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The Firing Line: PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby on the MMOFPS revolution

Jef Reahard — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, PlanetSide, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2, Sandbox, The Firing Line

Sony Online Entertainment has begun carpet-bombing media outlets with publicity relating to its upcoming PlanetSide 2 MMOFPS. The game has been in development for quite a while now, but up until very recently the devs have kept a low profile. Now the title's Twitter feed is exploding on a daily basis, awe-inspiring alpha gameplay videos are finding their way into the public eye, and interviews abound.

I managed to get creative director Matt Higby's attention for a few moments, and he's got some interesting things to say about PS2's upside. Would you believe that MMOFPS is about to become a new industry buzzword? Read on after the break.

Continue reading The Firing Line: PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby on the MMOFPS revolution

The Firing Line: PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby on the MMOFPS revolution originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Firing Line: Epic SOE memories on PlanetSide's ninth anniversary

Jef Reahard — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, PlanetSide, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, News items, Opinion, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2, Sandbox, The Firing Line, Anniversary

So PlanetSide is nine years old this week (nine!), and Sony Online Entertainment is journeying down memory lane to look back at its ground-breaking MMOFPS. The firm is of course hard at work on the sequel, but some of the devs have taken a time-out to share their favorite memories with us.

Though the word "epic" is overused in MMO discourse, it's a recurring theme here. Due to the size, scope, and sheer ambition on display in the original PlanetSide, it's actually appropriate too. While you're reminiscing with the devs, take a stroll through our side-by-side gallery that compares vehicles and equipment from the original PlanetSide with their counterparts in PlanetSide 2.

Gallery: PlanetSide vs. PlanetSide 2 comparisons

Continue reading The Firing Line: Epic SOE memories on PlanetSide's ninth anniversary

The Firing Line: Epic SOE memories on PlanetSide's ninth anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE games down Monday for 24-hour maintenance

Jef Reahard — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Pirates of the Burning Sea, PlanetSide, MMO industry, News items, Vanguard, Free-to-play, Free Realms, DC Universe Online, Family

We imagine that the word downtime makes Sony Online Entertainment employees cringe, convulse, and eye-twitch for hours on end after last summer's disastrous hacker-induced service outage. Happily, though, the next service interruption is planned, and we've got plenty of notice.

SOE will be performing maintenance this Monday, April 23rd, and the firm says that all of its game services will be unavailable for approximately 24 hours. The downtime starts at 3:01 a.m. EDT. Commerce transactions and account management functionality will also be affected, so you might as well cross all of your SOE-related plans off Monday's calendar.

SOE games down Monday for 24-hour maintenance originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Asheron's Call, Dark Age of Camelot, EVE Online, Final Fantasy XI, PlanetSide, Warhammer Online, Ultima Online, Free-to-play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, Final Fantasy XIV, Perfect Ten

In the increasingly diminishing field of subscription-only MMOs, two distinct camps have formed. There is the Old Guard that has its established playerbase and is simply not interested in jumping on board the F2P train, and then there are the New Kids on the Block (which would make an excellent band name, by the way), who argue that their premium features and AAA content warrant a subscription in the F2P age.

A few years ago, doing a list of the final few F2P holdouts would have been a ridiculous proposition, but now it's actually difficult to get to 10 of these. Each company has a different reason that it hasn't given these games more flexible payment options (FPO should replace F2P; pass it on!), and while some have addressed this publicly, others say nothing and leave us to speculate on it.

For today's Perfect Ten, we're going to look at the 10 biggest current F2P holdouts in the industry and muse about what's going on behind the scenes. Will this list be impossible to do in a few years or will subscription-only titles come back in a big way? Hey, I don't predict things; I just make lists.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts

The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Interviews, Previews, PvE, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Massively Event Coverage, 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

PAX 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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The Game Archaeologist: Bio break!

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Anarchy Online, EverQuest, PlanetSide, MMO industry, News items, Vanguard, Free-to-play, Everquest Online Adventures, The Game Archaeologist

Man oh man, why couldn't I just take a month or so off of this column without getting sucked back into it? Why must classic MMOs be so compelling and newsworthy these days?

I planned to take some time off of TGA while I went through Dark Age of Camelot in Choose My Adventure (which you're all reading, yes?), but there was so much to talk about regarding older MMOs that I couldn't sit back and stay mum. Ergo, I've dashed off this special "break" column devoted to commenting on recent news about classic games. Hopefully this will help tide you over until I get back into the full swing of things in April.

On the docket for today's discussion is Vanguard's forthcoming F2P change, EverQuest's recent conversion, Anarchy Online's stunning graphic engine video, and more!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Bio break!

The Game Archaeologist: Bio break! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Firing Line: A couple of PlanetSide 2 concerns

Jef Reahard — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, PlanetSide, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2, Sandbox

Now that the glow of PlanetSide 2's GDC demo reveal is a couple of weeks back in the rear-view mirror, I've had time to digest it all and adjust my expectations of the game accordingly. Nothing I saw from Matt Higby and company dampened my enthusiasm for Sony Online Entertainment's MMOFPS opus, but a few things I didn't see are niggling at the back of my mind.

Don't get me wrong -- PS2 is still at the top of my most-anticipated MMO list, but there are a few points of contention that could relegate it to the status of fun diversion instead of zomg-must-play-every-day title.

Continue reading The Firing Line: A couple of PlanetSide 2 concerns

The Firing Line: A couple of PlanetSide 2 concerns originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: PlanetSide 2's New Conglomerate Q&A

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Free-to-play, Community Q&A, PlanetSide 2

With the cold war in PlanetSide 2 quickly turning hot, potential players have to ask themselves: Which side will they join? Today SOE is making a bid on behalf of the New Conglomerate, painting them as the scrappy underdogs of the war with plenty of attitude to go around. We sat down with Creative Director Matt Higby to see if we could figure out what makes this faction tick.

Massively: As an introduction for new players, what's the philosophy behind the New Conglomerate?

Matt Higby: The New Conglomerate are an insurgent guerrilla force fighting against pretty stacked odds: an enormous military machine in the TR on one side and the vast technological superiority of the VS on the other. This forces the New Conglomerate to be adaptive, use creative tactics and take advantage of every possible opportunity they can to accomplish their goals. Their weapons run the gamut from conventional to experimental, and they're not willing to say no to anything that might give them an edge.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: PlanetSide 2's New Conglomerate Q&A

Massively Exclusive: PlanetSide 2's New Conglomerate Q&A originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reporting from the front: Marv Wolfman on the chronicling of PlanetSide 2's war

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Lore, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Massively Interviews, PlanetSide 2

Let's face it: First-person shooters aren't typically renowned for their intricate lore and detailed backstories. When you're mowing through a herd of alien bugs or a room full of terrorists with a plasma rifle and grenade launcher, "story" takes a backseat to "Boom! Headshot!" So why, then, is Sony Online Entertainment making a concerted effort to slather its upcoming PlanetSide 2 with a healthy layer of story?

To answer this, we sat down with famed comic writer Marv Wolfman, who has once again teamed up with the MMO studio to provide the backstory for PlanetSide 2 in the form of several short stories (the first of which can be read on the official site right now). Wolfman, who has been working on this project for several months already, sees story as essential to the game experience. "Sooner or later, you want to know why you're here and doing what you're doing," he explained.

The first PlanetSide had a paper-thin backstory that tended to escape the attention of most of the players, which is why SOE is trying to give this "reimaging" a solid grounding in lore. Sure, not every player cares about it, but for the ones that do, being able to read about the history of the world and the reason behind the conflict is important. PlanetSide 2 isn't just a mindless shooter to the company but a war with depth, meaning, struggles, and purpose. This is where Wolfman comes in to work his wordsmithing magic.

Hit the jump as we investigate the scope of these stories and how you wish you had a history class that covered war in such a cool way.

Continue reading Reporting from the front: Marv Wolfman on the chronicling of PlanetSide 2's war

Reporting from the front: Marv Wolfman on the chronicling of PlanetSide 2's war originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE enlists comic book writer Marv Wolfman to pen PlanetSide 2 backstory

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Lore, MMOFPS, Dev Diaries, PlanetSide 2

Comic book writer Marv Wolfman is taking a cue from his superhero stories to team up forces once again with a powerful ally -- in this case, Sony Online Entertainment. The writer, who last worked on DC Universe Online, has now returned to the studio to flesh out the backstory for the upcoming PlanetSide 2.

Wolfman is in charge of writing a series of fictional episodes depicting the life and history of the people of Auraxis and the rising war between the three factions of the game. He's pretty jazzed about the opportunity: "I'm thrilled to be working with SOE again. Not only do I get to take elements from the original PlanetSide and further develop an extensive backstory that can help players more fully understand this incredible new world, but even better, I get to create dozens of individual characters that I hope will help bring alive the story of PlanetSide 2 for the entire player community."

In a dev diary, Creative Director Matthew Higby stresses that it's important to have not just a solid game but a believable world in which that game can take place. "Beyond grounding the design of the world, the story gives meaning to who the people fighting on it are, how they got there, their motivations and what their conflict signifies," Higby writes.

The first of these episodes will be released on the PlanetSide 2 site later this week.

SOE enlists comic book writer Marv Wolfman to pen PlanetSide 2 backstory originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New PlanetSide 2 screenshots show troops in action

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, PlanetSide, Previews, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2

In our opinion, there can't be enough news about Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming PlanetSide 2 these days, which is why we'll enthusiastically shake hands with Tony Park if we ever meet him. Park heads up The9, the Chinese publisher for PlanetSide, and he's posted a couple new screenshots of the hot title on his blog.

These PlanetSide 2 pics show armor-clad soldiers getting into position for action. It's interesting to note the distinctive colors that will surely help teammates differentiate friend from foe.

We heard a lot about this sequel to SOE's PlanetSide at Fan Faire, including the trailer, a general overview of the game, and an in-depth look with the developers. You can eyeball the new pics in the gallery below!

Gallery: PlanetSide 2

New PlanetSide 2 screenshots show troops in action originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE offers bonus Station Cash for using game cards

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Pirates of the Burning Sea, PlanetSide, News items, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard, Free-to-play, Free Realms, Kids, DC Universe Online, Giveaways, EverQuest Next

Paying for subscriptions with a credit card is definitely fast and easy, but if you're a regular Sony Online Entertainment game subscriber, you might want to consider switching to a game time card this month! As a way of rewarding players for picking up and paying with universal game cards, Sony Online Entertainment is giving players $10 worth of Station Cash (1,000 SC) just for redeeming a $15 universal game card. The nice thing about these cards? They can be redeemed for either a month's subscription to an SOE game or 1,500 Station Cash. However, to get the bonus cash, you'll have to redeem your card between 3:10 a.m. EDT (12:10 a.m. PDT) on March 17th and 2:59 a.m. on March 21st (11:59 p.m. PDT on March 20th).

Along with getting an extra Station Cash reward for using a universal game card during those days, players will be entered into SOE's Luck of the Irish sweepstakes, the details of which should be out sometime this week. We'd also note that SOE's disclaimer indicates that the promotion is only available to gamers in the United States/District of Columbia and excludes Puerto Rico and other outlying territories. Keep your eye on the forums or the SOE Facebook account for all the sweepstakes information and official rules.

SOE offers bonus Station Cash for using game cards originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: The fansite

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, PlanetSide, Interviews, The Game Archaeologist

Famous PvPer George S. Patton once said that "The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other n00b die for his." We here at Game Archaeologist University applaud that line of thinking, especially when we want to be entertained. This perhaps explains the long-lasting appeal of PlanetSide. Another working theory is that Sony Online Entertainment is into witchcraft.

For an MMO I never gave much of a thought past "Huh, that's still around?" PlanetSide's surprised me with such a loyal -- and literate -- playerbase. Ever since starting this column, I've never received so many emails about an MMO. Memories and fearless love run strong in this community, and that intrigues me. What have I overlooked? Has PlanetSide proven that our ancestors' DNA contained the hybrid FPS/MMO gene, a gene that was passed down to a select group of winners?

In my quest to unwrap the formula of cult success, I first paid a visit to the folks over at PlanetSide Universe, one of the most established PlanetSide fan sites on the web. Hit the jump to have your mind blown -- and your internal organs donated against your will by a rocket launcher!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: The fansite

The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: The fansite originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest becomes ever after: A talk with Linda Carlson of SOE

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest, Culture, Interviews, Opinion, Humor, Miscellaneous

When it comes to getting involved with community, Sony Online Entertainment's Director of Global Community Relations Linda Carlson knows it well. Most often seen tromping around conventions dressed as her beer-craving Dwarven alter-ego Brasse, Carlson was a fixture at SOE's Fan Faire events and author of her own gaming comic long before she ever started working for the studio. As we had the chance to find out recently, this was due at least in part to EverQuest changing her life many, many years prior.

While these days meeting up with someone you've met online is considered fairly commonplace, when you look back to the earliest days of MMO gaming, it generally was not something many people did. Even if you did meet someone from "on the computer," they tended to be folks from one or another BBS -- local connections that were easily made and just as easily dismissed. The idea of not only meeting someone online in a romantic fashion but leaving the country you live in to see him/her was considered completely insane. "What if you don't get along? Or what if he/she is a murderer?" your friends might ask, since this was all really new territory and nobody quite knew what would happen. Still, some early MMO gamers like Carlson gathered up their courage and took that gamble.

In honor of Valentine's Day, we interviewed Carlson about how her EverQuest connection became an "ever after" -- join us after the break!

Continue reading EverQuest becomes ever after: A talk with Linda Carlson of SOE

EverQuest becomes ever after: A talk with Linda Carlson of SOE originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Soylent cake

Krystalle Voecks — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, PlanetSide, One Shots

All of our readers have their favorite MMOs -- and their favorite events in those MMOs. With that said, this has to be one of the more unique event occurrences in a game we've seen to date. Today's image comes to us from Captain1nsaneo, who loves to play Sony Online Entertainment's MMOFPS, PlanetSide. Not sure what those odd things are in the foreground? We'll let him explain:

"This is from PlanetSide, the best MMOG ever made (totally unbiased). This was from an 'event' where the backpacks left behind when players died were replaced with pie, cake, or donuts depending on which faction the deceased belonged to."

Or as his PlanetSide character put it: "Sure it's made of people. But I think you're overlooking the most important fact here: it's delicious."

We love to see strange and funny things going on around the MMOGsphere. If you've captured an image of a funny moment in your favorite MMO, you should email it to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy, and give you the credit!

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: Soylent cake originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE announces dates for Fan Faire 2010

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest, EverQuest II, PlanetSide, Events, real-world, The Agency, News items, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard, Everquest Online Adventures, Free Realms, DC Universe Online, PoxNora

For fans of Sony Online Entertainment's stable of MMO titles, the time has come once again to start making plans for Fan Faire. It looks like we'll all be heading back to Bally's Hotel in Las Vegas from August 5-8 for a weekend chock-full of all manner of crazy gaming fun with MMO friends.

This year, they're offering everything from day passes at $35 on up to a Platinum badge which -- for $135 -- will net you access to all events, plus an additional in-game item, a special swag bag boasting more than just regular Fan Faire goodies, access to a VIP lounge, and even private VIP events. Add to that the room discounts starting at $65 a night for a swanky hotel right on the main Vegas strip, and this could well be a great vacation that just happens to include the awesome fun of this year's SOE Fan Faire.

For now, there's no details on the schedule of events, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Alan "Brenlo" Crosby wedging people into t-shirts three sizes too small, as well as an appearance by of one of our favorite Dwarves. If previous years are any indication, this is a should-not-miss event for any serious SOE fan.

SOE announces dates for Fan Faire 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: I'ma chargin mah lazorz

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, PlanetSide, Events, in-game, One Shots, MMOFPS

Are you ready to rumble? Are your lazorz all charged up and ready? Do you have enough ammo to do what it takes to take the Massively staff down during the PlanetSide fragfest planned for later today? We certainly hope so! We already know that Massively reader Mason R. is ready, as he not only sent us the great screenshot above, but a cool edited variation too. If you haven't started your download or signed up yet, there's still time, though. Check out all the details about Massively's invasion of PlanetSide. We'll see you at 6:00 PM Eastern, recruits!

Do you have some cool screenshots you took (posed or otherwise) showing off an aspect of your world that we haven't seen recently? Perhaps you'll be snagging screenshots from today's PlanetSide event and would like to have your screens featured in our upcoming huge gallery of the event? Whatever the case -- just pop those screenshots and a description of what we're seeing into an email and fire it off to us here at oneshtos AT massively.com!

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: I'ma chargin mah lazorz originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: A view to a kill

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, PlanetSide, One Shots, MMOFPS

Several of the team members have been checking out PlanetSide in preparation for our upcoming "Come Frag Massively" event, this Saturday at 6:00 PM Eastern. What has pleasantly surprised several of us is just how good looking this game is considering it was released in 2003! Today's One Shots was snapped while standing a cliff, overlooking a base under contention. Of course, what this lovely, placid-looking screenshot doesn't show you is the nearby mech piloted by Music520, who blew this blogger straight off the map about ten seconds later! To say this is going to be a fun and exciting event is an understatement, we think. So if you're free this Saturday, be sure to grab a PlanetSide trial account and come have fun fragging the crap out of the Massively staff!

Do you have a screen you captured just before something ate your face? Perhaps you also have a funny story behind a screenshot? Whatever the case may be, we'd love to check it out! Just scribble down your story, attach your screenshot and send the whole thing to us here at oneshots AT massively.com!

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: A view to a kill originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Come frag Massively in PlanetSide!

Michael Zenke — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: PlanetSide, Events, in-game, MMOFPS, Massively Hands-on

Maybe you've disagreed with an article here on the site. Maybe you didn't like the way we covered your favorite game, or were too slow to jump on something you were really pumped about. Regardless, after reading the site for some nine months now, we'd bet you have at least one thing you'd like to get off your chest. Well, now's your chance. This Saturday we're going to give you the chance to put the leads, writers, and columnists of Massively.com in their place by fragging us to kingdom come.

In collaboration with Sony Online Entertainment a bunch of Massively staffers are going to hop into PlanetSide as a fourth army - we're going to be the bad guys. It's your job, then, as the loyal recruits of the New Conglomerate, the Terran Republic, or the Vanu Sovereignty to put us in our place. You can participate for free, even, and get a taste of what the gameplay in PS is like on an epic scale. Join us this Saturday at 6pm EST on the US server Gemini! For full details, read below the cut to find out how to grab the client and join in.

Continue reading Come frag Massively in PlanetSide!

Come frag Massively in PlanetSide! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planetside's two US servers merging

Michael Zenke — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, PlanetSide, Culture, MMOFPS

Early last month the small but dedicated fanbase for Sony Online Entertainment's Planetside learned that they'll be getting (in terms of pure acreage) smaller. The two current US servers, Markov and Emerald, will be condensed into the single server: Gemini. This was confirmed in a developer address to the players on the official forums. Some old Planetside players are getting invitations to return for a limited time; their accounts have been reactivated from now through May 21st.

This is partially about nostalgia, and partially a bid for character self-preservation. The merged servers will result in a lot of duplicated names, and characters that have been logged in recently will have precedence when it comes to claiming their name. Outfits (guilds) and characters that have been logged in within the last three months will have the highest chance of retaining their name; everyone else will be rolling the dice. Van Hemlock observes that this is likely a prelude to merging in the EU server Werner as well, which may well be the end of EU participation. Those extra pings when making the leap across the pond can't help in FPS PVP action.

Planetside's two US servers merging originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 May 2008 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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