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[EVE Evolved: Upgrading to a PvP cruiser: Minmatar and Caldari]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/eve-evolved-upgrading-to-a-pvp-cruiser-minmatar-and-caldari/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/eve-evolved-upgrading-to-a-pvp-cruiser-minmatar-and-caldari/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/eve-evolved-upgrading-to-a-pvp-cruiser-minmatar-and-caldari/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Over the years, I've introduced several friends to EVE Online and tried to give them the best start possible. Offering a financial safety net for ship losses definitely helped a little, as did providing funding to back market experiments and manufacturing or research ventures. What I found helped most of all was to bring new players on quick PvP fleets and discourage them from gravitating toward mining or mission-running as their primary form of gameplay. The adrenaline rush of EVE PvP is something I've yet to find in another MMO, and it's the reason so many of us are hooked to the game. It only makes sense then to introduce new players to it as soon as possible.

Last month, I encouraged new players who might be starting out on their own to grab a few friends and similarly charge into PvP from day one. To follow up, the last two weeks' columns have been dedicated to getting new players into their first PvP frigate and upgrading to a cruiser, with emphasis on staying financially ahead of the inevitable ship losses. Last week we tackled Gallente and Amarr ships, with some cheap battle-tested setups for the Thorax, Vexor, Arbitrator and Omen that new players will be able to fly with only a few weeks of skill training.

In this week's EVE Evolved, we look at Minmatar and Caldari cruisers, with setups for the Stabber, Rupture, Blackbird and Moa and tips on saving your escape pod to minimise the cost of death.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Upgrading to a PvP cruiser: Minmatar and Caldari

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Upgrading to a PvP cruiser: Minmatar and Caldari originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackbirdblastersccpccp-eveccp-gamesecmelectronic-warfareeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfittingmissilesmoanew-playernew-playersnewbiepiracypiratepvpruptureshieldship-fittingspeedstabbertankSun, 07 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Carrie Gouskos shares a couple WAR teasers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/carrie-gouskos-shares-a-couple-war-teasers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/carrie-gouskos-shares-a-couple-war-teasers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/carrie-gouskos-shares-a-couple-war-teasers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MMO blogger Werit recently caught up with Mythic Entertainment's Carrie Gouskos and asked her a few questions. For those of you who don't know Carrie, she's an associate producer for Warhammer Online who has worked on such things as the Tome of Knowledge, user-interface, Realm War website, and Mac client.. The interview mostly covers things she's been working on, so be sure to check it out.

While discussing the Realm War site, Carrie offered this teaser: "Actually one of the unannounced Special Projects that we've been investigating since the beginning of the year is an example of an extension of the Realm WAR. I can't spoil it now, but I would keep an eye open in the next month or so for more info." We can't help but wonder if this has anything to do with EA's May 2008 acquisition of MMO social network, Rupture.

Carrie also briefly mentions something about a "cards" page in the Tome. Will WAR be getting a trading card game? Does this signal an imminent RMT or free-2-play model? That's just speculation at this point but we'll keep our ear to the ground for you.

MassivelyCarrie Gouskos shares a couple WAR teasers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carrie-gouskoseaf2pinterviewmythic-entertainmentreal-money-tradingrealm-warrmtrupturetome-of-knowledgewarwarhammer-onlineweritTue, 29 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E308: EA announces Rupture expansion, to mesh with Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/ea-announces-rupture-expansion-to-mesh-with-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/ea-announces-rupture-expansion-to-mesh-with-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/ea-announces-rupture-expansion-to-mesh-with-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: ,

You may recall that EA recently purchased Rupture, a social networking site for gamers. Previously in-development by Shawn Fanning and Co, Fanning is now a proud EA employee. At the massive press conference for Electronic Arts today, the company announced an expansion to the Rupture system, in the form of the identity system Nucleus. Players will have a persistent tag that they can carry across games, ala Xbox Live. More importantly, from our perspective, they hinting that Warhammer Online will be meshing with this new system, and providing new opportunities for unique social interactions. Players will be able to "subcribe to and track what their friends are playing". This is extended even further by the capability to set "customer challenges" for friends - essentially player-made achievements.

They single out the possibility of "asking a friend to level a Warhammer Online character to 30 before the end of the weekend." Any developer can choose to hook into the Rupture framework, allowing social achievements across EA games and beyond. As exciting as it sounds, though, we somehow doubt that Blizzard's going to bite. A shame: would have been fun to challenge your WoW friends to a leveling contest. The press-release information is below the cut.

Continue reading E308: EA announces Rupture expansion, to mesh with Warhammer Online

MassivelyE308: EA announces Rupture expansion, to mesh with Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakinge3-2008e308electronic-artsjoystiqfeaturesmythic-entertainmentrupturesocial-networkingwarwarhammer-onlineMon, 14 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA purchases the Rupture social networking site]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/ea-purchases-the-rupture-social-networking-site/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/ea-purchases-the-rupture-social-networking-site/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/ea-purchases-the-rupture-social-networking-site/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Shawn Fanning's Rupture social network has been purchased by the folks at Electronic Arts, changing the course of the network's planned use as a hub for World of Warcraft players. EA spent some $30 million in the deal, though there are still some details to be nailed down. TechCrunch broke the story yesterday afternoon, and refers to this as Fanning's "big payday", finally rewarding him financially after a series of successful but ultimately not lucrative business ventures.

The article offers the observation that this is purely a technology purchase, as the service never made it into its planned second phase. The Beta service, at it exists now, simply doesn't have that many users. It's an easy guess as to what the software giant hopes to gain from this acquisition. EA Mythic's Warhammer Online and BioWare's as-yet-unannounced MMO title could be easily fitted into this framework, providing a method for players of these new games to connect on the web. We'll be sure to keep you posted as more details on this still in-transit deal comes to fruition.

MassivelyEA purchases the Rupture social networking site originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 May 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingeaea-mythicelectronic-artsruptureshawn-fanningwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 09 May 2008 11:30:00 EST