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[State of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/state-of-decay-demonstrates-the-virtues-of-stealth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/state-of-decay-demonstrates-the-virtues-of-stealth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/state-of-decay-demonstrates-the-virtues-of-stealth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

State of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth
Pop quiz, apocalypse survivors: You desperately need to get into a nearby gun store to complete a mission, but it's surrounded by a small horde of zombies. Running through them and shooting your way in are both undesirable options, so what do you do? What do you do?

In a short alpha video from Undead Labs, a State of Decay player instead uses tricks and stealth to achieve his goal. He tosses some fireworks from a nearby water tower, prompting the zombies to investigate and leave the scene. Following that, it's a quick dash in and out to trigger a job well done.

You can watch this nail-biting footage after the jump, and don't forget to check out Massively's report on the game from PAX.

Continue reading State of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth

MassivelyState of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoalphabetaclass-3class3class4consolepaxpax-2012sandboxstate-of-decaystealthundead-labsvideoxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesThu, 01 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with Origins of Malu]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/14/pax-prime-2012-hands-on-with-origins-of-malu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/14/pax-prime-2012-hands-on-with-origins-of-malu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/14/pax-prime-2012-hands-on-with-origins-of-malu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Origins of Malu
PAX Prime is gone and passed, but our coverage isn't done quite yet. As it happens, we've saved one of the best for last. Burning Dog Media's upcoming MMO, Origins of Malu, has been making a few waves in the sandbox-craving community. Boasting features such as brick-by-brick player-house construction and exploration-focused gameplay, Origins of Malu is a game that I've had my eye on for some time.

So of course I was rather excited to be able to go hands-on with the game at PAX, where Burning Dog had set up a small alpha-build PvP battleground in which players could battle head-to-head in a slightly twisted version of the traditional capture-the-flag gametype. Now, I don't know about y'all, but PvP isn't exactly on the top of my list of Origins of Malu features I'm looking forward to, but there were definitely some surprises to be had in the demo, plus I got to have a bit of a chat with Burning Dog's president of media, Michael Dunham. What did I think? Find out for yourself after the cut.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with Origins of Malu

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with Origins of Malu originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively title image
The League of Legends North American regional tournament concluded this week with Team Solo Mid, Team Dignitas, and Counter Logic Gaming securing spots in October's World Championship games. Riot Games also revealed its new livestream portal this week; it supports popular livestreamers with news coverage and even prizes to give away to viewers. Wrath of Heroes released its new ranged Dwarven Engineer hero Durrig, and we heard that upcoming Korean free-for-all MOBA Core Masters Online may be getting an English-language release.

As game developers around the world recover from PAX 2012, videos are starting to surface showing highlights from the event. Firefall developer Red 5 Studios laid the whole PAX experience bare in a three-part video series covering the tense week of preparation for the event and its final execution. Torchlight II developer Runic Games posted its own PAX wrap-up video and its official release trailer this week, pre-empting the game's launch in just under two weeks time.

Upcoming free-to-play action RPG Path of Exile released its 10th video in the popular Build of the Week series. Diablo III celebrates its first player to reach paragon level 100, and developers published a new journal entry on upcoming changes to the game's crowd control mechanics.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III world-first level 100 and PAX wrap-up videos

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III world-first level 100 and PAX wrap-up videos originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX Prime 2012 Marvel Heroes video interview touches on costumes, public combat zones
In a video interview at PAX Prime, Associate Producer Matt Group discussed different aspects of the upcoming superhero MMORPG Marvel Heroes. Some of the topics he touched on include rotating between characters, public combat zones, multiple costumes, the free-to-play philosophy, and the fact that much of the world is open (although boss fights are mostly instanced). Group also mentioned that Gazillion Entertainment has access to every Marvel character and location possible.

Folks who prefer console gaming but love the idea of slipping into the skin of their favorite super heroes can take heart; Group stated, "Once we have a solid grip on [the PC game] we want to move on to whatever other platforms there are out there."

