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[Captain's Log: STO's Caitian Carriers and Klingon Kitties]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/captain-s-log-sto-s-caitian-carriers-and-klingon-kitties/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/captain-s-log-sto-s-caitian-carriers-and-klingon-kitties/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/captain-s-log-sto-s-caitian-carriers-and-klingon-kitties/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

STO
Lately I've beginning to wonder whether the wait for Star Trek Online's Season Six has been as interminable for other players as it seems to have been for me. Although the past several weeks have been busy in the real-life side of things, those distractions really haven't been all that good at harboring my frustration about the wait for the new stuff as I would have liked.

Season Six is being readied for a move to STO's test server, Tribble, in the next couple of weeks, according to the most recent Ask Cryptic as answered by the game's Executive Producer, Dan Stahl. The new patch will contain fleet starbases and a new fleet advancement system but not much else in the way of story-based content.

That's not unexpected, however, as not one of the previous Season releases really ever contained story-based content; they've merely been game-technology pushes, and I understand that Season Six will be no different.

However a couple of things have come out to the game in the past few weeks that have ruffled some hard-core Trek-fan feathers: Caitian Carriers and Ferasans.

Continue reading Captain's Log: STO's Caitian Carriers and Klingon Kitties

MassivelyCaptain's Log: STO's Caitian Carriers and Klingon Kitties originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caitiancanoncanonitecaptains-logCBScbs-studioscrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahldaniel-stahlf2pfeaturedferasanfree-to-playian-richardsloreopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweracessci-fishipsstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoMon, 21 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online takes a look at the road ahead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-takes-a-look-at-the-road/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-takes-a-look-at-the-road/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-takes-a-look-at-the-road/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It should be more like classic Trek, where you have to jettison the warp core every three episodes and the holodeck regularly tries to kill everyone on board.
There's a great big galaxy out there in Star Trek Online, so much so that some things occasionally fall through the cracks. The latest installment of Ask Cryptic focuses on a few of these elements, like the Andorian ship and the addition of a playable Romulan faction. Neither of these elements is on the table for immediate inclusion, but both are in the pipe for future updates; the former is planned for sometime the next year, while the Romulans are on the more distant horizon.

Not everything comes down to a simple "not right now," however. The KDF, for instance, is slated to continue receiving new updates and additional features to bring the faction more in line with the Federation's content level. The development team is also hard at work trying to allow older ships to be retrofitted into higher-level content, letting players take classic designs into modern engagements. It's certainly not a question of whether the development team has a plan or not, just a matter of how soon all of these fabled upgrades will be implemented.

MassivelyNewest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online takes a look at the road ahead originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfactionsfree-to-playnew-shipsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpreviewspwesci-fishipsstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoupcoming-contentupdatesThu, 05 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Explore Vinland and Rome with Uncharted Waters Online's latest update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/explore-vinland-and-rome-with-uncharted-waters-onlines-latest-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/explore-vinland-and-rome-with-uncharted-waters-onlines-latest-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/explore-vinland-and-rome-with-uncharted-waters-onlines-latest-u/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Uncharted Waters Online
Ahoy there, sailors. It's time once again to raise your sails, man your oars, and prepare for further adventures on the seven seas with Uncharted Waters Online. A new update to the game brings players a treasure trove of new content to explore, such as the new area of Vinland, which is inhabited by fierce vikings, and the grand city of Rome, where players can test out the freshly revamped ground combat system in new PvE challenges at the historical Coliseum.

On top of that, the update is also introducing a brand-new banking system that will allow players to keep their loot safe from plundering (for a minor fee, of course). And finally, players will be granted access to three new vessels in which to make the journey to Vinland. The first is the Immigrant Bark, which is modeled after the historical Mayflower that carried some of the first English settlers to North America. The other two ships are the six-sailed long schooner and commercial long schooner. So choose your vessel, get all hands on deck, and set your course for Vinland by heading over to the game's official site.

[Source: Netmarble press release]

MassivelyExplore Vinland and Rome with Uncharted Waters Online's latest update originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cj-em-gamescoliseumcolosseumf2pfree-to-playground-battle-systemground-combat-systemimmigrant-barknetmarbleromeshipshipstecmo-koei-gamesuncharted-waters-onlineuwovikingsvinlandWed, 21 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online talks about bringing ship trees to ship shape]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/eve-online-talks-about-bringing-ship-trees-to-ship-shape/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/eve-online-talks-about-bringing-ship-trees-to-ship-shape/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/eve-online-talks-about-bringing-ship-trees-to-ship-shape/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Because you can never have enough internet spaceships, right?
Every MMO has to face an issue of complexity creep, and EVE Online is no exception. The current trees for ship progression and skill advancement are the result of numerous patches, additions, and alterations to a core system that's left an enormous mess behind. As a result, the whole system is in need of an overhaul, one that the most recent development blog discusses in detail.

The first changes involve cleaning up and streamlining the progression system so that ships such as Destroyers and Battlecruisers are a part of the standard path rather than unusual deviations. There's also a removal of some of the more labyrinthine requirements for tech 2 ships. The other major focus is a removal of the current system of ship tiers, with the developers trying to specialize ships based on roles and make each hull useful in its own fashion. EVE Online players are going to be seeing a big upheaval in the way that ships work in the future, so it's probably a good idea to get a feel for where the changes are arriving sooner rather than later.

MassivelyEVE Online talks about bringing ship trees to ship shape originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceccpccp-gameseveeve-onlineeve-shipsgame-mechanicsgame-systemsinternet-spaceshipsmechanical-balancemechanicssandboxsci-fiship-tiersshipsspreadsheets-onlinesystemsTue, 06 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE shows off PlanetSide 2's Galaxy transport]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/soe-shows-off-planetside-2s-galaxy-transport/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/soe-shows-off-planetside-2s-galaxy-transport/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/soe-shows-off-planetside-2s-galaxy-transport/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2 - Galaxy transport
Another day, another PlanetSide 2 vehicle reveal. The latest update from Sony Online Entertainment features the venerable Galaxy, and if that doesn't quicken your pulse a little bit, you must've missed the original PlanetSide.

The Galaxy is a heavily armored troop transport designed to "hot drop" 12 soldiers into the heart of enemy territory. What's a hot drop? It's basically the game's sci-fi twist on the traditional parachute, and SOE says that it "automatically encapsulates any soldier or MAX unit that bails out with a protective barrier that slows their fall."

Galaxies are also sturdy enough to serve as mobile infantry bases after landing, and the ships feature respawn tubes, equipment terminals, and four weapon systems that may be operated on the ground.

MassivelySOE shows off PlanetSide 2's Galaxy transport originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fpsgalaxyhot-dropmmo-shootermmofpsplanetside-2ps2sci-fishipsshootersoeSony-Online-EntertainmentvehiclesThu, 19 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Videos document player battle with ArcheAge's Kraken]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/videos-document-player-battle-with-archeages-kraken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/videos-document-player-battle-with-archeages-kraken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/videos-document-player-battle-with-archeages-kraken/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ArcheAge
If you haven't gotten enough of ArcheAge's ridiculously gorgeous graphics and sailing mechanics, then prepare to wet your whistle on not one, not two, but three new videos showing off ocean exploration and monster encounters.

Sailing and ship combat is one of the lesser-utilized mechanics in the MMO field, so if ArcheAge can pull it off, then it might make waves. Figuratively speaking. These three videos document an encounter with the fearsome Kraken -- giant squid with an anger management problem -- and what happens to a fragile wooden boat that sails into its waiting tentacles.

According to the video, the Kraken has nearly a million hit points and can smash entire armadas with impunity. The videos show a fleet trying to take on the fearsome underwater world boss, but the players are only able to make a dent for all their efforts.

Conquer your fears of the unknown by hitting the jump and checking out this impressive beta footage!

Continue reading Videos document player battle with ArcheAge's Kraken

MassivelyVideos document player battle with ArcheAge's Kraken originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeagebetaclosed-betagiant-squidkrakenocean-combatsailingsailing-combatsandboxsea-combatshipship-combatshipssquidvideovideosworld-bossxl-gamesxlgamesWed, 28 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Force reflection]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/hyperspace-beacon-force-reflection/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/hyperspace-beacon-force-reflection/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/hyperspace-beacon-force-reflection/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Force reflection
"Always in motion is the future," Yoda reflected to Luke Skywalker in the greatest of all Star Wars movies, The Empire Strikes Back. Even for a Jedi master, the future is unpredictable and always fluid. Likewise, I made predictions about Star Wars: The Old Republic that were completely off base and some that were spot on. Of course, the ones I got wrong were part of the BioWare plot to subvert everything I do. That's right, I'm looking at you, Georg Zoeller.

This week, I'm going to borrow a phrase from the SWTOR-RP website: Force Reflection. Every weekday, these roleplayers pose a question about SWTOR, Star Wars, or some sort of roleplay trope to get you to think about how you play you character. However, I'm going to use the phrase to think back on the predictions I made in this column, specifically the first article of this year. Which ideas did I get correct? Which ideas did I get totally wrong? I can't be one hundred percent correct all the time. I have to leave room for some errors or else I'd lose my secret job as a psychic-hotline operator.

Jump past the break to judge for yourself.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Force reflection

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Force reflection originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarecustomizable-shipsdelayEAElectronic-Artsfeaturedgeorg-zoellerHK-47james-ohlenlaunch-delayLucasArtsoperationsopinionplanetplanetsraidRevanshipsshutdownspeculationStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsunsettingSWTORthe-old-republicTORTue, 27 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Win a life-size Cylon statue from Bigpoint and Battlestar Galactica Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/win-a-life-size-cylon-statue-from-bigpoint-and-battlestar-galact/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/win-a-life-size-cylon-statue-from-bigpoint-and-battlestar-galact/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/win-a-life-size-cylon-statue-from-bigpoint-and-battlestar-galact/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Battlestar Galactica Online - life-sized Cylon statueBigpoint's in the news again this week, and for once the company is steering clear of microtransaction controversies. It seems as if there's a giveaway afoot, and Battlestar Galactica Online fans will be pleased to note that they have a chance to win a life-size Cylon statue (settle down guys, it's a Centurion, not a Number Six).

The browser-based sci-fi MMO also features 15 new paint jobs for Cylon and Colonial ships, each of which may be purchased with real money or in-game credits.

Bigpoint says more color schemes are on the way, and oh yeah, if you want a chance at the statue, you'll need to log in at least five times during the month of December. Head to the official BSGO forums for the official contest rules.

MassivelyWin a life-size Cylon statue from Bigpoint and Battlestar Galactica Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebigpointbsgbsgoby-your-commandcylon-statuecylonsf2pfree-to-playgiveawayslife-size-cylon-statuepaint-jobspromotionssci-fishipsThu, 08 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Star Trek Online developer diary explores the abandoned Jem'Hadar ships]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/new-star-trek-online-developer-diary-explores-the-abandoned-jem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/new-star-trek-online-developer-diary-explores-the-abandoned-jem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/new-star-trek-online-developer-diary-explores-the-abandoned-jem/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hopefully these fare better in the hands of players than as enemies.
The Dominion is, in many ways, the opposite of the Federation in Star Trek Online. Rather than being composed of several races cooperating freely for shared exploration, the Dominion features multiple races honed into single-purpose tools by the Founders. One of those tools is the Jem'Hadar, the warriors of the organization and the pilots behind the fast scarab-like attack vessels players are no doubt familiar with. And as the latest developer diary outlines, the Jem'Hadar ships are turning into a mystery -- because they're turning up empty and unharmed in the middle of Federation and Klingon space.

In game terms, the ship is small and quick and mounts a heavy offensive arrangement of officers and equipment. In lore terms, however, the presence of the ships could easily be the subject of an entire set of missions (and may be in the future, in the Foundry if not from the development team). It's an interesting fictional read as well as an interesting look at a new ship type in the game, both of which should appeal to fans of Star Trek Online

MassivelyNew Star Trek Online developer diary explores the abandoned Jem'Hadar ships originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdeveloper-blogdeveloper-diaryf2pfree-to-playlorenewspatchesperfect-world-entertainmentpweseason-5shipsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineupdatesWed, 07 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[XLGAMES shows off new ArcheAge CBT4 teaser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/xlgames-shows-off-new-archeage-cbt4-teaser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/xlgames-shows-off-new-archeage-cbt4-teaser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/xlgames-shows-off-new-archeage-cbt4-teaser/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

ArcheAge - bird's eye view of sailing ships
XLGAMES has released a new teaser trailer for ArcheAge, presumably to mock those of us who haven't yet managed to snag an invite to the sandpark title's fourth Korean closed beta test. The clip shows a small invasion force traveling by ship towards one of the game's continents and, as usual, the visuals on display are a cut above (way above) the MMORPG norm.

Strangely, there's no combat on display during the trailer's two-minute running time, but there's plenty of atmosphere, ambiance, and anticipation just in case you weren't already beside yourself with excitement. Check out the full clip after the break and let us know what you think.

Continue reading XLGAMES shows off new ArcheAge CBT4 teaser

MassivelyXLGAMES shows off new ArcheAge CBT4 teaser originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeagebetacbt4closedcontinent-of-originkorean-closed-betakorean-closed-beta-4nauticalsandboxsandparkshipsteasertrailervideoxlxl-gamesxlgameszomg-must-play-nowThu, 01 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Every day I'm tribbleing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/captains-log-every-day-i-m-tribbleing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/captains-log-every-day-i-m-tribbleing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/captains-log-every-day-i-m-tribbleing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot - Star Trek Online
Captain's Log, Stardate 65322.9...

Hello, computer (and players)! For the past several weeks, Star Trek Online players have been checking out the latest F2P beta builds on the Tribble test server. While there have been a few patches on other days, more for stability fixes and minor tweaking, Thursdays seem to be the designated day for us to receive the largest pushes of new content. The latest round of updates has brought further economy changes, new events and ships, and even more heated debates. Since we seem to be a ways out from the seeing the updates ported to the Holodeck live server, there is still plenty of time to check it all out and provide your feedback to the devs.

I would like to dedicate this entry to those who are helping test the changes. This week's Captain's Log serves as a checklist of sorts on what new content you can test and where you can provide feedback about it. As you read through, I suggest that you read a particular section, jump into game to check out the particular change, formulate an opinion, and head to the linked forum where you can leave your feedback. No matter what you think, it's important to let the devs know -- they will make changes based upon a collective opinion.

Ensign, warp 10! It's time to create our own party rock anthem...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Every day I'm tribbleing

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Every day I'm tribbleing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilityc-storeconsolecraftingcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaily-eventdevdev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-blogdeveloper-diarydevsdilithiumdoffduty-officerduty-officer-systemevent-calendarf2pfeature-testingfeaturedfeedbackforumforumsfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgame-systemsgeargozerhereticklingon-academylivestreamloglore-missionspatchespath-to-f2pperfect-world-entertainmentpowerpwesci-fishipsspecial-task-forcespecial-task-force-missionsspecial-testingstst-onlinestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarfleet-academystephen-dangelostfstf-updatesstostormshadetest-servertrek-onlineuiui-tweakupdatesThu, 27 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: The first one hundred words in the Merriam-Webster dictionary edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/ask-massively-the-first-one-hundred-words-in-the-merriam-webste/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/ask-massively-the-first-one-hundred-words-in-the-merriam-webste/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/ask-massively-the-first-one-hundred-words-in-the-merriam-webste/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

THE SHARK CAN SMELL YOU
A, aah, aardvark, aardwolf, Aaron, aaronic, ab, aba, abaca, aback, abacterial, abacus, abaft, abalone, abandon, abandoned, abase, abash, abate, abatement, abatis, abattoir, abaxial, abbacy, Abbasid, abbatial, abbe, abbess, Abbevillian, abbey, abbot, abbreviate, abbreviation, Abdias, abdictate, abdomen, abducens, abducent, abduct, abduction, abeam, abecedarian, abed, Abel, abelian, abelmosk, Abderdeen, aberrant, aberrated, aberration, abet, abeyance, abeyant, abhor, abhorrence, abhorrent, Abib, abidance, abide, abiding, abigail, ability, abinito, abiogenesis, abiogenic, abiological, abiotic, abject, abjection, abjuration, abjure, ablate, ablation, ablative, ablaut, ablaze, able, abloom, abluted, ablution, ably, Abnaki, abnegate, abnegation, abnormal, abnormality, abo, aboard, abode, aboil, abolish, abolition, abolitionism, abomasum, abominable, abominate, abomination, aboral, aboriginal, aborigine.

When you're done drenching yourself in glue in celebration, it's time for this week's edition of Ask Massively, in which we discuss walking in ships and stations. If you'd like to have a question answered in a future edition of the column, leave it in the comments or mail it to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: The first one hundred words in the Merriam-Webster dictionary edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: The first one hundred words in the Merriam-Webster dictionary edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelydesignfeaturedgames-with-spaceshipsground-combathumoropinionplayer-combatsci-fiscience-fictionship-combatshipsThu, 27 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest F2P blog for Star Trek Online talks about dilithium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/newest-f2p-blog-for-star-trek-online-talks-about-dilithium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/newest-f2p-blog-for-star-trek-online-talks-about-dilithium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/newest-f2p-blog-for-star-trek-online-talks-about-dilithium/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Looks like the Corvette of starships. And priced like one.
Star Trek Online has always had a variety of currencies for players, each allowing access to different stocks of items. But another form of money is coming into the game, and much like gold-pressed latinum, it's something that has a long history in lore. The rare and valuable dilithium is being introduced as a new form of reward, and the latest entry in the Path to F2P series discusses just how the new form of money will work.

The most important role that the ore will play will be in replacing the existing free ship tokens that had previously come when players achieved a new rank. Earning a new ship will now be a more difficult and involved task, with a discount coupon and a free offering of refined dilithium to make it easier to earn a ship on a rank increase, but it won't be automatic. The entry goes on to state that the current implementation on the test server is not quite right, and it includes more discussion about how much effort is meant to be involved in getting a brand-new ship.

MassivelyNewest F2P blog for Star Trek Online talks about dilithium originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studioscurrenciescurrencydilithiumf2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicsin-game-currencymoneyorepath-to-f2prewardsshipsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineFri, 07 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[XL Games teases new ArcheAge screenshots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/xl-games-teases-new-archeage-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/xl-games-teases-new-archeage-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/xl-games-teases-new-archeage-screenshots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

ArcheAge - player ships
ArcheAge may be a ways off from its North American and European debut, but that's not stopping fans of XL Games' upcoming sandpark from scouring the far corners of the web for the latest news.

Today we've got a few new screenshots for you to ogle, and they cover everything from the fantasy title's stunning naturescapes, to some newly revealed personal-sized boats, to what appears to be one of the hang-gliders from the ChinaJoy trailer released earlier this year. Fan site ArcheAge Online has the details, and the source article says that XL is teasing these shots as a quick preview of what players can expect during the fourth phase of Korean closed beta testing.

CBT4 doesn't have a fixed schedule as of yet, but we'll keep you up to date on it, as well as all the latest ArcheAge news as it happens.

MassivelyXL Games teases new ArcheAge screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arche-agearcheagebetaboatscbt4fantasyhang-gliderkorean-betakorean-closed-betaplayer-boatsplayer-shipssailingsandboxsandparkshipstestingxlxl-gamesSat, 24 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the rails: Star Wars Galaxies introduces atmospheric flight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/off-the-rails-star-wars-galaxies-introduces-atmospheric-flight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/off-the-rails-star-wars-galaxies-introduces-atmospheric-flight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/off-the-rails-star-wars-galaxies-introduces-atmospheric-flight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies screenshot
If you're still on the fence about reactivating Star Wars Galaxies in order to participate in the sunset events from now until December 15th, today's news just might push you over to the dark side... er light side. One of those!

This morning, Sony Online Entertainment published Game Update 21, the highlight of which is atmospheric flight. For real.
With atmospheric flight, you will be able to travel the skies above and see the worlds of Star Wars Galaxies in a new way. To launch into atmospheric flight, or to return to the ground, you can use your ship's icon in your datapad. Whether you are looking to host a peaceful event in your yacht with the Theed Waterfall as a backdrop or prove your piloting skills against another player over the desert of Tatooine, atmospheric flight will offer a unique way to experience Star Wars Galaxies.
The patch notes indicate that players can launch directly into space while piloting through planetary atmosphere, and you'll need some skill to navigate as ships will take damage if crashed into the ground. GU21 also heralds the "Final Battle," which presumably is another stage in the ongoing Galactic Civil War sunset events.

Remember, today is literally your last chance to reactivate and give the game a proper send-off.

MassivelyOff the rails: Star Wars Galaxies introduces atmospheric flight originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atmospheric-flightflightgalactic-civil-wargame-updategcwgu21patchshipssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstarshipsunsetsunset-eventsswgupdateThu, 15 Sep 2011 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Uncharted Waters Online adds shipbuilding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/uncharted-waters-online-adds-shipbuilding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/uncharted-waters-online-adds-shipbuilding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/uncharted-waters-online-adds-shipbuilding/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Uncharted Waters Online - ships
MMO shipbuilding is a time-honored tradition that's shown up in titles as wide-ranging as Wurm Online, Vanguard, and even Star Wars Galaxies (hey, spaceships count!), to name but a few. The latest game to take the plunge is Uncharted Waters Online, and the free-to-play title from CJ E&M is looking to expand both building and customization options.

Players may choose materials for the hull, sails, and gunport, and how the ingredients are combined will determine how durable the ships are (and, of course, how they fare on subsequent expeditions). New mechanics like steering proficiency "give players more control while sailing," according to a new press release, and players can also work towards a high wave resistance stat that will enable a ship to power through a storm or blizzard. Check out all the details at the official UWO website.

MassivelyUncharted Waters Online adds shipbuilding originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cj-em-gamescraftingf2pfantasyfree-to-playpress-releasesailingshipbuildingshipstradeskillingtradeskillsuncharted-watersuncharted-waters-onlineWed, 31 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Incoming messages from the devs... again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/captains-log-incoming-messages-from-the-devs-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/captains-log-incoming-messages-from-the-devs-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/captains-log-incoming-messages-from-the-devs-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Photo from the event
Captain's Log, Stardate 65131.6...

Hello, computer (and players)! I seem to mention this all the time, but I believe it to be true: The developers working on Star Trek Online are more transparent with their work than the devs of most other games. Whether or not this transparency has been always been a good thing is debatable, though. Still, no matter what one's thoughts on this are, I think we can all agree we like to be "in the know" when it comes to new things in development. This past weekend, a select group of STO players was able to attend another Dine with the Devs event, hosted by yours truly, where transparency was taken to the next level.

As I let you all know last week, the second-ever Dine with the STO Devs event coincided with some STO devs' visit to the Star Trek Las Vegas convention. Over 50 players gathered at a local Vegas restaurant to eat, drink and bombard Cryptic's developers with their most burning questions. Because 99.99% of the game's players were unable to attend, I captured the entire event on audio and would like to present you with a basic transcript of the evening's events. So make some food, grab a drink, and get ready to fire up the Holodeck for another edition of Captain's Log.

Ensign, warp 10! Auxiliary power to the Holodeck matrices and brace for impact...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Incoming messages from the devs... again

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Incoming messages from the devs... again originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andoriaBorgcrypticcryptic-gozercryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdevelopersdine-with-the-devsdinnerexplorationfeaturedfleetfleet-actionfleetsfoundryfoundry-missionfoundry-missionsgozericonianiconiansinto-the-hivejheiniglas-vegasMeetupnevadapokerpriority-onepvpq-and-ashipshipsst-onlinestastar-trekstar-trek-las-vegasstar-trek-las-vegas-conventionstar-trek-onlinestfstfstargtargstholiantholiansthomasthecrypticcattribbletribblestricorderUIzeroniusrexThu, 18 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlestar Galactica Online unveils new Brimir Class Carrier]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/battlestar-galactica-online-unveils-new-brimir-class-carrier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/battlestar-galactica-online-unveils-new-brimir-class-carrier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/battlestar-galactica-online-unveils-new-brimir-class-carrier/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bigpoint Games has announced that Battlestar Galactica Online will be welcoming a new addition to its fleet of ships this fall. The new arrival comes in the form of the Brimir Class Carrier, a rather hefty tier 4 ship. The ship is a relic of earlier Colonial designs, most of which were eventually replaced by Battlestars.

The Carrier, however, brings its own unique surprises to the table. Its heavy armor allows the Brimir Class Carrier to survive enemy onslaughts while it deploys squadrons of strike craft to overwhelm opposing ships. Whether these strike craft will be controlled by AI or players is to be determined, but players will be able to send their strike craft after specific targets. The novel fleet support vessel will be available for purchase with cubits (in-game currency that can be earned via gameplay or bought with cash) coming this fall.

MassivelyBattlestar Galactica Online unveils new Brimir Class Carrier originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galacticabattlestar-galactica-onlinebigpointbigpoint-gamesBrimir-class-carrierbsgbsgof2pfree-to-playnew-shipnew-shipsshipsMon, 25 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: The reverse slingshot effect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/captains-log-the-reverse-slingshot-effect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/captains-log-the-reverse-slingshot-effect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/captains-log-the-reverse-slingshot-effect/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 65056.3...

Hello, computer (and players)! The slingshot effect is a maneuver, shown throughout the Star Trek franchise, which allowed starships to move back through the time continuum. By traveling at a high warp factor towards a star with a large gravitational pull, the ship would whip around it and time travel. While this seemed to only exist within the realms of the IP, it looks as though Star Trek Online's Executive Producer Dan Stahl took us on a reverse slingshot course, giving us a glimpse into the future of the game. Before we returned to the original timeline, he made sure to write up everything we saw along the way for those who couldn't make the trip.

In layman's terms, for those of you who missed the news earlier this week, July's Engineering Report has been released. While this is a monthly publication that contains the development pipeline for STO, including some items that have been featured in past issues, there are always a few bullet points added that seem to spark a healthy amount of debate -- one of these includes the ability to auction off your in-game Emblems, a form of currency, for C-Store points that have been paid for with real money. For information on this, including a response from Cryptic's PR department, and more, read ahead past the jump for this week's Captain's Log entry.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's pull a slingshot maneuver of our own...

Continue reading Captain's Log: The reverse slingshot effect

MassivelyCaptain's Log: The reverse slingshot effect originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academyauctionbugsc-storecaptains-logcaptainslogcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studioscstore pointsCstorePointsdan stahldan-stahldaniel stahlDanielStahlDanStahldevelopmentdine with the devsdine-with-the-devsDineWithTheDevsemblemsengineering reportengineering-reportEngineeringReportexplorationfeaturedfleet starbasefleetsFleetStarbasefoundryklingonlivestreammicrotransactionpatchesplutoQAseason-fiveseason-fourshipsslingshotsolsol planetsSolPlanetsspeciesst-onlinestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarbasesstarfleetstfstoterritory controlTerritoryControltime travelTimeTraveltrek-onlinetribblewarpThu, 21 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online posts the latest Engineering Report]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/star-trek-online-posts-the-latest-engineering-report/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/star-trek-online-posts-the-latest-engineering-report/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/star-trek-online-posts-the-latest-engineering-report/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the launch of Season Four now behind the developers at Star Trek Online, the team is now focusing on what lies ahead for its Captains. The latest Engineering Report, a monthly forum post that is released and written by Executive Producer Dan Stahl, foreshadows some upcoming content that we will see soon[TM] and commits to the eradicating of bugs that recently came to life. There are even some new additions that are sure to bring some "healthy" discussions to the Cryptic forums.

Between now and Season Five, we will see the introduction of the Duty Officer system, STF revamps, new gear sets, more Klingon updates, and the advancement of the Borg into Federation space. While it has been said that Season Five will most likely not be released until 2012, players can look forward to seeing major updates for fleets, a rework of how exploration works, more in-game species, and the introduction of fleet starbases. Make sure to take a look at the full report, as well as this week's upcoming Captain's Log entry, to read about these and other updates coming to a starship near you.

MassivelyStar Trek Online posts the latest Engineering Report originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugscaptains-logcaptainslogcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdan stahlDanStahldevelopmentengineering-reportexplorationfleet starbasefleetsFleetStarbasepatchesseason-fiveseason-fourshipsspeciesst-onlinestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarbasesstotrek-onlineupcoming-patchesTue, 19 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bounty Bay Online prepping Raging Seas expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/bounty-bay-online-prepping-raging-seas-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/bounty-bay-online-prepping-raging-seas-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/bounty-bay-online-prepping-raging-seas-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Is your life lacking a little high seas adventure? Yearning to unleash your inner pirate, learn to be a naval captain, or possibly even score some booty? If so, you'll want to check out Bounty Bay Online's new Raging Seas expansion.

The update features a group instance called the Naval Battle of Gravelines, and players bold enough to brave the waters will be rewarded with a face-to-face encounter with the fearsome Spanish Armada.

According to a new Frogster press release, "a special points-based system will play a decisive role in whether you leave battle victorious or are cast down to Davy Jones' locker." You can learn more, as well as download the game, at the official Bounty Bay Online website.

MassivelyBounty Bay Online prepping Raging Seas expansion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bootybounty-bay-onlineexpansionf2pfree-to-playinstancesnaval-battle-of-gravelinesnaval-battlesnaval-combatraging-seasraging-seas-expansionshipsspanish-armadaFri, 08 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Hailing frequencies were, are, and will be open]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/captains-log-hailing-frequencies-were-are-and-will-be-open/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/captains-log-hailing-frequencies-were-are-and-will-be-open/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/captains-log-hailing-frequencies-were-are-and-will-be-open/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 65018.1...

Hello, computer (and players)! While we have all been out and about gallivanting across the galaxy, the development team for Star Trek Online has been busy working on getting Season Four: Crossfire from Tribble test server to the Holodeck live sever, and it looks like the mission was a success as it was finally patched into the game this morning. In between all the bug-squashing, feedback-gathering, and sleepless nights, Executive Producer Dan Stahl found time to sit down and answer some of his players' burning questions about the future of STO.

Toward the end of every month, a Cryptic Community Manager creates a new thread in the forums where players can submit questions. While it seems that the policy is "no question is too out there," only a select few are chosen and personally responded to. Whether you are interested in the future of Klingons, wondering when Starfleet Academy will make its debut, or curious to learn if the Romulans will become a playable faction, this month's Ask Cryptic is sure to leave you wanting more. While Dan seems to jump from topic to topic, I thought it would be handy if I put it all together for you in this week's Captain's Log entry.

Ensign, warp 11! Yeah, that's right! This is for all the readers who thought we couldn't even go warp 10...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Hailing frequencies were, are, and will be open

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Hailing frequencies were, are, and will be open originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2409academyask crypticAskCrypticbridge officerBridgeOfficercardassiancrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosend gameEndGamefactionfeaturedfightersklingonmvamperpetualprometheuspugseason fourSeasonFourshipsspecial task forceSpecialTaskForcest-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestfstotrek-onlineThu, 07 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Dirty fightin' and treasure huntin']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/choose-my-adventure-dirty-fightin-and-treasure-huntin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/choose-my-adventure-dirty-fightin-and-treasure-huntin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/choose-my-adventure-dirty-fightin-and-treasure-huntin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

My pirate life continued this past week in Pirates of the Burning Sea, and thanks to your feedback, I took on some new swashbuckling skills. Based on the poll results, Dirty Fighting came out as the winning choice, and I happily retrained at my port.

I also popped over to Treasure Aisle, the in-game cash shop. I had some Station Cash burning a hole in my pirate chest, and since I had so much fun on my last treasure hunt, I decided to purchase a new map case and try my luck once more at finding the giant red X.

In this week's Choose My Adventure, I'll tell you how my respec went and whether I found any treasure. In addition, I'll give you a sneak peek at some new bling for my pirate ship!

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dirty fightin' and treasure huntin'

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dirty fightin' and treasure huntin' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buccaneercash-shopchoose-my-adventurecmadirty-fightingfeaturedpiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-SeapollpollspotbssailsshipssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentswashbucklertreasuretreasure-aisletreasure-huntingvanity-itemsWed, 01 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Voyage Century Online naval battles detailed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/voyage-century-online-naval-battles-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/voyage-century-online-naval-battles-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/voyage-century-online-naval-battles-detailed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With Sony Online Entertainment's Pirates of the Burning Sea down for the proverbial count, nautically inclined gamers are likely looking for smoother waters to sail. IGG's Voyage Century Online may be just what the doctor ordered, and the free-to-play publisher has just issued a new press release detailing the game's naval battle mechanics.

Voyage Century features three types of naval wars: broadside battles, ramming battles, and boarding party battles. Broadsides require a certain amount of control and accuracy, whereas ramming and boarding party skirmishes are all about your sailors' equipment and your captain's fighting skills.

Port towns also offer conflict opportunities for Voyage Century players, and more than 40 of the cities are constantly being attacked by players bent on conquest and resource domination. If any of that tickles your fancy, plot a course to the official Voyage Century website, where you can learn about the game as well as download it.

MassivelyVoyage Century Online naval battles detailed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boarding-partiesboarding-party-battlesbroadside-battlesf2pfantasyfree-to-playhistoricaliggnaval-combatnaval-warfareramming-battlesshipsships-of-the-linevoyage-centuryFri, 13 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Incoming message... from the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/captains-log-incoming-message-from-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/captains-log-incoming-message-from-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/captains-log-incoming-message-from-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 64787.3...

Hello, computer (and players)! Captain Brandon Felczer of the USS Radiance Vesta-class battleship reporting in. While en route to the Gamma Orionis sector block to investigate readings of potential Borg energy signatures, we encountered an unexplained anomaly unlike any we have ever encountered; the computer system could not provide any data to us. As we attempted to break away from its gravitational pull, we lost all control and systems -- the crew lost consciousness. Once we awoke several hours later, we discovered that we had been pulled into its void and somehow propelled 365 Earth days into the future.

While the Prime Directive has required us to stay out of affairs not in our timeline, we managed to record several pieces of data about developments that will happen in the future. There have been some gigantic leaps forward, and I can honestly say I cannot wait for a year from now. After I am finished recording this log, I will send it on subspace frequencies back to Starfleet Command. If you are reading this now, you have received my log one way or another. You must be now asking yourself, "What did we see?"

Ensign, warp 10! Let's report on our findings of what we will see in Star Trek Online soon[TM]...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Incoming message... from the future

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Incoming message... from the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academyask-crypticataricrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdan-stahlDaniel-stahlfeaturedfeatured-episodesfeatured-seriesklingonpvpshipsStst-onlineStar-Trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-gameplaystar-trek-online-newsstosto-academytrek-onlineThu, 14 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP announces EVE create-a-ship contest winners]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/ccp-announces-eve-create-a-ship-contest-winners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/ccp-announces-eve-create-a-ship-contest-winners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/ccp-announces-eve-create-a-ship-contest-winners/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The results are in from CCP's create-a-ship contest for EVE Online, and CCP Guard has posted the official results on the game's forum. A player by the name of Alexey M takes home the top prize for his Mentor Battlecruiser, as well as $900 and a gaggle of EVE-related swag (including a one-year sub to the game and one of CCP's swanky ship models).

Four runners-up didn't do too badly either. Each of them walked away with a cool $600 and an EVE prize pack. In addition to the winning Mentor, which you can ogle in the image above (and which will be making its way into the live game in short order), CCP has published all of the finalists' handiwork on its website.

MassivelyCCP announces EVE create-a-ship contest winners originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexey-mccpccp-gamesccp-guardcontestcontestscreate-a-shipcreate-a-ship-contesteveeve-contesteve-onlineinternet-spaceshipsmentormentor-battlecruisersandboxsci-fishipsspaceshipsThu, 14 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Uncharted Waters Online patch revamps naval PvP, adds new area]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/uncharted-waters-online-patch-revamps-naval-pvp-adds-new-area/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/uncharted-waters-online-patch-revamps-naval-pvp-adds-new-area/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/uncharted-waters-online-patch-revamps-naval-pvp-adds-new-area/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What's new in the world of Uncharted Waters Online? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Tecmo Koei Games released the Angkor update on March 9th, bringing a large new explorable region, revamped naval battle mechanics, and the World Tour Challenge to UWO.

The Southeast Asian region features the ruins of Angkor Wat as well as new quests and various towns and villages to visit. UWO's updated naval battle system now boasts 10v10 PvP skirmishes that can last as long as a week, and players are encouraged to bring their best crew and equipment in order to claim the new rewards. Finally, the update has opened the South Pacific, allowing players to sail around the entire game world via the World Tour Challenge (which also features a number of quirky side quests, according to a press release detailing the patch).

Head to the official Uncharted Waters Online website for more details, and check out five new screenshots in our gallery below.

Gallery: Uncharted Waters Online

MassivelyUncharted Waters Online patch revamps naval PvP, adds new area originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angkorangkor-watangkor-wat-ruinsf2pfantasyfree-to-playgallerynaval-battle-systempatchpvpsailingscreenshotsshipsuncharted-watersuncharted-waters-onlineupdateuwoworld-tour-challengeThu, 10 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea: The third anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-the-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-the-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-the-third-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Pirates of the Burning Sea just turned three years old, so we decided to take a look back at some of the history, controversy and changes that happened along the way. How do you sum up the history of an MMO, no matter how short? Do you simply make a timeline, establishing landmark events? What about the players -- how do they feel after sailing around the sea for all this time?

Well, we decided to do a little bit of each. What we found was a game that is still rich in its content, still varied in its playerbase, and still moving forward. The game has had its issues like any other, so on this anniversary we decided to showcase how the game has affected people with a series of mini-interviews with the players themselves.

Click past the cut to see what treasures we dug up!

Continue reading Pirates of the Burning Sea: The third anniversary

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea: The third anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playftpPiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seaplayer-versus-playerpotbspower-and-prestigepower-and-prestige-expansionpvpreal-lifeship-to-ship-combatshipsSOEMon, 24 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online answers a fleet's worth of questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/star-trek-online-answers-a-fleets-worth-of-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/star-trek-online-answers-a-fleets-worth-of-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/star-trek-online-answers-a-fleets-worth-of-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The one-year anniversary for Star Trek Online is just around the corner, and the game has quite a number of irons in the fire to go along with that milestone. Player-generated content and weekly episodes are two of the game's big features on deck for the near future, and the latest installment of Ask Cryptic certainly addresses those, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. With nearly three dozen disparate questions answered, this month's offering covers everything from Vulcan ships to an open PvP environment.

Among the more interesting answers is the fact that the development team is looking into ways to model rather unique ship traits such as the multi-vector attack mode of the Prometheus class. The team is also hoping to give players the ability to fly shuttles and yachts, along with reasons to do so. The next minigame after dabo is still on the table, but at the moment the team is focused on more meaty content. Take a look at the full rundown for all of the Star Trek Online questions for this month -- there's plenty of information to be found within the lengthy answers.

MassivelyStar Trek Online answers a fleet's worth of questions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticataricrypticcryptic-studiosdabofoundrymini-gameminigamenew-shipsplayer-generated-contentq-and-aquestions-and-answersship-classesship-designsshipsstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestothe-foundryMon, 10 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Always in motion is the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/hyperspace-beacon-always-in-motion-is-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/hyperspace-beacon-always-in-motion-is-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/hyperspace-beacon-always-in-motion-is-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Boot your navi-computer, angle your deflector shields, and prepare for the jump to lightspeed. This year will be the greatest year in the history of MMO gaming. I don't mean because Star Wars Galaxies is shutting down, because it's not, and that would be a sad year. I mean that the most anticipated game in the history of MMOs will be released this year. Star Wars: The Old Republic will make its way to our doors and our hearts this spring. (I cross my fingers, hoping for no delay, but I know it's probably inevitable.)

As the release nears, we will certainly see a plethora of updates and secret reveals. We had our share of SWTOR news last year, and as with every game, the hype-machine presses on with a fevered fervor towards its zenith. There is so much we know about this game already, yet at the same time, we know very little. We are really like a Miraluka on a Vong ship. (You get 500 fanboy points if you understand that reference.) We keep bumping into walls, but we don't really see the whole picture. Honestly, I question whether I want to know the whole picture before the game is released.

Let's tap into our Force foresight a bit today to see whether we can muster a few visions. Maybe we'll see a city in the clouds; maybe we'll see our friends being tortured. Maybe we'll find out we are really Revan! What will be revealed in 2011? Follow me after the break to find out!

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Always in motion is the future

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Always in motion is the future originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareblaine-christinecustomizationEAElectronic-ArtsendgamefeaturedLucasArtsplanetplanetsPredictionsraidingRevanshipshipsspaceshipspaceshipsspeciesspeculationStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 04 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Joining the Massively Mob]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/28/eve-evolved-joining-the-massively-mob/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/28/eve-evolved-joining-the-massively-mob/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/28/eve-evolved-joining-the-massively-mob/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

At the end of last week's article on preparing for EVE Online's Incursion expansion, I mentioned that part of our expansion preparation here at Massively would involve opening a Massively corporation in the game. This is something I've always wanted to do but haven't had the time to properly launch. I've been running the Pillowsoft corporation in EVE for the past six years or so, during which time the corp has been involved in almost every major game expansion. In two and a half years of the EVE Evolved column, I've had countless readers ask to join my corporation and have had to turn them all down.

With Incursion rapidly approaching and Pillowsoft's latest wormhole expedition coming to an end, we now have the perfect opportunity to start a proper Massively corporation. In addition to providing financial help and some solid guidance to newer EVE players, the corp will be running frequent contests and event nights for any readers who want to participate. If you don't want to leave your current corporation but still want to hang out with other Massively readers and take part in our contests and events, don't worry. We also have an option just for you!

In this week's EVE Evolved, I introduce the EVE Online Massively Mob and explain how you can get involved.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Joining the Massively Mob

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Joining the Massively Mob originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agentagentsccpccp-eveccp-gamescorpcorporationeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfreemassivelymassively-mobmassively-mob-corpmissionmission-runningmissionsmobsecurityshipsSun, 28 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you think about travel in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-travel-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-travel-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-travel-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you never played Final Fantasy XI, you missed the singular joy of trying to catch a connecting flight in a video game if you wanted to go from, say, San d'Oria to Kazham. And sometimes you missed the flight and had to sit and wait for the airship to come land again. World of Warcraft might have eliminated that issue, but Alliance players still have nightmares about arriving in Darnassus and flying across an entire continent just to go through a single dungeon run. Compare and contrast travel in Guild Wars, a game in which you scroll around the map, click where you want to go, and port there with no fuss.

On the one hand, there's something to be said for keeping travel an inconvenience, as it helps contribute to the feeling that the game world is huge and difficult to get around in. On the other hand, there's no reason in the world why a video game needs to be made that obnoxious and difficult to navigate -- you're not trying to chart a course to India in the fifteenth century, you're trying to go kill internet dragons. So what do you think about travel times in MMOs? Do you like a big world that takes a while to traverse, or would you rather just take the lead from the map travel of Guild Wars?
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: What do you think about travel in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airshipsboatsferriesinternet-dragonsmountsmovementopinionshipstdgthe-daily-grindtrainstraveltravel-timeszeppelinsTue, 12 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online's high seas move into open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/ultima-onlines-high-seas-move-into-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/ultima-onlines-high-seas-move-into-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/ultima-onlines-high-seas-move-into-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's difficult for an MMO to be any longer in the tooth than the venerable Ultima Online, a game whose presence and launch has defined much of the genre for years. But the game hasn't stopped updating or running through its long history -- in fact, the game is expanding yet again in the near future. The High Seas booster pack, a mini-expansion for the game, has just gone into open beta, complete with a new dedicated forum and FAQ for players looking forward to an array of nautical adventures.

When the booster goes live, every Ultima Online player will benefit from enhanced boat movement. Players who purchase the $15 expansion, however, will also receive a plethora of oceanic improvements, including improved ship combat, paintable boats, fish markets, and NPC ship combat allowing you to attack both pirates and merchant vessels. Add in new ship types, and players will be well-served on their nautical ventures by the expansion. You can take part in the open beta now, or just keep your eye on the main forums for discussion of the experience.

MassivelyUltima Online's high seas move into open beta originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testbioware-mythicboatseaea-mythicelectronic-artsexpansionfaqhigh-seasim-on-a-boatmini-expansionmythicmythic-entertainmentoceanopen-betaseaship-combatshipsultima-onlineuowaterSat, 25 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online asks players to choose the next ship addition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/star-trek-online-asks-players-to-choose-the-next-ship-addition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/star-trek-online-asks-players-to-choose-the-next-ship-addition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/star-trek-online-asks-players-to-choose-the-next-ship-addition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There have been a lot of ship designs in Star Trek over the years, so it's understandable that not every design was in Star Trek Online at launch. The game's division of ship tiers into customizable batches is no doubt part of the reason, as well. But that doesn't mean that the developers aren't well aware of the gaps in ship classes, and that's the reasoning behind the latest poll on the official site, asking players which ship design they'd like to see enter the game next, quite possibly as a lower-tier ship.

Of the classes available, four are past or future designs for the ubiquitous Enterprise lineage, including the often-seen Excelsior class and the rarely-seen Ambassador class. There's also the far-future Enterprise-J design and the far-past NX design, both seen in Star Trek: Enterprise. The other two classes are somewhat less flashy but somewhat more notable omissions -- the Nebula class, a frequently-seen workhorse design that resembles a pared-down Galaxy class, and the Oberth class, a general-purpose medical and scientific vessel from the same area. The Excelsior class is currently in the lead, so Star Trek Online fans are encouraged to vote for their favorites.

MassivelyStar Trek Online asks players to choose the next ship addition originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearancecrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosplayer-choicepollsship-classesshipsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlinevotevotingTue, 18 May 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ship interiors planned in the near future for Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/ship-interiors-planned-in-the-near-future-for-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/ship-interiors-planned-in-the-near-future-for-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/ship-interiors-planned-in-the-near-future-for-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been an interesting process to watch the growth of Star Trek Online over the past few months, with Cryptic clearly making a concerted effort to pack a great deal more content into the game as fast as possible. They've stated prior that they would like to go no more than three months between major content updates, with smaller updates happening on a monthly basis. In the most recent Engineering Report on the official site, we get more details about what's being planned and worked on for the near future -- and the many players eagerly awaiting ship interiors don't have to wait that much longer.

The report outlines the rough plan for the next three months, for the Season 1.2 patch, the followup 1.3 patch, and the Season 2 update planned in July. 1.2 is aiming at adding a "sidekick" system a la City of Heroes, new playable races, and social improvements. 1.3, targeted for June, is adding Dabo, the option to trade bridge officers, and weekly episodes. And as could be expected, Season 2 is packed to the gills with new features -- including Klingon episodes, "neutral" episodes for all factions, and ship interiors. Take a look at the full report for more looks at what's on the table and being tested for Star Trek Online.

MassivelyShip interiors planned in the near future for Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaboepisodesinteriorsnew-episodespatchespreviewsseason-1.2season-1.3season-2ship-interiorsshipsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineupcoming-patchesupdatesMon, 10 May 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Insurance evolved]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/25/eve-evolved-insurance-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/25/eve-evolved-insurance-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/25/eve-evolved-insurance-evolved/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


The EVE Evolved column hits its second anniversary in two days on April 27th. To celebrate, last week I gave readers the chance to win an expensive faction battleship of their choice worth around 500 million ISK. You submitted a horde of great ideas for future column posts, which I whittled down to a final list of 49 fantastic ideas that would really suit the column. It was really tough to find one topic amongst them all that I liked best and wanted to write up first. Congratulations go to Massively reader Nanoko for making my personal favourite suggestion. In addition to winning a faction battleship, Nanoko's winning idea forms the basis for this week's anniversary edition of the column on the upcoming insurance changes and the impact they'll have on EVE. Special mention goes to Massively reader Aimlis who came up with a similar idea. It was unfortunately a little too close to Nanoko's suggestion, which came first. Nanoko has been contacted to arrange receipt of the prize!

At the end of March, CCP announced that the Tyrannis expansion would include a wave of changes to ship insurance. Currently, players receive insurance payouts for losing a ship based on the value of the minerals that went into its construction. The mineral values used in this calculation are as old as EVE Online itself and over the years have slowly dropped out of step with market prices. As a result, Tech 1 ships are almost free to lose under the current insurance scheme while Tech 2 and 3 losses are barely compensated for at all. Once Tyrannis hits, CCP will periodically adjust the mineral prices used in insurance calculations based on a weighted average of market prices across EVE. This has huge implications for PvP, the composition of fleets and the mineral market.

In this speculative opinion piece, I examine the effect the insurance changes could have on everything from ships used in PvP to the mineral market.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Insurance evolved

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Insurance evolved originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdr-eyjogdr-eyjolfur-gudmundssoneconomyeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfleetfleetsganginsurancemarketmineralsopinionpvpshipshipsSun, 25 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bounty Bay Online increases the scale of city wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/bounty-bay-online-increases-the-scale-of-city-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/bounty-bay-online-increases-the-scale-of-city-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/bounty-bay-online-increases-the-scale-of-city-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What good is a proper game in the age of the high seas without the option to take over cities? Fortunately for everyone who thinks along those lines, Bounty Bay Online not only has the option to take on cities, but an expanded list and more frequent times available for those who wish to take part in the conflicts. Merchant alliance cities Alexandria, Venice, Lisbon, Bordeaux and Amsterdam are all now in the lineup to be taken by fleets with strong enough ships and military might. But the addition of the cities isn't the only change that's being made.

Previously, only two cities per day were available for guilds to attempt to conquer. The adjustment and merging of times will now force players into different tactical decisions, as there will be more ports to assault or defend and less opportunity for a single fleet to move from port to port. A detailed breakdown of the changes is available here, and the full system of attacking and taking cities can be found here. For players in Bounty Bay Online, things most likely have gotten a fair bit more interesting on the ocean.

MassivelyBounty Bay Online increases the scale of city wars originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbobounty-bay-onlinechangescity-attackscity-siegesfrogsterfrogster-interactivemerchant-alliancesailingscheduleschedulesshipsThu, 01 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diagram shows real-world cost of losing ships in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/diagram-shows-real-world-cost-of-losing-ships-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/diagram-shows-real-world-cost-of-losing-ships-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/diagram-shows-real-world-cost-of-losing-ships-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Whether you play EVE Online or not, the chances are you've read a lot about the harsh, cut-throat universe of New Eden. Alliances routinely clash over territorial disputes, spies work to destroy organisations from the inside and death is an inevitability. While dying in most MMOs means respawning at some far-away camp and having to repair your gear, death in EVE is a somewhat more vicious affair. When your ship is destroyed, whether it's by NPCs in a particularly tough mission or pirates hunting in a low security system, it's gone for good. While insurance will provide a sum of ISK to help with the loss, you'll need to re-buy a new ship and all the equipment that went on it. This would be like having to buy a new set of armour every time you die in World of Warcraft; a scary notion.

For the denizens of New Eden, losing a ship is a strictly in-game financial loss but for those that don't play EVE the scale of those losses can be hard to grasp. Jump On Contact tackled this issue head-on recently with a handy chart showing the rough value of EVE ships in both ISK (the in-game currency) and US Dollars. The prices show the sheer scale of the losses incurred in large battles and are based on a player buying game time codes for cash to be sold in-game for ISK. A fully geared battleship, one of the most common types of ship for players to own in the game, comes out as being worth approximately $10 US Dollars. Most ships fall somewhere between $1 and $13 but perhaps most shocking is the price of a fleet-ready titan, which is estimated at $7600. The next time you hear about a titan being killed or a fleet of capital ships being wiped out, perhaps this chart can help show the sheer scale of that loss.

MassivelyDiagram shows real-world cost of losing ships in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the common gripes we seem to hear about EVE Online is that some gamers can't get used to the idea of a ship being their avatar. In truth, whatever ship you're flying isn't really intended to be your avatar. You're the pilot floating in a fluid-filled capsule within, your mind interfaced with the vessel you're flying and supported by a (generally doomed) crew. The whole capsuleer thing is a major aspect of the game's lore; when you pilot your ship, it's supposed to be an extension of your body and senses in many respects. Maybe that's a bit of a roleplay leap of faith but it seems to work for most players. Still, the fact remains that any time you're seeing a ship in the game you're not seeing an actual human avatar anywhere in or around it. (At least not until Incarna brings avatars into EVE Online.) This means that a sense of the enormity of these ships is, unfortunately, lost. That is, until now.

Our friend hi7ch from the Biomassed blog pointed us in the direction of some video footage captured in Garry's Mod, showing the scale of various EVE ships in relation to the sizes of people and high rises. Even the tiniest frigates in the game are actually quite large, as YouTube user TakeBackTheWorld shows us. If you'd like to check this out we've got a video embed for you after the jump.

Continue reading Video conveys scale of EVE Online ships

MassivelyVideo conveys scale of EVE Online ships originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biomassedccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinegarrys-modhi7chincarnascalesci-fishipsvideoyoutubeFri, 15 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[See space sizzle in these five new Star Trek Online screens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/see-space-sizzle-in-these-five-new-star-trek-online-screens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/see-space-sizzle-in-these-five-new-star-trek-online-screens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/see-space-sizzle-in-these-five-new-star-trek-online-screens/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

First off, alliteration? Always fun. Moving on, we've got five new Star Trek Online screens for your viewing pleasure today. If you're wondering whether or not we're embellishing with our headline, well just take a look at the image above this post. That's a pretty good preview of what your eyes will be seeing in the rest of these images.

If screens aren't enough to please you (and let's face it: they never are) then you should take a look at our several community Q&A features covering ships, space combat and ground combat. As usual, the five new screens can be found at the end of our gallery. Enjoy!

Gallery: Star Trek Online Gallery

MassivelySee space sizzle in these five new Star Trek Online screens originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliterationataricommunity-qnacrypticcryptic-studiosground-combatscreensscreenshotsshipsspace-combatstar-trekstar-trek-onlinestoMon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST