Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[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.

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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.

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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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.21.2-patchbiowareconconventioneaelectronic-artsexpojames-ohlenlucasartspaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-exposci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorswtor-1.2swtor-legendsthe-old-republictorFri, 06 Apr 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2012: Defiance's first-ever combat trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/blast-into-action-with-defiances-first-ever-combat-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/blast-into-action-with-defiances-first-ever-combat-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/blast-into-action-with-defiances-first-ever-combat-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Defiance
PAX East is kicking into high-gear today. Studios are all over the floor showing off their latest trailers and demos, and Trion Worlds is no exception. The studio has just released a shiny new trailer focusing on the upcoming Syfy-Trion collaboration known as Defiance. For the first time since the title's announcement, players get to take a look at the game's frantic FPS combat.

The trailer takes players into the land of the United States' Bay Area, which is in the process of being terraformed by alien invaders, and it's up to humankind to stop them before it's too late. The video gives fans a glimpse of large-scale combat as dozens of characters storm a stronghold by foot, ATV, and humvee to bring the fight to the alien scum, guns blazing. Oh, and the aliens look like the kind of fellows you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley... or in a well-lit one, for that matter. Just check out those teeth! Load your weapons and get in the fight past the cut.

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!

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Defiance's first-ever combat trailer

MassivelyPAX East 2012: Defiance's first-ever combat trailer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatconconventiondefianceexpommofpspaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-exposyfytrailertrailerstrion-worldsvideovideosFri, 06 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-world-of-warplanes-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-world-of-warplanes-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-world-of-warplanes-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This is a game about basketball.
Much like its predecessor, World of Warplanes is not a game with an ambiguous title. This is a game about planes, and not the sort that flies cargo from one point on the globe to another. If flying around and getting into aerial dogfights sounds like an unappealing concept to you, well, you can pretty much just exit stage left when you hear the name.

But the lack of subtlety in the name, however noteworthy, doesn't really say much about the game itself. Is it fun to play? Does it succeed in what it sets out to do? Really, is it just World of Tanks up in the air? I can't speak to the last one, but I can say that it definitely delivers on its stated design goals. This is a game all about maximizing the rush of an aerial fight and striking a balance between crafting an in-depth flight simulation and providing accessibility to those new to the genre.

Gallery: World of Warplanes

Continue reading PAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions

MassivelyPAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconventiondesignexactly-what-it-says-on-the-tinexpof2pfeaturedflightflight-simulatorfree-to-playgalleriesgalleryhands-onhistoricalimpressionsinterviewinterviewsopinionpaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expoplaneplanespreviewpreviewspvpscreenshotscreenshotswarwargaming.netwarplanewarplanesworld-of-warplaneswowpFri, 06 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Hi-Rez's new MOBA, SMITE]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-hands-on-with-hi-rezs-new-moba-smite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-hands-on-with-hi-rezs-new-moba-smite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-hands-on-with-hi-rezs-new-moba-smite/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

SMITE
Move over, MOBAs -- there's a new kid in town. As PAX East 2012 rocks onward, Hi-Rez Studios is flaunting its newest upcoming title, the action-game-inspired MOBA SMITE. Today I got the opportunity to sit down with the game and get my face ground into the floor by the myriad more-experienced players with whom I played. But regardless of my utter incompetence, I still got some hands-on time with the title, so indulge me for a moment and let me tell you about it.

The basic layout of the game will be quite familiar to any MOBA player. It sticks to the tried-and-true formula set forth by Defense of the Ancients in almost every possible way. There are three lanes, each lined with a number of defensive towers, and the ultimate objective is to work in tandem with your teammates and allied NPC creeps with the goal of pushing through the towers and destroying the enemy's giant minotaur.

Wait, what?

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Hi-Rez's new MOBA, SMITE

MassivelyPAX East 2012: Hands-on with Hi-Rez's new MOBA, SMITE originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconventiondotadota-likedotalikeexpofeaturedhands-onhi-rezhi-rez-studiosmobamultiplayer-online-battle-arenapaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expopreviewpreviewssmiteFri, 06 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2012: Cryptic shows new Neverwinter trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-cryptic-shows-new-neverwinter-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-cryptic-shows-new-neverwinter-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/pax-east-2012-cryptic-shows-new-neverwinter-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Neverwinter - when dragons attack
The first reveal of PAX East 2012 belongs to Cryptic and its Neverwinter title. The game began its life as a co-op RPG in 2010 but was then converted to a full-fledged MMO when Cryptic was acquired by Perfect World Entertainment last year.

If you're heading to the Boston convention, the game is playable on the show floor. If you can't make it, feast your eyes on the new CG trailer that we've got for you after the break, and look for our report on the game itself later this weekend.

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!

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Cryptic shows new Neverwinter trailer

MassivelyPAX East 2012: Cryptic shows new Neverwinter trailer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoconconventioncrypticcryptic-studiosdndexpof2pfantasyfree-to-playneverwinterneverwinter-trailerpaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expoperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwetrailervideoFri, 06 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's own Eliot Lefebvre will tell your site how not to suck at PAX East]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/massivelys-own-eliot-lefebvre-will-tell-your-site-how-to-not-su/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/massivelys-own-eliot-lefebvre-will-tell-your-site-how-to-not-su/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/massivelys-own-eliot-lefebvre-will-tell-your-site-how-to-not-su/#commentsFiled under: , ,

PAX East logo
Are you planning on heading to Boston, Massachusetts for PAX East 2012? If you are, then boy have we got a treat for you. On Sunday, April 8th, our very own Eliot Lefebvre will be joining members of Guild Wars Insider, Darth Hater, ArenaNet, and Vox Games on a panel informatively titled How To Make Gaming Sites That Don't Suck. It is what it says on the tin, folks.

So if you've got a blog lying around and you're not sure what to do with it, let this panel of experts tell you how to turn it into the next big thing. Or at least let them tell you why Papyrus and Comic Sans are not legitimate font choices. Please? If nothing else, just show up, ask questions, and show our favorite cynical curmudgeon some love.

MassivelyMassively's own Eliot Lefebvre will tell your site how not to suck at PAX East originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elioteliot-is-famouseliot-lefebvreeventeventspanelpanelspaxpax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expopenny-arcade-expo-eastpenny-arcade-expo-east-2012real-world-eventreal-world-eventsFri, 24 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East tickets on sale now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/pax-east-tickets-on-sale-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/pax-east-tickets-on-sale-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/pax-east-tickets-on-sale-now/#commentsFiled under: , ,

PAX East Logo
Convention-goers, start your engines. PAX East 2012 tickets are now on sale, and if you're planning on attending, you better get movin'. Single-day tickets should last for at least a little while, but three-day tickets are always the first to go. Do take note that the convention does fall on Easter weekend this year, so if you've got plans for the holiday, you better start planning your excuse.

And remember, this year's PAX Prime saw extreme numbers of fake badges being sold at the sold-out convention, so if you want to be sure to escape the scammers, buy your ticket early so you don't have to rely on scalpers later. To get your tickets, head on over to the PAX East official site.

MassivelyPAX East tickets on sale now originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>paxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expopenny-arcade-expo-eastpenny-arcade-expo-east-2012ticketsThu, 03 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2011: Guild Wars 2 to allow more open guild membership]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/pax-2011-guild-wars-2-to-allow-more-open-guild-membership/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/pax-2011-guild-wars-2-to-allow-more-open-guild-membership/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/pax-2011-guild-wars-2-to-allow-more-open-guild-membership/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 centaurs
For the average MMO player, this isn't really news, but for Guild Wars fans, this is huge. As announced during PAX Prime this weekend, Guild Wars 2 will allow multiple guild affiliations on your game account. Each character on that account will still need to belong to the same guild (as in Guild Wars 1), but unlimited guilds per account allow you to join various groups of friends with the same characters.

As it is over any unconventional game feature, the community is split. On one hand, it will be liberating to have the opportunity to join large, small, hardcore, casual, and roleplaying guilds with the same character. But on the other hand, some players believe it will fragment dedication and dissolve the attention needed for a specific guild -- like a family.

Like we do with every newly announced feature for a high-profile MMO, we want to know how you feel about this. Let us know in the comments!

Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 26-28, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about SWTOR, Guild Wars 2, City of Heroes, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

MassivelyPAX 2011: Guild Wars 2 to allow more open guild membership originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountaffiliationanetarenanetelixabethguild-warsguild-wars-2guildsgw2kill-ten-ratsncsoftpax-prime-2011penny-arcade-expotalk-tyriaMon, 29 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2011: SWTOR PvP hands-on impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/pax-2011-swtor-pvp-hands-on-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/pax-2011-swtor-pvp-hands-on-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/pax-2011-swtor-pvp-hands-on-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
The Force was strong at PAX 2011, and BioWare's presence was unmistakably huge. Lines wrapped around the studio's booth at all hours of the day, with hundreds of hungry gamers itching to get their hands on Star Wars: The Old Republic. I was one of those gamers, and I got the opportunity to step into the shoes of a Sith Assassin for a short PvP match in the Alderaan warzone (of which we have some video, if you're more the a visually inclined sort).

The devs stuck me on a team with a bunch of other members of the media and then pitted us against another team of a bunch of other members of the media. It was a media melee, you might say. At any rate, follow along after the cut for my impressions of my time with The Old Republic's PvP.

Continue reading PAX 2011: SWTOR PvP hands-on impressions

MassivelyPAX 2011: SWTOR PvP hands-on impressions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaElectronic-Artshands-onlucasartsopinionpaxpax-2011pax-prime-2011penny-arcade-expopenny-arcade-expo-2011please-dont-eviscerate-me-for-calling-it-underwhelmingpreviewstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-hands-onthe-old-republictorMon, 29 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare announces PAX 2011 plans for The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/bioware-announces-pax-2011-plans-for-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/bioware-announces-pax-2011-plans-for-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/bioware-announces-pax-2011-plans-for-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
Are you going to Penny Arcade Expo? Is the Force strong with you? If you answered yes to these questions, then holster your blasters for just a hot second while we give you the skinny on BioWare's plans for Star Wars: The Old Republic at PAX 2011.

For those of you interested in just getting your nerf-herding hands on The Old Republic for some one-on-one time, all you have to do is swing by booth 914, where demos will be running that allow players to experience content from each of the game's four origin worlds as well as letting players drop into the Alderaan Warzone for some Republic vs. Imperial action.

If you want to go more behind the scenes, don't fret! At 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 28th, BioWare and LucasArts will be overtaking the Paramount Theatre for a Star Wars: The Old Republic panel. New reveals! Question and answer sessions! Live demonstration of the endgame Operation, the Eternity Vault! All of this and more can be yours if you manage to weasel your way in.

And lastly, if you're more of a social butterfly, BioWare will be hosting a community meet-and-greet at the Grand Hyatt Seattle hotel. The soiree begins at 7 p.m., so dress your fanciest and don't be late!

MassivelyBioWare announces PAX 2011 plans for The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarelucasartsmeet-and-greetpanelpanelspaxpax-2011penny-arcade-expopenny-arcade-expo-2011star-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicSat, 20 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Perfect World offers gamers a shot at a trip to PAX Prime]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/perfect-world-offers-gamers-a-shot-at-a-trip-to-pax-prime/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/perfect-world-offers-gamers-a-shot-at-a-trip-to-pax-prime/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/perfect-world-offers-gamers-a-shot-at-a-trip-to-pax-prime/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Bummed because PAX Prime is sold out -- and your wallet's looking thin, anyway? Well, how would it sound if we told you that you had a chance to go to the mega-convention in Seattle next month for free, including round-trip airfare? Pretty good, huh?

As part of its efforts to promote Rusty Hearts, Perfect World Entertainment is giving away a convention package to one lucky winner (and his or her best friend). If you register for the Rusty Hearts beta by July 27th, you'll automatically be entered to win these two three-day PAX passes. To make a good deal even better, the winners will have the opportunity to have dinner with the producers and developers of the game!

Rusty Hearts Producer Mark Hill is flat-out psyched for the event: "This is a great year for Rusty Hearts to make its debut appearance at Penny Arcade Expo. We cannot wait to interact with Rusty Hearts fans on a personal level and we hope to get everyone as excited as we are by giving away these two passes to the otherwise sold out show. We have really been looking forward to bring Rusty Hearts to a gaming-centric consumer event, and I can't wait to see how the PAX crowd reacts to the game."

Massively still has a number of Rusty Hearts beta keys to give away, and each of these comes with a special Massively Pack(TM) of in-game items!

MassivelyPerfect World offers gamers a shot at a trip to PAX Prime originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-keyclosed-betacontestmark-hillmeet-and-greetmeet-n-greetpaxpax-2011pax-primepax-prime-2011penny-arcade-expoperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpromotionpwerusty-heartsTue, 19 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2011: Turbine makes the case for the free-to-play model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/pax-east-turbine-makes-the-case-for-the-free-to-play-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/pax-east-turbine-makes-the-case-for-the-free-to-play-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/pax-east-turbine-makes-the-case-for-the-free-to-play-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

"Pioneers get the gold!" Turbine's Fernando Paiz is fond of saying. "And they get the arrows too..."

Instead of the wild, wild west, Paiz was referring to the frontier of MMORPG business models, companies that have diverged from traditional subscriptions over the past 10 years. In a presentation at PAX East titled "The Game Monetization Revolution," he shared how this movement has come about, ways that it can fail, and how pioneers have grabbed the gold by getting it right.

Of course, Paiz has a great perspective on this revolution, having helmed Dungeons & Dragons Online as it made the transition from a pure subscription game to a hybrid free-to-play/subscription title. Both DDO and Lord of the Rings Online have done tremendously well since moving to this business model, proving that AAA titles can thrive outside of the subscription-only checkout lane.

Hit the jump as Fernando Paiz takes us down memory lane and addresses the biggest fear players have with F2P.

Continue reading PAX East 2011: Turbine makes the case for the free-to-play model

MassivelyPAX East 2011: Turbine makes the case for the free-to-play model originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asian-mmosbusiness-modelsconsumablescosmeticsddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfeaturedfernando-paizfree-to-playguild-warshybrid-modellord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrotransactionspaizpaxpax-2011pax-eastpax-east-2011paxeastpenny-arcade-exporunescapesubscription-modelturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 12 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Did you go to a game convention last year?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/the-daily-grind-did-you-go-to-a-game-convention-last-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/the-daily-grind-did-you-go-to-a-game-convention-last-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/the-daily-grind-did-you-go-to-a-game-convention-last-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It is, in many ways, the ultimate gamer's pilgrimage -- to make the long trek to attend a gaming convention. Whether it be PAX, Dragon*Con, Fan Faire, BlizzCon, Leipzig or GamesCom, it's surprising the amount of money, time, effort and willingness to stand in line with sweaty people that we put up with just to see the latest games and talk to our favorite developers.

It's hard to explain the allure of these conventions to outsiders, but there's something thrilling in seeing crowds of people who share your same hobby and get excited over all the same stuff you do. Plus, there's the swag. OH, the swag!

Did you make your pilgrimage in 2010? Did you manage to get away to a fabulous retreat (from reality) and attend a game convention? And was it everything you'd hoped, or did it let you down?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Did you go to a game convention last year? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconconsconventionconventionsdragon-condragonconfan-fairegamescomLeipzigopinionpaxpenny-arcade-expopilgrimagesoe-fan-fairespandex-is-a-privilege-not-a-rightswagtdgthe-daily-grindWed, 12 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Mob Meetups: Dragon*Con 2010 & PAX 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/30/massively-mob-meetups-dragon-con-2010-and-pax-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/30/massively-mob-meetups-dragon-con-2010-and-pax-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/30/massively-mob-meetups-dragon-con-2010-and-pax-2010/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Labor Day weekend is coming up and you know what that means: Dragon*Con 2010 and PAX 2010 are here! The two dueling conventions are back to capture the hearts of nerds across America, and Massively.com is going to be in full force at both conventions this year -- a first for us!

To celebrate, we're having not one, but two MMO fan gatherings, so our fans from both sides of the country can attend!

If you're a PAX person, then come visit us at 8:00 p.m. PDT at The Night Kitchen in Seattle! The Night Kitchen is equipped with a lovely lounge and free wi-fi, so bring your laptop and show off your l33t epics to the mob and the staff! Rubi Bayer, Larry Everett, and Justin Olivetti will be hosting the party, so be sure to drop by, say hi, pick up some late night snacks, and tell us all about your favorite games!

If you're a Dragon*Conite, then be sure to drop by the Sheraton's Capitol Ballroom at 10:00 p.m. EDT for the MMO Gathering of Heroes! This is the Dragon*Con MMO track's official dance party, and it's also being hosted by Massively's own Krystalle Voecks and former Massively.com columnist Rafe Brox. Rafe and Krystalle will be laying down the beats for the party, but Grand Poobah Shawn Schuster and I, Seraphina Brennan, will be in attendance as well. (Most likely in costume!) Plus, we can't forget about Kevin Stallard, the leader of the MMO track and former Ask Massively man! So if you want to come meet some fellow MMO-lovers, dance, or meet some of the Massively.com staffers, then this is your party. (P.S. -- A Dragon*Con 2010 pass is required to get into this party.)

So, to recap: Saturday, September 4th at 8:00 p.m. PDT at Seattle's Night Kitchen, or Saturday, September 4th, at 10:00 p.m. EDT at Dragon*Con's MMO Gathering of Heroes, located in the Capitol Ballroom of the Sheraton hotel.

If you need help, or reminders, join our Steam Community group, The Massively Mob! We hope to see you at one of our events!

MassivelyMassively Mob Meetups: Dragon*Con 2010 & PAX 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>convention-partiesconventionsdc-meetupdragon-con-2010dragoncondragoncon-2010eventlabor-day-weekendmassively-mob-eventmmo-gatheringmmo-gathering-of-heroesmob-meetuppartypax-2010pax-meetuppenny-arcade-expopenny-arcade-expo-2010reader-meetupreal-world-eventthe-night-kitchenMon, 30 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[[Updated] Meet up with the Massively staff at PAX East, win prizes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/meet-up-with-the-massively-staff-at-pax-east-win-prizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/meet-up-with-the-massively-staff-at-pax-east-win-prizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/meet-up-with-the-massively-staff-at-pax-east-win-prizes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you're in Boston next week for PAX East and you suddenly find yourself shirtless, we may be able to help. We'll be giving away Massively t-shirts at the expo throughout the weekend of March 26th - 28th, and you can bet we'll be having some fun while doing it.

We'll have two contests involving Twitter: one as a scavenger hunt for swag (appropriately named the Swavenger Hunt) and one as a hide-and-seek contest based on tweeted photos around the expo floor. Plus, we'll be sure to have a small informal meet-up with readers while we're there. Follow along after the jump for a schedule of events and details on how you can win yourself a Massively t-shirt. Shirtlessness not required.

Continue reading [Updated] Meet up with the Massively staff at PAX East, win prizes

Massively[Updated] Meet up with the Massively staff at PAX East, win prizes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bostoncontestsgiveawayspaxeastpaxeast2010penny-arcade-expopenny-arcade-expo-eastThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's Coruscant artwork and PAX video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/13/swtors-coruscant-artwork-and-pax-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/13/swtors-coruscant-artwork-and-pax-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/13/swtors-coruscant-artwork-and-pax-video/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


So maybe you missed out on seeing the glorious video reveal of Coruscant at PAX this year. No worries, because BioWare's been kind enough to release a high quality copy of the video into the wilds of the internet. We've posted it after the break in case you'd like to simple jump right into it.

There's more news beyond the video being available on the game's official website, though, such as a bevy of very cool concept art that should entice any Star Wars: The Old Republic fan for several minutes bare minimum -- some of us may spend longer amounts of time staring.

None of this is a big reveal, but that's perfectly understandable given the team's presence at PAX last weekend. So what about next weekend? Well, next weekend they'd better deliver or else we'll have to uh- well we'll just be sad if they don't, but it'll be a really vicious sadness that sends chills down spines!

Continue reading SWTOR's Coruscant artwork and PAX video

MassivelySWTOR's Coruscant artwork and PAX video originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecoruscanteaelectronic-artslucasartspaxpax-2009penny-arcadepenny-arcade-expostar-warsswtortorvideoSun, 13 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft and DC Comics announce Aion comic book]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/ncsoft-and-dc-comics-announce-aion-comic-book/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/ncsoft-and-dc-comics-announce-aion-comic-book/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/ncsoft-and-dc-comics-announce-aion-comic-book/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

NCsoft and DC Comics have teamed up to create a limited edition comic based on Aion which focuses on the Asmodian Daeva Aiva. She might look familiar as her image is used to advertise the game and a statue of her will also be found in the Collector's Edition when Aion is released later this month.

"Aiva's Story" is the work of artist Neil Googe and writers David Noonan and Ricardo Sanchez. Aiva's life is torn apart when her family is killed by an Elyos raiding party. Embittered, she endures a harsh life as a mercenary, fighting Karnifs and the Mau. She brings with her a festering hatred for the white-winged Elyos, eventually ascending to Daevahood and is posted to the Abyss. The comic book will be available (albeit in limited quantities) at the Aion booth at this weekend's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle but fans will also be able to get their hands on a copy by purchasing the game at GameStop in the US and Electronic Boutique stores in Canada..

You can check out our gallery below to see the cover art in it's full glory, as well as some internal artwork.

Gallery: Aion: Aiva's Story

Want to know more about Aion? NCsoft invites you into the world of Atreia where the Elyos and the Asmodians fight each other and the evil Balaur for control of the shattered planet. Check out out all our coverage of this must-play MMO!

MassivelyNCsoft and DC Comics announce Aion comic book originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-aivaaion-betaaion-comic-bookaion-patch-1.5aion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternityasmodianasmodiansncsoftpaxpax-2009penny-arcade-expoWed, 02 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft announces its PAX plans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/ncsoft-announces-its-pax-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/ncsoft-announces-its-pax-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/ncsoft-announces-its-pax-plans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

It's nearly September which means the Penny Arcade Expo is swiftly approaching. Taking place between September 4th-6th in Seattle, PAX is fast becoming the new must-attend convention for all sections of the industry, from developers to publishers and gamers. NCsoft has just announced their plans for this year's convention and this focuses on their three big IPs: Aion, Guild Wars 2 and City of Heroes.

NCsoft will once again have booths at the event, one per game. On the Aion front, they will be showing the latest build of the game, which includes patch 1.5 (aka The Shadow of the Balaur). Producer Brian Knox and Associate Producer Lani Blazier will also be on hand at booth #642. At the Guild Wars 2 booth (#842), there will be Q and As with the Live Team, a talk on the upcoming novel The Fall of Ascalon and the chance to win a 128 page Art of Guild Wars 2 artbook. Finally at the City of Heroes booth (#542) you can take a peek at the new update ("Power Spectrum") and nab a special PAX Costume Power code. There will also be a player meet up on the Saturday night (September 5th) hosted by the Online Community Relations team, for more information on that click here.

MassivelyNCsoft announces its PAX plans originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-patch-1.5aion-the-shadow-of-the-balauraion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternitybrian-knoxcity-of-heroesguild-wars-2lani-blazierncsoftncsoft-north-americapaxpax-2009penny-arcade-expopenny-arcade-expo-2009power-spectrumWed, 26 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Agenda announces North American tour]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/global-agenda-announces-north-american-tour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/global-agenda-announces-north-american-tour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/global-agenda-announces-north-american-tour/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The team at Hi-Rez Studios announced they're taking Global Agenda on the road for a North American tour. It'll be a chance for fans, or anyone curious about the shooter-MMO hybrid, to get some hands-on time with Global Agenda and meet the developers from Hi-Rez Studios. The Global Agenda tour kicks off this week at QuakeCon in Dallas and will hit the major gaming events through January. The tour dates announced thus far are:

Gallery: Hi-Rez Studios and Global Agenda Gallery

When bots attackThe juggernautBancroft helps out

MassivelyGlobal Agenda announces North American tour originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consumer-electronics-showdragoncon-2009gamexglobal-agendahi-rez-studiosmmo-industrymmofpspenny-arcade-expoquakeconsci-fispy-fitourtour-datestoursTue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Win a trip to PAX courtesy of Cryptic Studios]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/win-a-trip-to-pax-courtesy-of-cryptic-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/win-a-trip-to-pax-courtesy-of-cryptic-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/win-a-trip-to-pax-courtesy-of-cryptic-studios/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Cryptic Studios is running a contest wherein the winner gets a super-cool trip to Seattle, so they can attend the Penny Arcade Expo. We thought was well worth sharing, so here's the lowdown: One random community member will receive a trip to PAX that includes airfare, hotel, and a dinner with the Cryptic crew. There's no doubt in our minds that whoever wins this is going to be one happy fan.

The best part is that entering is as simple as registering an account at the official Champions Online website. If you're already a member, then you've already been entered. However, the contest is only running until August 17th, so make sure to register by then if you never have and want a chance to win. Best of luck to everyone, and we'll see you at PAX!

MassivelyWin a trip to PAX courtesy of Cryptic Studios originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atarichampionschampions-onlinecontestcrypticcryptic-studiospaxpax-09penny-arcade-expoThu, 30 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars PAX Panel video released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/guild-wars-pax-panel-video-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/guild-wars-pax-panel-video-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/guild-wars-pax-panel-video-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


If you missed this year's Penny Arcade Expo, or you simply didn't get a chance to attend the packed ArenaNet panel entitled "Three Years of Guild Wars", now you can watch the video of the entire discussion from the comfort of your own computer chair.

You can download the full high quality, 51-minute video from the Guild Wars website, or watch it in six parts on the official ArenaNet Youtube channel. Either way, you'll get to see a fantastic Q&A session with ArenaNet's James Phinney (Lead Game Designer), Ree Soesbee (Game Designer), Jeff Grubb (Game Designer), Chris Lye (Director of Marketing), Katy Hargrove (Artist), and Katy Perry (Artist). This discussion panel includes the information on the series of Guild Wars books to be released before Guild Wars 2, as first reported by Massively during PAX08. Check out the entire video for some incredible information on the history of the game from the developers themselves.

MassivelyGuild Wars PAX Panel video released originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetdiscussionguild-warsguild-wars-2panelpaxpax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expovideoSat, 11 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX08: Interview with Dane Caruthers of Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax08-interview-with-dane-caruthers-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax08-interview-with-dane-caruthers-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax08-interview-with-dane-caruthers-of-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


At PAX08, we were able to catch up with NCsoft's Dane Caruthers, the Associate Producer for Tabula Rasa, for a quick interview. While the TR booth was busy and Caruthers was swamped with showing attendees all about the sci-fi MMO, he was kind enough to answer a few questions.

With Deployment 12 now on the Public Test Server, Caruthers talks a bit about what to expect with Deployment 13 and how it should make many Tabula Rasa players very happy. He also goes on to explain a bit about the recent contests they've been holding, including an explanation of Operation Immortality. Plus, Caruthers talks candidly about Tabula Rasa's beta through to its launch, and despite the fact that he says it was "quite possibly the smoothest MMO launch in history", they realize the mistakes that were made and are confident that the product they have to offer currently will win back those who tried the game and have since left.

Check out a transcript of the entire interview after the cut.

Continue reading PAX08: Interview with Dane Caruthers of Tabula Rasa

MassivelyPAX08: Interview with Dane Caruthers of Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dane-caruthersfeaturedinterviewjoystiqfeaturesncsoftpax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expotabula-rasatr-deployment-12tr-deployment-13Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX08: Twin Skies interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax08-twin-skies-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax08-twin-skies-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax08-twin-skies-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Twin Skies is a brand new MMO still in development from Meteor Games, which is fronted by two of the co-founders of the wildly-successful Neopets. Despite the fact that Twin Skies is still in its early stages, their presence at PAX08 seemed to be well-received by gamers. This was the first public showing of the MMO that was only first announced a month ago from a company that was introduced to us only two months ago!

So we took this opportunity to sit down with the CEO Adam Powell and Lead Designer Aaron Matthew for a bit of an exclusive look at what this game is all about. Despite the fact that the surrounding PAX booths were competing for attention all around us, we were able to get some great information on this upcoming game.

Follow along on our exclusive tour of Twin Skies>>

MassivelyPAX08: Twin Skies interview originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesmeteor-gamespax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expotwin-skiesWed, 03 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX08: Aion's first U.S. public showing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax08-aions-first-US-public-showing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax08-aions-first-US-public-showing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax08-aions-first-US-public-showing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


"Hey, isn't that the game where you have wings and fly around?"

This was probably the number one quote heard around the Aion booth at PAX08. NCsoft's Aion: The Tower of Eternity had its first public showing in the States this last weekend at PAX, and the general consensus seemed to be mostly positive. As the opening quote suggests though, many gamers were after that novelty of flight, and we can't help but wonder if that will be enough to carry potential players through the game for the long haul.

So we took this opportunity to spend an hour or so with the game, to get a few of those precious first impressions for our readers. Keep in mind that this is only first impressions on a game that isn't finished yet, so take it with a grain of salt.

Gallery: Aion Screenshots

Continue reading PAX08: Aion's first U.S. public showing

MassivelyPAX08: Aion's first U.S. public showing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-tower-of-eternityfeaturedflyingjoystiqfeaturesncsoftpax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expowingsWed, 03 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX08: Day three impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax08-day-three-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax08-day-three-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax08-day-three-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Day three is now behind us, marking the end of PAX 2008. Sunday showed a crowd of gamers just as strong as the first two days, and there is no doubt that the attendance numbers from this year blew away last year's figures. As far as panels for this last day, there was an interesting mix of MMO development-type panels with a particularly interesting one called "MMO and Virtual World Business Models" that we will be reviewing in more depth later. Plus, who could forget the intriguing "How to Get Your Girlfriend into Gaming" panel?

So now we look forward to the future of this mega expo. If next year's PAX grows as much as the previous years have progressed, they're going to need a larger booth floor, no doubt about it. As this blogger sifts through the bags of free swag and begins the recovery process, you can look forward to more coverage of interviews with Jon Radoff of GamerDNA, Jeffrey Steefel of Turbine on Mines of Moria, Dane Caruthers of NCsoft on Tabula Rasa, Adam Powell and Aaron Matthew of Meteor Games on Twin Skies and much much more!

Gallery: PAX 2008 General Gallery

MassivelyPAX08: Day three impressions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamerdnajeffrey-steefelmeteor-gamesmines-of-moriancsoftpanelspax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expotabula-rasatwin-skiesMon, 01 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX08: Day two impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax08-day-two-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax08-day-two-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax08-day-two-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The second, and arguably largest day of PAX 2008 is behind us, and we thought we'd get you up to speed on our ongoing expo impressions. Saturday was packed with some exciting panels from the MMO developer community, such as one accurately called "NCsoft is kicking @r$e at PAX!" This panel was all about the many games published and developed by NCsoft, including the much-anticipated Aion, new exclusive info for the City of Heroes franchise and more chances for players to get their DNA into space with Tabula Rasa's Operation Immortality.

Later in the day there was an exclusive showing of Warhammer Online in a more "closed" setting where Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman showcased the features of the game. Then there was an ArenaNet panel that ended up being a full house with an endless line waiting to get in almost an hour before it began. This panel was especially exciting to this blogger as the ArenaNet devs ran down a history of Guild Wars over the past three years, and told us a tiny bit of info on Guild Wars 2 that we'll be reporting on later. Check out the still-growing gallery below and stay glued to Massively for more of this weekend's PAX 2008 coverage.

Gallery: PAX 2008 General Gallery

MassivelyPAX08: Day two impressions originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenaneteventsguild-wars-2ncsoftpax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expowarhammer-onlineSun, 31 Aug 2008 10:30:00 EST