When is the game launching? Group says, "Sooner than you think." Closed beta, however, is beginning on October 1st. Check out the full interview after the cut.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Marvel Heroes video interview touches on costumes, public combat zones

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Marvel Heroes video interview touches on costumes, public combat zones originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconventioncostumesexpof2pfree-to-playgazilliongazillion-entertainmentinterviewmarvelmarvel-heroesmarvel-universemarvel-universe-onlineMatt-Groupmuopaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012penny-arcade-exposecret-identitysuperherosuperheroesvideoMon, 10 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX Prime 2012: Undead Labs' State of Decay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/pax-prime-2012-undead-labs-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/pax-prime-2012-undead-labs-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/pax-prime-2012-undead-labs-state-of-decay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- State of Decay
Everyone loves zombies, right? Apparently so because they're absolutely everywhere (like Miami, for instance), but we keep on lapping it up. Secretly, though, I think a lot of us are tired of the same old zombie games. After all, if you're one of the truly hardcore that has a zombie apocalypse plan that includes where you'll hole up, how you'll find weapons, what you'll eat, and so forth, it's a little disappointing that most games tend to focus solely on the zombie-shooting part of the zombie apocalypse (not that there's anything wrong with zombie-shooting).

Undead Labs' upcoming MMO State of Decay might change all that.

The game will take place in a persistent world where players are responsible for rounding up survivors, finding the necessary resources to build defenses and stay alive, and of course, fighting off the zombie hordes. Finally, those of you who have long debated the merits of going to the gun store vs. not going to the gun store in the event of an apocalypse can see whose plan works better. And what's more, at PAX Prime 2012, I got to sit down and play around with it myself, though not for nearly as long as I would have liked. Regardless, if State of Decay is on your radar -- and it should be -- then I'd be glad to tell you all about my 20-odd minutes with the title.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Undead Labs' State of Decay

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Undead Labs' State of Decay originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- Novus Aeterno
The MMORTS genre is a relatively unexplored one, generally relegated to free-to-play titles that tend to be mediocre at best and warcrimes at worst. It's beginning to pick up some steam these days, though, with titles like Trion Worlds' upcoming End of Nations. But I'm not here to talk about Trion or other big AAA studios; I'm here to talk about one guy who got bored and decided he'd make the game he wanted to play.

That's Nick Nieuwoudt, the mastermind behind in-development MMORTS Novus Aeterno. As a hardcore StarCraft II player, he realized that he enjoyed the RTS playstyle but was left wanting something more. So as any sensible person would do, he gathered together a team and got to work creating the game he wanted to play. Many months of work later, TAITALE Studios has put together the foundation of Novus Aeterno. And as luck would have it, I had the opportunity to take a look at the game at PAX Prime 2012, so if you'd like to take a look behind the curtain at a potentially promising new MMORTS, follow on with me and I'll give you all the details.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Our first look at MMORTS Novus Aeterno

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Our first look at MMORTS Novus Aeterno originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX Prime 2012 - Hammerpoint shows off The War Z gameplay
The War Z has generated a significant amount of fan interest since its initial hello-world announcement in July. The zombie-centric sandbox MMO boasts a large feature set and plenty of ambitious design goals. It's also generated some skepticism as to whether or not the development team can actually pull it all off.

Last weekend's PAX Prime event brought the first opportunity to see for ourselves, as the team from Hammerpoint showed off alpha-state gameplay and allowed GameTrailers to film it. The resulting clip is yours for the viewing after the cut.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Hammerpoint shows off The War Z gameplay

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Hammerpoint shows off The War Z gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively title image
MOBA Rise of Immortals revealed details of its massive Battle For Graxia relaunch this week and made all immortals free to play until the patch arrives. The finals of Dota 2's world championship tournament The International took place this weekend, with last year's winner Na'Vi facing off against Chinese team Invictus Gaming in the final to fight over the $1,000,000 US grand prize. League of Legends' incredible $5,000,000 US competitive season is now just over a month from completion, with regional championships leading up to a spectacular $2,000,000 grand final in October.

Torchlight II fans were treated to hands-on gameplay demos and a final release date this week at PAX 2012 while Firefall used the event to announce its pre-purchase founder packs. Upcoming action RPG Path of Exile released details of patch 0.9.12 and showed off a hilarious unarmed fighter build nicknamed "Mike Tyson." Diablo III developers weighed in on a puzzling stat discrepancy this week, and Blacklight: Retribution launched a new video podcast series digging into all the game's new updates, maps, and items. Finally, upcoming console MOBA Guardians of Middle-earth revealed four new characters this week: Sauron, Hildifons, Arathon, and Runsig.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Million-dollar tournaments, PAX 2012, and the Battle for Graxia

MassivelyNot So Massively: Million-dollar tournaments, PAX 2012, and the Battle for Graxia originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RaIDerZ
Did you realize that PAX was going on this weekend? I bet you did. I bet something gave it away, like the puddle flood of posts titled with PAX Prime 2012 all over our feed. If you didn't notice, here's thew news: PAX Prime went down this weekend. You're a little late, though; it's pretty much all over. But you can read about stuff we did. Go ahead. I'll wait. This post ain't going anywhere.

So now that you're up to speed, let's talk about about Neverwinter and RaiderZ, both of which Perfect World Entertainment was showing off this weekend.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Neverwinter and Raiderz flaunt their stuff

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Neverwinter and Raiderz flaunt their stuff originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX Prime 2012 Riot and the North American regionals
It's a good time to be a League of Legends fan. With the European regionals at Gamescom and North American regionals here at PAX Prime, there's plenty of excitement. The Riot team is gearing up for big changes in Season Three while continuing to support its incredibly large community. We sat down with the busy and gracious Associate Producer Paul Bellezza to talk about what Riot is looking forward to in the near future.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Riot and the North American regionals

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Riot and the North American regionals originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX Prime 2012 Handson with PlanetSide 2
Sony Online Entertainment's PlanetSide 2 is still in the process of development and beta testing, but the team brought the game to PAX for its North American tradeshow debut. If you really want to know what it's like, you can always sign up for the beta yourself. Otherwise, you can skip below this cut to hear about our hands-on time with the game on the show floor.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with PlanetSide 2

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with PlanetSide 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX Prime 2012 RIFT's Storm Legion approaches
The Storm Legion is coming. Even now, those touched by Crucia are preparing to unleash her will. But RIFT's Storm Legion expansion is bringing more than just dragon minion foes. A new soul for each calling, player housing instances, new continents, new dungeons, and new raids are all part of the bundle. We caught up with the Trion team at PAX to catch a glimpse of what the oncoming storm will bring.

Gallery: RIFT: Storm Legion

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: RIFT's Storm Legion approaches

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: RIFT's Storm Legion approaches originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Torchlight II
Torchlight II is marching toward its September 20th launch date. Actually, it's probably skipping joyously with a little ferret or adorable puppy trailing along behind it. Is your clicking-finger ready? We took some time at PAX to dabble our toes in the game and splash around a bit. Now we have damp toes and a hands-on experience with Torchlight II.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Up close and personal with Torchlight II

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Up close and personal with Torchlight II originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Someone's compensating.
I'm sure I'm not the only one around here who has fond memories of sitting in front of a Sega Dreamcast (a moment of silence, please), hacking-and-slashing my way through the original Phantasy Star Online, and I'm also sure that I'm not the only one who's positively giddy for Sega's upcoming Phantasy Star Online 2. So of course, when I found out I'd be able to get my hands on the game at PAX, I was pretty ecstatic.

But nostalgia can only go so far, and I'll admit I was somewhat nervous as I stepped up to the demo station. Would this new iteration in the PSO series live up to my rose-tinted memories of the title? I stepped into the boots of a Human Hunter to find out for myself.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with Phantasy Star Online 2

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with Phantasy Star Online 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX Prime 2012 WildStar presentation and Q&A
Carbine Studios' premiere foray into the MMO field, the deliciously sci-fi WildStar, has been high on my to-watch list since PAX Prime 2011 when I got my first look at the game (over Rubi's shoulder, admittedly). So I was delighted to have the opportunity to sit down with a few members of WildStar's development team for a short presentation and Q&A session at this year's PAX Prime.

The developers, led by Lead Narrative Designer Chad Moore, set the tone of the presentation by leading off with the recently released housing preview video (which you should go watch if you haven't already), followed by a short explanation of the game's backstory. For the uninitiated: The game takes place on the planet Nexus. Nexus was once inhabited by a race of hyper-technological beings known as the Eldan before they mysteriously disappeared, causing the location of the planet to be lost to the annals of time. Until now, that is. Now everyone wants a piece of that sweet, technologically advanced pie, and players arrive from all over the universe to explore this mysterious planet and the secrets within.

Admit it: You wanna know what those secrets are, right?

Gallery: WildStar

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: WildStar presentation and Q&A

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: WildStar presentation and Q&A originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX 2012 - New Final Fantasy XIV trailer released, presentation viewable
If you're a Final Fantaxy XIV fan who couldn't make it to PAX Prime this weekend, YouTube is your friend. Square-Enix released a new video for its Realm Reborn reboot that is comprised of in-game footage, and we've got it for you in its entirely after the break.

An enterprising fan also managed to record over 15 minutes of Square's PAX presentation, which we've also included after the cut.

[Thanks to everyone who tipped us!]

Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 31st - September 2nd, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about WildStar, PlanetSide 2, RIFT: Storm Legion, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: New Final Fantasy XIV trailer released, presentation viewable

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: New Final Fantasy XIV trailer released, presentation viewable originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX Prime 2012 Song of Druid's Deep redux
Dungeons and Dragons Online has been keeping its dev team incredibly busy. It wasn't too long ago that the Menace of the Underdark expansion came out, and hot on its heels came update 15, the Song of Druid's Deep. Did you blink? Have you missed some of what's been going on? Luckily for you, we caught up with the Turbine team at PAX and have everything you need to know to get up to speed.

Menace of the Underdark introduced the world of the Forgotten Realms by leading players through the Demonweb, into the Underdark, and out into Faerûn and the town of Eveningstar. The Song of Druid's Deep update sends out the first tendrils of adventure into the wide world around Eveningstar. Players have to deal with a growing corruption -- zombie-like plant beings and infected humans and dryads -- and chase it to its putrid heart. If you want an in-depth look at the update, be sure to read our hands-on article about the Druid's Deep experience.

Update 15 comes not only with new quests and monsters, but the digital version of the time-honored monster manuals. Players with monster manuals can earn rewards, including Turbine points for big achievements and exclusive creature companions for the biggest achievements, while keeping track of all the terrifying foes they've faced. Additionally, there is a variant of the Ruined Keep challenge called the Daybreak Ritual.

The team isn't slowing down. With plans for a few quality of life fixes in the very near future and update 16 in November, Turbine is keeping up its quick pace. Update 16 will bring in five new quests, another wilderness area, and an emphasis on creating real connection between the areas of Faerûn.

Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 31st - September 2nd, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about WildStar, PlanetSide 2, RIFT: Storm Legion, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: DDO has been busy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SMITE's Ao Kuang
The battle of the gods rages on at PAX Prime 2012 with Hi-Rez's upcoming MOBA title, SMITE. Not much has changed since the last time we saw the game at PAX East, but as the game draws ever-closer to launch, MOBA fans have quite a bit to be excited about. The game has added a few new gods since the last time we saw it (this time around I had the pleasure of playing as the Chinese dragon Ao Kuang), and according to Hi-Rez's COO Todd Harris, the studio is aiming to incorporate at least 30 deities prior to launch.

On the topic of launch, Harris states that Hi-Rez is aiming for a first-quarter 2013 release (perhaps around February), though that date is by no means final. Regardless, MOBA players looking for a fun, frenetic, and accessible new title should keep their eye on the mythology-laden game as it continues to add more playable gods in the run-up to launch. And don't forget that you can register to participate in the game's beta right now by heading over to the SMITE official site.

Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 31st - September 2nd, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about WildStar, PlanetSide 2, RIFT: Storm Legion, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: SMITE originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconventionexpof2pfree-to-playhi-rezhi-rez-studiosmobamultiplayer-online-battle-arenapaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012penny-arcade-expoSmitetodd-harrisFri, 31 Aug 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX Prime 2012: World of Warplanes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pax-prime-2012-world-of-warplanes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pax-prime-2012-world-of-warplanes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pax-prime-2012-world-of-warplanes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

zoom zoom
Tanks are old news. This is the time for warplanes -- World of Warplanes, in fact. Happily, we can talk about just that because we took some time at PAX and sat down with some Wargaming.net folks to take a look at the upcoming game.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: World of Warplanes

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: World of Warplanes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8-0conconventionexpof2pfeaturedfree-to-playhistoricalmodulemodulespaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012penny-arcade-expophysicsplaneplanespresetspvpupdateupgradeupgradeswarwargaming.netwarplanewarplanesworld-of-warplaneswowpFri, 31 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX Prime 2012: Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pax-prime-2012-perfect-world-screens-neverwinter-and-raiderz-tr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pax-prime-2012-perfect-world-screens-neverwinter-and-raiderz-tr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pax-prime-2012-perfect-world-screens-neverwinter-and-raiderz-tr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

PAX Prime 2012 Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers
Perfect World Entertainment is giving the red carpet treatment to up-and-comers Neverwinter and RaiderZ at PAX Prime this weekend. The company has released two new trailers to show off during the convention alongside of demo stations at its booth.

RaiderZ's trailer shows off several places and creatures from the game in an upbeat montage, while Neverwinter's takes us to Blackdagger Keep, where an undead pirate holds a grudge against those pesky living souls.

Both titles will be present at PAX in Perfect World's booth (#3603). Going or not, you can check out the exciting trailers after the jump.

[Source: Perfect World press release]

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionaction-mmoblackdagger-keepconconventioncrypticcryptic-studiosdndexpof2pfantasyfree-to-playneverwinterpaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012penny-arcade-expoperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweraiderztrailervideoFri, 31 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlanetSide 2 lifts beta NDA, heads to PAX]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/planetside-2-lifts-nda-heads-to-pax/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/planetside-2-lifts-nda-heads-to-pax/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/planetside-2-lifts-nda-heads-to-pax/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2 lifts NDA, has North American debut at PAX
We're another step closer to getting our combat boots on the ground and our itchy fingers on those triggers, as SOE has made the move to drop PlanetSide 2's non-disclosure agreement. This NDA drop follows a month of external beta testing and just prior to SOE's debut of the game at a North American show (in this case, PAX Prime).

SOE President John Smedley reminded fans that this didn't mean the title was ready to ship. "Beta has a long way to go folks," he posted on Twitter.

SOE released plenty of fun statistics about the beta process so far. According to the studio, 535 million shots have been fired, and out of those, 194.6 million hit a target. 6.3 million players were mowed down in the bloody conflict as well. The breakdown of the three factions is more or less even, with the Terran Republic edging out the other two sides by a couple of percentage points.

If you're heading to PAX this weekend, you can see PlanetSide 2 at booth #3317. The team has plenty of demo stations on hand, and is planning to participate in several panels and daily livestream casts.

[Source: SOE press release]

MassivelyPlanetSide 2 lifts beta NDA, heads to PAX originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testingfpsjohn-smedleymmo-shootermmofpsndapaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012planetsideplanetside-2ps2sandboxsci-fishootersoesonysony-online-entertainmentstatisticsFri, 31 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jukebox Heroes Extra: An interview with Inon Zur]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/jukebox-heroes-extra-an-interview-with-inon-zur/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/jukebox-heroes-extra-an-interview-with-inon-zur/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/jukebox-heroes-extra-an-interview-with-inon-zur/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes Extra An interview with Inon Zur
Did you grow up watching Power Rangers? I didn't, but then again, I was slightly over the age demographic there. But it tickles me pink (ranger) that the guy who got his start doing background music for one of the cheesiest shows of all time ended up scoring many of the greatest video games of all time.

Israeli-born Inon Zur was hard at work in the film, TV, and video game industry in the '90s, but it wasn't until 2002's Icewind Dale II that his music and fame started to climb to a whole different level. Zur started winning awards left and right for his work on Dragon Age, Fallout 3, Prince of Persia, and Men of Valor, among other titles.

MMO players might not know it, Zur's deft hand is all over the place. He's composed several EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions, the now-defunct Exteel, last year's RIFT and most recently, TERA. As a driving force behind MMO music, Inon Zur has a unique perspective on what makes for a great audio experience.

Want to hear more? Us too. We have a great interview with Zur as well as a few select pieces of his works after the jump.

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes Extra: An interview with Inon Zur

MassivelyJukebox Heroes Extra: An interview with Inon Zur originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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firefall founders packages
Earlier today Red 5 Studios posted a portion of its Firefall monetization model on the game's official website. While we've heard a lot about combat revamps and various other gameplay details in recent weeks, one thing we've never really known is how the sci-fi shooter will sell itself.

This week's PAX convention will see the studio begin selling its founder's packages, complete with special attendee discounts. The packages start at $15 and offer an assortment of "convenience and cosmetic items." Check out the Firefall website for further details, and don't forget to watch the founder's package video after the jump.

Continue reading Firefall reveals founder's packages, special deals available at PAX

MassivelyFirefall reveals founder's packages, special deals available at PAX originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsconsconventionsf2pfirefallfirefall-cash-shopfirefall-founders-packagefirefall-microtransactionsfirst-person-shooterfounders-packagefpsfree-to-playmmo-industrymmo-shootermmofpspax-2012pax-east-2012pvpreal-world-eventsred-5red-5-studiossci-fishooterwarTue, 28 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/raiderz-opens-ingen-free-port-for-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/raiderz-opens-ingen-free-port-for-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/raiderz-opens-ingen-free-port-for-business/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business
Perfect World is cranking up the PR machine leading into this weekend's Penny Arcade Expo. While we got a look at RaiderZ's Broken Mast zone yesterday, today we're treated to a visit to Ingen Free Port.

Ingen Free Port is supposedly a "safe harbor" for visitors, offering an array of services and vendors to heroes looking for a respite from non-stop combat. Senior Producer Mark Hill says that it's important for the company to show the quieter side of the game world: "The kingdom of Rendel and its many bustling cities, like Ingen Free Port, is key to bringing the world of RaiderZ truly to life."

Perfect World will be promoting RaiderZ at PAX Prime, but you don't have to wait until then to see Ingen Free Port. We've got the full flythrough after the jump.

[Source: Perfect World press release]

Continue reading RaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business

MassivelyRaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trion to stream RIFT, Defiance, and End of Nations live from PAX
If you're a RIFT fan who can't make it to PAX next weekend, we've got some good news. Trion is going to be streaming live from the show floor beginning on Friday, August 31st.

The RIFT website says that "the latest in Storm Legion with interviews, playtests, and more" will be available for viewing via Trion's Twitch TV channel. Trion devs will also be accepting questions via the Twitch page, and the company will be showing its Defiance MMOFPS and its End of Nations MMORTS throughout the show.

MassivelyTrion to stream RIFT, Defiance, and End of Nations live from PAX originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkark-hunterarkfallconquestdefianceend-of-nationseonf2pfantasyfpsfree-to-playmmofpsmmortspaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012petroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telarartsrvrsci-fisyfythree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptransmedia-synergytriontrion-livestreamtrion-paxtrion-worldstvwarxboxWed, 22 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 197: The audio plague]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/massively-speaking-episode-197-the-audio-plague/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/massively-speaking-episode-197-the-audio-plague/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/massively-speaking-episode-197-the-audio-plague/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

SWTOR
Massively Speaking Episode 197 reviews a big week for MMOs, with several launches, updates, and live events going off all over the place. We had to hit the big red Massively Alarm three times during this time, prompting the MassivelyBusters to jump out of their beds, slide down the pole, and take the NERF-1 out to the scene of the action. Then we farmed spores, molds, and fungi with Elisabeth Cardy.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 197: The audio plague

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 197: The audio plague originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionanetarenanetascendascensionbiowarebrantbrianna-roycechampionschampions-onlinechampscoconconventioncrypticcryptic-studiosdark-legendse-sporteaelectronic-artselisabeth-cardyesportexpof2pfantasyfeaturedfirst-person-shooterfpsfree-to-playguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2hi-rezhi-rez-studioshumorjustin-olivettilucasartsmassively-speakingncsoftopinionpaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expoperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpodcastpodcastingpodcastspvppwesci-fishooterspacetime-studiosstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feesuperherosuperheroesswtorthe-old-republictortribestribes-ascendtribes-mmotribes-universetruly-freeTue, 17 Apr 2012 16:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 197Massively.com Staff01:02:31podcasts<![CDATA[The Firing Line: Firefall, Defiance, John Romero, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/the-firing-line-firefall-defiance-john-romero-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/the-firing-line-firefall-defiance-john-romero-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/the-firing-line-firefall-defiance-john-romero-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - Shooter news roundup
Dude, there was a ton of big shooter news this week!

I mean, this isn't terribly unusual, particularly since the genre is expanding at a rapid rate, but when I've got to cut interesting items out of this column for length reasons, you know it's been an eventful few days.

Join me after the break for a recap on everything from Firefall to Defiance to John Romero and beyond.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Firefall, Defiance, John Romero, and more

MassivelyThe Firing Line: Firefall, Defiance, John Romero, and more originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA - party vs. dungeon monster
If you're looking forward to TERA but sad about missing En Masse's demo of the fantasy MMO at last weekend's PAX East, cheer up!

The firm has just released a recap video that's almost as good as being there. It was a big week overall for TERA, and the reveals included an A-list voice cast, snippets about the launch head-start period, dungeon finder and economic tweaks, and the lush Twilight Valley region showcased at PAX.

TERA's PAX demo pitted players against wave after wave of argons and big-ass monsters, not to mention a nasty cuss called Subject 5005. Players who were able to whittle the boss's health down were then given a further challenge when 5005 transformed into an Argonomorph (yeah, we're not sure what that is either, but you can see it via the video after the cut).

[Source: En Masse Entertainment press release]

Continue reading TERA recaps PAX East and a week of reveals with new video

MassivelyTERA recaps PAX East and a week of reveals with new video originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- The Secret World
As anyone around the Massively offices can tell you, I am eagerly-bordering-on-obsessively awaiting the release of Funcom's latest entry into the MMO market, The Secret World. I'm all about the supernatural, occult, and paranormal, and The Secret World's "all the myths are true" philosophy is right up my alley, so when I heard that there would be a playable demo at PAX East 2012, it was all I could do not to squeal like a 12-year-old girl (and I may have done so anyway).

Of course, many people are hesitant about the title. Between The Secret World's subscription-cum-microtransactions business model and Funcom's track record of poor launches and bug-laden games, some gamers are finding themselves hesitant to get hyped up for the game's June 19th launch. Of course, I'd be lying if I said I weren't at least a bit cautious myself, regardless of my enthusiasm for the game. So how is the game shaping up? Well, sit down, grab yourself a drink, and let me tell you what I think.

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Exploring the dark corners of The Secret World

MassivelyPAX East 2012: Exploring the dark corners of The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raiderz - giant frogger boss
TERA isn't the only upcoming MMO to feature big-ass monsters and action combat. Perfect World Entertainment showed us a demo of RaiderZ at last weekend's PAX East, and producer Mark Hill was pretty enthusiastic about the game's level of polish. He also made a point of highlighting the amount of free gameplay the company will be making available to fans later this year.

"We really want to blow people away with how much free content they're getting out of a really top-notch game," he said. Join us after the cut to see what RaiderZ has to offer.

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Perfect World's RaiderZ

MassivelyPAX East 2012: Hands-on with Perfect World's RaiderZ originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World - PAX East 2012 booth
If you couldn't make it to PAX on Easter sunday, you can at least catch up on the happenings around Funcom's The Secret World booth thanks to a new video that the firm recently uploaded to its YouTube portal.

The clip is about six minutes long, and it splices together random con-goer interviews with gameplay footage of The Secret World's ability wheel and progression system. Also featured is Funcom community manager Glen "Famine" Swan, who says that he is excited about the game's "persistent PvP, because [it's] doing a lot of grass-roots stuff that [he] grew up with in the MMO genre."

Famine also touches on the TSW's three-faction design as well as the fact that the PvP game is ever-changing and filled with progression-related rewards. If you're not so much into the PvP, don't fret, since you can still PvE with your friends regardless of which faction you choose. Check out the full clip after the break.

Continue reading The Secret World's PAX recap video talks PvP, progression

MassivelyThe Secret World's PAX recap video talks PvP, progression originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX East 2012
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

This week, Massively sent four feisty writers to PAX East 2012 to bring back interviews and impressions of the games on offer, and boy did they ever deliver! We got hands-on time with The Secret World, World of Warplanes, SMITE, PlanetSide 2, TERA, Neverwinter, Firefall, Guns of Icarus and Dungeons and Dragons Online... and we're not finished yet!

Read on for a roundup of this week's other top MMO stories!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- Firefall
Last year at PAX Prime, I had the opportunity to get my hands on an early version of Red 5 Studios' upcoming MMOFPS, Firefall. The game's come a long way since then, having gone into closed beta shortly after PAX Prime.

As of Friday, the game's NDA has finally dropped, and I can finally tell you fine folks all about my experiences with the game's beta. For those of you somehow not in the know, Firefall is essentially two games in one. On the one hand, you have the title's open-world PvE content that sees players exploring the lands of New Eden in an attempt to find a way to fight back the destructive alien force known as the Melding. On the other, there's the competitive e-sports-esque PvP, which lets players test their skills against each another to see who's the best shot in New Eden. So how much has Firefall changed between PAX Prime '11 and PAX East '12?

Continue reading Ready, aim, Firefall: Impressions of the closed beta

MassivelyReady, aim, Firefall: Impressions of the closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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He wants to believe like I want to love this game. Can I get this shirt?
Funcom's The Secret World has had a big weekend at PAX East with its first public chance for hands-on interaction! It's a game that's been stirring up quite a bit of interest; the classless, level-less progression system, secret societies, and sword-and-automatic-rifle genre-bending are just a few of its selling points. My ears tend to perk up when the game gets mentioned, so of course I was all but falling over myself to hop into the playable demo this weekend. Walking away from that experience, though, I'm unconvinced.

Continue reading PAX East 2012: The Secret World demo

MassivelyPAX East 2012: The Secret World demo originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- Guns of Icarus Online
STEAMPUNK! AHH! OK, now that that's out of my system, let's talk Guns of Icarus Online. This morning, I had the pleasure of meeting with some of the folks from Muse Games at PAX East to talk about the studio's upcoming steampunk-airship-battling title. The title is still in alpha testing, though it will be springing into the early stages of closed beta at some point in the next couple of weeks. At launch, the title will be focused on competitive, match-made PvP matches a la first-person-shooters.

But this is Massively, so let's talk MMOs. Strictly speaking, I'd have to say Guns of Icarus Online isn't one -- at least not yet. After the initial match-based "skirmish" mode of the game is released, the studio will continue to support it by slowly adding in "adventure" mode features. Adventure mode is more akin to a traditional MMO in that it provide a more open world for players to navigate and explore, tradeskill and economy systems, missions, towns, and settlements, all within a persistent world. While it remains to be seen whether the game will ultimately become a "true" MMO, this stylish foray into the steampunk/dieselpunk genres is definitely one to watch.

Massively's on the ground in Boston during the weekend of April 6-8, bringing you all the best news from PAX East 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about TERA or PlanetSide 2 or any MMO in between, we aim to have it covered!

MassivelyPAX East 2012: Guns of Icarus announces closed beta, details adventure mode originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-tera-hands-on/
In the service of Massively's ongoing PAX East 2012 coverage, I spent some time today in and around the TERA booth, ogling the pretty trailers and getting a seat in a group press demo to tackle some fun high-end content in the form of a five-player encounter with an Argon boss. Read on for an overview of what I saw!

Gallery: TERA PAX 2012

Continue reading PAX East 2012: TERA hands-on

MassivelyPAX East 2012: TERA hands-on originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Okay, now to do the dungeon part.
Many words come to mind when you mention Dungeons & Dragons, but "action" is not usually one of them. So at first glance, Neverwinter might seem like a bit of an odd beast. The game is meant as an action-based MMORPG that takes place in the distant future of the beloved Neverwinter Nights series; it's being developed by Cryptic Studios and published by Perfect World Entertainment. While the game isn't yet in open testing, the early version was playable on the floor of PAX East, and we had a chance to sit down with Cryptic Studios to discuss the game's development.

I came to the show with no real expectations about the game beyond the fact that I knew the companies involved and was distantly aware of the game's development. I walked away more than a little impressed by what I had seen. However odd the collection of elements might seem, the game itself certainly piqued my interest.

Gallery: Neverwinter

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Neverwinter discussion and impressions

MassivelyPAX East 2012: Neverwinter discussion and impressions originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dungeons and Dragons Online concept art
Dungeons and Dragons Online players are in for a whole new world of adventure when Menace of the Underdark launches this summer. The expansion, due to release on June 25th, will send players into the Forgotten Realms to fight against the Queen of Spiders, Lolth. Executive Producer Fernando Paiz and Senior Producer Eric Boyer welcomed us into their lair... er, Turbine's booth... to talk about the upcoming expansion at this year's PAX East. Read on for our preview!

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online

MassivelyPAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlanetSide 2
"For me, it's such a compelling genre for anybody who's played it," SOE Creative Director Matt Higby said about PlanetSide 2's niche. "But that's the thing. There's not a lot of people who have played a MMOFPS, but the people who have are addicted."

Hibgy sat down with us at PAX East to promote SOE's upcoming sci-fi shooter, saying that it scratches two itches with one bird (or some other mixed metaphor). "I'm a competitive player; I love shooters," he said, "but I'm also a very social player and love the progression aspect of MMOs."

It's not as if the MMOFPS field is going to remain wide-open for very long. Competitors are rushing to mine this largely untouched market. Still, SOE has an advantage above the rest: It launched one of the first of its kind and has years of experience managing such a game. While we anxiously wait for word on PlanetSide 2's beta, we listened to Higby tell us why this title will continue the company's reign over the genre.

Continue reading PAX East 2012: A talk with PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby

MassivelyPAX East 2012: A talk with PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars: The Old Republic - sith chick
We've been telling you about Star Wars: The Old Republic's 1.2 Legends patch for a while now. Thankfully we've finally got a release date to share as well. Actually, let's call it a release window, and let's call it next week, thanks to statements made by BioWare's James Ohlen at PAX East earlier today.

"We have our update 1.2 coming in the next week, and then after that, it's going to continue to roll out month after month. It's exciting," he told Boston-area convention-goers.

Ohlen's optimism springs from what's to come in SWTOR over the next few months. "The scope of our game updates in 2012 is going to be unimaginable. You're going to see so many changes and additions to the Star Wars Universe; it's going to be impressive," he said.

Massively's on the ground in Boston during the weekend of April 6-8, bringing you all the best news from PAX East 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about TERA or PlanetSide 2 or any MMO in between, we aim to have it covered!

MassivelyPAX East 2012: SWTOR 1.2 coming next week originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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