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[The Road to Mordor: Digesting E3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-road-to-mordor-digesting-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-road-to-mordor-digesting-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-road-to-mordor-digesting-e3/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Instead of being hit by one huge Lord of the Rings Online bombshell at E3, as some predicted, we were treated to a series of smaller yet gripping reveals that are sure to have a major impact on our gameplay in the future. We assumed that E3 would be all about Rise of Isengard for LotRO, and sure enough, it was.

Weeks like this are what we live for as fans. It's crazy to get a glut of information that we're expected to digest all at once, and it's so much fun too. I think Turbine probably has a few more reveals tucked up its sleeve about the expansion -- we still have four months to go, after all -- but this is a good start to the ramping-up period before Isengard releases.

So enough dilly-dallying; let's dig into it! What can we make out of all of these revelations? What does the pre-order mean for you? What were the highlights and what were the disappointments? Hit the jump and we'll take you on a legendary ride all the way to the gates of Orthanc itself!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Digesting E3

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Digesting E3 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonusescosmeticsdeale3e3-2011featuredlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamonster-playoutfitsphasingpre-orderpromotionpvmppvprelease-daterise-of-isengardsiege-of-mirkwoodstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-road-to-mordortrailerturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtuesFri, 10 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2011: A ride through LotRO's Rise of Isengard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/e3-2011-a-ride-through-lotros-rise-of-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/e3-2011-a-ride-through-lotros-rise-of-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/e3-2011-a-ride-through-lotros-rise-of-isengard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With the news that Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion, Rise of Isengard, was finally given a release date, it became our quest to hunt Turbine down at E3 and make the team give up the One Ring of Info. We spoke with a couple of the devs about the lands and wonders that we'll get to experience come this fall.

We began our journey at a village in one of the starting destinations in Dunland. It's there, Turbine told us, that an army had recently pulled out to fight the Rohirrim, leaving so-called "Oathbreakers" behind for you to handle. Players are tasked with figuring out what's going on and how these left-behind invaders will fit in with the local populace.

The devs told us that one of the recurring themes of LotRO's latest expansion is the influence of others on the Dunlendings. With the war stirring across the world, suddenly this isolated area has become a major thoroughfare for enemies and good guys alike, and both sides are seeking to woo the Dunlending tribes. If you're thinking "tug o' war," you're not far off.

Continue reading E3 2011: A ride through LotRO's Rise of Isengard

MassivelyE3 2011: A ride through LotRO's Rise of Isengard originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbellcreepsdunlanddunlendingse3e3-2011ettenmoorsexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewisengardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storemobile-questgiversmonster-playoathbreakersphasingpvmppvprise-of-isengardRohirrimsarumanturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtuesThu, 09 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Instance vs. open]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/the-daily-grind-instance-vs-open/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/the-daily-grind-instance-vs-open/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/the-daily-grind-instance-vs-open/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


So here's a battle for all of you readers out there. A good way, if you ask us, to wake up the morning. Do you prefer the way of the open, massive, uninstanced dungeon crawls? Or are you more of a modern day lover of the instanced method of dispatching monsters?

Now there are certainly advantages and disadvantages to both. Uninstanced dungeons create a very epic dungeon experience, as you can come across other small groups of players fighting against the hordes of monsters while you explore a huge underground space. However, uninstanced dungeons can sometimes mean overcrowding, lines to kill bosses, and generally non-immersive behavior.

Instanced dungeons, on the other hand, let players enjoy the content at their own pace with no kill-stealing and no lines. But instanced dungeons don't seem to have that same flair for adventure and unexpectedness as a non-scripted dungeon does. In short, it's like riding a pre-planned roller coaster rather than having a true dungeon adventure.

So what do you prefer? Let us know readers, let us know!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Instance vs. open originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-dungeonclassic-mmosdungeon-crawldungeonsinstancesphasingthe-daily-grindMon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is phasing the new instancing?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/the-daily-grind-is-phasing-the-new-instancing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/the-daily-grind-is-phasing-the-new-instancing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/the-daily-grind-is-phasing-the-new-instancing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Yesterday our very own Marc Nottke devoted his column, MMOGology, to the new technology of phasing and the effects it can have on gameplay.

For those of you who are out of the loop, phasing is the new technology that World of Warcraft (and Lord of the Rings Online, to some extent) makes use of to change the world as the player completes quests and progresses in the storyline. For example, doing quests to retake a piece of the world map from the monsters might actually lead to a new base camp being set up by NPCs instead of just completing the quests and having no change occur in the world.

But phasing has its own problems, as Marc has shown. Sometimes you may enter a phased state only to find that the event contained within it was started by another player, or you may find your epic storyline moment ruined by an inconsiderate person.

So, with all of this in mind regarding phasing, here's the question: "Is phasing the new instancing?" Certainly it won't replace instancing completely, but should we put phasing into the category of "great leaps in game design" or should we stick it somewhere in "fads that will die in 2 years?"

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Is phasing the new instancing? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddungeonseventsfadinstancinglotrommogologyphasingstorylinethe-lord-of-the-rings-onlineturbineworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 24 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Phasing phwns the phuture]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/mmogology-phasing-phwns-the-phuture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/mmogology-phasing-phwns-the-phuture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/mmogology-phasing-phwns-the-phuture/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It's been fascinating to watch MMOGs evolve over the past fifteen years I've been playing them. They started out as text based worlds populated by a few hundred people with over-active imaginations. Today they're a mainstream hobby endorsed by celebrities like Mr. T and William Shatner. Whoulda thunk?

As the genre has matured so have the parameters of what defines an MMOG. One of my biggest gripes with them has always been that the worlds we play in are too often static and unchanging. You feel as though your character and his actions never have any real or lasting effect on the world around him.

Thankfully that has begun to change with the recent advent of a technology dubbed as "phasing". For those of you that haven't played Blizard's Wrath of the Lich King, phasing allows players to view a changed version of their world based on triggering events like the completion of quests. It's amazing that it isn't more talked about because phasing has and will continue to change the way we experience dynamic storytelling in MMOGs.

Continue reading MMOGology: Phasing phwns the phuture

MassivelyMMOGology: Phasing phwns the phuture originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardfarewellfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesmarc-nottkephasingphasing-technologysingle-playerworld-of-warcraftMon, 23 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST