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[Age of Conan dev update outlines PvP changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/age-of-conan-dev-update-outlines-pvp-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/age-of-conan-dev-update-outlines-pvp-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/age-of-conan-dev-update-outlines-pvp-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Age of Conan game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison has posted his latest monthly development update, and the lengthy piece focuses heavily on the PvP side of the game. While class-specific balance fixes aren't given much lip service here (Morrison says they're addressed in each game update anyway, and are an ongoing process), Funcom is looking at quite a few changes to AoC's PvP component.

Morrison tasks lead systems designer Einar Forselv with talking about the specific goals, and he gives us a general look at what's on the dev team's plate. First up is the problematic minigame respawn mechanic, and Forselv says that Funcom is looking to make it more like the systems found in your average FPS as well as address the loopholes people use to perform AFK exploits.

Ranger tracking will also be "overhauled," which likely means a nerf since the feature is the subject of much QQ from the non-Ranger community. Siege performance changes are also on the table, as are stamina and aggro fixes, changes to animation and combat calculation interactions, and tweaks to the stealth system. Finally, this month's dev update mentions that new PvP world bosses are on the way to Hyboria, and teases the upcoming Savage Coast of Turan content that ties in with this summer's Conan film reboot.

MassivelyAge of Conan dev update outlines PvP changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedblood-and-glorycraig-morrisondev-diarydev-updateeinar-forselvf2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-mechanicspvppvp-world-bossesqqrangerssilirrionstealthtrackingFri, 29 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Morrison chats about latest Age of Conan development update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/morrison-chats-up-latest-age-of-conan-development-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/morrison-chats-up-latest-age-of-conan-development-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/morrison-chats-up-latest-age-of-conan-development-update/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Age of Conan's Craig Morrison has taken to the official forums for his latest monthly development update. While the proposed tweaks and additions are interesting in their own right, the epic amounts of PvP-focused QQ in the 18-page (as of press time) comment thread following Morrison's post can also be a fun read, depending on your perspective.

As for the updates themselves, they include a summation of progress on the new Call of Jhebbal Sag PvP minigame, a Christmas (sorry, winter solstice) event that features new quests and rewards, and further content additions. This last bit looks to be considerable, and Morrison touches on new Pai-Kang 6-man dungeons, new tier four Jade Citadel raids, a level 80 solo instance designed as a daily quest, and two new solo dungeons that will scale between levels 40 and 80.

If it sounds like a lot of PvE, it is, hence the temper tantrums from the I'm-canceling-my-sub-no-really crowd. Morrison, as he often does, actually responds to a good number of the comments in detail, and it's worth a read if you're interested in Age of Conan's near future.

MassivelyMorrison chats about latest Age of Conan development update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccall-of-jhebbal-sagcraig-morrisondev-diarydevelopment-updatefuncommonthly-updatepvepvpqqsilirrionwinter-festivalTue, 30 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Community update - The Musical]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/21/the-anvil-of-crom-community-update-the-musical/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/21/the-anvil-of-crom-community-update-the-musical/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/21/the-anvil-of-crom-community-update-the-musical/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Welcome back, intrepid readers. This week, the Anvil of Crom is going to crush our collective enemies, drive them before us, and hear the lamentations of their women. Also, I'll be singing today's column in the key of QQ, to the tune of Conan the Musical. OK, maybe not literally, but we will visit a place that seems to revel in over-dramatized lamentation, namely the forums! Yes, it's high time for another community roundup, that time-honored tradition by which I take a look at what Age of Conan's playerbase is currently up in arms about and add my fuel to the fire.

This time around, there are actually some constructive discussions going on in addition to the usual Craig-Morrison-broke-our-PvP wailing, so join me after the cut to see what's what in the meta-cloud surrounding Funcom's Hyboria.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Community update - The Musical

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Community update - The Musical originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromaoccommunitycommunity-roundupfeaturedforumsfuncomhot-threadshot-topicslamentation-of-the-womenopinionqqthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 21 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: To rift, or not to rift, that is the question]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/wings-over-atreia-to-rift-or-not-to-rift-that-is-the-question/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/wings-over-atreia-to-rift-or-not-to-rift-that-is-the-question/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/wings-over-atreia-to-rift-or-not-to-rift-that-is-the-question/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While discussing first impressions of the expansion and exploring the year in review in previous weeks, we touched on different changes brought about in Aion's Assault on Balaurea. From new lands, to solo instances, to increased kinah and XP rewards from quests, many changes have been heralded as positive and are enjoyed by the majority of Daevas. After all, who doesn't love more money?

However, one specific change stands out as an exception to this happy consensus: rifting. To say players have been expressive about the significant impact of one of the more unique and (dare I say) integral mechanics in Aion is putting it mildly. In game, on legion forums, and on the official boards (where the request for feedback thread stands at 96 pages and counting), Daevas are conveying their delight and their anguish, as well as playing a few rounds of the ever-popular blame game.

Has rifting gone the way of the dodo, or can it be brought back from the brink of extinction? Rift past the cut to see some thoughts and ideas on the matter and chime in with your own.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: To rift, or not to rift, that is the question

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: To rift, or not to rift, that is the question originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0aionaion-gameassault-on-balaureafeaturednc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpvepvppvpveQQriftriftingriftsWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 04 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The big business of selling virtual goods]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-big-business-of-selling-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-big-business-of-selling-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-big-business-of-selling-virtual-goods/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that the entire concept of people spending real money on virtual items and currency was just bizarre. The first mentions of such a thing this writer ever came across were back in 2003, when Julian Dibbell told the story of Black Snow Interactive, rumored to have been operating virtual sweatshops operating in Mexico. Fast forward to 2009 and the notion of shelling out real world cash for the ephemeral has become commonplace. Moreover, these formerly arcane business models centering around virtual trading have ballooned into a huge business, much to the chagrin of many game companies and their players.

However, not all companies attempt to fight this ever-increasing gravity of real money trading (RMT) that now permeates the MMO and virtual worlds industry, and some seek to make it an aspect of their business that they control rather than something they need to curb. Indeed, the profits of many (legitimate) businesses are largely derived from sales of virtual goods, as Rory Maher explains at paidContent.org in his article titled "From Pet Penguins to Flame Throwers: The Biggest Sellers In The Virtual World".

Maher looks at three companies doing well for themselves in the virtual goods game, and what they're selling that's proven so popular. He points out Tencent, a Chinese IM provider that incorporates microtransactions into the service, allowing users to spend their "QQ" currency to enhance and customize their IM interactions, even buying virtual pets that exist on their desktop and run around inside their instant messages.

Continue reading The big business of selling virtual goods

MassivelyThe big business of selling virtual goods originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-snow-interactivejulian-dibbellmicrotransactionsmobsterspetsplay-moneyplaydomqqrmtrory-mahertencentvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsyovillezyngaFri, 08 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TurpsterVision : Oh and one more Ding!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/turpstervision-oh-and-one-more-ding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/turpstervision-oh-and-one-more-ding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/turpstervision-oh-and-one-more-ding/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Even a God King can bleed!
Every Tuesday TurpsterVision is LIVE (kind of) right here on Massively! Take the 'T' from 'Tuesday' and the 'V' from 'LIVE', smash them together like its going out of fashion and you got yourself TV for TurpsterVision - the best video podcast LIVE right here on Massively!

Welcome back, it's been two weeks too long - though I blame that on the fact that its been time to party! Forgetting that, today is a special post, its a game close to my heart, and it isn't a review. It's World of Warcraft folks; there is no need to review it, what do you want me to say? Honestly, it's THE World of Warcraft, there aren't any imitations that even come close, well, maybe one. So I won't bore you with a 5 minute long video reviewing what we already know, instead I have made a 9 minute long video showing off my mad PvP/PvE skills in my recent DINGSTRAVAGANZA! (An event which saw my Shadow Priest finally tip the scales and join the big boys at level 70)

It is also a friendly plug/invitation letting you all know that I will be at the World Wide Invitational this weekend in Paris and if any of you guys are out there then I urge you to come seek me and my camera out and share the love!

Continue reading TurpsterVision : Oh and one more Ding!

MassivelyTurpsterVision : Oh and one more Ding! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arguably-funnydingdingstravaganzadwarvesfeaturedfunnygnomeslevel-6level-70parispew-pewplayer-raidpvepvpq-qqqraidingturpsterturpster-visionturpsters-dingstrava...turpstervisiontvwarcraftwell-i-think-that-its-funnyworld-of-warcraftwowwwiwwi-08Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST