Massively

Wings Over Atreia: Touring Tiamaranta

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Aion, Expansions, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Allods Online, Wings Over Atreia, Guides

If the eeriness of the truce between the Elyos and the Asmodians in Aion's new land of Sarpan wigs you out and makes you long for a good old-fashioned tussle, you can always head on over to Tiamaranta. Although the entire zone is not open for PvP, all four corners and the center are cordoned off for your opponent-bashing pleasure. In fact, Tiamaranta's Eye is often hopping as both sides contest mobs and try to land one of the bosses.

But even if you aren't in the mood for a bloody round of patty-cake, there is plenty of PvE and exploring to be had in this ecologically diverse land with a variety of new mobs to see (and dispatch) and new tasks to accomplish. Not able to make the trip yourself right now? Join Wings over Atreia's guided tour and get a taste of Tiamaranta.

Gallery: Aion: Ascension

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Touring Tiamaranta

Wings Over Atreia: Touring Tiamaranta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Embers of Caerus dev blog talks sieging, Kickstarter

Jef Reahard — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Dev Diaries, Sandbox

Embers of Caerus has been flying under the radar of late (even for an indie sandbox title). Happily, the dev team has broken the silence with a new 20-minute video featuring Forsaken Studios technical director and co-founder Dave Belcher.

Belcher has a lot to say, the main gist of which is that work on EoC is going quite well. That said, funding is an issue as it is for most indie projects, so Belcher and his team have decided to try their hand at Kickstarter. "We're not a greedy bunch, the main thing is making the game and everything else is secondary," Belcher explains. To that end, look for an EoC Kickstarter page over the next few weeks.

In terms of gameplay and systems, Belcher spends a spot of time discussing siege warfare. He does offer a disclaimer in terms of the early nature of a high-level design, but he also describes sieging as "one of our key, killer features," so chances are good that you'll see it in EoC's eventual prototype. Head past the break for the full video.

[Thanks to Sam for the tip!]

Continue reading Embers of Caerus dev blog talks sieging, Kickstarter

Embers of Caerus dev blog talks sieging, Kickstarter originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC 2012: Bigpoint discusses the Game of Thrones MMO

MJ Guthrie — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, New titles, PvP, Free-to-play, Browser, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage, Sandbox

The Game is coming.

It had to be said. And for fans of George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, that one little phrase elicits some powerful and mixed emotions: excitement (to actually wander about Westeros) and dread (will it actually be Westeros?). There was even a collective cringe among some Massively staff when the announcement was made that Game of Thrones was becoming an MMORPG. Could such a complex world translate well into the virtual realm? It made the transition to television pretty well in HBO's series, but a free-to-play browser-based MMO is a whole other beast.

We're pleased to say that fans of the books and the series can breathe a little easier and even look forward to the upcoming title becuse it's going to be gritty, it's going to be gory, and power will shift like the winds across the Dothraki Sea. Massively was able to sit down with Jorgen Tharaldsen (Producer at Artplant), Alan Dunton (Public Relations Director at Bigpoint), and Rob Ollett (Executive Producer at Bigpoint) to discuss details about what's coming.

Continue reading GDC 2012: Bigpoint discusses the Game of Thrones MMO

GDC 2012: Bigpoint discusses the Game of Thrones MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Ode to 3.0, second verse

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Expansions, Patches, PvP, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

Encore!

You are my expansion,
My favorite expansion,
You'll make me happy
With a house and more.
You have to know, dear,
How much I want you!
Please hurry the expansion to my door!

Just when I thought I was getting a handle on waiting for Aion's sorta-soon-to-be-released 3.0 patch, NCsoft went and announced a slightly less nebulous launch date of "this spring." Our patch-to-be even has the auspicious privilege of having a name: Ascension. And you know a name means extra special! WOOO! I, of course, started a requisite wing-flapping celebratory dance, but my tune soon changed: As exciting as this news was, I quickly realized that the more concrete the knowledge, the more I wanted it to release already. GAH -- this wait is truly taxing my patience! There is just so much to look forward to.

Last week I regaled you with a stirring, soulful rendition of anticipation for 3.0. Together we explored just a few of the goodies in store for patient and -- luckily for me -- not-so-patient Daevas alike. This week the recital continues, and as promised, Wings Over Atreia takes another peek at more of the features coming our way and highlights some of the more tantalizing additions and changes, including new fortresses with their own unique siege system, XP changes, mounts, and more.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Ode to 3.0, second verse

Wings Over Atreia: Ode to 3.0, second verse originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArcheAge besieges us with a new warfare trailer

Matt Daniel — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Previews, PvP, News items, ArcheAge, Sandbox

We have no idea when the Korean-developed ArcheAge is going to see the light of day on North American soil, but that doesn't mean we can't stare at the pretty trailers and hope that it's soon. Today, the official ArcheAge YouTube page has uploaded a new video that gives fans a look at the title's siege warfare. Now, you might think that you have an idea of what a fortress siege is like. A bunch of players group up, zerg rush the fortress, and the last side standing takes the prize, right?

Well, not so much in ArcheAge's case. The video shows plenty of infantry clashing blades, but that's only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There are catapults and siege towers and aerial attacks and more, lending a suitable sense of chaos to the entire ordeal. The objective of the madness seems to be the destruction of a crystal nestled deep within the defending fortress, though we don't speak Korean, so don't quote us on that. At any rate, it's certainly an impressive display of the large-scale PvP offered by ArcheAge, so load your trebuchets and click on past the cut for the full video.

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ArcheAge besieges us with a new warfare trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArcheAge CBT4 will feature new continent, playable race

Jef Reahard — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, ArcheAge

ArcheAge's fourth Korean closed beta phase is less than a month away, and the testing window is shaping up to be both longer (80 days) and more far-reaching than any of the previous three periods.

In advance of the CBT4 kickoff, MMO Culture has released a new interview with XLGAMES head honcho Jake Song that was conducted at last week's G-Star convention in Korea. Song says the main goal of CBT4 is twofold: There is some bug-squashing and optimization left over from CBT3, and testing of the game's new continent should begin in earnest. While Song says that players will be able to occupy portions of the new landmass from the start, they should not expect castle siege functionality right away, as it's still possible that sieging may not make the CBT4 cut.

There's also a bit of info about the new playable race (the Hariharan) and a few other tidbits.

ArcheAge CBT4 will feature new continent, playable race originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darkfall update talks camera, physics improvements

Jef Reahard — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox

What's up in the lands of Agon recently? Quite a lot if the latest Darkfall dev update is any indication. The lengthy wall o' text touches on current development tasks including the possibility of an improved third-person camera, momentum mechanics, and ragdoll physics for the game's animations.

Starter areas are also getting a makeover, and Aventurine producer Tasos Flambouras says that new and more powerful guard towers will deter newbie ganking without creating full-blown safe zones. Additionally, there's a bit more explanation regarding the ongoing siege and clan tweaks, and the devs continue to work on Darkfall's new armor specialization mechanics.

Unfortunately there's still no word on either character wipes or a timeline for Darkfall 2.0's release, but there is quite a bit of other info available to peruse on the game's official site.

Darkfall update talks camera, physics improvements originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Vault reveals more Mortal Online territorial control details

Jef Reahard — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, News items, PvE, Mortal Online, Sandbox

A couple weeks back we heard tell of Mortal Online's territorial control update. Today, Star Vault has elaborated on the new sandbox system via a news bulletin on the game's official website.

It seems that the feature is still fairly early in the development process, as the site says that internal testing is still in full swing. External testing, by way of a specially selected focus group, is planned for next week.

What's that, you want to hear more about mechanics? Very well. Keeps act as a "starting point" for guilds in the territorial control system. Each keep awards control points (CP) that can be spent on towers and "various things." Keeps also feature an overseer NPC who provides extra protection, sells goods and features, and more. Finally there's the prominence system, which involves earning prominence points (PP) through various methods including PvP and PvE. There's more, of course, but we don't want to deprive you of a chance to visit the Mortal Online website, so off you go.

Star Vault reveals more Mortal Online territorial control details originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aventurine publishes Darkfall siege system dev notes, manual

Jef Reahard — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Sandbox

Yes, yes, Darkfall's getting a new siege system. You've heard this many times before, amirite? Well, today we're happy to report that the details are now public knowledge. Aventurine has jumped the gun on its usual Friday update window and posted the dev notes for the siege patch (as well as a lengthy PDF manual) on the Darkfall website.

Highlights include a breakdown of the new attacker/defender roles for clans, information on initiating and progressing challenges, and a bit about the new wager system. It's clear that Aventurine has completely rewritten the old siege mechanics, and the manual document touches on why such a huge change was necessary. "The key reason for this was to remove any hard limits imposed by the system, and make this whole aspect of the game much more open and free for all players to enjoy."

Aventurine publishes Darkfall siege system dev notes, manual originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darkfall under siege as of tomorrow

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Patches, PvP

Darkfall players, better stock up on Twinkies and Red Bull, because you might well be under siege by tomorrow! Massively recommends a hearty defense of pillow fortifications and cootie barriers to keep the enemy at bay.

In preparation for the much-anticipated siege update, Aventurine is deploying a small patch today to counter any sneaky players looking to initiate sieges before the team is ready. On Thursday, September 14th, Darkfall will go offline for an extended period of maintenance, after which the game will be brought back up with the new siege system in place.

Patch notes will be available tomorrow as well. The new siege system is designed to replace the issues with the old one while allowing the team to respond and tweak it as needed.

Darkfall under siege as of tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darkfall blog talks crafting update, forthcoming relaunch timeline

Jef Reahard — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Sandbox

There may be a little light at the end of the Darkfall 2.0 tunnel if the latest Aventurine blog update is any indication. The entry bills itself as a crafting system update, but it spends the first paragraph or so giving fans an update on the revamped siege system (which is now scheduled to be done in about a week). After that, producer Tasos Flambouras says, "We'll go into more detail about more relaunch features and the production schedule."

So anyway, crafting.

In a nutshell, the new Darkfall tradeskilling system places greater importance on rare ore, unique item appearance, more customization options, and "more opportunities to excel as a crafter." The new system will offer mastery skills as well as a choice between six distinctive base designs for each weapon type. You can read all about it at the game's official website, linked below.

Darkfall blog talks crafting update, forthcoming relaunch timeline originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Darkfall siege mechanics detailed

Jef Reahard — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items

Aventurine has spilled the beans on Darkfall's new siege mechanics in a lengthy blog entry posted over the weekend. Producer Tasos Flambouras writes that the "new system brings substantial changes to how sieges work, and will not only eliminate issues like self-sieging, but will also make sieges a lot more strategic, profitable and interesting."

How so?

Well, for starters there's the fact that clan size now affects your ability to initiate a siege, and actions against a rival clan city will require more members than actions against a hamlet (and trial accounts won't count towards your clan size). All attacking clans will also need to pay a wager, the amount of which is affected by several variables. First up is the target city's power level, which is derived from how many buildings are in evidence. Your clan's wager will also change according to how many clans are already sieging by the time you join.

These tweaks are the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and there's much more reading material at the official Darkfall Epic Blog.

New Darkfall siege mechanics detailed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aventurine talks Darkfall 2.0, character wipes, and more

Jef Reahard — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Expansions, MMO industry, New titles, Patches, News items, Dev Diaries

Last week we told you about an Aventurine blog entry that touted Darkfall's forthcoming update as a "new game." This week, producer Tasos Flambouras sheds a wee bit more light on the Darkfall 2.0 situation, but readers of his latest blog post will likely be left with more questions than answers.

To summarize, the new game is not a sequel but rather an iteration on all the lessons learned after two-plus years of operating and updating Darkfall. Aventurine now boasts a much larger dev team than the one that shipped the original game in 2009, and "no aspect of the game has been left untouched" when it comes to the revamp and relaunch.

Speaking of relaunches, Flambouras addresses the seemingly odd decision to incorporate Darkfall 2.0's extensive siege mechanic changes into the current game. As it turns out, Aventurine is planning some sort of epic end-of-1.0 event before transitioning to the new game, and sieges will play a part in the action. Finally, those of you who have already purchased Darkfall will not be charged again for the 2.0 client.

What about character transfers and/or wipes? That's a bit murkier, and though Flambouras says "it would not be necessary to wipe" in the new version, he also says that the topic is still under discussion. Head to the Darkfall Epic Blog to read this week's activity report.

Aventurine talks Darkfall 2.0, character wipes, and more originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Upcoming Darkfall relaunch is 'a new game'

Jef Reahard — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items

How does a fresh start in the world of Agon grab you? The devs at Aventurine have been making noises about relaunching Darkfall for a while now, but in a new dev blog released earlier today, producer Tasos Flambouras gives us a hint at just how significant the changes are going to be.

"This relaunch is not an expansion. It's a new game we've been developing in parallel with the current version of Darkfall. The scope is massive, and it has been difficult to stay on schedule after several unexpected issues," Flambouras writes.

So, yeah. Whoa. In our best Keanu Reeves voice.

The blog features some further discussion about a new siege system and a political map for the current version of Darkfall, but frankly we're still recovering from the previous paragraph and unsure as to how it all fits together. Is this Darkfall II? Is the current version going away when the relaunch hits? Inquiring minds want to know, and we'll bring you the latest on this story as we learn more.

Upcoming Darkfall relaunch is 'a new game' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Bribing for Balance

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, PvP, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

Nope, this isn't a new game show on a cable network but rather the idea behind the latest program from NCsoft to help increase and balance the populations of the servers in Aion. In a game heralded for its PvPvE, keeping enough enemies around to ensure PvP is more than just a passing fancy -- it's vital to the welfare of the game. And of late, on some servers it almost seems as if Asmodians are just mythical creatures that Elyos tell stories about.

Although I won't speculate (here at least) on the decline, Asmodian populations have dwindled across many servers as has their participation in PvP. Besides the universal events that celebrated the release of patch 2.5, Aion has aimed some new (or revamped) events specifically at reversing this population trend. The basic premise is this: If you bribe them, they will come. The plan, unveiled in May, would encourage players to return to their furry-backed roots or even try some claws on for the first time by offering special faction incentives. Couple this with the free trial and the hope was that servers would see an influx of Asmodians and a return to the days of faction warfare glory.

Just what exactly are the incentives and -- more importantly -- how well are they working? Glide past the cut for details and to join in a discussion on the matter.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Bribing for Balance

Wings Over Atreia: Bribing for Balance originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GamersFirst revamps Knight Online's capital city

Jef Reahard — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

GamersFirst is getting a lot of press lately due to its resurrection project on APB: Reloaded, but it bears mentioning that San Paro isn't the only city receiving some love from the free-to-play company.

Knight Online's capital city of Moradon "has risen from the ashes to be completely redesigned," according to a new GamersFirst press blurb. Moradon's architecture has been permanently redone, and the questing hub boasts a graphical revamp that reflects the city's rebuilding efforts following the destructive machinations of the god Pathos in Knight Online's chapter eight update.

Knight Online is a PvP- and story-centric MMO that allows players to fight for lands and castles in the kingdom of Carnac. Four character classes are available, and you can learn more about the Warrior, Rogue, Priest, and Mage at the game's official web destination.

GamersFirst revamps Knight Online's capital city originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darkfall dev blog talks new dungeons, siege changes

Jef Reahard — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, MMO industry, PvP, News items, Dev Diaries

A while back we brought you word that Aventurine was looking for feedback on Darkfall's siege mechanics. Though the process is still ongoing, it seems as if the devs have gotten a good sampling from the community thus far according to this week's activity report.

Your opinion is still needed, though, so head to the Darkfall Epic Blog and weigh in on the maximum number of clan attackers during sieges. This week's report also details a bit of the PvE-related goings-on, and the world of Agon is getting a new themed dungeon for each continent in the very near future. "All of them are huge and have different areas that you need to traverse. Doing this, however, leaves you with choices as to which way to go and which challenges to face," says the blog entry.

There's a bit of PvP info as well, and the requisite teases for the new expansion. Read all about it at the official website.

Darkfall dev blog talks new dungeons, siege changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aventurine looking for feedback on Darkfall siege revamp

Jef Reahard — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, News items

Aventurine is in the process of revamping Darkfall's siege system, and the devs are in need of your assistance. A new entry at the Darkfall Epic Blog fills in the details, and perennial coolest dev name contest winner Tasos Flambouras has published a snippet of an internal design document in order to give players a better understanding of why some changes are necessary.

Flambouras lays out four key points of particular interest to Darkfall's devs, and interested players are invited to leave feedback via the blog's comment system. Topics up for discussion include minimum numbers of active clan players, win conditions, timer issues, and automatic vulnerability. Head to the official Darkfall blog to make your voice heard.

Aventurine looking for feedback on Darkfall siege revamp originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 May 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Darkfall video offers GM perspectives on Agon

Jef Reahard — Thu, 19 May 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Darkfall, MMO industry, News items

Darkfall's two-year anniversary may have come and gone, but the game continues to inspire awesome video productions celebrating its unique blend of sandbox-style mayhem. The latest such is the pet project of Aventurine developer Tascha, and the clip offers up some unique flyby perspectives on life in the world of Agon.

Tascha witnessed many an epic battle and GM event, virtual camera in hand, and the resulting montage is an unofficial love note to Darkfall and its loyal players. The clip runs a tad over four minutes and features everything from heart-pounding cavalry charges to individual PvP scraps to gargantuan player ships and scary PvE mobs. See for yourself after the break.

Continue reading New Darkfall video offers GM perspectives on Agon

New Darkfall video offers GM perspectives on Agon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: As the Forts Turn

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

Today's episode is brought to you by the letter QQ.

The remnants of battle could be seen wafting in the currents of the Abyss -- feathers both dark and light tumbling about. The victors shouted, drunk on the energy of conquest. The defeated limped off the battlefield, returning home to mend their wounds. Meanwhile, safely back in town, eyes glance at the chat box...

"OMG!1! We lost our fort! The world is ending, there is nothing for me to live for -- I am canceling my subscription!" Speedylips throws herself to the floor, body convulsing with sobs as she cries out in utter agony at the unfairness, the pure torture of it all, while all around her others are kicking and screaming. "WAAHHHHHH!"*

Not to be confused with Warhammer Online's trademark cry of battle "Waaaaaaggghhh," this cry* is the sound of desperation among the Daevas of Aion. Or -- in truer words -- infantile tantrums. Yes, tantrums. What else would you call it when people bemoan the change of fort ownership with vicious verbal attacks on others, excessive blame-placing, and numerous announcements of quitting that scroll by in LFG so quickly your head spins trying to catch the actual snippets of relevant chat? Yet this is the common sight whenever one faction starts losing some Abyss real estate to the enemy. And to be perfectly honest, I don't get it. In a game that is built on the give and take of battle, why do people get so put out when they suffer a setback? This is exactly what Aion needs to thrive.

I will admit, I cheer when the opposing faction turns out and succeeds in conquering a fortress. Why? Before you brand me a traitor, cut a swath past the cut and I will explain.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: As the Forts Turn

Wings Over Atreia: As the Forts Turn originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: What's in it for me?

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

That does it. No more Ms. Nice Wings. This time I am just going to unleash! Let my rant all hang out. Admittedly, I am not normally one to complain; I can see the good in most every situation, and I can roll with the punches like it's an Olympic event. But even my feathers get ruffled sometimes. It's true! And sometimes you just can't bite your tongue anymore or all you will have is a very sore tongue.

Now I know I am not a rant-master like Jef, but even fledgling ranters must begin somewhere. And this week, I found just such a place: immature, self-serving, can't-pull-their-thumbs-outta-their-ears-unless-there-is-something-in-it-for-them-gamers in Aion. You know the type -- those who think the world revolves around them. Those whose spoiled-rotten antics ruin groups and legions alike and who are the reason why many a block list is so full. They without whom drama would die a quick death and be a forgotten plague. They're the bane of chat channels everywhere -- they are the trolls.

Throw yourself past the cut for a look at some recent Aion tantrums and sure-fire ways to minimize the effects of blatant immaturity. Careful, though -- I cannot be held responsible for any resemblance to gamers near you.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: What's in it for me?

Wings Over Atreia: What's in it for me? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: AP bakery

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, PvP, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

Get yer hot, fresh, AP cookies folks, right here! MMmm mm.

For those who are not as familiar with Aion or haven't participated in much PvP combat, AP (Abyss Points) are the currency by which special gear and items can be bought. AP can be gathered a number of ways, through both PvP and PvE. This week, Wings Over Atreia takes a stroll through the AP bakery to share with you many of the tasty morsels available.

While I had already planned on discussing AP this week, NCsoft's introduction of two new events (For War and Glory and Behind Enemy Lines) brought a new angle to it -- specifically, more enthusiasm and enjoyment! I've got to say that of all the recent events that have been held, these two more fully capture the essence of Aion and encourage participation in core elements of the game; small-scale skirmishes are cropping up all over. This is what the game is about -- clashes of light and dark wings throughout all of Atreia. I haven't had more fun in PvP in a very long time, and I am not even a PvPer!

How can you, too, take advantage of these great events and fill up your AP coffers? Grab a plate, join me past the cut to check out the selection, and prepare to gorge on some yummy AP goodness!

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: AP bakery

Wings Over Atreia: AP bakery originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Terrible twos? A look at Darkfall on its second anniversary

Jef Reahard — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, MMO industry, PvP, PvE, Opinion

It's hard to believe that two years have passed in the lands of Agon, but passed they have, and Darkfall is celebrating its second anniversary this week. Aventurine's FFA PvP sandbox title has turned out to be one of the more resilient MMORPGs in recent memory, surviving a disastrous launch and a lingering (and undeserved) reputation as a haven for parolees, sociopaths, and griefers. It's also managed to grow its dev team, release three expansions, and carve out a respectable niche for itself in an increasingly competitive massive industry.

What's the secret to the game's success? Can Aventurine become the next CCP and ride the coattails of a non-linear MMORPG to indie greatness? Is Darkfall, purportedly the hardest of the hardcore PvP games, really a fantastic PvE sandbox in disguise? Join us after the cut for some thoughts on these topics as well as a peek at the highlights from Darkfall's first two years.

Continue reading Terrible twos? A look at Darkfall on its second anniversary

Terrible twos? A look at Darkfall on its second anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft explains Aion siege timer changes

Jef Reahard — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, PvP, News items

Amidst all the G-Star news coming out this week, as well as Aion's own upcoming double XP bonanza, you might have missed a fairly significant gameplay change that NCsoft has slipped onto the live servers. In a very brief news blurb on the official site (which links to an image graphic hosted on Flickr), the Korean MMO developer answers the question that many Daevas have been asking of late, namely, what are the new siege times.

As it turns out, they're quite different and will no doubt affect Abyss PvP in numerous ways. For example, prime time fortress sieges used to happen in a three-hour window, which pretty much meant that if you committed to attacking or defending, you missed out on Dredgion groups and basically any other content going on for that particular night. Now, the siege timers are staggered. In addition to the timers being reduced to two hours, there's also an hour block in between, which should give players time to do things other than siege on any given night.

Additionally, the previous fortress vulnerabilities were a convoluted mess, with a mixture of upper and lower forts going on at once. Now, the vulnerable forts will be on a single layer, and there will also be five vulnerable forts simultaneously as opposed to three. This should lead to new strategies, as the zerg will no longer be able to bum-rush three locations at once, and there will theoretically be more sustained fighting going throughout the Abyss.

NCsoft explains Aion siege timer changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: Jake Song talks ArcheAge

Jef Reahard — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Video, Interviews, New titles, News items, ArcheAge

Last weekend we hinted at an XL Games interview during our coverage of the newest ArcheAge video. Today we're happy to bring you an exclusive chat with lead developer Jake Song. Song is the man behind the original Lineage, and he also worked at NCsoft on Tabula Rasa and a Lineage sequel that eventually became Aion.

Several years ago he started his own development house, XL Games, and the studio's first project is a sprawling sandbox called ArcheAge, which is currently undergoing a closed beta test in the Korean market. Join us after the cut as Song talks about the game's unique skill system, castle sieges, multiplayer mounts (and mounted combat), and more.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Jake Song talks ArcheAge

Massively Exclusive: Jake Song talks ArcheAge originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives -- The siege

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

The battle was sore. The sound of wings beating the hot air of the Abyss filled the ears of all of us, soldier and commander alike. Singed feathers, both black and white, floated about, as fireballs flew between factions, pelting any who could not dodge fast enough. Shadowy forms dove, weaving between the raining arrows, looking for targets. Sounds of steel clashing rang out as spies tried to sneak past enemy lines in search of kisks. The battle was immense, a sea of red crashing against us, trying to claim what was rightfully ours! We knew we must give our all to repel the enemy onslaught.

In the heat of battle, immediate decisions had long-reaching consequences; the tide of battle could turn on a single kinah. All voices hushed as the Commander, MrAwesumPants, issued the order that would bring victory, that would bring us closer to eradicating this threat upon true Daeva. One force was dispatched to take the artifact and activate it. "Do it. Do it now. Do it. Do it. Do it now. Do it do it do it do it now do it do it do it now... now... now... now... get it. DO IT NOW... come ON! Are you paying attention? NOW NOW NOW!! DO IT DO IT DO IT! NOWNOWNOWNOWNOWNOWNOW!!! Do it. Don't do it. OMG you *expletive* I can't believe you just did that!"

Everyone could hear the spittle dripping from his mic, spraying against his monitor. The hush continued.

Have you ever sat in a faction Ventrilo server and heard the siege leader repeat an order like a rapid-fire machine gun for what seemed like five minutes straight, then right as it is being accomplished, immediately rescind the order, demand his followers stop, then totally berate whoever followed the order? No joke -- true story. If you thought drama was just for individuals or legions in Aion, think again! There is a seemingly endless supply of siege drama to keep Daevas entertained -- or disgusted.

Settle back and tune in past the cut for the latest episode of Daevas of Our Lives.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives -- The siege

Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives -- The siege originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Gelkmaros

MJ Guthrie — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Aion, Expansions, Interviews, Previews

Last week, NCsoft gave us a peek at one of the new zones in Aion's upcoming Assault on Balaurea expansion; today, we tour the Asmodian occupied land -- Gelkmaros. With fissures ripped in the very land itself and areas devastated by ancient battles (including the ancient city of Maravas), the Asmodians will find their stronghold treacherous, but not without surprising new allies.

Stranded in Balaurea since before the Cataclysm, the Reian tribe knew nothing of the war between the Asmodians and the Elyos until recently. These Daevas who stand watch over Subterranea, home of the evil Dragonbound, enter into a tentative alliance with their lost brothers and sisters from Asmodae.

As hostile as the land and creatures may be, the Asmodians must be ever vigilant to defend both the Vorgaltem Citadel and Crimson Temple against the assaults of the Balaur and Elyos forces, lest they lose the ability to travel with in their enemy's stronghold.

Once again, Massively asked Chris Hager, Producer of Aion, NCsoft West, a few questions about this new area.

Fly past the cut and through a video tour of Gelkmaros, then check out Chris' answers.

Continue reading Aion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Gelkmaros

Aion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Gelkmaros originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: A whole new world, sorta

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

Mergers have come and gone in Aion; the fabric of existence was ripped asunder, then rewoven. In North America, five new worlds now sit where once there were fourteen, and eight replace eighteen in Europe. Using the mergers as a springboard for their apocalyptic rants, naysayers cried out that the end of Aion was nigh, fervently waving their assertions and jeering at current players. NCsoft, on the other hand, quietly offered promises of a better world, catering to the desires of players for more conflict. To my knowledge, there were no Daevas flinging themselves from the spires of Pandaemonium or Sanctum, nor did any economy crumble and collapse. Fatalities were nil -- well, not counting any local qooqoo sacrifices made in the name of server harmony and stability.

So, here we are now at "doomsday plus five." How did things fare? Let's glide past the cut and take a look at the aftermath.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: A whole new world, sorta

Wings Over Atreia: A whole new world, sorta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively interview: Elysean Council captures Divine Fortress

MJ Guthrie — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Interviews, Massively Interviews

Keeping our eyes on the Aionosphere, Massively applauds the accomplishments of fellow gamers. At the end of June, Daevas were introduced to the Elysean Council during an interview with NCsoft; this group from Trineil was heralded as the first to capture the Divine Fortress on any North American server in Aion. In their interview, leaders in the council chimed in to give their fellow Daevas a glimpse of this ground-breaking experience. Interested in diving more in-depth with the Council, Massively had the chance to speak with one of the leaders -- Nightroad -- about the siege, and what's been happening since.

Read about it after the cut.

Continue reading Massively interview: Elysean Council captures Divine Fortress

Massively interview: Elysean Council captures Divine Fortress originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waging WAR: Elitist alliances and RvR

Greg Waller — Sat, 29 May 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Guilds, Warhammer Online, Opinion, Humor, Waging WAR

No matter where you go in the MMO-verse, rivalries are bound to happen, and Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is no different. In most cases, these rifts are the exception and not the norm; whether they manifest as a heated argument in scenarios, or a realm-wide feud between established guilds or alliances, there's always going to be some sort of drama. This week, Waging WAR takes a look at how the exception to the rule can affect the game as a whole.

A few days ago I was playing on one of my Tier 2 alts running around with an open warband in the Shadowlands. We were taking some keeps and battlefield objectives for renown and influence, since the Tier 2 High Elf elite influence item is well worth the effort. As it turns out, a few of my guildmates were also leveling in the same warband. We ran into a keep defense at Spite's Reach that we weren't really prepared for, but we managed to muster a decent siege in short order. The hot oil started pouring and some area-of-effect magic started to blanket the warband on the ground as we pounded on the door. One of the players in my guild, a dedicated veteran (though not an officer), refused to heal someone else in the warband. I asked him why and he told me that it was because the person was in another specific guild, with no real reason beyond that simple fact.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Elitist alliances and RvR

Waging WAR: Elitist alliances and RvR originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer Online talks more about the design of RvR Sieges

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, Warhammer Online

If there's a part of Warhammer Online's upcoming patch 1.3.5 that should excite veteran players -- and there is -- it's the shift of city sieges to an RvR-designed focus. One of the central selling points of the game has always been the strength of its PvP, and as the game works to shore up its weaknesses one of the major foci has been enhancing the PvP experience. Content developer Keaven Freeman has penned a developer diary explaining the issues, pitfalls, and ultimate results of the design process and the shift in ethos.

As Freeman puts it, the sieges haven't moved completely to PvP only, simply because it doesn't feel quite right to have the capture experience feel equally inviting in an enemy city or an allied one. But the PvE elements exist, from the sound of it, simply to focus attacks on things other than players at times, rather than to give hordes of NPCs to fight. In addition, the diary talks about the cascading control point system, which builds a network of control allowing players to spearhead an assault into the heart of the city. For Warhammer Online players looking forward to answering the call of their respective faction, the diary should be both enlightening and interesting.

Warhammer Online talks more about the design of RvR Sieges originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaders have questions, and Darkfall's Tasos Flambouras has answers

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Game mechanics, Guilds, Interviews, PvP

Darkfall blogger extraordinaire Paragus recently sat down with some of the biggest alliance leaders of Agon, collecting questions to take back to Aventurine's very own Tasos Flambouras for answering.

While not all of the questions are actually questions (we see those declarative statements, you can't hide them from our prying eyes), Tasos attempts to provide answers to some of Darkfall's biggest problems. Crashing during battles, game mechanics overthrowing battle strategies, six hour sieges, political options in the interface, inability to purchase the game, and the burning question of what Aventurine is doing to deal with cheaters are all covered in this lengthy two page interview.

The entire interview has been posted to MMORPG.com. If you're looking for a peek inside of the mind of Aventurine, or the mind of Tasos, in the very least, don't hesitate to jump on over and catch his answers to some burning questions.

Leaders have questions, and Darkfall's Tasos Flambouras has answers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another blogger flees Age of Conan...

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, PvP, Endgame, Opinion

...and this time it's Peter Smith of the Dragonchasers blog.

Citing a waning ability to have fun with the game, item statistics that really don't help with anything, and a lack of variance in armor and items, Smith is calling it quits with Age of Conan. His comments seem to mirror the comments of many others, but one particular subject stands out in his blog from the others: the much touted and praised player vs. player endgame.

Smith brings up the point that he feels like "another cog in the wheel" of his large guild. In order to see the content of the endgame cities and city sieges, he joined a very large guild and is expected to provide materials to help with the construction of the guild city. But, without player housing, any type of city mini-games, and lack of bonuses offered by the city itself, he just feels like another faceless voice instead of a heroic city builder.

His article touches on the ability to stand out inside of a game where a person may not be able to stand out in the world itself and how it links back to his decision to cancel the game. If you're interested, be sure to drop over by to the Dragonchasers blog and check it out for yourself.

Another blogger flees Age of Conan... originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Conan Dev goes on berserk question-answering rampage

Adrian Bott — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, PvP, PvE

What was in LordOrion's coffee this morning? The FunCom developer began by making two parallel threads on the Age of Conan forums, one on the US forums and one on the EU. Each one was a 'leak', with the EU getting a preview of PvP gear, and the US getting an image of what looked like a dungeon of some sort, with no further hints as to what it might be.

That done, he began to answer direct questions. The players on both sides of the Atlantic wasted no time in firing them off, while expressing their gratitude (and disbelief) that FunCom was actually talking to them for a change. Now that the flurry of posts has died down, we've collated all the new information from both sides, presented in interview format and edited for relevance and context.

Continue reading Age of Conan Dev goes on berserk question-answering rampage

Age of Conan Dev goes on berserk question-answering rampage originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively goes to WAR: Wrap-up

Michael Zenke — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, Crafting, Warhammer Online, Massively highlights, Massively Interviews, Massively Hands-on

All week long, Massively.com has been offering up feature after feature on EA Mythic's in-development MMO, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. The Massively goes to WAR feature series has taken you front to back through almost every moment of our time at Mythic's Virginia headquarters. To wrap it all up, we've got a handy-dandy clickable guide to the series. Whether you're into hardcore PvP, dungeon delving, crafting, or are a total MMO newb, we've got you covered. Click on through, and explore the world of Warhammer.

Gallery: Warhammer Online

Continue reading Massively goes to WAR: Wrap-up

Massively goes to WAR: Wrap-up originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New WAR beta update focused on defense of Altdorf

Chris Chester — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Screenshots, Game mechanics, Lore, New titles, Warhammer Online

Ever since Warhammer Online slipped from its precarious perch in the mud, it's been something of a struggle for Mythic to keep our attention in lieu of more current, relevant-feeling fare. After all, there's only so much speculating you can do before you realize it's still months away from being in your hands. Still, as nuts for the Warhammer lore, we take notice any time a beta update hits our inbox, because it means another chance as at sweet, sweet immersion.

This News From the Front focuses on the battle on the skirts of Altdorf -- those scenarios that would manifest themselves if the forces of the Empire began to cede to the tide of Chaos and their Dark Elf allies. The beta had both PvE and PvP phases, and prominent among the features being tested were the Keeps and Sieges dynamic, which Mythic wanted to test for fluidity and fun. And of course, what update would be complete without a handful of written lore thrown into the lot as well. If you're still interested in WAR and haven't sold your soul to Krom, it's definitely worth checking out.

New WAR beta update focused on defense of Altdorf originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 May 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All you need to know about WAR's keeps and sieges

William Dobson — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, New titles, PvP, Warhammer Online

There's a new FAQ at Ten Ton Hammer that looks at the keeps and sieges of Warhammer Online. It answers a nice chunk of questions that people might have about this aspect of the Realm versus Realm gameplay which was looked at in the February newsletter. The process involved in capturing a keep will be to first breach the exterior walls, then the interior walls, and finally to slay the Keep Lord.

Along the way you'll be able to use a variety of siege weapons, and both the attacking and defending sides will find these siege tools useful. When the Keep Lord is taken out, all remaining guards at the keep will despawn, and the Keep Lord will respawn as an ally to the sieging party, ready for when the other faction tries to re-capture the keep. It's a big, messy circle. Check out the rest of the FAQ for more on how you can attack or defend a keep in WAR.

All you need to know about WAR's keeps and sieges originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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