heroes performs 'Death of a Statesman' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are there lore elements you feel don't get used enough?

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lore, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Most MMOs have a pretty expansive list of lore characters and groups. It's not surprising, really -- the games cover entire continents and worlds, so there have to be a lot of different stories going at any given time. But sometimes an interesting group of villains or interesting story promises don't quite get the attention they deserve. You enjoy what's there, but it feels like a really interesting group or plot thread got dropped in favor of something else.

Maybe you felt like the Scarlet Onslaught deserved more attention in World of Warcraft. Maybe you want more stories in Final Fantasy XIV centering around the individual nation conflicts. Perhaps you just wanted to see another series of missions in City of Heroes to wrap up some loose ends from Praetoria. Whatever the case, are there lore elements you feel don't get used as often as they deserve? Or do you think that most of the stories in your game of choice feel just the right length?

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

The Daily Grind: Are there lore elements you feel don't get used enough? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wasteland Diaries: PvE like a boss

Edward Marshall — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Fallen Earth, PvE, MMOFPS, Wasteland Diaries, Post-Apocalyptic

Fallen Earth PvE can be anywhere from laughably easy to downright frustrating. I guess that's a good thing since you get a gamut of difficulty levels, but much of the leveling span leans toward the easy end of the scale. I tend to get bored with PvE combat fairly quickly in MMOs (not just Fallen Earth). Other people love to struggle against the environment. Some even refuse to do anything remotely akin to PvP. I'll only throw the term "carebear" at those who think all PvPers are maladjusted psychopaths. I'm not talking about them; I'm talking about regular hardcore PvEers: players who would rather play against the NPCs than against other players.

Many of my posts center around PvP. If I didn't PvP (and since I'm not a big roleplayer), I doubt I would still be playing Fallen Earth. That's just what I spend most of my time doing in the wastelands. So I tend to write a lot about it. But all PvPers have to PvE. PvE has its own set of challenges for the player. Granted, these challenges are quite static, and once you find a way to overcome them, you are done. But they are challenges nonetheless, and knowledge is power as much in PvE as it is in PvP. In this post I will give you some tips and tricks that might help you get through that next tough mission. Much of this stuff is common sense, but it may not occur to you until it's too late. So click past the cut and let's get started.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: PvE like a boss

Wasteland Diaries: PvE like a boss originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required: Issue #3 -- Building a base with SWG's Storyteller system

Jef Reahard — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Culture, Game Mechanics, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Roleplaying, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox

So... yeah, MMO story. It's a giant buzzword nowadays. Funnily enough, MMO story isn't a new concept. Dedicated MMO storytelling tools are quite rare, though, and the means to build story-related set pieces are rarer still.

Enter Sony Online Entertainment and its seminal Star Wars Galaxies sandbox. There are many reasons to dig this particular game if you're a fan of player-generated content, but among the most important is the Storyteller system. Yeah, I know SWG is on borrowed time. There's still plenty of time to enjoy it though, and if you're a Star Wars fan, a sandbox fan, and especially a player-generated content fan, you're going to love it. Join me after the cut as I show you how to create your own makeshift starship base, complete with starfreighters, starfighters, Rebel pilots, and even a few Wookiee commandos thrown in for good measure.

Oh yeah, this is all in the live game-world too. No instancing here.

Gallery: SAR: Star Wars Galaxies - Storyteller

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Issue #3 -- Building a base with SWG's Storyteller system

Some Assembly Required: Issue #3 -- Building a base with SWG's Storyteller system originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Someone dies at the end, part one

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Events (In-Game), Lore, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Humor, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

So that doubled experience weekend sort of, um, didn't happen. In my defense, by the time we knew about it, it was Wednesday. That's when you read the column, but not when it's written. So I couldn't do much more other than shake my head and wonder what I was going to talk about when City of Heroes had inadvertently yanked my column topic away at the last moment as if it were a football.

Instead, we're going to look at the rumblings about the first Signature Story arc, which asks us who is going to die at the end. Now, to be fair, "nobody" is a valid answer. But it's heavily implied that one of the members of the Surviving Eight will bite the big one, and that means a big shakeup in the game's status quo. So let's run down the big eight and see which one seems most likely to die, at least in comic book terms. (And yes, it's comic book terms. War Witch is already dead, and that hasn't stopped her from being in-game as a trainer, remember?)

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Someone dies at the end, part one

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Someone dies at the end, part one originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising releases new combat trailer

Jef Reahard — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items

There's a new Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising video in town, and it's taking no prisoners. The new one-minute clip is centered on the game's combat mechanics, and there's plenty of whirling, slashing, stomping, and even a nifty hey-get-off-of-my-back move to whet your violent appetites.

Though the clip is short, there's a good sampling of PvE mobs on display, all of them with a distinctly mythological flavor and all of them waiting to meet the business end of your weapon. You'll also get a glimpse of the game's minions (the Gods & Heroes version of the traditional MMORPG pet mechanic) as well as some nice-looking environments. The game has been selling well since its June launch, and you can check out the new trailer after the cut.

Continue reading Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising releases new combat trailer

Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising releases new combat trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World showcases NPC backstories

Jef Reahard — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Lore, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, The Secret World

Funcom has just updated its website for The Secret World, and the info drop encompasses the backgrounds of some of the NPC characters we've been hearing about lately. Last week's interview with lead writer Dag Scheve clued us in to the fact that Funcom won't stand for any of its NPCs being lazy and falling into old mission-dispenser habits, and today's reveal gives us some more story-related insight.

We're introduced to the likes of a crazed journalist with a death wish, an assassin who didn't make the cut at Juilliard but did with the Illuminati, and a half-human half-demon member of the Dragon who serves a mysterious mistress, just to name a few.

While we don't know how the stories of all these individuals are interrelated, it goes without saying that we're looking forward to finding out. Head to The Secret World website to start your own journey of discovery.

The Secret World showcases NPC backstories originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: The Secret World's Dag Scheve talks MMO story

Jef Reahard — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, New Titles, The Secret World

MMO story has been getting a lot of press these days, and Funcom has thrown its hat into the ring with a couple of noteworthy developer blogs concerning narrative in The Secret World. The upcoming fantasy-horror MMORPG looks to combine its unique real-world setting and skill-based progression with a compelling narrative populated by memorable NPCs.

We recently chatted with lead writer Dag Scheve to follow up on his NPC-focused dev diary with a few burning questions. Scheve also talks about the narrative and design challenges inherent in massively multiplayer storytelling, and you'll find all that and more in our exclusive interview after the cut.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: The Secret World's Dag Scheve talks MMO story

Massively Exclusive: The Secret World's Dag Scheve talks MMO story originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trion profiles RIFT's Alsbeth the Discordant

Jef Reahard — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Lore, New Titles, News Items, RIFT

It's always a pleasure to learn more of the lore behind Trion Worlds' newly launched RIFT. The fantasy MMO is often lauded for mechanical polish, but its backstory is also well thought out (and generally presented via prose that's a cut above MMO PR norms). Today's reveal is no exception, and Trion has given us the skinny on a notable Telarian villainess known as Alsbeth the Discordant.

It seems the former Alsbeth Rothmann has been a bit naughty -- so naughty, in fact, that she's risen to the rank of Regulos' right hand (no word on whether it's red or not, Nick Cave fans). Trion describes Alsbeth as "traitorous, malevolent, calculating, and brilliant," and if that's not enough to wet your whistle, how about the fact that she single-handedly doomed the city of Port Scion and "continues to rain terror down upon Telara, spreading pestilence across Freemarch, defiling the Iron Tomb, and heralding invasions from the Death Plane."

Clearly she's the kind of girl you take home to meet the family, and we know you can't wait to read more about her after the cut. Don't forget the gallery below that features concept art and screen caps.

Gallery: RIFT: Core Gallery

Continue reading Trion profiles RIFT's Alsbeth the Discordant

Trion profiles RIFT's Alsbeth the Discordant originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Day in the Life - Kumas

Jef Reahard — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Lore, New Titles, News Items, TERA

Yesterday we got a glimpse of two new BAMs courtesy of En Masse Entertainment. Intrepid explorers ranging far and wide across the vast reaches of Arborea will no doubt run across a Naga or a Kumas in their travels, and today En Masse brings us a new Day in the Life lore snippet focused on the latter.

Penned by Stacey Jannsen, Day in the Life -- Kumas takes you inside the one-track mind of the titular creature as he attempts to make a meal out of a wayward Popori and finds himself face to face with another (equally hungry) BAM with a similar goal. Head past the cut for more, and don't forget the three new screenshots in our TERA gallery.

Gallery: TERA screenshots

Continue reading Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Day in the Life - Kumas

Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Day in the Life - Kumas originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: The secret lives of NPCs

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Humor, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

It is fun, I've decided, to overthink things in life. This is especially relevant in MMOs, where we've long since taken absolutely bizarre staples as the accepted status quo. Sure, it's all polite fiction that allows developers to merge necessary game mechanics with a veneer of credibility, but many elements of MMOs simply fall apart when put under the microscope.

Case in point, the NPC. Is there a figure in online games that more symbolizes the thin barrier between the server database and user playerbase than the non-player character? NPCs exist to fill the world with warm bodies so that places don't feel empty, yet they also exhibit no more life than a mannequin with a tape recorder strapped to its back. These cardboard cutouts of the MMO scene are either reanimated corpses struggling to remember basic quest-giving instructions, or else they're prisoners of a foul witch who has struck the entire land with a paralyzing spell.

So even though it's 2011 and you'd think that NPCs would be showing us more signs of life than swiveling slightly when we approach, I'm happy to jump in and offer my opinion as to the secret life of these figures. What makes them tick? What do they get out of helping -- and prodding -- us into action? Why don't they ever sleep or use the bathroom? Just who are these people we encounter and dismiss every day?

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The secret lives of NPCs

The Perfect Ten: The secret lives of NPCs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XI developers answer more player questions

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Game Mechanics, News Items, Consoles

Let's face it, sometimes Final Fantasy XI players can be all "???" about the game. And that's not apropos of nothing, since the most recent developer dispatch talks about the multi-function "???" used for both Notorious Monster spawns and event triggers. While players had asked to see a change to distinct symbols such as a "!!!" for events, the technical effort required to make the switch wouldn't be worth the relatively minor functional update. The same rule goes for the /names command, which players would like to see toggle for NPCs or PCs selectively.

The latest answers aren't all bad news, however, with one of the more interesting factoids being the roundabout announcement of official forums for the game. There's also news about updates to General Rughadjeen in response to his strange behavior following Protect V or Shell V, a problem originating from the fact that the spells didn't exist when Besieged was created. Final Fantasy XI players are encouraged to read the full list of answers.

Final Fantasy XI developers answer more player questions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What NPCs stick in your memory?

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Lore, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

I'm not fond of a lot of the storytelling on display in the Prophecies campaign of Guild Wars, but I have to admit that, against all logic, I was happy when Gwen showed up again. I joked about her, I complained about her uselessness and her irritating habits, but the fact that she turned up alive again always tickled me on some level. When I think about the game, I think of her, and her trials and tribulations stuck with me long after Prince Rurik had all but vanished into memory.

In an MMO with any sort of story, some NPCs are going to stand out to different people. Even beyond the signature characters of a game's box art, incidental figures wind up getting embedded in the consciousness of players. Maybe it's one of the recurring heroes in the City of Heroes tip missions, or perhaps it's one of the more amusing mission NPCs in Star Trek Online. Whatever the reason, what NPCs stick in your mind regardless of their importance or lack thereof?

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

The Daily Grind: What NPCs stick in your memory? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New video for DC Universe Online shows off Smallville

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, Previews, News Items, DC Universe Online

So you know DC Universe Online launched, but you might still be on the fence about picking it up. Or maybe you're already sold and just want an idea of what to look forward to in the game. Either way, the newest preview trailer from the development team gives a picture of one of the game's events -- the Smallville Alert, where players are tasked with fighting their way through the hometown of Superman amidst a spreading plague.

Lex Luthor has released an agent in Smallville that's mutating the citizens into miniature replicas of Doomsday, leaving heroic players to rescue the town while villainous players try to cover up the event entirely. Culminating with a battle against Doomsday himself, the trailer shows off the many wrinkles to the encounter as well as the game's action in full swing. DC Universe Online fans or potential fans should watch the video to get a sense of what's rotten in Smallville.

New video for DC Universe Online shows off Smallville originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TOR video talks crew skills and PvP

Jef Reahard — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, New Titles, News Items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Ready for another look at crew skills and PvP in BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic? If so, G4TV has you covered in the form of a five-minute video featuring Daniel Erickson and extensive in-game footage. Erickson explains the gathering, crafting, and mission components that make up crew skills (which is basically BioWare's catch-all term for traditional MMO crafting).

"Missions are something very different, and for missions to make sense, you have to understand the base concept of crew skills, which is that you are not the one doing this stuff. Your companion characters are the ones who are going hands-on and doing the crafting," Erickson says.

In terms of TOR's PvP implementation, Erickson illustrates BioWare's goal of making the mechanic appropriately contextual to the Star Wars universe (as opposed to the kill-everything-moving-just-because mentality common to many PvP systems). He describes everything from slicing terminals to seeing turrets move in real time, painting a picture of an immersive PvP experience that makes sense within the framework of the license.

Finally, Erickson talks a bit about the recently announced race/class combos, including the Sith pureblood. Check out the video after the cut, or at G4TV.

Continue reading TOR video talks crew skills and PvP

TOR video talks crew skills and PvP originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: Group PvE in EVE Online

Brendan Drain — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Professions, Endgame, PvE, EVE Evolved

EVE Online is often thought of as a strongly PvP-based game, with player conflict and competition at the heart of practically every activity the game offers. Competition for resources, power, and notoriety routinely drive players to disintegrate each other's ships, but this effect isn't limited to just PvP. Miners compete with each other for ore on a daily basis, for example, and traders fight for market supremacy. EVE's competitive sandbox element is such a headline feature that PvE often takes a back seat in discussions about the game.

EVE's combat-based PvE comes in the form of repeatable agent missions, hidden exploration sites, and deadly Sleeper encounters. While most of these can be completed solo by experienced pilots with a well-designed ship, they're often much faster and more fun when done in groups. The lack of a limit to how many pilots can be brought on PvE expeditions even makes it feasible to take newer players along to tough missions, something that doesn't happen in most MMOs.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at why EVE's PvE is so inherently soloable, which types of PvE encounters are well suited to group play, and what the future holds for EVE's possibly neglected group PvE content.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Group PvE in EVE Online

EVE Evolved: Group PvE in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DC Universe Online turns the spotlight on Lex Luthor

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Galleries, New Titles, Previews, News Items, Consoles, DC Universe Online

Through all of Superman's adventures, there's one adversary that epitomizes everything he's not: Lex Luthor. A brilliant man with no special powers, Luthor has nothing but contempt for others, seeking control and power even at the same time that he seeks the destruction of Superman. It's a known fact that Luthor will be featured in DC Universe Online, after appearing in the cinematic trailer as both antagonist and ally -- but now we get to see the man himself in his now-familiar power armor.

Marv Wolfman, writer for DC Universe Online, has plenty of history with writing Luthor, as he was behind the character's shift from being a mad scientist to the cold and calculating businessman he is today. And any veteran of DC comic continuity knows that Luthor might not ever come out on top... but he always makes for a worthy adversary. Take a gander at the gallery for a good look at an iconic character in the game -- a sometimes-ally, a dangerous adversary, and one of the motivating factors behind the game's overarching plot.

Gallery: DC Universe Online Lex Luthor preview

DC Universe Online turns the spotlight on Lex Luthor originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes offers a new developer diary on the alignment system

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Game Mechanics, News Items

City of Heroes players have been enjoying the newest expansion for just a little over a month now, bringing with it the long-awaited abilities for players to change their alignment. It seems like a natural extension of the game's comic book roots, after all -- you can hardly throw a rock in certain books without finding some major character who's a former villain. But with all that we've heard about the expansion's development, the subject of the alignment system has been fairly quiet, up until the most recent development diary by Shawn "Pit" Pitman.

The diary goes into detail on the genesis of the alignment system from a concept into execution, as well as some of the larger changes put into place to facilitate the shift. For instance, one of the major shifts was that the alignment and tips missions would feature their own little gallery of recurring characters, rather than a steady set of existing major story NPCs such as Statesman. City of Heroes players curious about how the game bridged the gap between good and evil are encouraged to take a look at the full diary.

City of Heroes offers a new developer diary on the alignment system originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More information on Final Fantasy XIV's retainers

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game Mechanics, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

With the announcement of Final Fantasy XIV's release date and some details on the pricing structure, one of the concepts we've been introduced to is that of the retainers. Any veteran of Final Fantasy XI is all too familiar with the "mule" characters that would dot cities; they were all but required for serious players, used for additional storage, and parked as a never-closing bazaar whilst the player wasn't active. Rather than forcing players to pay for a second character, Square-Enix is apparently letting the practice be fully realized by the game in the form of your retainer.

A new translated article helps explain a little more about what a retainer's role will be. Adventurers will be allowed to choose one retainer for free, with the selection process running similar to Final Fantasy XI's adventuring fellow. Your retainer can be called at various points through use of a special item, and allows you to set up a storefront that will run while you're offline. A retainer will also provide extra storage, serving as combination mobile bank and assistant. Take a look at the full article for more details, as well as more shots of the beta client for Final Fantasy XIV in action.

More information on Final Fantasy XIV's retainers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: The infinite sadness of Aunt May

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lore, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard

For the five people who don't know the reference, Aunt May is the mother figure in Spider-Man's life. She provides him with several important functions, such as being frail, threatening death, and getting kidnapped whenever his motivation for fighting crime starts to flag. She also dated Doctor Octopus, but that was just strange. The point is that she represents one of the most important part of any character's storyline -- the people you associate with other than heavily armed mercenaries (or the local equivalent) who just provide mundane functions in your life.

This doesn't just cover your ailing kidnap-bait aunt. It covers your childhood friend who decided to go into real estate instead of demon-slaying, your mother and father who still want to make sure you're wearing a coat when you abscond to the frozen wastes to slay a dragon, and the one-eyed bandit whom you've sworn to kill at the first opportunity. They're all massively important to your character's identity, but they suffer a very big problem in an MMO roleplaying environment. Even by the rather liquid standards of MMOs, these characters aren't real.

Continue reading Storyboard: The infinite sadness of Aunt May

Storyboard: The infinite sadness of Aunt May originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: Ratting, part 2: Flying safe!

Brendan Drain — Sun, 30 May 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Economy, Game Mechanics, Professions, PvE, EVE Evolved, Guides

Last week I discussed the basics of the "ratting" profession in EVE Online, from picking a good system to three popular ratting strategies. If you're planning to hunt NPCs in nullsec, of course, you'll need to get there first. Pilots who aren't in an alliance with secure access to nullsec will have to run the gauntlet from empire space to their chosen ratting system. The entry points into EVE's nullsec regions are often camped during peak hours and you can expect to run into roaming gangs. Things get a little easier once you're at your destination, but you can still expect to see the occasional pilot or gang passing through the system. Your ability to get into nullsec safely and your efficiency at ratting will be determined largely by the ship you're using and how it's set up. For someone who's never been to nullsec before, setting up a ship for the task and heading into the void can be a daunting task.

In this article, I look at selecting the appropriate ship for ratting, some popular ship setups and important safety tips that will help keep your ship safe in hostile territory.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Ratting, part 2: Flying safe!

EVE Evolved: Ratting, part 2: Flying safe! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: Ratting, part 1: Strategies

Brendan Drain — Sun, 23 May 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Economy, Game Mechanics, Professions, PvE, EVE Evolved, Guides

There are plenty of ways to make ISK in EVE Online, from exploration and mission-running to trading or any number of alternative professions. One of the oldest and most popular ways to make a reliable income in EVE is hunting the pirate NPCs that spawn in asteroid belts, an activity known as "ratting". Ratting is probably the best way to repair the low security status you'll be left with if you engage in piracy or suicide ganks. For those who live in nullsec, it's often the primary way to farm ISK for replacement ships to support PvP activities. Some players who don't have access to nullsec through their corporation or alliance even sneak characters in for the sole purpose of ratting. If done properly, it can make more ISK than level 4 missions and there's always that chance of finding rare faction and officer NPCs with valuable loot.

In the first of this two-part guide, I look at where to find the best NPCs, how to find a good system for ratting and the three most popular ratting strategies.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Ratting, part 1: Strategies

EVE Evolved: Ratting, part 1: Strategies originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Face of Mankind continues updating new content

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 10 May 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play

Face of Mankind recently got a nice-sized update in the form of NPCs to hand out quests and a brand new city. Duplex Systems is continuing to fine-tune these updates by adding to them, and players will find even more new content in the next few weeks.

For those of you who found the new NPC system a bit confusing, there is now a tutorial in-game to help you get your bearings. Face of Mankind's unusual setup meant that more than a few players gave up on figuring things out, and Duplex acknowledges that, hoping that the tutorial will induce players to give them a second chance. The tutorials will be worth your while in either case, as they will offer significant monetary rewards.

You'll find some changes to combat in Face of Mankind as well, including the addition of a recoil system for a little extra realism -- you'll need a little extra skill to hit your target as you compensate for the recoil now -- as well as faster overall combat speeds.

Finally, the city of Berlin has been re-introduced as a completely lawless city: killing other players will no longer earn penalty points, so watch your back. Take a look at the Face of Mankind site to learn more about these latest updates.

Face of Mankind continues updating new content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 May 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Face of Mankind adds new NPCs and city

Rubi Bayer — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Face of Mankind, MMOFPS

Face of Mankind, the young MMOFPS from Duplex Systems, has gotten a pretty significant update just a few months after going retail.

A problem that comes with a game containing player-generated content is...well, a lack of content at times. The addition of NPCs with this update will go a long way toward solving that problem in Face of Mankind, as they will bring the introduction of "chained missions, which have a definite starting and ending point, and open up further successive missions upon the completion of prior ones."

NPCs aren't the only addition, however. The city of Berlin has arrived to Face of Mankind as well, but it's not quite the Berlin you remember. Described as a "dilapidated wasteland", the city is an area devoid of any sort of law. If you've not checked out the story behind the fall of Berlin on the FoM site, spend some time catching up before venturing in game -- it's well worth it. The new content is in game now, so if you haven't checked it out for yourself, what are you waiting for?

Face of Mankind adds new NPCs and city originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer Online brings 1.3.5 to be tested

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Patches, PvP, Warhammer Online, News Items

With all of the billing nightmares apparently resolved, complete with the peacemaking gifts, Warhammer Online is ready to move back to its core focus. The development team has been talking about the improvements set to come with patch 1.3.5, continuing the game's process of strengthening the Realm vs. Realm gameplay by adding fully PvP-focused city sieges. On top of the improvements to Scenarios and the addition of PvP-bought weaponry, the game is playing to its greatest assets. How successful it's been will soon be in the hands of the players, as 1.3.5 is going to the public test server.

The obvious large-scale changes can take some of the flash away from smaller changes, such as allowing Marauders the option to properly dual-wield and improved AFK flagging in scenarios. Numerous bugfixes, changes to NPC locations, and revisions to the Open RvR currency are also present in the patch. And that's not even talking about inventory space... all in all, it promises much for players to be happy about, and little to be disappointed with. Warhammer Online's players can take a hop to the test server Warpstone to take a look at all the changes, and those who'd prefer to abstain can take heart that the changes will likely be going live soon.

Warhammer Online brings 1.3.5 to be tested originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE mission runners and their tormentors rejoice! New Level 4 agents added

James Egan — Sun, 31 May 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Game Mechanics, PvE

Mission running in EVE Online is one of the more lucrative activities players can spend their time doing, at least while in the safety of high security space. The cumulative rewards from NPC bounties, loyalty points, salvage, and loot -- in addition to the mission rewards from NPC agents -- make Level 4 missions a decent ISK/hour income for many of EVE Online's pilots. Level 4 missions are the most popular, due to their relative ease and multiple battleship (high bounty) NPC spawns which yield better loot drops and more salvage components, as well as optimal loyalty point gain. However, the grouping of agents that give the best missions leads to 'mission hubs' where hundreds of players operate in the same solar systems.

The latest dev blog by EVE's lead content creator CCP Molock is simply titled "New Level 4 Agents", and deals with dispersing the crowds (and clutter) from some of the high sec mission hubs in New Eden. CCP Games has added twenty-three new level 4 agents to the game in locations a bit removed from the heavily populated mission hubs, hopefully encourage more mission runners to fill quieter solar systems in the galaxy. Molock lists the new agents, along with their corporation and quality, as well as system security ratings for each location.

Continue reading EVE mission runners and their tormentors rejoice! New Level 4 agents added

EVE mission runners and their tormentors rejoice! New Level 4 agents added originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE lore blends sci-fi with horror in Blood Raiders pirate faction Chronicle

James Egan — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Lore

The sci-fi game EVE Online is well known for being a title where player-driven activities like corporate espionage, piracy, and sweeping galactic warfare are daily occurrences. The game has a rich backstory behind it though; EVE's setting of New Eden continually gains more depth and new dimensions through bi-weekly Chronicles written by EVE developer CCP Abraxas. Since EVE's players are ship-bound in actual gameplay (until Walking in Stations is released), the game's lore adds something that a number of pilots have gotten into, with player corporations and alliances siding with a given faction discussed in the backstory. A fair amount of the Chronicles focus on New Eden's four (playable) races and regimes -- and the Empyrean Age expansion brought factional warfare into the game -- but there are also a few notable criminal organizations presented in EVE's lore.

Perhaps the most disturbing among them is The Blood Raider Covenant, a pirate NPC faction in the game that many EVE players know as their enemy through mission running, exploration content, or simply 'ratting' in asteroid belts. EVElopedia describes them as "a particularly gruesome sect of the generally reviled Sani Sabik cult. While all modern Sani Sabik rituals use blood in some manner or another, the Covenant places particular value on the blood of cloned humans, and is utterly ruthless in obtaining it, regularly boarding other spacecraft and abducting all aboard. From their base in Delve they launch lightning raiding parties and surprisingly well coordinated incursions deep into Empire space in pursuit of their goals." Their place in the game's lore provides fertile ground for mixing horror with sci-fi. Some EVE players have even established corporations and alliances aligned with the Blood Raider Covenant and the latest addition to EVE's lore focuses on this bloodthirsty faction.

Continue reading EVE lore blends sci-fi with horror in Blood Raiders pirate faction Chronicle

EVE lore blends sci-fi with horror in Blood Raiders pirate faction Chronicle originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pirates of the Burning Sea takes bold step to curb mission farming

James Egan — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Pirates of the Burning Sea, Forums, Game Mechanics, Quests, PvE

The latest devlog for Pirates of the Burning Sea is written by Lum and focuses on improving the game's mission system, particularly fixing the problem of mission farming. Lum writes, "When we create big mission arcs, we design them to be a fun, engaging, and most importantly, a linear experience. We want players to get a sense of story and to do something interesting. We also want to reward players who accomplish the goals for those missions."

He says that mission farming and the in-game monetary rewards aren't necessarily the problem, although it's not what the devs had in mind for players. Lum says that since people stop to repeat the most lucrative parts of a given mission arc, they're not experiencing the game as it was intended for the players. Even worse, some players make faction choices on the basis of how lucrative a certain mission with that faction is. Flying Lab Software wants to change missions in Pirates of the Burning Sea so that players are continually progressing through stories rather than motivated to remain in place to reap the gold harvest.

Gallery: Pirates of the Burning Sea core gallery

Continue reading Pirates of the Burning Sea takes bold step to curb mission farming

Pirates of the Burning Sea takes bold step to curb mission farming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest EVE Online Chronicle a moral tale of sabotage and retribution

James Egan — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Lore, PvE

EVE Online differs from other massively multiplayer online games out there in that it's as much a setting as it is a game; its galactic setting of New Eden isn't divided across shards. This helps the game's lore creators conjure up a sense that the stories of New Eden echo throughout and define a single expansive galaxy, at least for those who choose to get into the game's backstory.

EVE's lore has been building up for years as short Chronicles and even in novel form, creating a substantial yet growing body of work that fleshes out the gritty setting. We don't cover all of the Chronicle releases at Massively but we do tend to highlight those that have a direct bearing on the game's lore, rather than those that add flavor. Still, now and again a story comes along that really stands out. That was the case with this week's Chronicle titled "All These Lives are Fit to Ruin" by CCP Abraxas, the description of which was one simple word: "Sabotage". This caught our interest and, in this writer's opinion after having read the Chronicle twice, "All These Lives are Fit to Ruin" may be one of the best stories Abraxas has written thus far.

Continue reading Latest EVE Online Chronicle a moral tale of sabotage and retribution

Latest EVE Online Chronicle a moral tale of sabotage and retribution originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online's first Epic Mission Arc to arrive with Apocrypha expansion

James Egan — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Quests, PvE

It's no secret to EVE Online players that running missions in high security space is pretty much a guaranteed path to wealth, even if only because of how predictable the scenarios are. Speak with an agent and accept a mission, look up the details by pointing your in-game browser to EVE-Survival: Mission Reports, gear up properly and watch the ISK fill your wallet as you down NPC pirate after pirate. Profitable, sure, but doing this for weeks on end will probably have you craving some more variety in your PvE gameplay.

Hopefully EVE players will be getting that variety through more engaging storylines beginning next month, as developer CCP Molock explains in his latest dev blog. The Apocrypha expansion will introduce "Epic Missions", a departure from the standard rinse-and-repeat when accepting agent missions. These new missions will be linked together in an ongoing storyline, played out across a number of missions. Players will make choices that determine the outcomes of Epic Missions via the new branching system that will accompany these missions. The rewards will be on par with standard agent missions, but the completion of a chapter and especially an arc will provide some exceptional rewards, CCP Molock says.

Continue reading EVE Online's first Epic Mission Arc to arrive with Apocrypha expansion

EVE Online's first Epic Mission Arc to arrive with Apocrypha expansion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online developer explains new AI for the Sleeper race

James Egan — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Game Mechanics, PvP, PvE, Races

One of the major new features to EVE Online's forthcoming Apocrypha expansion is the introduction of an ancient race of NPCs called the Sleepers. They're a breed apart from any NPCs ever seen in EVE, largely because of their AI. They react intelligently to threats, focusing fire on primary targets but diverting their attacks to counter whatever else they're faced with. They can 'spider tank' or protect and even repair one another as combat ensues. Added to their tactics is evasive maneuvering, making the Sleepers even deadlier.

We recently showed you video footage of the Sleepers in action and while taking them on will, in some cases, be a daunting experience, this is not to say that they can't be defeated. EVE developer CCP Incognito wrote on the forums, "If you try to use the same-old, same-old tactics against Sleepers then you will have problems. Think out of the box and you will win." CCP Incognito's comments were in the context of his dev blog on the new AI, which discusses the challenges that the Sleepers will pose for players seeking fragments of their advanced technology. More than anything, the AI revamp is designed to make PvE more like PvP. Anyone planning to venture through EVE's wormholes should abandon their mission-centric ship setups and be prepared for PvP; that's what fighting the Sleeper NPCs will be like -- fighting other players.

Continue reading EVE Online developer explains new AI for the Sleeper race

EVE Online developer explains new AI for the Sleeper race originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video shows EVE Online's Sleeper NPC race in action

James Egan — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, EVE Online, Expansions, Previews, PvP, PvE, Races

The ancient NPC race in EVE Online known as the Sleepers will soon come into conflict with EVE's capsuleers in the Apocrypha expansion, only a few weeks from now. Explorers willing to discover wormholes and take the risk of engaging the Sleepers within will be able to obtain some of their technology, provided they manage to survive the encounter. This could bring wealth by selling the tech outright, or reverse engineering it to create EVE's strategic "Tech III" cruisers -- modular ship designs based in part off of Sleeper technology.

CCP Games has said that the Sleepers will be unlike any NPC type that pilots in the game have ever faced, and that was no exaggeration. Their AI makes fighting these particular NPCs more like fighting other players. That is to say, they react to immediate threats and change their tactics to counter what's thrown at them, to some degree. The video embedded below (captured on the Singularity test server) shows what the Sleepers are capable of against a mixed fleet of players -- with capital ships no less -- that had great difficulty withstanding the ancients.

Check out the raw power of the Sleepers in fullscreen HD, with their sizzling blue beams and warheads absolutely melting battleships and any other threat that demands their attention:

Continue reading Video shows EVE Online's Sleeper NPC race in action

Video shows EVE Online's Sleeper NPC race in action originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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