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[Realms Online introduces the Lamai]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/realms-online-introduces-the-lamai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/realms-online-introduces-the-lamai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/realms-online-introduces-the-lamai/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

They make their home in a valley. It's almost uncanny.
Adding a new race to a factional PvP game is always a dicey proposition with regard to faction balance, but Realms Online is taking a measured approach with its newest race. The diminutive Lamai have just been added, and they aren't beholden to any single faction -- they can join any realm and play as any class. That flexibility is meant to reflect their nature as an ancient race that left the planet ages ago.

Of course, there's also the problem that if you're enticed by the new race, you'll have to start all over from the first level. As a promotion to help players interested in playing a Lamai, GameSamba is offering a sale on experience boosts in the game's shop. It's 25% off of level 30 scrolls, and 10 XP boosters for the price of eight. Not a bad deal if you want to level a new character, whether it's a lamai or something else.

[Source: GameSamba press release]

MassivelyRealms Online introduces the Lamai originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfactionsfree-to-playgamesambanew-racespromotionspvpraceracesrealms-onlinesalesThu, 26 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Positive charge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-positive-charge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-positive-charge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-positive-charge/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
PAX East this past weekend was indeed filled with revelations, but none of them had to do with City of Heroes or any other NCsoft game, really, so I can't even complain about one getting all the love while the others were ignored. And while I could probably try to spin a thousand words out of wanting to insert a Rock Band Blitz-style minigame into the game under discussion, I have the feeling I'd get some odd looks and a rejected column.

What I did have opportunity to consider, however, is how pretty much the only thing I've brought up in regard to the Paragon Market has been the many, many choices made regarding it that I consider debatable. The Super Pack and the numerous power sets both have been targets for negativity, and I honestly haven't said anything corresponding about the positives. This seems unfair on many levels. Sure, I think the implementation is sometimes dicey, but there are a lot of parts of the market that are great, and I happily doff my hat to the team for them. So instead of burying the shop, let's praise it.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Positive charge

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Positive charge originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercash-shopcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommarketingmerchmerchandisemicrotransactionsmild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossalessellingsuperherosuperheroesWed, 11 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic community Q&A addresses mobile apps, ops, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/star-wars-the-old-republic-community-qanda-addresses-mobile-apps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/star-wars-the-old-republic-community-qanda-addresses-mobile-apps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/star-wars-the-old-republic-community-qanda-addresses-mobile-apps/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
It's time once again for another riveting episode of Star Wars: The Old Republic's community Q&A. This time around, the BioWare team covers a variety of concerns from SWTOR players ranging from the addition of a /roll command to the possibility of a mobile app. SWTOR's lead combat designer Damion Schubert had a bit to say regarding the latter, teasing that "it's almost as if this [crew skills] design was created specifically with [a mobile app] in mind, doesn't it?" Unfortunately the studio isn't prepared to give an ETA on the feature, "as [it] is a significant technical endeavour."

Non-Force-using healers also have plenty to look forward to as well, as the Q&A reveals that they'll be getting some love in patch 1.2, while Consulars and Inquisitors will have their heals brought back into line so that all healing classes and specs are (theoretically) viable. To get the full details on these subjects and more, just click on through the link below to the community Q&A at SWTOR's official site. Oh, and while we're at it, the game is on sale for $49.99 US on Origin, so if you want to get in the game and see what all the hubbub's about, now's your opportunity to do so while keeping a cool Hamilton to yourself. The sale is only happening for a limited time, though, so be sure to act quickly.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic community Q&A addresses mobile apps, ops, and more originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclass-balanceclassesdealdealseaelectronic-artshealerhealershealingmobile-appoperationsopsoriginq-and-aqasalesalesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 17 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview confirms World of Darkness dev team, predicts DUST 514 sales]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/interview-confirms-world-of-darkness-dev-team-predicts-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/interview-confirms-world-of-darkness-dev-team-predicts-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/interview-confirms-world-of-darkness-dev-team-predicts-dust-514/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EVE Online title image
When CCP Games laid off 20% of its worldwide staff back in October of last year, the World of Darkness dev team bore the brunt of the cuts while DUST 514 continued on course for its launch later this year. In an interview over at TenTonHammer today, CCP's new Chief Marketing Officer, David Reid, joined CEO Hilmar Petursson to discuss the development of both games. Hilmar reveals that a team of 60 developers are currently working on WoD, and that DUST 514 will be playable at this year's EVE Online fanfest event in March.

Despite acknowledging that the entire PlayStation Network comprises a total of 60 million users, Reid asserts that DUST will bring "tens of millions of people that play shooters on PSN into the New Eden universe," going on to make the bold statement that "EVE could be the biggest game in the world at the end of 2012" as a result. Reid also claims that "EVE Online is the only game in the West that has shown consecutive growth year after year," a statement that's sure to upset RuneScape developer Jagex and others. The statement also comes with a slightly bitter note as this year EVE may have lost its record of continual subscription growth during the summer drama.

MassivelyInterview confirms World of Darkness dev team, predicts DUST 514 sales originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescmoconsoledavid-reiddustdust-514eveeve-onlinef2pfantasyfpsfree-to-playgothichilmar-peturssonhorrorinterviewjagexjagex-games-studiomillionsmmofpsplaystationplaystation-3PlayStation-Networkps3psnrsrunescapesalessandboxsci-fishootersupernaturalvampirevampireswhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessFri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA reveals SWTOR subscription and sales numbers, beats financial predictions [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/ea-reveals-swtor-subscription-and-sales-numbers-beats-financial/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/ea-reveals-swtor-subscription-and-sales-numbers-beats-financial/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/ea-reveals-swtor-subscription-and-sales-numbers-beats-financial/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
It looks like Star Wars: The Old Republic didn't let its daddy down, as EA has reported much better sales than expected for the December quarter, largely thanks to the runaway sales of the new MMO title (as well as many of EA's other heavy-hitters). The company ended up earning an adjusted $344 million for a total net loss of $205 million, which isn't too shabby if you consider how much money just went into the development and launch of The Old Republic.

Perhaps most interestingly to players, however, is the fact that EA has reported sales of more than 2 million units of The Old Republic with about 1.7 million subscribers. Those are the highest (and the hardest) numbers we've heard so far. EA's Chief Financial Advisor, Eric Brown, stated in an interview that EA managed to pull in more SWTOR subscribers than the studio had initially anticipated. He added that at launch, the studio was able to add a great number of users per server courtesy of some technical improvements. If you're economically minded and want to get the full, dirty, stock market details, just click past the link below.

[Thanks to Gabriel for the tip!]

[Update: Darth Hater has compiled some additional TOR-related statistics and Q&A from today's EA earnings call: "2,000,000+ copies sold, 40% sold through Origin; 1,700,000+ active subscribers, 1 million concurrent." The company also notes that "Active subscribers means anyone paying OR in their trial period. MOST of those 1.7m are paying at this point."]

MassivelyEA reveals SWTOR subscription and sales numbers, beats financial predictions [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaearningseconomicseconomyelectronic-artsfinancesindustrynumberssalessales-numbersso-many-numbersstar-wars-the-old-republicsubscription-numbersswtorthe-old-republictorWed, 01 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR UK sales take a dive]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/swtor-uk-sales-take-a-dive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/swtor-uk-sales-take-a-dive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/swtor-uk-sales-take-a-dive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Coruscant hangar
Just when you thought we couldn't have any more Star Wars: The Old Republic articles (because three out of 15 per day is a lot, amirite?), here's one more for your reading pleasure.

MMOCrunch has sussed out what appears to be a decent-sized drop in TOR's UK sales numbers. According to Chart-Track, BioWare's new MMO fell from the number 10 spot to number 38 in its second week on the market. MMOCrunch speculates that the drop-off in post-holiday shopping is the primary culprit, and we've also yet to see a true advertising blitz like we've seen for games like RIFT and World of Warcraft.

What do you think, Massively folk? Is trouble brewing in a galaxy far, far away, or is it far too early to tell?

MassivelySWTOR UK sales take a dive originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowareElectronic-Artsmmo-industrysalessales-performancesci-fispeculationstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorukuk-salesTue, 03 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How frugal are you in F2P games?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Daily Grind
Those of you who shun free-to-play titles or are determined to never spend a single red cent in them are dismissed from today's discussion. But for those of you who do spend money in F2P MMOs -- and by all accounts, that's quite a few of you out there -- I'm curious just how frugal you are with the money you spend.

I know that SOE players often hold back from registering Station Cash cards until the studio does a double- or triple-point day, and Turbine's frequently put its in-game stock on sale for both Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons and Dragons Online. Around the holidays or during special anniversaries, players can also snag some good deals.

So do you wait for certain items and unlocks to go on sale, or are you wealthy and/or impatient enough to simply go for it when you want them? Do you look for specials with an eagle eye? Jump on top of bonus in-game currency days? Clip coupons? Just how far do you stretch your gaming dollar?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How frugal are you in F2P games? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clip-couponscouponcouponsddodealdealsdiscussiondungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfree-to-playfrugalfrugaliciousfrugalitylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionpromotionssalesalessoesony-online-entertainmentspecialspecialsstation-cashtdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest installment of the City of Heroes signature arc now available]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/newest-installment-of-the-city-of-heroes-signature-arc-now-avail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/newest-installment-of-the-city-of-heroes-signature-arc-now-avail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/newest-installment-of-the-city-of-heroes-signature-arc-now-avail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Okay, show of hands from everyone hoping it's someone other than Statesman.
By the end of the first signature arc for City of Heroes, one of the game's signature heroes from the Freedom Phalanx will be dead. But we're not even quite at the halfway point, as the third part has just been released to the Paragon Market. VIP subscribers, of course, get access to the arc for free. This installment sees Marshal Blitz of the Rogue Arachnos faction calling for a truce between heroes and villains... but is he genuine, or just trying to get Statesman's daughter into a vulnerable spot?

If the new installment of the arc isn't your speed -- perhaps you don't have a character at or about level 30 -- there are also a few more toys in the Paragon Market, including a steep discount on the Temporal Manipulation powerset and a few low-level Enhancement sets. But if you've been following the story, you'll probably want to buy the arc -- or if you're a subscriber, just log in and start checking out the newest part.

MassivelyNewest installment of the City of Heroes signature arc now available originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfree-to-playfreedomncsoftparagonparagon-marketparagon-studiospatchsalessignature-arcupdatesTue, 08 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should stores pull game boxes for games that are no longer for sale?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/the-daily-grind-should-stores-pull-game-boxes-for-dead-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/the-daily-grind-should-stores-pull-game-boxes-for-dead-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/the-daily-grind-should-stores-pull-game-boxes-for-dead-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,

DC Universe Online box
It's an ongoing joke among MMO fans: finding a shelf at your local Stuff Mart that contains Tabula Rasa boxes for sale or maybe a few copies of Realtime Worlds' version of APB. While doing some shopping this week, I came across a shelf of DC Universe Online boxes for $39.99, and while DCUO isn't free yet, it still set me thinking.

Do stores have a certain responsibility to keep track of the status of these games and adjust their stock accordingly? I've heard both sides of the argument. On one hand, the retailer purchased those items for resale, and if the shop can sell them after the game has closed, changed hands, or gone free-to-play, more power to it. Maybe someone even wants to purchase one for nostalgia's sake.

On the other hand, those shops are selling a nonfunctional product to potentially unsuspecting customers. Is the onus on the retailer to keep track, provide a warning to customers, and maybe even pull the items from the shelves? Or is it the customer's responsibility to make an informed purchase? Let us know what you think!

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should stores pull game boxes for games that are no longer for sale? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>box-copyclosed-gamesopinionretail-storessalestdgthe-daily-grindTue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New predictions for SWTOR sales: 3M units!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/new-predictions-for-swtor-sales-3m-units/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/new-predictions-for-swtor-sales-3m-units/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/new-predictions-for-swtor-sales-3m-units/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR: Jedi Shadow
Electronic Arts had high hopes for Star Wars: The Old Republic when it invested in BioWare. However, even executives at EA did not expect the pre-order sales that surpassed all the publisher's previous records. This unexpected growth has caused industry analysts to reconsider some of the previous predictions for the title.

Gamasutra reports that Cowen and Company originally predicted sales of the Star Wars MMO to be approximately 1.5 million units with subscription retention at about 1 million players. However, Cowen and Company has now increased that prediction to 3 million unit sold in the first year with 2 million steady subscribers. With EA taking few other risks this season, it spells high hopes for anyone investing in the game developer. However, if anyone is keeping score at home, that number is still below the 4.7 million sales of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm -- though it's quickly catching up.

MassivelyNew predictions for SWTOR sales: 3M units! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarecataclysmcowen-and-companyEAElectronic-ArtsLucasArtssalesStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubscriptionsswtorthe-old-republictorWorld-of-WarcraftThu, 11 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Perfect World Entertainment completes acquisition of Cryptic Studios]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/perfect-world-entertainment-completes-acquisition-of-cryptic-stu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/perfect-world-entertainment-completes-acquisition-of-cryptic-stu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/perfect-world-entertainment-completes-acquisition-of-cryptic-stu/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Perfect World Entertainment: I will be reborn as many times as it takes! Bison is eternal!
A couple of months back, we announced that Atari was in the court to sell off Cryptic Studios, and that Perfect World Entertainment had stepped up to the plate to take the studio off Atari's hands. Well, as of now, the sale is complete and Cryptic is now firmly in the grasp of free-to-play leviathan Perfect World Entertainment.

According to reports, the sale cost Perfect World a staggering $49.8 million, and $30.7 is said to be going straight toward paying off Atari's existing debt. As for the projects Cryptic was previously working on -- namely Star Trek Online, Champions Online, and the upcoming Neverwinter -- it remains to be seen what will happen, but you can be sure we'll bring you the latest as soon as we get word.

MassivelyPerfect World Entertainment completes acquisition of Cryptic Studios originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionataribuyoutchampionschampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playindustryneverwinterperfect-world-entertainmentpwesalesstar-trek-onlinestoyour-despair-feeds-my-powerWed, 10 Aug 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gods & Heroes outsells RIFT on Steam, claims weekend top spot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/gods-and-heroes-outsells-rift-on-steam-claims-weekend-top-spot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/gods-and-heroes-outsells-rift-on-steam-claims-weekend-top-spot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/gods-and-heroes-outsells-rift-on-steam-claims-weekend-top-spot/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Well someone's certainly playing Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising, the newly launched fantasy MMORPG from Heatwave Interactive. It's a safe bet that said someones are playing via Steam, as Valve's digital download platform is reporting that the Roman mythology-flavored MMO outsold all challengers over the weekend.

Despite some predictions of a lukewarm reception due to the glut of fantasy MMOs and a hefty box fee (as well as a subscription model), Heatwave's game sold well enough to outpace RIFT as well as Guild Wars, DC Universe, and EVE Online, all of which could be had at or lower than Gods & Heroes' $39.99 price point.

Is it a case of a better-than-expected game or another example of how MMO players will buy anything and everything if it's new and shiny? Let us know what you think in the comments.

MassivelyGods & Heroes outsells RIFT on Steam, claims weekend top spot originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-distributionfantasygods-and-heroesgods-and-heroes-rome-risingheatwaveheatwave-interactivelaunch-weeklaunch-weekendmmo-industrymythologyroman-mythologysalessales-performancesteamvalveTue, 28 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online unlocks a new archetype and a sale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/champions-online-unlocks-a-new-archetype-and-a-sale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/champions-online-unlocks-a-new-archetype-and-a-sale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/champions-online-unlocks-a-new-archetype-and-a-sale/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the conversion to free-to-play, it's easier than ever to get into Champions Online, but you're still a bit limited in your play choices. The latest archetype rollout is designed to help address that issue, giving players access to the Tempest. A ranged character build with a focus on electrical abilities, the new archetype is free to Gold players and available for purchase in the C-Store for Silver players. There's also a new video available to show off the stormy hero build before you buy it.

Of course, you may not have the spare slots needed for a new archetype to even matter. That's thankfully mitigated by a sale on character slots at 20% off until March 30th. Champions Online players, subscribing or not, should be happy to learn that it's easier to get yourself a few new slots to play around with, whether reserved for the new archetype or other experimentation.

MassivelyChampions Online unlocks a new archetype and a sale originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypec-storechampions-onlinecharacter-slotscocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playmicrotransactionsalesalesslotsspecial-salesthe-tempestThu, 24 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam offering discounts on MMOs for the holidays]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/steam-offering-discounts-on-mmos-for-the-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/steam-offering-discounts-on-mmos-for-the-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/steam-offering-discounts-on-mmos-for-the-holidays/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

You never get everything you want over the holiday. That's inevitable. That's also why Steam, the digital distribution service that's become all but ubiquitous, always takes the chance to offer steep discounts for players once the holiday season starts up in earnest. This year has already seen the rollout of some big sales, with Final Fantasy XI, Aion, and Global Agenda all available for discounted prices -- prices in excess of 50% off.

Final Fantasy XI's complete collection is being offered for $4.99 up through January 3rd. Aion is available for just $10 (a 75% reduction and the steepest discount of the lot) through January 2nd, and Global Agenda can be picked up for a $15 outlay with no subscription fee. It's a wide enough range of games that nearly anyone will find something worth picking up, and on the off chance you don't see your dream game listed, keep your eye on Steam over the next few days. It's better to give than receive, yes, but it's even better to do both.

MassivelySteam offering discounts on MMOs for the holidays originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiondiscountsffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigaglobal-agendahi-rezhi-rez-studiosholiday-pricesholiday-salesncsoftsalesspecial-salessquaresquare-enixsteamvalvewinter-holiday-2010Wed, 22 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[[Updated] Massively's big fat Black Friday roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/massivelys-big-fat-black-friday-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/massivelys-big-fat-black-friday-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/massivelys-big-fat-black-friday-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Can you feel the love? The food comas? The day of sitting around napping while the kids sneak into the kitchen for another piece of pie? As you can see from the holiday e-card we've gotten, the gorging has already started in certain MMOs. However, for the rest of us who aren't virtual-demented-clown versions of Mr. Creosote, the promise of great deals looms once the turkey and pie are dispensed with. As we here at Massively are always on the lookout for a good deal, we've rounded up some MMO and hardware deals worth putting on your wish list.

Join us behind the break for some of the best 100% frosting-covered-clown-free bargains we've found. Also, if you spot anything particularly tasty in terms of sale prices, be sure to let us all know in comments!

[Updated] Switched the image out due to unintended offense, and adding more deals in as we find them!

Continue reading [Updated] Massively's big fat Black Friday roundup

Massively[Updated] Massively's big fat Black Friday roundup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-fridayblack-friday-2010dealsfeaturedgameshardwareholidayholidaysholidays-2010mmommofpsmmorpgsalesalessoftwarespecialsthanksgivingthanksgiving-2010Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square-Enix working hard to "regain trust" with players and investors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/square-enix-working-hard-to-regain-trust-with-players-and-inve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/square-enix-working-hard-to-regain-trust-with-players-and-inve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/square-enix-working-hard-to-regain-trust-with-players-and-inve/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's been a rocky couple months for Final Fantasy XIV. Due to extensive feedback from the playerbase and mixed reviews, Square-Enix extended the free trial period for new players to a full two months -- a rarity in the industry -- as the company worked to shore up FFXIV's weaker points.

Due to all this, Square-Enix has been watched closely by investors and players regarding the future course of the game. President Yoichi Wada recently stated during a money report that the company is doing all it can to improve the situation: "We're quickly working on reforms... We'd like to put our full power into regaining trust."

Eurogamer reports that FFXIV has sold 630,000 units worldwide as of September 30th, including 230K in Europe and 210K in North America. According to IGN, FFXIV was the third-best selling title from the company in the past six-month period. Square-Enix points to a couple bright spots in the near future -- a partnership with China's Shanda Games and the upcoming spring 2011 release of Final Fantasy XIV on the PS3 -- that should help boost sales.

MassivelySquare-Enix working hard to "regain trust" with players and investors originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinaeurogamerff14ffxivfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivignps3salesshanda-gamessquare-enixtrial-periodyoichi-wadaFri, 05 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you like playing the merchant?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-playing-the-merchant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-playing-the-merchant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-playing-the-merchant/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's hard to deny that there's a certain appeal in playing the market in a game. While the stakes are certainly lower than in real life -- a failed investment deprives you of only in-game currency, with rare exceptions -- the successes feel just as visceral. Certainly it's something that EVE Online has capitalized on, to the point where some of the game's detractors complain that it's all-consuming. And of course, therein lies the problem -- some players log in to get away from the economic concerns of the real world.

More recent games have veered away from having players act as merchants, instead choosing to make buying and selling almost wholly reliant upon auction houses. Of course, games like Recettear prove that there's still some appeal in playing a virtual tradesman for some. What do you think? Do you like having the option of carving out your particular niche in a virtual world as a crafter and salesman? Or would you rather have games focus on grand adventure, and leave the mundane tasks of shopkeeping to the NPCs?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you like playing the merchant? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingmercantile-concernsmerchant-classesmerchantsplayer-run-economyplaying-a-merchantsalessellingtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 23 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Final Fantasy XIV draws a $26 million ragequit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/rumor-final-fantasy-xiv-draws-a-26-million-ragequit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/rumor-final-fantasy-xiv-draws-a-26-million-ragequit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/rumor-final-fantasy-xiv-draws-a-26-million-ragequit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

You may or may not be one of the people unhappy with Final Fantasy XIV in its current state. Certainly the game has both drawn its fair share of ire and praise, and it's hard to picture a launch with more strongly divided opinions. But even if you hate everything the game turned out to be, you have to admit that you can't make quite the spectacle that one unnamed Japanese player did -- a rage-fueled quit that involved selling off $26 million worth of Square-Enix stock as a parting gesture.

Square-Enix experienced a definite dip in stock value on the 7th, dropping from 1800 yen a share to 1735 a share before recovering later in the day. According to Japanese sources, this was preceded by a rather angry dispatch from a shareholder explaining that he was so disgusted by Final Fantasy XIV he no longer wanted any of the stock. While there is some debate as to the chain of events and their veracity, it would certainly make this event the ultimate response to the question of "can I have your stuff?"

[Thanks to Stormwaltz for the tip!]

MassivelyRumor: Final Fantasy XIV draws a $26 million ragequit originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbusinessffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivplayer-quitsragequitreal-world-businessrumorsalessquaresquare-enixstockstock-valuethe-sky-is-not-actually-fallingvalueWed, 13 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI releases April newsletter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/final-fantasy-xi-releases-april-newsletter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/final-fantasy-xi-releases-april-newsletter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/final-fantasy-xi-releases-april-newsletter/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The end of April is nearly upon us, so of course it's time for Square-Enix to release their most recent newsletter for Final Fantasy XI highlighting the still-fresh March update. Admittedly, the content doesn't quite have that new patch smell any longer, but the newsletter does its usual job of rounding up and pointing out some of the things that the players might otherwise miss. It also contains a cryptic hint from the development team in response to one of the biggest mysteries and frustrations for the update.

In the "good news" department, the newsletter highlights a current sale for the game, $11 for the Final Fantasy XI Ultimate Collection at Gamestop via download. It also mentions the somewhat baffling habit that the new Voidwalker Notorious Monsters have of not always granting a title to players who kill them, with the development team teasing that "you will all discover the answer soon enough." Last but not least, it reminds former players that the Character Reactivation Service is set up to work with characters from the now-merged servers -- a chance for lapsed Final Fantasy XI players to get back in on the action.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI releases April newsletter originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-reactivationcharacter-reactivation-servicecrsdevelopmentffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-ximarch-version-updatenewslettersalessquare-enixteasesxbox-360Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What spurs you to try a game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/the-daily-grind-what-spurs-you-to-try-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/the-daily-grind-what-spurs-you-to-try-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/the-daily-grind-what-spurs-you-to-try-a-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For most of us, MMOs can be loosely grouped into three categories. The first consists of games that you're playing or no longer wish to play, where you bought the box and dove in for better or worse. In the second category are games that you have zero interest in playing. But the third category is the most nebulous in some ways -- games that you want to try but haven't for whatever reason. Sometimes it's a lack of time, sometimes it's a feature or two you'd rather see implemented before you commit. Sometimes it's even just a matter of wanting to see if the game has a future, which can be a terribly self-fulfilling prophecy.

But there's a hurdle there, even if it's just a small one. So what pushes you off the fence, so to speak, and gets you to try a new game? Is it an upcoming expansion? A free trial or a discounted upgrade? Friends enjoying the game, perhaps even gifting it to you? Or do you just wait a little on new games to see how they shake down, making a commitment only when you think it will be well-placed?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What spurs you to try a game? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionsfree-trialfriendsopinionssalestdgthe-daily-grindwhat-you-should-be-playingWed, 31 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Agenda sale on Steam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/20/global-agenda-sale-on-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/20/global-agenda-sale-on-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/20/global-agenda-sale-on-steam/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's no secret that we're rather fond of Global Agenda. It has a certain je ne sais quoi, which is a French phrase meaning that it's an entertaining shooter in a massive online environment, with a strong dose of strategy on top of that. Oh, and no elves whatsoever. (Probably.) But we can understand if our enjoyment of the game isn't quite enough to convince you that the game is worth checking out. There's no substitute for getting your hands on the game, after all. Luckily, the ever-popular Steam has made it easier to get into the game than ever by lowering the price.

The price drop is effective immediately, moving the game down to $39.99 through the online game distribution service. Best of all is that this price drop doesn't appear to be one of the famed Steam sales, but a permanent reduction. Considering the amount of content that has been getting pushed live by the team over the past few weeks, now might be a perfect time to buck up and give Global Agenda a shot. Lower prices are a marvelous inventive like that.

MassivelyGlobal Agenda sale on Steam originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>discountgaglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-stdioes-global-agendahi-rez-studiospricessalesalessteamsteam-salesSat, 20 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do item shop sales affect your purchases?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/the-daily-grind-do-item-shop-sales-affect-your-purchases/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/the-daily-grind-do-item-shop-sales-affect-your-purchases/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/the-daily-grind-do-item-shop-sales-affect-your-purchases/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With more and more games adopting some form of the free-to-play model, item shops are becoming big business for many MMOs -- even some that aren't f2p are in on the act. Players can save a little (or a lot) of time by dropping a few dollars here or there to obtain an item that they don't have the time or inclination to work toward in game. Item shops are a bit of a controversial thing, with many people of the opinion that it gives an unfair advantage to anyone with access to a credit card.

But differing opinions aside, these lucrative little stores seem to be here to stay. With the increasing number of these stores offering both vanity and more utilitarian items, the competition for your dollar goes way beyond game purchases and sub fees these days. To that end, most item shops offer some sort of sale. Be it daily specials, package deals, or holiday sales, you can find a little extra incentive for your purchase nearly everywhere you look.

So the question is, do sales help you break out the credit card? Do you only buy if you were going to purchase that item anyway, or do you see a sale and think "Hmm, half price? Well, okay!"

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do item shop sales affect your purchases? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playitem-shopMicrotransactionsopinionsalesthe-daily-grindWed, 09 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Did you take advantage of Black Friday sales?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/28/the-daily-grind-did-you-take-advantage-of-black-friday-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/28/the-daily-grind-did-you-take-advantage-of-black-friday-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/28/the-daily-grind-did-you-take-advantage-of-black-friday-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


So, it's Tired Saturday -- the day when you spent the previous night with your friends, out enjoying the beginning of the long weekend after stuffing your face on Thanksgiving. Of course, you might have been doing something else that was very important yesterday -- shopping.

Whether it was online or in the stores, the Black Friday sales were everywhere! We even made a guide about some of the deals so you, the MMO fiend, would know where to shop and what to keep your eye on. With so many deals, we couldn't help ourselves to picking up a few titles.

So did you guys take advantage of what was being offered? If so, tell us all about your Black Friday spoils, or perhaps any other sales you're looking forward to! We're eager to hear what you claimed in the madness for yourself!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Did you take advantage of Black Friday sales? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-fridaygamesopinionpurchasesalesthe-daily-grindtired-saturdaySat, 28 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Black Friday MMO sales guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/massivelys-black-friday-mmo-sales-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/massivelys-black-friday-mmo-sales-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/massivelys-black-friday-mmo-sales-guide/#commentsFiled under: ,

The holidays are officially here (if you're a retail chain, then they've been here for about a month) and so it's time to start looking for deals to give to either your MMO-playing loved ones or, well, yourself! Shopping can be a pretty big hassle, especially if you're not accustomed to hunting for the best deals. So, we've gone and outlined the season's new releases, as well as some places you can hope to find sales in the coming weeks.

Continue reading Massively's Black Friday MMO sales guide

MassivelyMassively's Black Friday MMO sales guide originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonarenanetccpd2ddirect2drivedominioneve-onlinefeaturedguild-warslotroncsoftnexonnexon-americasalessiege-of-mirkwoodsteamthanksgivingturbinevalveThu, 26 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sell Darkfall to your friends, get paid and get more n00bs to shank]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/sell-darkfall-to-your-friends-get-paid-and-get-more-n00bs-to-sh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/sell-darkfall-to-your-friends-get-paid-and-get-more-n00bs-to-sh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/sell-darkfall-to-your-friends-get-paid-and-get-more-n00bs-to-sh/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


You ever wish that you could get paid for recommending games to your friends? Well, if you're a Darkfall fan with an active subscription, now you can with the Darkfall Community Publishing Program.

How does this new program work, you ask? Simple, my awkwardly insultingly named hardcore PvP friend! Go over to the Darkfall community forums (AKA, ForumFall), read the instructions, and sign up using the NA or EU server links. They'll give you a special link to the Darkfall store that will give you credit when a game is sold.

For each game client sold, you'll make 20% of the sale in commission. Right now, as the Darkfall box is still going for 50 dollars, so that means you'll get 10 dollars every time you sell a copy of Darkfall. High selling users will be offered better commission rates and may be invited to work with the Darkfall publishing team.

Is this anything new? Well, it is if you haven't seen EVE Online's affiliate program. However, it is certainly a smart use of the very passionate and eager Darkfall fan base.

MassivelySell Darkfall to your friends, get paid and get more n00bs to shank originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurinecommissiondarkfalldarkfall-community-publishing-programdarkfall-onlinehardcorehardcore-pvppvpsalesWed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion reports nearly 1 million copies sold in North America and Europe]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/09/aion-reports-nearly-1-million-copies-sold-in-north-america-and-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/09/aion-reports-nearly-1-million-copies-sold-in-north-america-and-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/09/aion-reports-nearly-1-million-copies-sold-in-north-america-and-e/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Aion hit the ground running earlier this year, easily breaking the 400,000 mark for pre-orders, and they're continuing the trend. The first month post launch was occasionally rocky, but the good seems to easily outweigh the bad in the eyes of fans: NCsoft announced today that they have sold nearly one million copies of Aion: The Tower of Eternity in North America and Europe.

North America accounted for over 500,000 of those copies, and European sales stand at around 470,000, allowing Aion to make up an extremely respectable 52 percent of NCsoft's total sales last quarter.

Aion has their player base to thank for the sales, but their timing certainly didn't hurt. They enjoyed a launch time relatively free of competition -- the MMO market wasn't exactly glutted with new high-fantasy PvPvE titles in 2009.

Aion officially launched September 22nd in North America, and September 25th in Europe.

MassivelyAion reports nearly 1 million copies sold in North America and Europe originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-onlinencsoftsalesMon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion and Fallen Earth dominate Steam/D2D charts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/02/aion-and-fallen-earth-dominate-steam-d2d-charts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/02/aion-and-fallen-earth-dominate-steam-d2d-charts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/02/aion-and-fallen-earth-dominate-steam-d2d-charts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Aion. Champions Online. Fallen Earth. Three MMOs intended for three different audiences and yet they all have one thing in common: September gaming sales chart domination! The latest numbers on Steam and Direct2Drive show a bit of a re-shuffling compared to the last time we checked in.

Steam (9/20 - 9/26)
1st - Aion Collector's Edition
2nd - Aion Standard Edition
3rd - Fallen Earth
Direct2Drive (9/20 - 9/26)
1st - Aion Collector's Edition
2nd - Aion Standard Edition
3rd - Fallen Earth
8th - Champions Online
Champions Online was launched a few weeks before both FE and Aion, so we believe that might have something to do with their now lagging sales (according to these charts). Be sure to check out our one-month checkup on CO. Both Aion and FE appear to be doing quite well for themselves since release. Considering the lack of marketing behind FE and its more design, we're happy to see it up ranking so high. Actually, it makes us warm and fuzzy to see any MMO selling well, so kudos to all!

MassivelyAion and Fallen Earth dominate Steam/D2D charts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionchampions-onlined2ddirect2drivefallen-earthrankingsalessales-chartssteamFri, 02 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jagex comes in 22nd on the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 list]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/jagex-comes-in-22nd-on-the-sunday-times-tech-track-100-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/jagex-comes-in-22nd-on-the-sunday-times-tech-track-100-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/jagex-comes-in-22nd-on-the-sunday-times-tech-track-100-list/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


With the hugely successful RuneScape in their stable, we've known that Jagex has been doing well for a long time now. They've already been recognized outside of the immediate gaming world on numerous occasions: Guiness World Records awarded RuneScape the title of the world's largest free-to-play MMO, and in 2008 the word RuneScape was typed into Yahoo! Search more than Lindsay Lohan and Naruto. The company's latest accolade comes via the Sunday Times Tech Track 100, where they were just ranked at number 22 on the list of the fastest growing private technology companies in the UK.

The Tech Track 100 report states that Jagex's sales have grown 84% a year for the last few years, from £5.2 million in 2005 to £32.3 million in 2008. This is the first time they've made it on to the list since the company was founded in 2001. Jagex CEO Mark Gerhardt made a statement about his company's achievement, sounding particularly proud (and rightly so): At Jagex we are passionate about the games we make and the technology we have created to develop and deliver our games; creating fun is just part of our DNA. Our values and passion have allowed us to grow one of the largest player communities in the world." The full Tech Track 100 list is available online in .pdf form.

[Via GamesIndustry.Biz]

MassivelyJagex comes in 22nd on the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 list originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserf2pfinancialfree-to-playjagexmark-gerhardtrunescapesalessunday-timestech-track-100Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth beats out Aion in D2D sales last week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/27/fallen-earth-beats-out-aion-in-d2d-sales-last-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/27/fallen-earth-beats-out-aion-in-d2d-sales-last-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/27/fallen-earth-beats-out-aion-in-d2d-sales-last-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


While most other MMO news sites are pointing out the fact that Champions Online has taken the #1 spot in Direct2Drive pre-order sales, and Aion's Collector's Edition is in 3rd place, we couldn't help but notice that Fallen Earth's pre-order sales seem to fit snugly right in the middle at the #2 spot.

In addition to this, Aion's Collector's Edition also secured the #2 spot for total Steam sales last week, which is quite an achievement when you consider what it was up against. So we would like to congratulate the indie Fallen Earth team on the chance to shine among the big boys, and the Aion team for showing other gamers that MMOs are alive and well.

Now is the part where you tell us all about the horrible experiences you've had with Direct2Drive and/or Steam. Ready, go!

MassivelyFallen Earth beats out Aion in D2D sales last week originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionchampions-onlinedirect2drivedirect2drive-top-10fallen-earthsalessteamThu, 27 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion Collector's Edition pre-orders top Steam weekly sales]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/aion-collectors-edition-pre-orders-top-steam-weekly-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/aion-collectors-edition-pre-orders-top-steam-weekly-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/aion-collectors-edition-pre-orders-top-steam-weekly-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It's been a stellar week of digital pre-order sales for Aion, with the upcoming title taking top honors on Steam's weekly sales chart. Specifically, it was the Collector's Edition of the game that did so well. Keep in mind that this is not the same as the Limited Collector's Edition, which contains physical items like the Asmodian Daeva figurine that might be too difficult to distribute digitally with our current technology. It does however still contain a handful of in-game items that the regular edition doesn't. The pre-sale of both versions comes with guaranteed access to a couple of closed beta events, as well as an attribute boosting hat, an experience boosting talisman and a "special effects ring".

Interestingly, the pre-order for the regular edition didn't crack Steam's top 10. It seems that, just like with the Limited Collector Edition from brick-and-mortar stores, people are happy to pay just a little bit more for that extra something. Steam is selling the regular pre-order for US$49.99 and the collector's edition for US$59.99. The weekly sales chart is based on revenue, so Aion's asking price would have helped it beat popular budget-priced titles.

[Via Shacknews]

MassivelyAion Collector's Edition pre-orders top Steam weekly sales originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aioncollectors-editionpre-orderspre-salessalessales-chartssteamWed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard bumps Nintendo off #1 spot on Develop's top 100 studios list]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/blizzard-bumps-nintendo-off-1-spot-on-develops-top-100-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/blizzard-bumps-nintendo-off-1-spot-on-develops-top-100-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/blizzard-bumps-nintendo-off-1-spot-on-develops-top-100-studios/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Develop Magazine releases a list every year of the 100 most bankable game studios in the world, known as the Develop 100. The list for 2009 has just gone out, and guess who has moved up in the world? Going from #47 last year all the way to the top this year is Blizzard Entertainment -- you know, those chaps that are responsible for World of Warcraft, among other things. Fellow money-printing outfit Nintendo was relegated to second place due to this mighty ascension.

Our sister-site WoW Insider did a bit of digging to find out why Blizzard jumped so much in a single year. It seems to be due to a few things combined; Blizzard's Activision merger, the release of Wrath of the Lich King, and a change in the way Develop is calculating their figures, particularly in relation to MMOs. Here's a summary of the judging standards found on the Develop 100 page:

Develop 100 ranks the world's most bankable games development studios based on a variety of key criteria including sales data, critical success and industry standing.

Things get a bit wonky when it comes to sales data and MMOs, due to significant revenue coming from subscriptions and online purchases instead of retail sales. WotLK's release and resulting retail sales undoubtedly had a great deal to do with Blizzard's new number one standing, and we wonder how old Blizz' would have fared on the Develop 100 without a new box to put on store shelves. Regardless, they're the champions for 2009. For those interested, the top 5 in order are: Blizzard Entertainment, Nintendo, Rockstar North, EA Canada, and Capcom.

MassivelyBlizzard bumps Nintendo off #1 spot on Develop's top 100 studios list originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 May 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankableblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcapcomdevelopdevelop-100develop-magazineeaea-canadaelectronic-artsmost-bankable-studionintendoretail-salesrockstar-northsalessubscriptionsworld-of-warcraftwow-insiderwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 12 May 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkfall prepares for launch, renewed sales of games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/25/darkfall-prepares-for-launch-renewed-sales-of-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/25/darkfall-prepares-for-launch-renewed-sales-of-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/25/darkfall-prepares-for-launch-renewed-sales-of-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Today's the big day, Darkfall fans! The 25th of February has arrived and Darkfall should be fully online sometime this afternoon/evening as Aventurine flips the switch on their servers!

This launch hasn't passed without problems though. First came the online pre-order page becoming swamped with traffic, leading to multiple credit card charges, people who never received their activation codes, and people who got codes but weren't even charged for the game. If you have had a problem with your pre-order, and wish to check the status of your account, you can always do so on the account management page. Be warned -- account management is under extreme stress from all the traffic and has been mostly down.

Today, the heavily burdened website's forums have been up and down, with timeouts occurring as players pile in to see what the news is on the servers. Currently, as of the writing of this post, the servers are still down and unresponsive.

Sales of Darkfall will also resume today, as Aventurine plans to start selling the game early in the evening, around the time the servers go live. No exact time has been given yet, but we'll keep our eye on the forums for any specifics given by the development team.

MassivelyDarkfall prepares for launch, renewed sales of games originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-managementaventurinebreakingdarkfalldarkfall-onlineforumslaunchmultiple-chargespre-orderssalesserverstimeoutWed, 25 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft claims 11.5 million souls of the faithful]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/world-of-warcraft-claims-11-5-million-souls-of-the-faithful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/world-of-warcraft-claims-11-5-million-souls-of-the-faithful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/world-of-warcraft-claims-11-5-million-souls-of-the-faithful/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The Blizzard Overlord sits upon his World of Warcraft throne, in the grand chamber atop his black tower, the tallest and most ominous structure in all the land. He closes his eyes, projecting his senses outwards, as his gaze sweeps over the conquered MMO world. All he can see before him -- stretching past the horizon -- is his. But still, he feels his influence expanding beyond those present borders, claiming yet more of the territory of his rivals, as his senses return to his surroundings. He reaches out into the air before him, envisioning the entire MMO world within his grasp, held delicately in the palm of his hand. He envisions its millions of quests, scores of guilds, and oceans of gold. The Overlord makes a fist, savoring the thought of absolute control. Yes, there's been a shift in power, and the arrival of his minion by his side confirms it.

Blizzard Overlord: My power grows... I can feel it! It surges through me! *smashes table needlessly* Minion! What has changed?

Minion: Sir, millions more have come into our grasp through the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. World of Warcraft reigns supreme, my lord.

Blizzard Overlord: How many? How many more souls have I claimed?

Minion: Gamesindustry.biz reports that 11.5 million subscribers have been claimed by World of Warcraft, boosted by over 4 million copies of Wrath of the Lich King sold to date.

Blizzard Overlord: 2.8 million copies of Wrath sold in one day. ONE DAY! And now this. I am unassailable... the world is truly mine.

Minion: It is indeed, my lord. The World of Warcraft Battle Chests continue to sell as well, as confirmed by GameStop. Our sales exceed even last year's performance.

The Blizzard Overlord laughs maniacally, heady with the newfound power flowing into him. Waves of energy ripple outwards, felt throughout the MMO world, as the Blizzard Overlord continues his ascension to godhood.
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!

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft claims 11.5 million souls of the faithful originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsexpansionsfantasyhumormmo-industrysalesworld-of-warcraftwowwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 23 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would a Black Friday deal get you to try an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/the-daily-grind-would-a-black-friday-deal-get-you-to-try-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/the-daily-grind-would-a-black-friday-deal-get-you-to-try-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/the-daily-grind-would-a-black-friday-deal-get-you-to-try-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: ,


With all the great bargains going on state-side (and to a certain extent, hooray online deals today!) folks are out in force, scavenging the sales. (Heck, our sister site Joystiq even put together a Black Friday game sales guide.) This morning, we thought we'd ask you - if you saw a ridiculously great price on an MMO that hadn't previously interested you, would you pick it up and give it a try? Perhaps even if only to say you'd played it? Or do you just stick to free trials, and only when it's a game that interests you?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would a Black Friday deal get you to try an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-fridayinexpensive-mmossalestdgthe-daily-grindtrialFri, 28 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA financial report: WAR did great, layoffs happening anyway]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/ea-financial-report-war-did-great-layoffs-happening-anyway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/ea-financial-report-war-did-great-layoffs-happening-anyway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/ea-financial-report-war-did-great-layoffs-happening-anyway/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EA released its quarterly financial statements (PDF warning on both that and the Source link) yesterday, and while the typical MMO player will not care about most of the data present, we thought a couple things buried in there were worth mentioning. First of all, EA bragged about the previously-revealed 800,000 subscriber number for Warhammer Online. Madden NFL 09 and Spore also did quite well, but despite those successes, the company still posted a net loss of $310 million.

Possibly as a result, it announced a "cost reduction plan" (doublespeak, anyone?) "which will include the elimination of approximately 6% of the Company's workforce," which Scott Jennings suggests is around 540 people. No details were given about which teams would lose people. We suppose new intellectual properties like Dead Space and Mirror's Edge aren't cheap to develop, and neither is Star Wars: The Old Republic (the existence of which was proudly touted in the report), but it's striking that even amidst sales success by WAR and other titles, the company is still shedding employees.

[Via Broken Toys]

MassivelyEA financial report: WAR did great, layoffs happening anyway originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaea-mythicelectronic-artsfinancial-statementslayoffsmadden-09mythicmythic-entertainmentquarterly-reportsalessporestar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorwarwarhammer-onlineFri, 31 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR battles Spore, The Force Unleashed for top of EU sales charts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/27/war-battles-spore-the-force-unleashed-for-top-of-eu-sales-chart/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/27/war-battles-spore-the-force-unleashed-for-top-of-eu-sales-chart/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/27/war-battles-spore-the-force-unleashed-for-top-of-eu-sales-chart/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Warhammer Online pulled off some impressive sales figures in the European market this past week. The Swedish sales chart shows WAR at the #1 and #4 (for the Collector's Edition) spots in that country, beating out the highly anticipated Will Wright project Spore. WAR also topped the charts in Spain. In Germany it came in second behind the heavily marketed console game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Of course an MMO dominating sales charts is nothing new. World of Warcraft has done so on and off since its launch four years ago, and Age of Conan debuted at #1 in many regions, even defeating the critically acclaimed BioWare tactical RPG Mass Effect which launched in the same month. It's also worth noting that the Warhammer IP is very popular in Europe, perhaps more so than in North America.

This news jives well with the report that half a million users have registered for the game. On the other hand, similar numbers were thrown out around AoC shortly after its launch. It's doing okay, but it didn't turn out to be a landscape-altering success that some folks projected, and that some are expecting from WAR as well

MassivelyWAR battles Spore, The Force Unleashed for top of EU sales charts originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocchartsea-mythiceueuropeeuropean-unionfiguresgermanymass-effectmythicmythic-entertainmentsalesspainsporestar-wars-the-force-unleashedswedenthe-force-unleashedwarwarhammer-onlinewill-wrightworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 27 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst: WAR subscriptions will eventually settle around 250,000]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/analyst--war-subscriptions-will-eventually-settle-around-250000/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/analyst--war-subscriptions-will-eventually-settle-around-250000/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/analyst--war-subscriptions-will-eventually-settle-around-250000/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Business analyst Arvind Bhatia shared his predictions about Warhammer Online's financial future with Edge magazine yesterday. Bhatia, who works at brokerage firm Stern Agee, said he believes EA is ultimately shooting for around 250,000 - 300,000 subscribers once the launch dust clears, with occassional bumps when major content releases such as expansons occur.

Given the hype around the game, those numbers seem a little low, but Bhatia said he based his projections on statements made by EA reps saying that the company hopes to break even on its investment. After the game shipped 1.5 million copies, some initial sales data began to emerge which indicated that sales are meeting but not significantly exceeding EA's conservative expectations. In the end Bhatia expects the company to pull in between $55 and 60 million dollars of revenue from WAR.

Numbers like the ones above would clearly not make WAR a WoW-killer, but they would make it one of the elite few truly successful Western, subscription-based MMOs. Certainly this prediction is a far cry from Paul Barnett's wild bet. But of course even Barnett admits his number is a little outrageous, and he only stands to lose $26 if he loses, y'know.

MassivelyAnalyst: WAR subscriptions will eventually settle around 250,000 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystarvind-bhatiaeaea-mythicedgeelectronic-artsmythicmythic-entertainmentprofitrevenuesalesstern-ageesubscriptionswarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online director expects three million subscribers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/warhammer-online-director-expects-three-million-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/warhammer-online-director-expects-three-million-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/warhammer-online-director-expects-three-million-subscribers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Warhammer Online Creative Director Paul Barnett said in an interview that he's (literally) betting that WAR will achieve one million subscribers within a year and three million at its peak. Apparently there's an office betting pool at Mythic about this subject. If Barnett's right, he stands to win ... wait for it ... $26. Wow. Enjoy your large pizza, man!

It's an ambitious bet. Even Barnett himself described it as "bullish." Time will tell if another word -- similar to that one but with a relocated "i" and an added "t" -- will be more appropriate. If all 1.5 million shipped retail boxes sell and there's close to 100% player retention after the first month (that last bit is very unlikely), the game will quickly be halfway to the end goal. But we know from past experience that significant attrition can be a problem.

The interview is full of other cocky statements, about World of Warcraft and other topics. If you're interested, grab yourself a grain of salt and start reading!

MassivelyWarhammer Online director expects three million subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betfutureinterviewmythicmythic-entertainmentnumberspaul-barnettpoolprojectionssalessubscriptionwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftWed, 17 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision-Blizzard reveals that it's sitting on a big pile of money]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/activision-blizzard-reveals-that-its-sitting-on-a-big-pile-of-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/activision-blizzard-reveals-that-its-sitting-on-a-big-pile-of-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/activision-blizzard-reveals-that-its-sitting-on-a-big-pile-of-m/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This year, Activision and Blizzard merged under French media group Vivendi (Blizzard's parent company) to become the biggest, baddest game publisher in the known universe. To make sure investors know just how awesome that event was, Vivendi sent out a press release describing its generally excellent financial condition.

Earnings for Vivendi as a whole were reported to be up 10.2% for the first six months of this year. While game division earnings are still actually down compared to this time last year, that should be no cause for alarm. It can be attributed to the lack of a World of Warcraft expansion. By this time last year, The Burning Crusade had reached store shelves.

Vivendi assured investors that it still plans to release Wrath of the Lich King by the end of this year, so that bump is still coming. But will Wrath be as big as The Burning Crusade? By definition it can't be any bigger, because you have to have played the TBC content to reach the point where you can enjoy most of what Wrath has to offer, right? Apparently we'll see soon.
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!

MassivelyActivision-Blizzard reveals that it's sitting on a big pile of money originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardbusinessearningsexpansionfinancesinvestorspress-releasesalestbcthe-burning-crusadevivendiworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingSat, 06 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan surpasses 700k registered users]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/age-of-conan-surpasses-700k-registered-users/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/age-of-conan-surpasses-700k-registered-users/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/age-of-conan-surpasses-700k-registered-users/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We've been quite taken aback by the responses many players direct at Funcom's Age of Conan. We're not sure if the accusations of the game being a "beta version" or just a "total POS" are the product of unrealistic expectations or are just general animosity towards a game that, at launch, lacks the polish of its biggest competitor. If you've got your ear to the ground, all this rabble-rousing would give the impression that Funcom's early success would be short-lived.

The indication from Funcom however, is that this grumbling hasn't affected sales. They put out a press release today revealing that Age of Conan is sitting at over 700,000 registered subscribers worldwide. Game director Gaute Godager made sure to reaffirm the company's focus on shoring up the existing weaknesses in the game, acknowledging that retention is as important as aggressive growth in the MMO game.
Age of Conan Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Age of Conan destination page, including all of our interviews, hands-ons, galleries and original features!

MassivelyAge of Conan surpasses 700k registered users originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>700kage-of-conancomplaintsfuncomgaute-godagersalessubscriberssuccessMon, 30 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST