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[DCUO's free-to-play rollout has begun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/dcuos-free-to-play-rollout-has-begun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/dcuos-free-to-play-rollout-has-begun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/dcuos-free-to-play-rollout-has-begun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DCUO
Last week, Sony Online Entertainment chose November 1st for the arrival of free-to-play in Gotham City, and that day is upon us. According to the DC Universe Online Facebook page, the F2P rollout has begun; consequently, the game is currently down for maintenance "and will be for some time." Says DCUO's RadarX:
It's incredible to see all this excitement surrounding Free to Play! We are still in the process of transitioning our systems and appreciate everyone's patience. We will have more information for you soon and a brand new website full of information about DCUO Free to Play.
PC players who want to get a jump on the download can do so through the SOE launcher. We'll keep you posted when the revamp of the game and site is live!

[Thanks to Eric for the tip!]

MassivelyDCUO's free-to-play rollout has begun originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelconversiondcdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuof2pfacebookfree-to-playlaunchradarxsoesony-online-entertainmenttransitionTue, 01 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive Interview: Terrorizing the Green Lantern with DCUO's RadarX]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/exclusive-interview-terrorizing-the-green-lantern-with-dcuos-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/exclusive-interview-terrorizing-the-green-lantern-with-dcuos-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/exclusive-interview-terrorizing-the-green-lantern-with-dcuos-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

It isn't often that I get the opportunity to play a game with someone who is actively working on it. Even more rarely do I get to play a game before it is released. So when Sony Online Entertainment asked whether someone at Massively would like a virtual tour of its newest innovation, DC Universe Online, how could I say no?

Community Manager Tony Jones -- or as most players on the DCUO forums may know him, RadarX -- met me on the sprawling streets of Metropolis (home of Superman), where the Sinestro Corps was absolutely convinced the Green Lantern Corps was draining the power of its rings. Sinestro and his gang began feeding off the fear of Metropolis citizens to empower the rings again. Now, when the Green Lanterns heard about this, of course, they attempted stop the terror, and RadarX, in all his villainy, couldn't let the Lanterns get away with that. I was invited to join in the fun.

My tour of the game gave me the chance to ask some questions about what's in store for the community in this exciting game, as well as the chance to beat up some good guys. Follow me after the break to ride along on my adventure!

Continue reading Exclusive Interview: Terrorizing the Green Lantern with DCUO's RadarX

MassivelyExclusive Interview: Terrorizing the Green Lantern with DCUO's RadarX originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainiaccommunitydcdc-comicsdc-universe-onlinedcuodev-tourfeaturedgreen-lanterngreen-lantern-corpshands-oninterviewjohn-stewartradarxsinestrosinestro-corpssoeSony-Online-Entertainmenttony-jonesWarner-BrosMon, 03 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PoxNora's big revamp tentatively scheduled for this week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/poxnoras-big-revamp-tentatively-scheduled-for-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/poxnoras-big-revamp-tentatively-scheduled-for-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/poxnoras-big-revamp-tentatively-scheduled-for-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The big revamp is almost here! RadarX -- you know, that friendly community guy -- recently made a post on the official forums announcing that the big revamp/update will be tentatively landing this Wednesday, Feb. 24th. Assuming nothing explodes, in just two more days PoxNora will have a newly streamlined stat system and shiny new user interface as well. There is a downside to this news, however, and that's an extended downtime on patch day. Expect the servers to be unavailable for about eight hours.

If you're wondering what all this talk of PoxNora and its big revamp is all about, check out our recent interview with Tony "RadarX" Jones about all the changes and improvements coming for current players and newcomers alike.

MassivelyPoxNora's big revamp tentatively scheduled for this week originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccgpoxnoraradarxrevampsoesony-online-entertainmentstrategytony-jonesturn-basedupdateMon, 22 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews PoxNora: Major updates and a website revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/massively-interviews-poxnora-major-updates-and-a-website-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/massively-interviews-poxnora-major-updates-and-a-website-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/massively-interviews-poxnora-major-updates-and-a-website-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's been far too long since we first had the pleasure of introducing readers to PoxNora. So long, in fact, that we contacted SOE to see about speaking with the good people in Tucson, AZ about their strategy game that incorporates card collecting, online persistence and progression mechanics into a delightful cocktail of an online game.

There's a lot of changes coming to PoxNora, changes that for the first time will be revealed in this interview with SOE Community Manger Tony "RadarX" Jones. A new website, a new Rune Manager, a new Champions stat system, new maps and hints at the future of PoxNora are just a few of the topics covered beyond the break.

Did we mention all these updates are coming within the next few weeks? Oh, we've also got shiny imagery.

Continue reading Massively interviews PoxNora: Major updates and a website revamp

MassivelyMassively interviews PoxNora: Major updates and a website revamp originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managerfeaturedinterviewmassively-interviewspoxnoraradarxrevampsoetony-jonesupdateuser-interfacewebsiteWed, 03 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A timeline of Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/a-timeline-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/a-timeline-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/a-timeline-of-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , ,


As Tabula Rasa approaches its final lap, the community retrospectives continue to arise, showcasing the best and worst that the game had to offer. Over at Ten Ton Hammer, they've compiled a short run-down which chronicles the rise and fall of NCsoft's failed sci-fi shooter.

Beginning in August of 2007, open beta rolled out, in what easily became tens of thousands of beta testers. Reviews for the game were mixed as the NDA lifted, and the polarizing opinions that later defined the game's community came out in full force. From there, the game suffered a few personnel changes and brought out its biggest guns when Richard Garriott announced a promotional tie-in with a space flight. This wasn't enough to keep the game afloat, as Garriott himself left the flock and the game's closure was announced 10 days later.

This article at TTH gives a brief timeline for the features and highlights of the game from early beta to now. It's worth a read if you're curious about the game's life, or want to simply look back fondly at its progression.

MassivelyA timeline of Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesncsoftradarxrichard-garriotttabula-rasaten-ton-hammertrtthWed, 21 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EQ2's GU46 patch notes meet the Pool Noodle]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/eq2s-gu46-patch-notes-meet-the-pool-noodle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/eq2s-gu46-patch-notes-meet-the-pool-noodle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/eq2s-gu46-patch-notes-meet-the-pool-noodle/#commentsFiled under: ,


You don't have to be crazy to read EverQuest II's Game Update 46's patch notes, but it helps. It also helps if you're Ten Ton Hammer's Coyote and RadarX, but I guess that's redundant? Read on for tales of brave shadow knights and their pink pool noodles, armor that loves you so much it hurts, and surprise colonoscopies via your faithful rhino mount.

[Ten Ton Hammer]

MassivelyEQ2's GU46 patch notes meet the Pool Noodle originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coyoteeq2eq2-gu-46eqiieverquest-2everquest-iihumorpatchesradarxten-ton-hammerMon, 23 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Tabula Rasa's leveling treadmill broken?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/is-tabula-rasas-leveling-treadmill-broken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/is-tabula-rasas-leveling-treadmill-broken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/is-tabula-rasas-leveling-treadmill-broken/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's no secret that MMOs operate on a finely tuned treadmill mechanic. The game offers players a succession of small goals, each of which provide the incentive for players to continue on towards the next goal, and so forth. The sustained success of games like World of Warcraft are attributable in no small part to the game's ability to continue to string the player along with new and more interesting goals. What happens though, when a game's system of rewards begins to break down? This is the question that TTH's RadarX explores in an editorial looking at Tabula Rasa's end-game. It's hardly a new question for fans of the game (additional end-game content ranked number 2 on our New Years Tabula Rasa wishlist), but the question is becoming more urgent as casual players finally catch up to their more hardcore brethren in the ranks of the Tier 4.

You'd have to believe that Destination Games is at least aware of the problem, it just becomes an issue of implementation. Looking at patch 1.4, with the announcement of a new level 50 instance, it seems evident that they're at least responding to the needs of those at the farthest end of the leveling race, but there's no immediate evidence that they're plugging in content in the middle. Probably the most promising sign was when they plugged in a whole new quest hub into the Palisades in a recent patch, but until they release the final patch notes for 1.4, we have no way of knowing whether the upper-middle level range will get the same treatment.

Where I disagree with RadarX is in his assertion that enemy density and the frequency of patrols should be toned down for areas like the Mires. Part of what makes Arieki so fun the first time around is the truly war-like atmosphere it generates. It only makes sense that in such a dense war zone, there would be areas that the Bane rule with an iron fist. I don't have a problem with areas like that encouraging more group activity, because frankly, it just suits the lore a heck of a lot better. Now if they just stuck in some quests for groups to do, I might stop by bitching all together and just get back to playing.

MassivelyIs Tabula Rasa's leveling treadmill broken? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ariekidestination-gamesend-gamegrindinglevelingpatch-1.4questsradarxtabula-rasatrtreadmilltthTue, 15 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST