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[DC Universe Online shows off the new Shield weapon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/dc-universe-online-shows-off-the-new-shield-weapon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/dc-universe-online-shows-off-the-new-shield-weapon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/dc-universe-online-shows-off-the-new-shield-weapon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Based off of a Kirby character who was based off of another Kirby character owned by a competing company.
Shields generally aren't thought of as a weapon; they're usually seen as the exact opposite of a weapon. But in the superheroic milieu, all that changes. A shield is something to be used offensively, and in DC Universe Online's next major update, players will begin wielding the shield for their own superheroic (or villainous) capers. A recent interview with creative director Jens Andersen discusses the intended role of the shield in combat.

Andersen explains that while the new weapon comes along in a very PvP-centered update, it's not meant to be used specifically for PvP; the team just wants to have something new for players to enjoy no matter what. In play, shields are similar to a staff weapon, but unlike most other weapons, the shield can continue to build a combo after a heavy strike by moving back to light strikes. That should make the shield a very aggressive option -- perhaps odd for something that's not generally thought of as a weapon.

MassivelyDC Universe Online shows off the new Shield weapon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatconsoleconsolesdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuodlcf2pfree-to-playinterviewnew-abilitiesnew-contentnew-weaponspatchesplaystation-3playstation3ps3shieldshieldssoesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroesthe-last-laughupdatesweaponweaponsThu, 17 May 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joker returns to DC Universe Online in upcoming DLC, The Last Laugh]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-joker-returns-to-dc-universe-online-in-upcoming-dlc-the-las/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-joker-returns-to-dc-universe-online-in-upcoming-dlc-the-las/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-joker-returns-to-dc-universe-online-in-upcoming-dlc-the-las/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- DC Universe Online
DC Universe Online players, prepare yourselves: The Joker's back, and he wants to put a smile on your face. The Clown Prince of Crime is making his grand return to DCUO in the game's upcoming DLC pack, The Last Laugh. Not to be confused with the renowned crossover comic story arc, DCUO's The Last Laugh "will pit players against each other in high-intensity multiplayer brawls, feature an all-new weapon, and introduce new Light-Powered Legends PvP characters." The new weapon in question isn't much of a weapon at all, but if Captain America has taught us anything, it's that even a shield can be lethal in the right hands. Now players will be able to slam, bash, and wank to their hearts' content with the new shield weapon type.

And players will need every trick they can get to succeed in the new Safe House Battles, which are 4v4 PvP brawls that involve players invading one anothers' safe houses in order to complete a number of objectives. So much for safe houses being... well, safe. Players thirsting for larger-scale combat will be at home in the new Headquarter Battles, which see eight heroes squaring off against eight villains as they try to take control of the Hall of Doom and the Watchtower, respectively. And finally, the game's first light-powered Legend characters will be making an appearance in The Last Laugh, allowing players to take control of the Green Lanterns' Kilowog and Sinestro Corps' Amon Sur.

The Last Laugh will be available in June for free to Legendary members and for purchase on the market for Free and Premium players. For the full details, check out the official announcement at the DCUO site.

MassivelyThe Joker returns to DC Universe Online in upcoming DLC, The Last Laugh originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuodlcdlc-packdownloadable-contentf2pfree-to-playheadquarter-battlesplayer-vs-playerplaystation-3playstation3ps3pvpsafe-house-battlesshieldshieldssoesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroesthe-jokerthe-last-laughTue, 08 May 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: What's your (energy) type?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/captains-log-whats-your-energy-type/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/captains-log-whats-your-energy-type/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/captains-log-whats-your-energy-type/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Trek Online screenshot
Captain's Log, Stardate 65244.9...

Hello, computer (and players)! Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear meeeeeee, happy birthday to me. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Yes, today is my birthday, and the best present I could receive is being able to share this week's Captain's Log with you all. As we get closer and closer to the F2P re-launch of Star Trek Online, I expect that there will be new captains tuning into this column each week, so to help support our new comrades in between the weeks that feature an influx of breaking news and developments, I am going to be taking some time to educate everyone on a few of the game's mechanics.

When I first started playing STO, I often found myself wondering about many of the choices available to my different characters. From armor to shields, deflectors to engines, and kits to weapons, there is an endless array of options that we can decide to play with and use. One of the most frequently asked questions I get from new players is, "What is the best energy type to use for my ship's weapons?" In the past, when I really did not know much, I would choose my type by the color it emitted. I now know that "pretty" does not equal "power." While each type has its own special bonuses, it's up to you to decide which to use and why. Here's to hoping I can aid in that decision.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's take a look at the spectrum of colors and their abilities...

Continue reading Captain's Log: What's your (energy) type?

MassivelyCaptain's Log: What's your (energy) type? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antiprotonarmorbirthdaycaptains-logcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdeflectorsdisruptorenginesF2Pfeaturedfree-to-playkitslivestreamperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentphaserplasmapolaronprocpweshieldsspecst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosubsystemstertryontrek-onlineTribbleweaponsThu, 29 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Zero-sum game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-zero-sum-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-zero-sum-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-zero-sum-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ever since I started following RIFT, I've been entranced by the wide-open -- but not limitless -- class system. After all, the virtual world and everything populating it is only half the game; the other half resides in the avatar that sticks with you while you explore it all. Many MMOs have interesting ways of letting you build and grow your character, but sooner or later they come to a point where there's little more to be done other than incrementally increasing your stats by gaining better gear.

Not so with RIFT, as even a level 50 can drop a few coins to shape a completely new build from scratch. No longer are we bound to a rigidly defined creation; we are free to experiment, tinker, and try out these roles to our hearts' content.

With RIFT's soul system, there are a few ground rules that everyone learns early in the game. You can have up to three souls in your archetype active at any one time; you can only spend as many points in a build as you have in levels (such as 10 points at level 10); and you'll end up with 66 points at level 50, which means that you'll at least dabble in a second soul tree with every build. And while you can certainly spread soul points across all three trees, today I wanted to look at the benefits of a zero-point soul, the "third wheel," if you will, of builds.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Zero-sum game

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Zero-sum game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archonassassinbardbeastmasterbladedancerbuildbuildschampionchloromancerclassclass-buildsclassesclericdominatordruiddungeons-and-dragonselemental-summonerenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedhealinghealsjusticarmagemagic-the-gatheringnecromancerpaladinpetpetspurifierrangerreaverriftriftbladeriftstalkerroguesaboteursentinelshamanshieldssoulsoul-buildsoul-talent-treesoul-treesoul-treessoulssplashsplash-soultalent-treestalentsvoid-knightwardenwarlockwarlordwarriorzero-point-soulWed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vindictus' Evie offers a-mage-ing moves]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/vindictus-evie-offers-a-mage-ing-moves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/vindictus-evie-offers-a-mage-ing-moves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/vindictus-evie-offers-a-mage-ing-moves/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Evie is not content to summon a wicked-looking golem to fight for her side, no! Details are coming to light that Evie, the recently introduced mage character in Nexon's free-to-play hack-and-slasher, Vindictus, will be bringing even more pain through additional magical means. Equipped with a staff at earlier stages, she will change to rather wicked-looking battle-scythes later in the game. Furthermore, one of her most insane attacks at low level is the Firebolt attack, which will not only grant high damage, but will add a knockback effect, if it remains true to the original version.

To add to this wee, juicy tidbit of information, we understand that the key to Evie's survival is a five-layer shield, which gives her the ability to resist most attacks without major loss of hitpoints or mana. Considering the majority of MMO mages tend to be high-DPS glass cannons, Evie's ability to shield without major mana or health drain is likely welcome news for those who prefer crazy-damage casters but hate spending time studying floor textures while waiting for a rez. In all, the game is still in beta, so these details may well change before launch -- but it sounds pretty awesome to us so far.

MassivelyVindictus' Evie offers a-mage-ing moves originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attack-typesbetadpsevief2pfree-to-playmagenexonscytheshieldsstaffstavevindictusFri, 24 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet the ultimate City of Heroes Issue 13 guide, Infoman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/meet-the-ultimate-city-of-heroes-issue-13-guide-infoman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/meet-the-ultimate-city-of-heroes-issue-13-guide-infoman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/meet-the-ultimate-city-of-heroes-issue-13-guide-infoman/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Walking down the street, you're suddenly stopped by a man wearing a fedora and trench coat. "Hey you, yeah you!" he spits out in hushed tones. "Uh, what's up?" you respond cautiously.

"Yo, the name's Infoman," he looks about nervously, like someone may be watching him, "check out the merchandise" opening his jacket to reveal countless links for articles all about the recent City of Heroes' Issue 13 update. Everything from the Positron interview at Joystiq to in-depth fan-made videos of all the new systems added into the game.

"It's all free, take whatever ya like." says the calm street walker, who now seems like a pretty nice guy. "I'll take that Floyd 'Castle' Grubb interview about the new powersets." you say. He nods, hands it over and says, "I gots more if'n you want it, kid. Be down at the docks." and struts off down the street whistling a tune.

MassivelyMeet the ultimate City of Heroes Issue 13 guide, Infoman originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohfloyd-grubbissue-13nc-norcalncsoftpatchespositronpowersetpowersetsshieldshieldsFri, 05 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The 26 Shields of City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/the-26-sheilds-of-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/the-26-sheilds-of-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/the-26-sheilds-of-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


When we logged into City of Heroes to check out the new Shield powerset released in yesterday's Issue 13 patch, the one thing that we were not expecting was to find 26 shield types to choose from. It took us quite a while to settle on a shield, as our impulse was to have them all. Once we did make our selection though, it dawned on us that we should share this amazing catalogue of bodily protection with the rest of the world.

We'd like to stress that this isn't every mutation of all the shields, otherwise this would be called "The 4,532 Shields of City of Heroes" and that just doesn't have the same ring to it. Plus, we value what little social lives we actually have. So without further day we present to you, our dear Massively readers, the 26 shields of City of Heroes.

Gallery: The 26 Shields of City of Heroes

Round Shield - ReinforcedRound ShieldRound Shield - EmblemTarge - Long SpikesTarge

MassivelyThe 26 Shields of City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescohfeaturedissue-13joystiqfeaturesnc-norcalncsoftpower-setspowersetshieldshieldssuperherosuperheroesThu, 04 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Floyd 'Castle' Grubb gives a Q&A on the new CoX power sets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/floyd-castle-grubb-gives-a-qanda-on-the-new-cox-power-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/floyd-castle-grubb-gives-a-qanda-on-the-new-cox-power-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/floyd-castle-grubb-gives-a-qanda-on-the-new-cox-power-sets/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Castle, famous in City of Heroes for being the guy who designs and fixes the powers, has prepared a Q&A on the new powersets coming with CoX Issue 13: Power and Responsibility, now deep into Closed Beta: Shield Defense and Pain Domination. Though controversy over proposed PvP changes is dominating the CoX boards at the moment, the new powersets seem to have met with universal acclaim.

In the Q&A, Castle explains the thinking behind Pain Domination and the restrictions on the design, the player base's role in the creation of Shields, and his own take on which hero and villain powers are the coolest ones in the game right now. Check out the Q&A after the cut.

Continue reading Floyd 'Castle' Grubb gives a Q&A on the new CoX power sets

MassivelyFloyd 'Castle' Grubb gives a Q&A on the new CoX power sets originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcox-issue-13ncsoftpain-dominationshieldsFri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video showcases new CoX powersets for Issue 13]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/video-showcases-new-cox-powersets-for-issue-13/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/video-showcases-new-cox-powersets-for-issue-13/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/video-showcases-new-cox-powersets-for-issue-13/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The two new powersets in City of Heroes Issue 13: Power and Responsibility are Pain Domination and Shield Defense. Pain Domination finally gives Villains a dose of the healing and buffing power that Heroes had with the Empathy set, but with a potent offensive edge. Shield Defense is coming to both sides, giving several melee classes the option to wield a highly customizable shield in battle. It's emerged that shields will be able to bear cape patterns underneath their emblems, allowing for heraldic style designs.

Over at mmorpg.com, a video has appeared showing the two new powersets in action. It's not very long, but it delivers the goods. We're pleased to see that Pain Domination looks every bit as gore-hued and dramatic as we'd have wished, and the Shields animations are slick. Check the video out at mmorpg.com

MassivelyVideo showcases new CoX powersets for Issue 13 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcox-issue-13ncsoftpain-dominationshield-defenseshieldsWed, 15 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes Issue 13 enters Closed Beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/city-of-heroes-issue-13-enters-closed-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/city-of-heroes-issue-13-enters-closed-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/city-of-heroes-issue-13-enters-closed-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

City of Heroes Issue 13: Power and Responsibility has now been patched to the Test Server, where a small but dedicated group of people will be testing the hell out of it for a while before the gate is unlocked and Open Beta begins.

Leaking stuff from a Closed Beta is of course a major no-no, and we would not condone this from anyone. There is, however, a limited amount of access that anyone can get, simply by going through character creation. Although it's not possible to enter the game fully unless you're in the Closed Beta, costume pieces and new powersets can be examined in their current state. These are in testing, so it would be unwise to fixate on anything for now.

So far we've had a look at the Shields powerset, which is extremely cool and contains many surprises, and Pain Domination, which picks up the buffity-healy hero set Empathy, runs with it, and smashes its face into the wall repeatedly while laughing like some ice-girdled steel-toothed agony maiden from Hell's own surgical wing.

Continue reading City of Heroes Issue 13 enters Closed Beta

MassivelyCity of Heroes Issue 13 enters Closed Beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcox-issue-13ncsoftpain-dominationshieldstestThu, 09 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Further details emerge of CoX Issue 13: Architect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/further-details-emerge-of-cox-issue-13-architect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/further-details-emerge-of-cox-issue-13-architect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/further-details-emerge-of-cox-issue-13-architect/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As the City of Heroes community fell upon and devoured the news of Issue 13: Architect like a pack of wild crack manatees, the developers occasionally ran out from under their desks to answer a question or two. The merits system in particular has been clarified, courtesy of Positron:

'Upon completing tasks in the game (Task Forces, Trials, etc.) you get an option of receiving Reward Merits instead of a normal reward. The number of merits is based on the difficulty of the mission, how long it takes to complete on average, etc. Thus things like the Katie Hannon TF have minimal merits associated with them, and things like the Shadow Shard Task Forces get bunches.'

This is, as we had suspected, a step to counterbalance the quick farming of Task Forces, not by nerfing them but by making the longer Task Forces worth doing. We'd like to see them made more interesting, too - some of the real marathons are very old now, dating back to launch and the first two Issues - but it's a step in the right direction.

Continue reading Further details emerge of CoX Issue 13: Architect

MassivelyFurther details emerge of CoX Issue 13: Architect originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architectcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcox-issue-13ncsoftshieldsWed, 27 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO MMOnkey: Comparing active attack and auto attack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/mmo-mmonkey-comparing-active-attack-and-auto-attack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/mmo-mmonkey-comparing-active-attack-and-auto-attack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/mmo-mmonkey-comparing-active-attack-and-auto-attack/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In the opening sentence of a previous column I compared Age of Conan's active style of combat in which the player must instigate every attack with a keypress to the auto-attack combat common to most MMOs. I characterized auto attack as a go-make-a-cup-of-coffee type of combat which, as one commenter pointed out, was a bit of hyperbole designed to accentuate the difference between active and auto attack but which offended several other people who thought their combat skills were being denigrated.

The earlier column had nothing to do with styles of combat but all the combat-related comments got me thinking about some of the differences between active and auto attack. The two types of combat appear to have few, if any, important differences for the experienced player at the operational level (deployment of unit or squads in raids) or the strategic level (player-controlled access to important game resources as in EVE Online, Dark Age of Camelot and possibly Warhammer Online). When we look at game mechanics and individual unit tactics, however, important and potentially interesting differences begin to emerge.

Continue reading MMO MMOnkey: Comparing active attack and auto attack

MassivelyMMO MMOnkey: Comparing active attack and auto attack originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active-attackauto-attackcombatcombo-attackfeaturedgame-mechanicsjoystiqfeaturesmanameleeshieldsstaminatacticsThu, 10 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's defense system detailed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/age-of-conans-defense-system-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/age-of-conans-defense-system-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/age-of-conans-defense-system-detailed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Everyone is familiar with the tried-and-true combat systems found in just about every MMO to date, although more games are becoming the exception as time goes on. Age of Conan happens to be one of those exceptions and with its very active directional combat system comes some new ways to manage your defenses during the heat of battle.

Funcom has gone and made an informative overview of all the different ways to 'defend thy self' in their upcoming Hyborian online adventure. It's a good thing they have too, because there is a lot to consider when keeping your head firmly attached to your body in this game.

Continue reading Age of Conan's defense system detailed

MassivelyAge of Conan's defense system detailed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccollision-detectiondefenseeidosfuncomshield-systemshieldsMon, 17 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST