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 Trek Online's Season 5 content almost ready for prime time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/star-trek-onlines-season-5-content-almost-ready-for-prime-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/star-trek-onlines-season-5-content-almost-ready-for-prime-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/star-trek-onlines-season-5-content-almost-ready-for-prime-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Star Trek Online - Klingon ship
Another day, another Path to F2P dev blog from Star Trek Online. The 24th entry in the series takes the wraps off the game's newest content update, and the Season 5: Call to Arms patch is almost ready to see the light of day on the holodeck server. Season 5 boasts the new Borg invasion of Defera ground combat map, reworked Borg strategic task force maps, new non-combat Federation and Klingon Academy maps, a patrol mission revamp, and more.

Gameplay tweaks abound as well, with improvements to duty officers, space skills, and the leveling curve among the changes. Read the full list at the official STO website.

MassivelyStar Trek Online's Season 5 content almost ready for prime time originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>borgcall-to-armscrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgameplaynew-mapsnon-combat-gameplayperfect-world-entertainmentpwPWEsci-fiseason-5season-5-call-to-armsstar-trekstar-trek-onlinestoTue, 29 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Perfect World introduces The Trials content update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/perfect-world-introduces-the-trials-content-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/perfect-world-introduces-the-trials-content-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/perfect-world-introduces-the-trials-content-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Perfect World banner
Ready yourselves, Perfect World International players, because great trials are coming your way. The latest update to Perfect World Entertainment's trademark title brings players a new zone, known as Elysium Village, which will provide new quests and content for players level 100 or higher.

But the main attractions of the new update are the new Faction Trials, which are "a set of nine teamwork-based missions that will challenge even the most powerful faction." Up to 100 players can take part in each trial, and the ultimate goal of said trials is to prevent the ominously named Grand Demon Lord from breaking through to the Perfect World. These aren't the only new features being introduced with the update, so head on over to the game's official site to see the full details, and don't forget to check past the cut for a new trailer.

Continue reading Perfect World introduces The Trials content update

MassivelyPerfect World introduces The Trials content update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-updateelysium-villagef2pfaction-trialsfree-to-playpatchperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentperfect-world-internationalpwpwepwithe-trialstrailertrailersupdatevideovideosTue, 01 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

This week, the venerable Star Wars Galaxies celebrates its eighth year of existence. I was there in the beginning -- before the beginning, in fact. I did what a lot of you early SWG players probably did: I had a guild and a guild city, multiple accounts, a booming business as a chef, and a character who could entertain and fight. Even then, we realized how different SWG was from its immediate predecessors like EverQuest and Dark Age of Camelot. We'd returned to the earlier age of Ultima Online, of persistent worlds (as the term was used back then). It was more a world than a game, and in it we could roleplay whatever we liked, to a point. Nowadays, we'd call it a sandbox.

Old-school MMO gamers know well that the sandbox is under attack. Some will blame it on EverQuest, some on World of Warcraft, some on the free-to-play phenomenon. Among the Massively commenters, there's a large contingent of gamers who consider SWG's own NGE to be the beginning of the end of the classic sandbox. I can't say they're wrong when it comes to the philosophy governing new MMOs, but the sandbox isn't dead yet.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingeighth-anniversaryfeaturedgalaxiesgame-developmenthaters-gonna-hatejohn-smedleylucasartsluke-skywalkernew-game-enhancementsngenostalgiaopinionpersistent-worldpre-ngepwsandboxsmedleysoapboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgtcgthe-soapboxthemeparktrading-card-gameuncle-owenuncle-owen-experienceveteranswhinersTue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Perfect World and the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/behind-the-mask-perfect-world-and-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/behind-the-mask-perfect-world-and-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/behind-the-mask-perfect-world-and-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If I were to describe the emotions of the Champions Online playerbase regarding the Perfect World buyout, I would have to say "mixed." Some players are happy that the days of Atari are behind them, and some are really skeptical about the future of the C-Store.

CO is a fairly "pay-to-win" game in that Gold members have a lot of gameplay advantages over their non-subscribing counterparts. A lot of players are suggesting that the C-Store might become inundated with paid features and that we might possibly see the removal of certain free features (like global-purchased respecs).

I am cautiously optimistic about the whole thing. Perfect World Entertainment holds controlling shares in Runic Games, and if the recent Mac and console ports of Torchlight are any indication of PWE's approach to management, I'd be more than happy to welcome our new alien overlords.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Perfect World and the future

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Perfect World and the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataribehind-the-maskc-storechampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfeaturedfree-to-playperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplease-dont-break-my-account-morepwpwerunic-gamestorchlightzenThu, 02 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: Jade Dynasty at a glance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/e3-2009-jade-dynasty-at-a-glance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/e3-2009-jade-dynasty-at-a-glance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/e3-2009-jade-dynasty-at-a-glance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The third game in Perfect World's portfolio, Jade Dynasty, has been riding quietly in closed beta for a while. At this year's E3, however, the Jade Dynasty crew brought out their game and let us here at Massively take it for a test drive. They also hit us with an announcement as well -- Jade Dynasty will be jumping out of closed beta on June 15th, and a European server will be added in on that day as well.

Overall, Jade Dynasty pulls much from Perfect World's other games: Perfect World and Ether Saga Online. The click on map to automatically move feature, cosmetic cash shop, and large amount of in-game quests returns, but a few new features have been added in that make this game a very interesting experience.

Join us after the break as we break down Jade Dynasty's features, a few of which may be controversial for some gamers.

Continue reading E3 2009: Jade Dynasty at a glance

MassivelyE3 2009: Jade Dynasty at a glance originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>at-a-glanceautorunbottingclansdreaminge3-2009featuredguildsinvigorationjade-dynastyjade-dynasty-onlinejdjoystiqfeaturespathingperfect-worldpwThu, 04 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST