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[Star Wars: The Old Republic pits the Jedi Consular against the Imperial Agent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/star-wars-the-old-republic-pits-the-jedi-consular-against-the-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/star-wars-the-old-republic-pits-the-jedi-consular-against-the-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/star-wars-the-old-republic-pits-the-jedi-consular-against-the-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- SWTOR Imperial Agent
Ladies and gentlemen, this match is scheduled for one fall! In the blue corner, weighing in at 200 pounds of pure Force, we have the Jedi Consular. In the red corner, we have the conniving Imperial Agent. Who will come out on top? Well, that's for you to decide, but the folks at BioWare want to make sure everyone is making informed decisions.

In light of that, the studio has released a new Star Wars: The Old Republic video in which a number of devs (verbally) duke it out in hopes of proving that their class is the best class. So jump past the cut and check it out, then decide for yourself who comes out on top (protip: it's the Agent). Oh, and while you're at it, don't forget that you can now preorder The Old Republic peripherals, so if you're in the market for a new mouse, keyboard, or headset, you can declare your allegiance for the Empire or Republic with a new gadget. For the full details, hit the SWTOR official site.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic pits the Jedi Consular against the Imperial Agent

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic pits the Jedi Consular against the Imperial Agent originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agentbiowarechoose-your-sideconsulareaelectronic-artsiaimperial-agentjcjedi-consularkeyboardkeyboardsmouseperipheralsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorvideovideosFri, 02 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Razer puts the power of the Force in your hands [updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/razer-puts-the-power-of-the-force-in-your-hands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/razer-puts-the-power-of-the-force-in-your-hands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/razer-puts-the-power-of-the-force-in-your-hands/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Razer famously brought PC peripherals to the MMO market by giving the gamer the wildly popular Naga mouse. In celebration of the upcoming MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic, the manufacturer has launched four new accessories for the TOR gamer: a keyboard, mouse, headset, and mousepad.

The developers at BioWare have said that macros will not be available in game at launch, but apparently that will not stop the SWTOR Razer keyboard from allowing you to macro commands via its LED track-panel and 10 dynamic tactile keys.

The mouse sports 12 programmable thumb buttons, much like the Naga. If you have played any MMO with a Naga, you know that this mouse makes activating your special attacks easier and faster than reaching with your fingers over the keyboard. However, this mouse does have a slightly different case design than the classic Naga, and of course, displays either the Galactic Republic or the Sith Empire logo.

You can't have a Razer mouse without a SWTOR Razer mousepad (well, maybe you can). This mousepad is specifically designed to help the Razer mouse glide evenly over the surface and give you precise movement with the cursor.

Lastly, the SWTOR Razer headset yields 5.1 surround sound. Cutting someone in half with a lightsaber sounds best when you can hear it in 3-D sound.

After the break, check out the video by Razer showing off the SWTOR Razer keyboard.

[Update: Dover from Darth Hater spoke to Razer at E3. The full video interview is after the break.]

Continue reading Razer puts the power of the Force in your hands [updated]

MassivelyRazer puts the power of the Force in your hands [updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareEAElectronic-ArtsheadsetkeyboardLucasArtsmousemousepadnagaperipheralsRazerrazer-nagaStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrailervideoTue, 07 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are your MMO desktop necessities?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-must-have-mmo-necessities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-must-have-mmo-necessities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-must-have-mmo-necessities/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When it comes to settling in for a nice long session of gaming in comfort, everybody has certain things he can't do without. Personally, I've gotten so addicted to having two monitors on my desktop machine that I can't imagine not having the extra screen for chatting, work, looking things up, reading forums, or other things of that nature. I'm also very attached to my Razer Diamondback mouse, which has a couple of extra buttons for keybinds. Add to that some form of caffeinated beverage, a comfy office chair, and my favorite gaming headset, and I'm a happy camper.

This morning we wanted to ask what items in your desk setup you can't live without. Do you have a particular mouse or keyboard you think is best? Are you also a fan of multiple monitors? Perhaps your gaming corner includes a place to prop your feet up or something fancy like a combination mini-fridge and warmer? Drop down into the comments and tell us about the must-have items that make your particular gaming space a home.

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: What are your MMO desktop necessities? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comfortmorning-topicopinionpc-gamingperipheralstdgthe-daily-grindWed, 09 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: The deranged J. Peterman catalog knockoff edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/ask-massively-the-deranged-j-peterman-catalog-knockoff-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/ask-massively-the-deranged-j-peterman-catalog-knockoff-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/ask-massively-the-deranged-j-peterman-catalog-knockoff-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I remember when I first took on the role of writing Ask Massively, sitting on the patio of Shawn Schuster's Minnesotan lakehouse. It was twilight, the last rays of sun filtering through tumblers filled with pinot noir, the haze of extravagance and of gaming fading gently into the background. Shawn idly strummed a few bars of a melody on his '54 Stratocaster, then he looked at me and he asked me if I was ready.

Of course I was ready. I had always been ready.

He gave me a curio then, a keepsake. As his ancestors had handed it down through the generations, so it would now be passed to me, a talisman to remind me of the importance of writing.

Later that day, I tripped and splashed mud on the pants I was wearing, which I had been planning on returning.

(Today's edition is about peripherals, by the by. But I felt like a Seinfeld homage.)

Continue reading Ask Massively: The deranged J. Peterman catalog knockoff edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: The deranged J. Peterman catalog knockoff edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceask-massivelyfeaturedj-petermankeyboardmousemousepadperipheralsrazer-nagaseinfeldThu, 24 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: It's beginning to look a lot like I'm not getting a new keyboard just yet edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/ask-massively-its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-im-not-getting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/ask-massively-its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-im-not-getting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/ask-massively-its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-im-not-getting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I'm going to blame my guildmate Sindharin from World of Warcraft for this. She was the one who first gave me the push I needed to buy a Naga, and now I want the darn Anansi already, but I can't seem to order the bloody thing just yet. I just look at the pictures and it sits there, taunting me. Daring me with what I could do. And since I have to blame someone, I blame her. The other option involves personal responsibility.

Leaving aside what I'm definitely not getting as a present on Saturday, it's time for Ask Massively, and that means questions are being asked, because what is coming with the holidays is the chance to sit down with friends and family, or even just the time to start thinking about what you want to see from the gaming world next year. So hop on past the break, and you can feel free to leave your own questions in the comment field or send them along to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: It's beginning to look a lot like I'm not getting a new keyboard just yet edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: It's beginning to look a lot like I'm not getting a new keyboard just yet edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anansiask-massivelycarbine-studiosddodevelopmentdungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playguild-warsgwnagancsoftperipheralsrazerThu, 23 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Razer introduces two special edition MMO gaming mice]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/razer-introduces-two-special-edition-mmo-gaming-mice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/razer-introduces-two-special-edition-mmo-gaming-mice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/razer-introduces-two-special-edition-mmo-gaming-mice/#commentsFiled under: ,

Razer is releasing a couple of new Naga gaming mice designed for MMO fans, and before you protest that the company already did that, take a look.

Razer says that the first Naga mouse received a "phenomenal response," so the company has created two special edition versions: the Maelstrom and Molten. The Maelstrom has a "whirlpool of entrancing blue light emanating from its swirling core," while the Molten offers "lava-red fissures cutting a jagged path across the mouse."

They're pretty, but are they a good fit for MMO gamers? The Razer site has a decent overview and list of technical specifications. If you decide it's a must-have, the special editions will be available in November.

MassivelyRazer introduces two special edition MMO gaming mice originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>maelstrommoltennaganaga-gaming-mouseperipheralsrazerWed, 06 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Aika expands enemy loot list to include NVidia video cards [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/aika-expands-enemy-loot-list-to-include-nvidia-video-cards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/aika-expands-enemy-loot-list-to-include-nvidia-video-cards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/aika-expands-enemy-loot-list-to-include-nvidia-video-cards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If there are two things that MMO players love, those things would probably be killing enemies and getting prizes. (The third would be cheesecake of either variety.) Aika seems keen to capitalize on this, and the game is running a promotion for players through the 13th of the month allowing those two passions to combine into one. For the duration of the event, every time you kill a monster, you have a chance of winning a brand-new graphics card from NVidia.

The system for entry is simple. Any enemy fought within your level range will drop a token, which can produce one of two items. The first is an NVidia box which includes useful in-game items and certainly is nothing to sneeze at. The second is a raffle ticket, which automatically puts you in the drawing for one of the graphics cards, with more tickets meaning a better chance of winning a card. Aika players are also given a special page to track their entries, something that will no doubt become quite frequent as the event marches on.

[Update: We've changed up the graphic with the most current one per the folks at gPotato. Note, the event runs through the 13th, not the 18th!]

MassivelyAika expands enemy loot list to include NVidia video cards [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aikacardseventsf2pfree-to-playgala-netgpotatographics-cardsin-game-eventsin-game-promotionsnvidiaperipheralsprizespromotionsraffleTue, 05 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you have essential peripherals?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-essential-peripherals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-essential-peripherals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-essential-peripherals/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The funny thing about getting used to a new way of playing a game is that sometimes you just can't go back. Case in point: the Razer Naga. It's the sort of mouse that forces dedicated action bar clickers to start using hotkeys, and it's hard to start using one without getting deeply invested in the way that it feels in-play. After all, when you can free up your left hand completely for movement... suffice to say that it earns its moniker as an MMO mouse.

Sometimes it's a favorite headset or a particular keyboard with a familiar layout. We all get accustomed to the computer we use for gaming, but is there a specific piece of hardware that feels just plain vital to log on and play your favorite game? Is it something that notably improves your performance, or just a familiar item that's been a constant through your years of playing online?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you have essential peripherals? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsadditional-hardwareaddonsextra-hardwaregaming-preipheralskeyboardsmiceopinionopinionsperipheralstdgthe-daily-grindSat, 02 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pain vest is compatible with World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/pain-vest-is-compatible-with-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/pain-vest-is-compatible-with-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/pain-vest-is-compatible-with-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you've ever felt like you've experienced everything there is to do in World of Warcraft, and you're looking for something more, we may have the solution. The 3rd Space Vest from TN Games is a game accessory that players wear to let them feel damage as their characters receive hits. Fitted with eight pneumatic cells across the surface of the vest that push air at varying force levels, this peripheral literally lets you feel the pain, if you're into that.

This vest was first announced back in March, but this is the first time we're told it will actually be compatible with an MMO. What better MMO to dish out the pain than the one with the most players? This vest is only available in the UK currently, at the price of £149.99.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyPain vest is compatible with World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3rd-space-vestaccessoryblizzardpain-vestperipheralstn-gamesvestworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 03 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Gaming with a disability]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/player-vs-everything-gaming-with-a-disability/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/player-vs-everything-gaming-with-a-disability/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/player-vs-everything-gaming-with-a-disability/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Stephanie Walker was a gamer who had never expected to have to deal with a disability. She was 23 at the onset of her condition, a college student who also worked a full-time job. She liked to spend the little free time she had unwinding online. Initially resistant to the idea of playing EverQuest, Stephanie quickly discovered that slaying virtual orcs and bandits while joking around in party chat was surprisingly fun. It was a great way to keep in touch with long-distance friends and burn some stress after a long day. She didn't have a lot of time to play, but she was good at it when she did.

While working at her job one day, Stephanie noticed that her right hand and leg had fallen asleep. When she tried to get up to walk the sensation off, she realized that something was seriously wrong -- the entire right side of her body had just stopped working. Stephanie was rushed to the hospital, and the diagnosis was confirmed the following morning: she had multiple sclerosis, and she would have to deal with it for the rest of her life. Overnight, everything changed. She went from being someone who spent 20 hours per day away from home to someone who really never left. Moving around within her house required an enormous effort on her part. Even feeding herself had become a challenge. The little things, like not being able to get online and chat with her friends (something she really enjoyed) just made her situation that much more painful.

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Gaming with a disability

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Gaming with a disability originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>able-gamersaccessibilityblizzardcontrollerscraftingdisabilitydisableddisabled-accessdisabled-gamereverquestfeaturedflying-labfuncomgame-designguild-warsjoystiqfeaturesmultiple-sclerosisperipheralsplayer-vs-everythingsoftwaresoldiersoldiersveteransworld-of-warcraftMon, 28 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST