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Exclusive Interview: Going global with Fallen Earth's PvP

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Interviews, Patches, PvP, Free-to-play, Massively Interviews, Post-Apocalyptic

Two of the biggest cornerstones of Fallen Earth have always been crafting and PvP, and its these cornerstones that GamersFirst is enriching come patch 2.4. The patch, called Global Territory Control, is taking these elements and firing them up in ways that any PvPer or crafter should find exciting.

We hopped on the phone with Associate Producer Asa Reed, Director of Operations Joe Willmon, and Senior Game Designer Marie Croall to talk about why 2.4 will be the patch that will change the wasteland forever -- and why you should anticipate it, whether you're a crafter or a player-killer.

Gallery: Fallen Earth Black Box Gear

Continue reading Exclusive Interview: Going global with Fallen Earth's PvP

Exclusive Interview: Going global with Fallen Earth's PvP originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst: SWTOR caused Dragon Age III delay

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, Star Wars: The Old Republic

There's been a lot of discussion following the recent EA earnings report in which the company announced that Star Wars: The Old Republic has 1.3 million subscribers, down from its previous 1.7 million mark. We've heard from the fans, the critics, and the studio itself -- now it's time for the analysts to contribute their side of the conversation. According to Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter, EA's investment in SWTOR has caused a delay in other projects at BioWare, particularly in Dragon Age III's case.

The analyst noted that Dragon Age III's expected release window was delayed, and he says this is due to the enormous undertaking of SWTOR. "We believe that a significant portion of the BioWare team responsible for the game was reassigned to Star Wars in order to create content and fix bugs to keep the game's audience engaged," Pachter said.

Delay or no, Pachter is upbeat about EA's future, especially in light of the earnings report's news that the company turned a profit. He says that the company will continue to grow, make money, and be a good bet for investors.

Analyst: SWTOR caused Dragon Age III delay originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pathfinder Online developer blog outlines the path of production

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, Sandbox, Crafting

Everything comes from somewhere. That's one of the axioms underpinning Pathfinder Online -- almost every single object that players see will have been produced by a player. In the most recent development blog, the process for gathering and producing items is outlined, and it bears all of the detailed hallmarks of the game's other systems. This isn't a game in which players grab a pickaxe and swing at the nearest rock face for ore; instead, you construct a camp and start up an entire mining operation.

The game has a basic three-tiered structure to its non-combat operation, starting with harvesting the resource, moving on to processing and refining the items in question, and finishing with crafting a usable item. And as an outgrowth of the game's open systems, these elements work in multiple directions. Starting a camp to harvest resources, for example, can generate a lot of commotion and attract hostile monsters, necessitating that players deal with the fallout or find someone else willing to do so. No one can accuse the designers of making crafting activities a secondary goal with this degree of detail involved.

Pathfinder Online developer blog outlines the path of production originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE's Matt Higby talks PlanetSide 2 resources, territory control, and more

Jef Reahard — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2

PlanetSide Universe and Auraxis Global Network got together with PlanetSide 2 creative director Matt Higby for a two-hour interview session last night. If you missed it, the full video chat is available after the cut below.

Higby and the AGN crew covered a lot of territory relating to Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming MMOFPS. Topics included the Engineer class, urban combat, and the territory and resource control systems. Higby also had plenty to say about the general philosophy behind PS2, and how the dev team is focused on refining the gameplay of its predecessor rather than reinventing the wheel.

"One of the things that we're trying to do with the game is reduce downtime, reduce a lot of the maintenance things that you had to do that were kind of inconvenient. We're not removing logistics or strategy [...] but trying to lessen those maintenance tasks that are less enjoyable as much as possible," Higby explained.

Continue reading SOE's Matt Higby talks PlanetSide 2 resources, territory control, and more

SOE's Matt Higby talks PlanetSide 2 resources, territory control, and more originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose My Adventure: Seriia

Larry Everett — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Polls, Screenshots, Opinion, Choose My Adventure, RIFT, Miscellaneous

If you missed the results from the vote in last week's Choose My Adventure, then you would not know that female Eth DPS Cleric won the votes. I did not make the livestream schedule last week, which was totally my fault. I apologize. However, I did go ahead and do a stream on my Justin.TV channel that you are welcome to watch. In that video, the viewers and I created the character you see above here. She is named Seriia. She lives on the Faeblight server and currently wanders near the Ark of the Ascended in Freemarch. Feel free to add her to your friends list and say hello when you see her online.

I did enjoy my first steps in RIFT, but as with any MMO experience there were ups and downs. As you can see, I documented parts of the story with screenshots in the gallery below. I can certainly see why RIFT appeals to many MMO players, but at the same time, multiple facets of the game could turn some players off. But I don't want to talk about that on this front page. Jump past the cut as I weave the tale of Seriia, the Chosen.

Gallery: CMA: RIFT

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Choose My Adventure: Seriia originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet War's open beta features contests, in-game prizes

Jef Reahard — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Contests, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Miscellaneous

Planet War's beta phases are moving right along, and today marks the start of the sci-fi browser title's official open beta. Getting in on the action is as easy as navigating to the game's official website and signing up for a free account.

There's no download (and no cost, as Planet War is free-to-play), so there's really nothing stopping you from checking it out. What sets the game apart from the legions of other browser games clamoring for your hard-earned free time? Contests, basically, and YooGames is running a lot of them during the buildup to the title's official release. According to the company's latest press release, "events include building the largest army of commanders, racing towards the best technology, and so much more."

Head to the official Planet War website and get your free account to see exactly how much more.

Planet War's open beta features contests, in-game prizes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castlot browser game to feature sabotage mechanics

Jef Reahard — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser

Looking for a unique new browser MMO? If so, you might want to check out Castlot, the latest title to be added to the ClapAlong delivery platform. Castlot is a fantasy MMO set during the sixth century amidst Britain's struggles with Saxon invaders.

The game features two factions as well as mechanics that allow for sabotage, scheming, and all manner of dastardly tricks against your enemies. A new Castlot press release outlines one possible scenario which revolves around releasing a goblin into an enemy player's annexed land. Said goblin will allow you to steal your target's resources, the better to stockpile your own supply of crops and upgrade your castle.

On the other hand, goblin infiltrators may be countered by the placement of traps, so you'll want to think carefully when it comes to strategy and tactics. Castlot features a mix of turn-based and real-time combat, and the game will be hosting a public beta phase later this month.

Castlot browser game to feature sabotage mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE devs brainstorming nullsec changes

Jef Reahard — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Dev Diaries, Sandbox

EVE Online players have been quite vocal in their disdain for CCP's recent focus on cash shop items, Aurum, and promotions like EVE is Real. The conventional wisdom in some quarters is that the devs are neglecting to work on things that made the sandbox game great and are instead branching off into the netherworld of RMT and social networking.

Enter CCP's latest dev blog, which seeks to convey the message that work continues on New Eden proper -- with particular energy being directed toward EVE's nullsec experience.

CCP Greyscale says that Team BFF has basically set aside discussions of nullsec sovereignty in favor of resource- and industry-based brainstorming. Though much of the blog post is highly theoretical, it's nonetheless interesting to get a brief glimpse behind the curtain, and it's also somewhat reassuring to see that the designers remain focused on the sandbox rather than on how people are paying for it.

EVE devs brainstorming nullsec changes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planetside 2 to feature persistent territory control, huge battles, and player-generated content

Jef Reahard — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2

Sony Online Entertainment's big Planetside 2 announcement came and went last night, and while we don't have a release date as of yet, we do have a trailer, plenty of screenshots, and a fairly detailed fact sheet and official press release thanks to the folks at Fan Faire.

For you rookies, Planetside 2 is a re-imagining of the popular MMOFPS, and SOE is deploying its new Forgelight MMO engine in order to make thousand-player online battles a reality. Planetside 2 will feature three factions that will seem familiar to long-time fans, and players will be able to choose between the Terran Republic, the New Conglomerate, or the Vanu Sovereignty before heading off to the kill zones. Choice also plays into Planetside 2's character advancement, as the game boasts what SOE is calling a "free-form class-based system" complete with skill trees and unique combat roles.

Weapons, vehicles, and outfits are all customizable, and SOE's fact sheet also drops a curious player-generated content hint relating to the game's mission system. "Both SOE and players will be able to drive content, easing new players into the game and allowing veterans to feed content to players," says the press release.

Finally, Planetside 2 will feature that rarest of MMO prizes: a reason for all the fighting. The core gameplay revolves around holding territories and controlling resources (as opposed to just a match timer). "Battles will last for days or weeks, and finally taking control of the base means it's yours until someone can take it back," SOE says.

Planetside 2 to feature persistent territory control, huge battles, and player-generated content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose My Adventure: I've been digging on the homestead...

MJ Guthrie — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Game mechanics, New titles, Opinion, Massively Meta, Hands-on, Choose My Adventure, Xsyon, Post-Apocalyptic

All the live long day! Sing it with me now...

There really is something to be said for creating your own world. How many of you gamers out there have just ached for a MMO game in which you could truly affect the world instead of rolling along on a predestined path that is the same for everyone? As I delve deeper into Xsyon, that is what I find -- a world where my actions have real meaning. A world where we can change not only the political and economic landscapes but the literal landscape.

For Choose My Adventure this week, you, the Massively readers, decided that I shall work on my architecture skills and place a homestead (thereby allowing me to terraform). This really highlights some of the most unique features of the game. Although I dove into these new tasks with gusto, I now know why olden-day manual laborers sang songs during their work -- there is serious need of brain stimulation during long, monotonous labor. And building a new world from the ground up is seriously a long and slow process. If nothing else, Xsyon is not a game for the instant-gratification crowd. Which is all the better, in my opinion.

For a deeper look at terraforming, crafting, and general life in the Tahoe Basin, build a bridge over the cut and check out where our adventures led this week.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: I've been digging on the homestead...

Choose My Adventure: I've been digging on the homestead... originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lost Pages of Taborea: Finding time to play Runes of Magic

Jeremy Stratton — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic, Lost Pages of Taborea, Guides

Ever since my semester started up, I've had to learn new ways to budget my time. My schedule cuts right through the middle of every day, which is both good and bad. I don't have to get up at an obscene hour for class, and I'm not in school through the night. It still makes it hard to play Runes of Magic and other MMOs, though, as it chops my free-time up into short, interspersed chunks. I initially found some ways to satiate my gaming addiction by -- gasp -- playing Perpetuum.

Games like Perpetuum -- and I suspect EVE Online -- have some nice pacing that allows me to go semi-AFK while I work on homework, articles or whatever. I can find safe places with large ore deposits, lay down a large container, and mine for 30 minutes at a time or longer. I'm still visiting the world of Taborea on weekends, and I make quick pit-stops during the week to check up on my fellow guild members, but I realized during my last visit that there are some nice ways for the returning college student to get in some game time and get his or her school-work done.

If you find your having trouble balancing work, school and life with RoM, you might find some satisfaction in the long term pet, guild, crafting, and skill-building goals.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Finding time to play Runes of Magic

Lost Pages of Taborea: Finding time to play Runes of Magic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Community check-up

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor

It's a quiet week around these here parts, what with the Thanksgiving holiday in NA and the lull before the November Update hits on the 29th. As such, I thought it'd be a great time to catch up on the current state of the community, especially as we've seen so many new bloggers and sites and podcasts arrive on the scene in the past year.

I've always said that Lord of the Rings Online is truly blessed with not just a stellar community but an active one as well. Some MMOs see very little in the way of fan-created sites, keeping most of the community action centered on official forums and the like. However, when it comes to LotRO, we have not only the MyLotro.com blogs set up by Turbine, but a cornucopia of web delights fashioned by hard-working players.

So to say "Thanks!" to this wonderful community, today I want to highlight some of the best LotRO resource websites, blogs and podcasts that consistently go above and beyond in making our slice of the MMO landscape a delight to visit.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Community check-up

The Road to Mordor: Community check-up originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lost Pages of Taborea: Resource acquisition

Jeremy Stratton — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Professions, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic, Lost Pages of Taborea, Guides

Way back when Runes of Magic was still young and learning to fly, there was only one way to obtain resources: Find a resource node and click it. Come to think of it, I've always chopped wood and gathered herbs, but what's the proper verb for obtaining ore in MMOs? In any case, the tried and true method of clicking on resource nodes has always worked for RoM. It's just that recipes take a lot of resources, which used to mean a lot of gathering. Seriously. A lot.

I've written about the state of RoM's crafting system before, but many updates have come along since then. While the large amount of resources needed to craft items hasn't changed, the many different ways of obtaining those resources have. In this article I cover all the new ways you can get your grubby little mitts on a crafter's best friend.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Resource acquisition

Lost Pages of Taborea: Resource acquisition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer producer's letter talks ORVR changes

Jef Reahard — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Warhammer Online, News items

Warhammer Online producer Carrie Gouskos has checked in with her monthly producer's letter, and the update has quite a few things to say about the two-year-old title's immediate future. First on the docket is a mention of the upcoming RVR pack, which will be bringing the new playable Skaven race, a Skaven-area play field, armor sets, and a renown cap increase.

Gouskos also talks at length about the new ORVR changes, which "represent a holistic attitude shift in our current gameplay offering within a single zone." Players will fight over battlefield objectives, which in turn will produce resource carriers that travel from the objective to their warcamp. The resources will be added either to the warcamp owner's total or the opposing force's total if they manage to intercept the carriers.

Resources will level your keep, and each level will provide corresponding benefits that aid in the destruction of your enemy. Check out all the details at the Warhammer Herald.

Warhammer producer's letter talks ORVR changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: Dilov & Hristov on the systems of Earthrise

Krystalle Voecks — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, New titles, Massively Interviews, Earthrise, Post-Apocalyptic

With an open PvP model, a rich crafting system, and a sumptuous art style, Masthead Studios' upcoming sci-fi post-apocalyptic game, Earthrise, has been gaining more and more interest from our readers. From everything we've seen of the game to date, this title will offer some interesting options in terms of how one chooses to play through the world. That's why, when we were given the chance to ask some questions of Momchil Dilov, Lead Writer and Plamen Hristov, Senior Game Designer on Earthrise, we were happy to do so.

For those not familiar with the game, you'll want to check out the interview noted yesterday, then join us behind the break as we ask about different systems such as crafting, PvP sieges, the importance of guilds, customization, character penalties, and more!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Dilov & Hristov on the systems of Earthrise

Massively Exclusive: Dilov & Hristov on the systems of Earthrise originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy crafting detailed

Jef Reahard — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

If you're looking for a space-based MMO with lots of pew pew and seat-of-the-pants piloting, Black Prophecy is probably already on your radar screen. If you're looking for a space-based MMO that has a bit of crafting complexity, take a second look at the upcoming free-to-play MMO from Reakktor and Gamigo.

In addition to modular ship-building, Black Prophecy also features a traditional crafting system for ship and station components. The game boasts three resource types: metal, plasma, and gas. Metals, as you'd expect, make up modules and weapons, whereas plasma serves as the crafter's source of power. Gas is required for high-performance computer production and for the ubiquitous hyperspace drives. All three resources can be salvaged from space junk as well as procured from successful missions.

How do you put all these parts together to construct the ultimate interstellar interceptor? With blueprints of course, which are found in the wreckage of old starships. Once blueprints have produced a module, they can't be reused. If crafting fails, however, you get to keep the blueprint (but not the resources) and try again. Finally, Black Prophecy's crafting system will feature optional items called constructors. These units are used during the crafting process to enhance success chances or shorten construction time, and may be modified or repaired by players.

Gallery: Black Prophecy Crafting

Black Prophecy crafting detailed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Anvil of Crom: We built this city

Jef Reahard — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Opinion, The Anvil of Crom

While we didn't quite built our guild city on rock and roll, we did use the blood, sweat, and tears (not to mention curses) that resulted from several weeks of dedicated resource gathering and guild-bank raiding. Come to think of it, we did use a metric butt-ton of rock to build it, so the fact that you're now singing Starship's 1980s anthem isn't all for naught. You're welcome.

Anyhow, building a city in Age of Conan isn't for the faint of heart. I've been promising to talk about it for nearly a month now and continually pushing it back because that's about how long it takes for a tiny guild (currently four active members) to build anything worth talking about. Happily, tier two is nothing to sneeze at, and we've now got a satisfying sprawl covering a sizable portion of the southern Purple Lotus Swamp. Our city, resting behind some rather enormous sandstone walls, features everything from a well-fortified keep, to all the crafting facilities and a trader, to a large contingent of NPC guards, nobles, and (because it's Funcom) hookers.

Read on to discover the pai... er, fun that is Hyborian city-building, and don't forget to check out the gallery below.

Gallery: Age of Conan guild city building

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: We built this city

The Anvil of Crom: We built this city originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dawntide releases latest beta patch notes

Jef Reahard — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, Patches, News items, Dawntide

Dawntide, the ambitious sandbox title from Working as Intended, has released the patch notes for version 3.0.5, which also happens to be the very latest build of the world of Cieve. The title is currently in extended beta testing, and the client is being updated fairly frequently, as evidenced by a mere six days elapsing between the last two patches.

This week's changes include a major reworking of resource locations throughout the game world, various boat bug fixes including physics and dropped passenger issues, and changes to hit points, mana, and endurance. "[We've] rebalanced hit points, mana, and endurance. All attributes now contribute towards at least one of the these, and you will always have a minimum of 20 of each, even if your attributes are reduced to zero," writes WAI's Wiz on the game's official website.

Check out the full patch notes here.

Dawntide releases latest beta patch notes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE players to tap new resources with Dominion expansion

James Egan — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Game mechanics, Guilds

Big changes are on the horizon for EVE Online in the Dominion expansion and beyond. Alliance sprawl in 0.0 security (lawless) space is going to be curbed, in favor of a new paradigm where alliances claim less territory but can derive much greater value from what they hold sovereignty over. This is the focus of a dev blog from EVE Game Designer CCP Chronotis -- "The Streams Must Flow".

Streams in this case refers to EVE's various revenue streams which are going to be altered in the coming months, and how this will affect players in 0.0 alliances. In the past, supporting a large number of players required an alliance to draw upon the resources of many different solar systems, specifically high-bounty pirate NPCs and valuable ores in addition to a very high passive income from rare moon minerals. CCP is adjusting how those rare minerals are used in Tech II production, meaning more common materials will be used, so Dominion will allow alliances to upgrade their controlled space as a means of generating more income.

Continue reading EVE players to tap new resources with Dominion expansion

EVE players to tap new resources with Dominion expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earthrise lead game designer on core concepts and game mechanics

James Egan — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Economy, Game mechanics, Interviews, New titles, Crafting, PvP, Politics, Earthrise

One of the independent MMOs in the works that interests Massively is Earthrise, being developed by Masthead Studios in Bulgaria. We came across an Earthrise interview at OnlineWelten by Anja Gellesch, originally in German but translated into English. Masthead's Lead Game Designer Apostol Apostolov gives a well-worded introduction to the premise of the game and its "post-post-apocalyptic" setting, but there's plenty of details to be found in the interview as well.

He discusses player choice in the game, how some will opt to join a faction while other players remain neutral in the struggle between the technocratic elite Continoma, and the shadowy resistance movement Noir. Apostolov also mentions that there are 20 different zones spread across the game's island setting of Enterra.

Continue reading Earthrise lead game designer on core concepts and game mechanics

Earthrise lead game designer on core concepts and game mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daze of Darkfall week 4: The terror of Agon pt. 2

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Culture, PvP, Opinion, Hands-on, Humor

The second hamlet: Wherein we learn that fire is hot

We rode onwards to our next target when suddenly a fireball roared towards Wardragon, barely missing him. The next hamlet had already seen us, and a fire mage was casting spells from atop the main keep. We rode onwards, splitting up our formation to avoid the incoming fire (literally.)

Once again, we quickly cleared the hamlet of everyone, except the fire mage, and three of our men started to clean out their quarry and their farm. The other three of us played an annoying game of cat and mouse with the fire mage who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, keeping his interest while we cleaned them out and put their stuff into the bank.

Once again successful, we jumped on our mounts and rode towards the sea. The last hamlet was on an island out from the mainland, so we reached the beach and jumped off of our mounts to swim across. It was here that our trailing 6th man reported that he was being followed by the people from the last hamlet. They were apparently angry, and concerned about the security of their shit.

Wardragon noticed a smaller, desolate island on the map that was close to us, and we used that ground to make our stand. Initially we had counted 6 men in the force... then that was 8 men... then it was 12 men. Arrows were being flung from all sides as we darted between broken buildings. I peeked out from around a corner only to catch a sword to my chest from... Pluto Nash?

Hamlets one and two had teamed up to end our reign of theft and tyrrany -- combining their forces to out-man ours. I danced around on the beach for a while with Pluto, who was now wearing a very nice sword and a full set of banded armor, jumping and parrying his blows while I asked for help over Ventrilo. Wardragon came to my aid, but it was too late. With one last slash I fell over onto the ground while Wardragon picked up where I left off.

The end of an era

While I lay on the ground, coughing up blood, I thought back on all of the things I had seen and done in Darkfall. All of the harvesting, and then more of the harvesting, and then all of that time grinding PvE mobs, then more harvesting, then killing newbies, then more harvesting, then admiring my city, then AFKing on the bloodwall, AFKing on the bloodwall, AFKing on the bloodwall...

Dying here was actually more fun than most of the things I had done in Darkfall. There was more action in one 30 minute stretch than my entire playing experience, and I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that. Plus, as I lay there dying, I was about to lose most of the work that I had done during those long stretches of playtime.

Darkfall is an interesting game that varies between an intense grind and a game of cat and mouse. It is competitive and brutal in its nature, where only those with large amounts of time or a willingness to cheat the system prevail. On the flip side, however, when it all comes down to a battle or a clash of forces, Darkfall gets to be quite fun. I guess what remains is a very Machiavellian question -- "Do the ends justify the means?" Is it fun if the culmination of hours of tedious gameplay is an extremely fun sequence?

Dear readers, I'm not touching that question with a 30 foot pole. As for that battle, I'm sure you're wondering about the outcome. Did Wardragon and his men win the battle? Or did they die horribly like I did? Well, I don't know much about that, but I can say that I love my new set of banded armor. My compliments to the designer -- Mr. Pluto Nash.

The Daze of Darkfall week 4: The terror of Agon pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daze of Darkfall Week 4: The terror of Agon

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Culture, PvP, Opinion, Hands-on, Humor

It's the last week already? Well that went fast! It seems like only yesterday when I woke up in a daze to find my computer had "Thank you for purchasing Darkfall, n00bcakes!" splashed across its screen. Yet, here we are, four weeks later! My clan's city now looks like a real place of habitation instead of a pile of smashed rubble, combat is starting to become more commonplace than one attack every week, and I'm actually wearing armor instead of being naked most of the time. Amazing how things change over time.

This week's events seem to all come down to one sentence: "Are you concerned about the security of your stuff?" (NSFW) You should be concerned, as my clan's warbands were taking what they wanted from cities and hamlets, all with me in tow. What happens when I get exposed to "hardcore PvP?" Well I guess you'll just have to read and find out.

Continue reading The Daze of Darkfall Week 4: The terror of Agon

The Daze of Darkfall Week 4: The terror of Agon originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earthrise devs on player controlled resources

James Egan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Forums, Game mechanics, Guilds, New titles, Earthrise

Although the game is still in its early beta stages, the Earthrise developers at Masthead Studios have been very proactive about discussing the post-apocalyptic title with the community. They've been dropping breadcrumbs each week about Earthrise's features and game mechanics, not giving too much info on the title, but enough to form a clearer picture of what Earthrise will be like. This week, they're focusing on player-controlled resources.

Earthrise community manager Moll explains that the game's rare resources will be used in many different scopes of activity, ranging from crafting gear and vehicles to building and enhancing structures in conquered territories. As to the latter -- building bases and command centers -- player organizations will need to make some tradeoffs.

Continue reading Earthrise devs on player controlled resources

Earthrise devs on player controlled resources originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earthrise PvE gameplay to give competitive edge in PvP

James Egan — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Economy, Game mechanics, PvP, Quests, PvE, Earthrise

For a game that's still in closed beta, the team at Masthead Studios has been communicating with Earthrise fans quite regularly about the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO. Their "Question of the Week" forum always dishes out new info about Earthrise. This week is no different and the devs explain how PvE gameplay can give Earthrise players a competitive edge in PvP.

Players will be able to progress through storyline quest chains, alternately focusing on combat, crafting, and exploration. Although Earthrise will have a player-driven economy, Masthead Studios writes, "At its foundation, however, it is dependent on the constant supply of resources that are directly connected to PvE gameplay. Many of the missions will be built around the constant competition around resources."

Continue reading Earthrise PvE gameplay to give competitive edge in PvP

Earthrise PvE gameplay to give competitive edge in PvP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard gives preview of the Isle of Conquest battleground

James Egan — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Patches, Previews, PvP

Blizzard community manager Nethaera has announced some more details of the new battleground coming to World of Warcraft with Patch 3.2, Call of the Crusade.The "Isle of Conquest" will be a new place for Horde and Alliance to face off in forty-vs.-forty PvP across different locations offering their own unique challenges and rewards.

Blizzard has put together a preview site for the Isle of Conquest explaining about the battleground and its objectives and resources that the Horde and Alliance will struggle over. Each location will have a certain advantage, ranging from Glaive Throwers and Catapults to an airship that allows players to parachute into the enemy keep. Have a look at the Isle of Conquest preview site for more on what to expect from Call of the Crusade's battleground.

One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

Blizzard gives preview of the Isle of Conquest battleground originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy interview details impact of clan resources on PvP

James Egan — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Economy, Game mechanics, Guilds, PvP, Black Prophecy

Fans of sci-fi MMOs looking for something a tad less complex than EVE Online have much to look forward to in the coming months and years, first with the joystick-style game Jumpgate Evolution and, further down the road, with Black Prophecy from Reakktor Media. We came across an interview (in German) with Reakktor Media CEO Kirk Lenke at OnlineWelten titled "Volle Kraft voraus" that might interest gamers hoping to learn more about Black Prophecy. For our non German-speaking readers, that's "full speed ahead" and the interview has been translated into English and posted on the Black Prophecy forums by a community member named Renfield.

The OnlineWelten interview hits on much of what Massively covered when we spoke with Black Prophecy's development director, but also looks at clans (guilds) and the advantages that membership can provide for players.

Gallery: Black Prophecy

Continue reading Black Prophecy interview details impact of clan resources on PvP

Black Prophecy interview details impact of clan resources on PvP originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earthrise interview explains game's crafting and sandbox elements

James Egan — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Economy, Game mechanics, Guilds, Interviews, Crafting, PvP, Earthrise

We've been noticing that the post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise is getting a lot of press these days. The latest piece that's caught our eye is an interview with Masthead Studios CEO Atanas Atanasov conducted by ReviewStash's Daniel Levy. The interview ranges across several topics of interest for potential Earthrise players, but perhaps what's of most interest are Atanasov's comments on combat game mechanics and crafting.

Aiming in Earthrise's combat will be done as with standard shooters, but the weapons available to characters will allow a player to keep a bead on their target. On Earthrise's crafting system, Atanasov says that players will be "capable of infusing Designs into items -- special bonuses and enhancements, or totally separate effects that allow the crafter to customize an item to the needs of his or her customers." Certain crafters may well become influential figures in Earthrise, Atanasov says, known for coming up with powerful item builds.

Continue reading Earthrise interview explains game's crafting and sandbox elements

Earthrise interview explains game's crafting and sandbox elements originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO free trial keys are back for North America and Oceania

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, News items

Just last week we received news that Codemasters was holding a Welcome Back Week for the European Lord of the Rings Online players, and now there's good news for the North American and Oceanic players as well. Turbine has just announced a 10-day free trial key available for download from their website. Even if you live in Europe, there are 14-day free trial keys still available for you as well.

If you're thinking of using one of these trial keys to sample the game for the first time, might we suggest a few weapons from our own arsenal. Check out our LotRO category page for the latest news on the game, our new class guides for the Warden and the Rune-keeper, our low-level and high-level guides to Mines of Moria, and don't forget our Know Your LotRO Lore features!

LotRO free trial keys are back for North America and Oceania originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Making/Money: Conservation of Mass - Part 3

Alexis Kassan — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, Game mechanics, Crafting, Opinion, Academic, Making/Money

Once more with feeling!

Welcome to the third and final (planned) installment of our series on closed-resource economies in MMOs. So far, we've laid the foundation of the system and discussed how starting out, leveling up, and gaining loot could work. Today we will be exploring how crafting professions could still be possible even when the law of Conservation of Mass applies and how banking might function.

There's been a lot covered so far so if you haven't already, i recommend reading the first two posts. But since I know that gets into the TLDR length, here's a very quick recap.

In order to maintain a constant level of stuff in the game, new items could only generate once old items leave the game. Money would function in the same way, except that it would flow from NPCs to monsters (meaning any monies collected by NPCs would spawn as loot) in order to recirculate. There would need to be additional gold sinks (some of which we will get to in just a minute) and limits on the number of characters per server. Each server would then "age" as the average level of characters on it increased.

Continue reading Making/Money: Conservation of Mass - Part 3

Making/Money: Conservation of Mass - Part 3 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Making/Money: Conservation of Mass - Part 2

Alexis Kassan — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, Game mechanics, Crafting, Opinion, Academic, Making/Money

Welcome back for Part 2 in our series on closed-resource economies in MMOs. Last week we discussed how starting out in this *completely hypothetical* system might work, what some of the basic rules of operation might be, and what it would take to keep money available to players. Today, we continue on our chosen path to talk about how loot and gear could be distributed so that raiding, quests, and all the other content we enjoy would still be available even through endgame.

First, a quick recap of the groundwork we already laid out.

Rule #1: Server character limits. Yes, this would create the need for more servers in the game. But it would also enable the developers to determine a starting point for the goods, resources and money available at server start.

Rule #2: Items and money must leave the game in order to come back in as loot or gathered materials. That means that they must be consumed in some way, either by being dropped and deleted, or by being given to an NPC. Consumed items could return as they had left the game, as the resources used in their creation, or as another item entirely.

Rule #3: More gold sinks. In order to keep the loot flowing, there would need to be additional, enticing or mandatory ways for the gold to leave the game. An example might be to have service-oriented NPCs, such as the Work Orders in Lord of the Rings Online or the Saw Mill in RuneScape. Mounts or housing are always popular ways to get money back from players to NPCs as well.

Still with me so far? Excellent. On we go!

Continue reading Making/Money: Conservation of Mass - Part 2

Making/Money: Conservation of Mass - Part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Making/Money: Conservation of Mass - Part 1

Alexis Kassan — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, Game mechanics, Opinion, Academic, Making/Money

This is the first in a series of articles theorizing on what a virtual economic system that had a finite number of resources might be like. I would like to impress upon you that everything expressed here is hypothetical. As far as I am aware at this time, there are no games currently being made with a system like this. Also, this is only one potential way that it could be done.

There have been several discussions amongst friends and fellow bloggers lately of what the economy of game with no ability to spontaneously create items might be like. Specifically, what if all of the resources, loot, and money in the game was there at the start and no more could be generated during gameplay than had been removed? In short, what if the law of Conservation of Mass was obeyed in a MMORPG?

Let's be clear about this - we're not talking about each character starting out with a set amount of gear or money that they would then have to use throughout their lifespan. This would be a server-wide amount of stuff. All players would have access to it provided that it was available. Once an item was "destroyed", either by dropping it or by selling it to an NPC, another item could become available.

Continue reading Making/Money: Conservation of Mass - Part 1

Making/Money: Conservation of Mass - Part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The political machinations of EVE Online

James Egan — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Economy, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, Guilds, MMO industry, PvP, Endgame, News items, Politics, Roleplaying

Game journalist and EVE Online player Jim Rossignol has been coming to grips with the idea of conflict in EVE, in a series of articles written for Eurogamer. Rossignol began by looking at "the basic principles of killing people" and progressing to the large scale conflicts between alliances.

This week, Rossignol goes a step further by looking at the politics at the heart of much of the large-scale conflict in EVE Online, and how despite all the freedom the developers give players, it was inevitable that power blocs of players would be at each other's throats. "Players plus resources, plus more players, equals conflict. That's the basic mathematics that powers EVE Online. And it's been working for over five years now," Rossignol says.

Continue reading The political machinations of EVE Online

The political machinations of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online's answer to GPS

James Egan — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, EVE Online, Game mechanics, Tips and tricks, News items, Maps

EVE Online is a vast setting where all players interact in one galaxy. While other MMOs are sharded across different servers, some with different locales, EVE places all of its players together. Its implementation ensures that many servers seem to be just one from the perspective of any pilot flying in New Eden. However, given the daunting size of EVE's explorable environment, there have been some players who took it upon themselves to map the known universe and release their findings as a resource for other pilots. Shayne Smart, aka Serenity Steele, is one such player. He's been getting some media attention in recent months as Vice-Chairman of the Council of Stellar Management (CSM). Beyond his duties on the CSM, Smart is also well-known to many players as the creator of EVE Strategic Maps, a spiral bound collection of star charts which some fans of the game find indispensable.

You would think Smart would find mapping out 5000 solar systems (each with its own myriad planets, moons, stations, and other resources) a feat hard to top. But what Smart's done is found a way to use the in-game browser in the EVE client to act as a sort of GPS, tracking your position as you jump from one solar system to the next, and allowing you to better see your relative position in the galaxy as part of your overview. The cartographer's latest 'minimap' effort is presently 2-D only and in beta, though is well worth a look and quite simple to use. Click the gallery below for Shayne Smart's instructions on how to use the free 2D minimap within your in-game browser.

Add GPS to your overview >>

Gallery: Serenity Steele's 2D minimap

EVE Online's answer to GPS originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Making/Money: Hurry Up and Wait

Alexis Kassan — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Age of Conan, Economy, Crafting, Making/Money

It took a few weeks, but I finally made it to level 20 in Age of Conan. It was an intense time getting through quest after quest, killing random mobs, and starting to mark my map with waypoints in anticipation. Though the levels did seem to go quickly, they just could not be fast enough for me as I was trying to get to... resource gathering.

Yes, resource gathering is that important. It's the first look you get at the crafting system and a great opportunity to start hoarding money for later use (like for purchasing the lowest level horse in AoC, which costs a seeming fortune at 75 silver). That's especially true of games that put level minimums on skills as is seen in both AoC and World of Warcraft.

But AoC takes a new tack in the way that they approach leveling crafts. Keep reading as I take a look at what the pros and cons of this new system are for the crafting system and the economy overall.

Continue reading Making/Money: Hurry Up and Wait

Making/Money: Hurry Up and Wait originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: When is resource gathering fun?

Adrian Bott — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Age of Conan, EVE Online, Crafting, The Daily Grind

This blogger has recently been gathering resources in Age of Conan, and despite the manifold other attractions of that game, resource gathering is so mind-scrapingly boring that you end up wishing your character's pick could be used on your skull instead. The first quest for any resource is to gather 20 of something - silver, ash wood, cotton - which is as simple as finding a node with some resources left and clicking on it. Sometimes, for variety, a bad guy of some sort will jump on you.

However, to progress to the second tier, you have to find a much rarer resource that has only a one per cent chance to drop while you're repeatedly clicking on the node. All you can do is click, click, click and move on. Apparently it's not much better in other games - set the mining lasers, put your feet up and go and make a coffee.

Far be it from us, though, to condemn anyone else's fun. So: do you enjoy resource gathering, in AoC or any other game? Do you go fishing in LoTRO, or in WoW for that matter? What mechanics make it fun?

The Daily Grind: When is resource gathering fun? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TTH LotRO 1-20 leveling guide, part 2

Kyle Horner — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Guides, Leveling

Darkgolem has the second part of his 1-20 leveling guide for Lord of the Rings Online posted at Ten Ton Hammer. It has a nice spreadsheet layout that covers all the different little bits involved in getting those first twenty levels. Everything is covered in the spreadsheet, including which quest was taken, location of the quest, time taken to complete quest, level attained upon finishing quest and whether it was done solo or in a group.

It took about three days of playing for about five hours each day, although Darkgolem says it could be done in a day. The only drawback to the power leveling was that he found himself without feats, crafting skill growth and about three hundred less silver in his pockets due to fast travel fees. If you don't mind any of that though, you too could be level twenty in one to three days. A good guide for any players that don't feel like staying in the starting areas too long on a repeat play-through.

TTH LotRO 1-20 leveling guide, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adventures from the Back Row: World of Warcraft priestly resources

Michael Zenke — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Classes, Forums, Game mechanics, Guides, PvP, Raiding, Endgame, Grouping, PvE, Opinion, Adventures from the Back Row, Education

It would be a shame for December to end with just one chance to talk about what it's like to put your heal down. My technical problems have put a temporary hold on my series on healing in Tabula Rasa, but there's no reason we can't turn to the web for succor.

I'm guessing a lot of you play World of Warcraft, right? Well, healing in WoW is just as hard as it is anywhere else. At the high end, the hoops you have to jump through ... well, you'd almost think that you'd need some sort of advanced strategy. Perhaps people could even make a hobby out of commenting on what it's like to play a priest?

What do you know, both of those things are out there? Today's Adventures from the Back Row will try to offer up a few reliable resources for channeling the Light (or Shadow) in Azeroth. I'm also going to point out some bloggers who make it their business to channel the divine. Whether they're professional or kwai, upbeat or uber-cynical, everyone who wears the halo in World of Warcraft has one thing in common: idiot groupmates delusions of grandeur not enough mana.

Continue reading Adventures from the Back Row: World of Warcraft priestly resources

Adventures from the Back Row: World of Warcraft priestly resources originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TTH resource gathering guide: Bree-Land

William Dobson — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:28:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Guides, Crafting, Tips and tricks

In this next installment of TenTonHammer's Lord of the Rings Online resource collecting guides, the focus shifts to Bree-Land, which contains tier 1, 2 and even tier 3 materials. The guide informs us that Bree-Land is a veritable gold mine (so to speak) when it comes to finding tier 1 and 2 resources, but although it does contain some tier 3 nodes, it is best to think of these as a nice bonus rather than to visit the zone particularly to find them.

There are once again some notes explaining different areas in-depth, but here are the real pro tips: for tier 2 resources, head to the Eastern Bree-Fields, and for tier 1, the Midgewater Marshes have what you need. Of course, on most resource runs you'll need to hit more than just a single area, especially when you're not the only one out there collecting, so check out the Bree-Land guide for another handy table and the rest of the hints for harvesting there.

TTH resource gathering guide: Bree-Land originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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