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Fable developer seeking online game designer for 'ambitious new project'

Matt Daniel — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

Hey guys, since long-standing single-player titles' becoming MMOs is all the rage these days, did you know that the folks at Fable developer Lionhead Studios are looking to hire someone with a deep understanding of online multiplayer games to help them "define the multiplayer levels and experience of [their] ambitious new project"? Because according to the official job listing at Microsoft, they totally are.

Of course, the first thing that came to our minds was could this mean a Fable MMO? Well, it could, but we're not sure yet. All we know right now is that Lionhead is looking for help to design a particularly ambitious (cough) online game, and if you take into consideration that late last year the studio was looking for an MMO-oriented programmer... well, fans of the Fable series or the studio itself should definitely keep their eyes on this one.

Fable developer seeking online game designer for 'ambitious new project' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Business models, Culture, Expansions, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

If it hasn't become clear over the past two and a half years, I really enjoy speculation. I like crazy theories, I like exploring possibilities, I like thought exercises, and so forth. There's some speculation that I find particularly ill-informed or lacking in some fundamental point of logic, but that doesn't mean I don't learn about them first.

Why am I making a point out of this? Because I've developed a theory about the state of City of Heroes, and I want to make it clear before I launch into this somewhat grim theory that I'm basing this entirely on outside observations. I want it to be clear that I could, in fact, be totally wrong, and when I say that City of Heroes nearly committed unintentional suicide a couple of years ago, I don't want that to be seen as some grand behind-the-scenes revelation.

And if it weren't obvious from that line, yes, that's where I'm going. I think Going Rogue nearly gutted City of Heroes and burned the whole game to the ground. And I think everything the game has done since can be directly traced back to that expansion.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log: Head of the newer class

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log

The Final Fantasy series, particularly the online installments, is all about class. This is not entirely surprising, since the series has built up a series of character types that, while sometimes kind of random, are beloved just the same. The jumping spear-wielding Dragoons, dual-wielding and sword-throwing Ninjas, the ubiquitous Summoners... if these concepts don't exist in some form within a game, it raises some eyebrows. It's a symptom of the linking the games by certain broad pseudo-mythological concepts rather than by any actual continuity.

We've gotten our Job system in Final Fantasy XIV, we've got our classes to the point that they're at least somewhat balanced, and we've got a new version on the horizon. The question, then, is what we're getting next. What new classes or jobs can we look forward to? What do we need? What gaps are obvious within the Final Fantasy pantheon, and what is just lacking in terms of a traditional MMO setup?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Head of the newer class

The Mog Log: Head of the newer class originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Countless marvelous powers

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

There were a lot of reasons I decided to stop collecting Transformers a couple of years back, but chief among those reasons was the fact that it was increasingly a hunt for novelty over permanence. A new wave of toys was released, and fans were expected to buy the lot of them, admire the novelty, and then almost immediately move on to the next wave. The idea of new releases playing into past toys was increasingly left out in the cold, meaning that you could essentially just keep grabbing a new set of toys every two or three months rather than enjoying the ones you had.

Of course, Transformers are meant to be toys for children, so the marketing strategy is pretty defensible. But I'm beginning to wonder whether City of Heroes isn't adopting a similar attitude with the steady onslaught of new powersets. Since Freedom hit, we've seen an absolute explosion of new sets with new mechanics and new ways to play... but we've also seen a real dearth of anything tying players to a given powerset. It's novelty on a steady basis, but we might not have appreciated the slow pace of new sets before.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Countless marvelous powers

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Countless marvelous powers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Culture, New titles, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

Before the comments light up, I'm just going to say outright that City of Heroes 2 does not currently exist. We've heard no news about it, no announcements, nothing beyond the speculation of many City of Heroes players such as myself. I'm deviating (again) from the set schedule and talking about a purely hypothetical sequel that all of us are kind of expecting but that does not, at this point, exist. But considering all of the recent talk about Guild Wars 2, I think it's apropos.

Let's assume, for the purpose of this article, that Paragon Studios is knee-deep in development of City of Heroes 2 and simply isn't telling anyone. What sort of things would the game need? What would be the best possible route for the game to take? How could it satisfy fans of City of Heroes while drawing in new players? I don't have the absolute answers... but it sure does make for some interesting speculation, based on the things the team has been doing over the past several years.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: Setting the universe on fire

Brendan Drain — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Game mechanics, PvP, Opinion, EVE Evolved, DUST 514, Sandbox

This week CCP Games announced the name and focus of EVE Online's upcoming summer expansion. The Inferno expansion aims to re-invigorate PvP with some long overdue gameplay changes. CONCORD-sanctioned wars will be iterated on for the first time in half a decade, and faction warfare will hopefully be getting the updates it should have received in 2008. Following on from the success of the Crucible expansion with its hundreds of small features and gameplay changes, Inferno will also contain dozens of small gameplay changes, usability fixes, and minor improvements.

We'll hear more about DUST 514 in the coming months as CCP reveals more concrete details of the game's link to EVE Online and the motivations behind planet-bound wars. Incarna fans will apparently also see some movement, with Team Avatar focusing on avatar-based updates for this release. While Inferno is a rather uninspired name and coincidentally would make three of the last four expansions start with the word "in," the expansion's content is genuinely exciting. Fundamental changes are coming to EVE's PvP mechanics for the first time in several years. CCP hasn't revealed the exact changes, but that hasn't stopped players from speculating on what might be heading their way.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I speculate on the changes coming in the upcoming Inferno expansion and what changes I think might be coming to EVE's PvP.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Setting the universe on fire

EVE Evolved: Setting the universe on fire originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If it looks like an MMO, walks like an MMO, and quacks like an MMO...

Matt Daniel — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

Then it might just be an MMO! Indie gaming fans out there are probably already familiar with thatgamecompany, creators of hit PSN titles such as Flower, flOw, and the to-be-released Journey. Journey is going to be the studio's first experience with online interaction between players, but a new job listing from the studio seeking a scalability engineer states that the studio would "like to take it a step further with [its] next game." Taking online interaction a step further, you say? Why, they could be talking about an MMO!

The job listing further corroborates this theory as it continues on to state that "while [thatgamecompany is] pretty experienced making games, [the studio has] never built a full scale online service available to hundreds of thousands of users." Hundreds of thousands of users, you say? Why, that sounds even more like an MMO! Of course, this is all pure conjecture at this point, but surely we're not alone in our belief that an MMO from the minds of the folks that brought us Flower and flOw would be pretty groovy. But the fact remains that Journey won't even be released until next month, so this next project -- whatever it may be -- is still far off the horizon, but stay tuned. Hopefully we'll know more about this new project before too long.

If it looks like an MMO, walks like an MMO, and quacks like an MMO... originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THQ still planning on WAR40K launch in fiscal 2014

Jef Reahard — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Warhammer 40k

It seems as if the recent brouhaha over THQ's future was a bit overblown, as were concerns about the fate of the firm's Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online MMO. Our sister site reports that DMO is on track for "fiscal 2014 and beyond" based on a THQ earnings report released today.

We consulted our corporate-speak decoder rings and determined that fiscal 2014 translates to April 2013, which puts the launch window slightly behind the original target date, according to Joystiq.

Last month THQ debunked a rumor tweeted by Kevin Dent that had the firm canceling its entire 2014 catalog and prepping for a firesale.

Gamespot, meanwhile, is reporting that THQ is actively seeking publishing partners for the game.

THQ still planning on WAR40K launch in fiscal 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: Three guys walk into a bar

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

My days of playing Magic: the Gathering are... well, they're not over, exactly, but I'm certainly not in my heyday any longer. Despite this, I've made no secret of the fact that I still avidly read Mark Rosewater's Making Magic column because the stuff he says in the column is applicable to game design in general. There are a lot of ideas that I've drawn out of there over the years, and one of the ones that's stuck with me is the Timmy-Johnny-Spike split that Rosewater's quite fond of explaining at length.

For those of you not interested in reading a decade's worth of columns just to understand what I'm talking about, the three names in questions are the so-called "psychographics" for Magic's audience, three psychological snapshots of why people play and enjoy the game. They're useful tools for understanding the reason certain cards resonate well with some players and not with others. And they're applicable to almost everything -- even roleplaying.

Continue reading Storyboard: Three guys walk into a bar

Storyboard: Three guys walk into a bar originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Max Schaefer talks Torchlight II development, potential MMO plans

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

There are a lot of people eagerly anticipating Diablo III, but there are also several people looking forward to Torchlight II, the followup to the hugely successful spiritual sequel to Diablo. A recent interview with Max Schaefer, co-founder and CEO of Runic Games, discusses the development of the sequel including some of the contrasting points between it and Diablo III -- including the lack of any sort of virtual item shop. As Schaefer puts it, the team wants to put together a good game that stands on its own, and if it's successful the developers will look in the direction of an expansion rather than a straightforward shop.

Schaefer also discusses a potential MMO coming out of the studio, something that's long been among the studio's plans -- one of the big reasons that Runic partnered with Perfect World Entertainment was due to its expertise with running an MMO. He claims that it's definitely still on the table, but it would be a big change for the studio, since the company has focused on staying small and launching an MMO is a very long-term commitment. Somewhat sad news for those hoping that Torchlight II's launch would spearhead MMO development directly, but the possibility certainly remains.

Max Schaefer talks Torchlight II development, potential MMO plans originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard job listing mentions 'product placement' within its next MMO

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Miscellaneous

When details of Blizzard's upcoming casual MMO, code-named Titan, are incredibly scarce due to the developer's ironclad secrecy, it falls to enterprising fans to ferret out any scraps of information that may exist. One such player on the NeoGAF forums was combing through a Blizzard job posting for a Franchise Development Producer and noted an interesting line that indicated the studio could be mulling over the idea of in-game ads for its next MMO.

The line in question specifies that one of the duties of the position is to "work with major consumer brands to facilitate product placement and licensing within the world of Blizzard Entertainment's next-gen MMO that enhances the gameplay experience." Whether this is a sign that we'll be seeing billboards for Skittles while we raid or that players will be able to get endorsements and decorate their outfits a la NASCAR cars is anyone's guess.

It's important to note that the rest of this position entails a number of efforts to promote Blizzard's "next-gen MMO" outside of the tight-knit gaming sphere, including comics, action figures, and short movies.

Blizzard job listing mentions 'product placement' within its next MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Firing Line: The pleasures and pitfalls of PlanetSide 2

Jef Reahard — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, PlanetSide, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, Opinion, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2, Sandbox, The Firing Line

My time in PlanetSide was a blur. It's also a ways back in the rear view mirror, and I've played so many MMOs in the interim that I can't even remember exactly when it was. The game originally shipped in May of 2003, and I was entrenched in Star Wars Galaxies from its June 2003 launch going forward. That would put my six week (de)tour with the Terran Republic somewhere circa 2004, maybe? I forget.

The point I'm getting around to, though, is that regardless of hazy dates, PlanetSide stands out as one of those seminal MMO experiences that showcased the possibility inherent in this particular genre. The upcoming reboot, then, should be pretty spectacular and deserving of some fanboi adulation, right?

Well, yes and no.

Continue reading The Firing Line: The pleasures and pitfalls of PlanetSide 2

The Firing Line: The pleasures and pitfalls of PlanetSide 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR UK sales take a dive

Jef Reahard — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

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

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

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

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

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Hyperspace Beacon: Sensing the future

Larry Everett — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Bugs, Game mechanics, Guilds, Lore, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon, Dungeons

I like making predictions. When it comes to Star Wars: The Old Republic, I've been spot on about several things, but I've missed the boat on some too. "Careful you must be when sensing the future, Anakin. The fear of loss is a path to the dark side," Yoda warned the young Jedi Knight in Revenge of the Sith. It's a good thing I don't have anything to lose by guessing what I think will happen in the future for this game.

In 2011, we saw TOR launch with astronomical numbers, and all you have to do is look at our front page to realize how much people have been talking about this game. Hopefully, the future of the game is just as bright. Thankfully, developers at BioWare have been very talkative about what's coming in the future.

Let's combine what players have said with the plans developers have spoken about to predict the future of the game. After the break, I'll mix the news with my Force powers to see in the the future... the future... the future... echo... echo...

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Sensing the future

Hyperspace Beacon: Sensing the future originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Force reflection

Larry Everett — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

"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

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

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Analyst claims SWTOR could already have 1.5 million players

Matt Daniel — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

It's not exactly a secret that big things are expected of BioWare's recent entry to the MMO market, Star Wars: The Old Republic. Cowen & Company analyst Doug Creutz speculates that the game could have up to 1.5 million players already, even though the game doesn't officially launch for another day. This conclusion comes about based on the fact that EA had 140 servers running by last Saturday. If that's the population right now, we can assuredly expect that the game's official launch will see big numbers indeed. We'll just have to wait one more day to find out.

Analyst claims SWTOR could already have 1.5 million players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Will SWTOR succeed in Asia?

Jef Reahard — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Miscellaneous

Gamers (and game executives) are fond of comparing Star Wars: The Old Republic to World of Warcraft. Forums are rife both with discussions on how TOR will (or will not) dethrone the reigning MMO subscription champ and with arguments regarding similar game mechanics.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is a prediction on whether or not SWTOR will succeed in the Asian market. We know, for example, that a huge portion of WoW's 12 million users came from the Far East, and sales suggest that Eastern gaming audiences are very different from their Western counterparts (see the ongoing popularity and profitability of games like Aion and Lineage II, which draw contemptuous sneers from American audiences -- if they notice them at all).

When you compare BioWare's focus on narrative with Blizzard's focus on progression, it's very possible to see TOR falling short of WoW's Asian success. What do you think, Massively readers? Will TOR conquer the Asian MMO market?

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

The Daily Grind: Will SWTOR succeed in Asia? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer

Jef Reahard — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, News items, Miscellaneous

Is the world of Albion coming to an MMO near you? That's up for speculation thanks to a job advertisement on Microsoft's career board. The software giant, which owns Fable developer Lionhead Studios, is seeking a programmer "who enjoys playing MMO games and has significant experience with the workings of a massive online multiplayer environment."

Further requirements include "a minimum of one shipped MMO as a network programmer."

Lionhead shipped Fable III in October of 2010, and the company is rumored to be developing a "controller-based" Fable IV in 2013, according to Eurogamer.

When contacted by Eurogamer, Lionhead had this to say in an official statement: "Thanks for checking in with us! We're happy to tell you all about what we're working on. Just apply, get hired, and we promise to spill our guts!"

Fable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fans unearth new Forsaken World patch details

Jef Reahard — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeons

If you're a Forsaken World fan, you might be interested to know that Perfect World Entertainment has announced plans for the game's next content update. According to MMO Crunch, it's unclear whether the Storms of War patch is a full-blown expansion or a smaller-scale update. Either way, there's new stuff coming.

Some enterprising Forsaken World forum-dwellers have pieced together what they believe to be a feature list for the new content drop, but since Perfect World's Asian-market releases are normally months ahead of the American and European clients, none of the info has been confirmed.

Highlights of the feature list include memory fruit XP buffs, town teleport abilities, tweaks to dungeon difficulty and arena PvP systems, and a lot more.

Fans unearth new Forsaken World patch details originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Total Recall IP snagged by MMO studio SEE Virtual Worlds

Matt Daniel — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Entropia Universe, MMO industry, News items, Planet Calypso

Planet Michael creator SEE Virtual Worlds has announced that it is now the proud owner of even more well-known intellectual properties. The studio now owns the rights to Men in Black 3, Total Recall (the remake, bleh), Asterix, War of the Worlds, and Waterworld.

Whether the studio will turn these properties into MMOs as well, however, remains to be seen. CEO Martin Ballas said only, "These properties are tied to memorable moments and incredible characters that players are going to interact with in future SEE-created digital and online interactive video games." SEE Virtual Worlds, however, has purchased Planet Calypso for a staggering $6 million, which could hint at a possible Total Recall-themed online destination. Before long, you just may be able to hop online and shout at your party, "Get your ass to Mars!"

Total Recall IP snagged by MMO studio SEE Virtual Worlds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard's Titan a 'casual' MMO

Jef Reahard — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Rumors

In case you were worried about a lack of new and accessible MMOs coming down the pike over the next couple of years, the king of casual is riding to the rescue. At least, that's what an analyst at Sterne Agee hinted at on Gamasutra recently.

Arvind Bhatia is quoted on the game industry website as saying that Blizzard's product pipeline includes "expansion packs for StarCraft and World of Warcraft, a new Diablo game, [and] a new casual MMO." That casual MMO is of course Titan, the secretive WoW followup that has reportedly gobbled up Blizzard's most experienced designers.

While no one outside of Blizzard has any inkling as to Titan's setting, mechanics, or target audience, Bhatia's prediction makes a certain amount of sense given the realities of the MMO marketplace and the costs inherent in developing and marketing AAA titles. Head to Gamasutra for the full report.

Blizzard's Titan a 'casual' MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Turbine working on console MMO?

Jef Reahard — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Consoles, Rumors, Miscellaneous

Internet scuttlebutt has it that Turbine is cooking up a console MMO codenamed Project Hendrix. A posting at GameSpot cites a Turbine job listing that seeks an engineer for an "unannounced online console project." The article also mentions the resume of one Josh Phelan, a Turbine employee who apparently mentioned the Hendrix title in his online resume (which has since gone dark).

Turbine's console aspirations are nothing new, as studio VP Craig Alexander hinted at such desires as early as 2009. Commenter speculation links the job listing to the mysterious Pottermore title, and given Turbine's acquisition by Warner Brothers (which also owns the Pottermore trademark), it's not unreasonable to suspect that the sorting hat could be getting ready to assign a Potter MMO to House Turbine.

Check out the details on GameSpot and let us know what you think in the comments.

Rumor: Turbine working on console MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: Why a Harry Potter MMO makes sense

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Humor, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

The idea of a Harry Potter MMO is hardly a new one at this point -- we've even speculated on it around Massively for years now. Rumors and wishful thinking have brought up this hypothetical MMO time and again, and for good reason: It simply makes sense.

In fact, the more you think about it, the more surprising it is that we haven't heard official word of a Harry Potter MMO by now. After doing some poking around, the most likely suspects to take on this project would either be Warner Bros. (which owns the rights to the franchise) or Electronic Arts (which purchased a license from WB to make the movie video games). Both companies have MMO studios at their command -- Turbine, BioWare, Mythic -- and both have the resources to make it happen.

So why does Harry Potter make perfect sense for MMO-adaptation? Hit the jump and I'll run you down the top 10 reasons! And if you post a positive comment after this column, I'll add five points to the house of your choice (go Hufflepuff!).

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Why a Harry Potter MMO makes sense

The Perfect Ten: Why a Harry Potter MMO makes sense originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: A new Ultima MMO might be in the works

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Ultima Online, Rumors

The modern era of MMOs began in 1997 with a little game called Ultima Online, and it's fair to say that the genre would look very different if that first example hadn't gone live. These days, outside of a dedicated playerbase and stalwart fans, the game is no longer at the center of attention. But there are a lot of players who still remember it fondly as an introduction to the field... and there are hints here and there that it might be time for a sequel to the game that started it all.

It's a known fact that Paul Barnett has been hinting at a secret project that is quite possibly an RPG, and it's also no secret that Electronic Arts is recruiting for an MMO programmer at its Redwood location. The company has also stepped up defending its trademarks for the Ultima franchise of late, which leads to a bit of interesting speculation. Could it be time for Ultima Online to get a sequel and a new generation of players, a project which has been started and stopped twice before? There's surely something happening behind the scenes...

Rumor: A new Ultima MMO might be in the works originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArcheAge upgrading to CryEngine 3

Jef Reahard — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST

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

Development on XL Games' ArcheAge continues apace, and several fan sites are reporting that the fantasy sandbox MMORPG will be adding a spiffy new graphics engine to its lengthy list of features. Prior to this year's GDC, ArcheAge was being marketed as a CryEngine 2 title -- and was already somewhat renowned for its lush visuals and hyper-detailed environments.

Apparently XL and lead developer Jake Song saw room for improvement, though, since ArcheAge will be transitioning to CryEngine 3 according to a reputable South Korean gaming news website. There is also some fan speculation regarding when the new engine will see the light of day. ArcheAge will be kicking off its third Korean closed beta phase in April (still using CryEngine 2), with deployment on the newer technology coming later this year (and possibly coinciding with open beta).

Head past the cut for a CryEngine 3 demo video from this year's GDC (the ArcheAge footage begins at the two-minute mark).

Continue reading ArcheAge upgrading to CryEngine 3

ArcheAge upgrading to CryEngine 3 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: What if?

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Classes, Opinion, Free-to-play, Races, The Road to Mordor

By the time you read this, I'll be scurrying around PAX East in Boston, feeling much like a Hobbit: unable to see over the crowd, far out of my element, and deeply wishing I purchased shoes. I'll of course be talking with the folks at Turbine to see what information I can wheedle out of them about the future of this terrific game, so if you don't hear from me again, I'm most likely languishing in a PR dungeon somewhere for being too nosy.

It's a good week, therefore, to be thinking about the future. My mind never stops thinking about future possibilities for any franchise, and even if they never come to be, these speculations are a great pastime of any fan. I'm always wondering "What if?" as I play Lord of the Rings Online -- what if I could mug Frodo and become the Ring-bearer? What if those lazy bums finally finished the repairs to the tavern in Frogmorton? What if Elves could kill innocent woodland creatures and go to the dark side?

Playing "What if?" with LotRO is tougher than with other games because of the limitations imposed by the IP. Despite what some say, Turbine's struggled hard to stay within the boundaries of lore and setting, and while that's helped the company to be creative in ways that it might not have otherwise, it does present some unique obstacles that aren't present in competing MMOs.

So to celebrate PAX, LotRO, and the future, here's a column of "What ifs?" for your consumption!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: What if?

The Road to Mordor: What if? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Anvil of Crom: Dreaming up expansion destinations

Jef Reahard — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Culture, Lore, Opinion, The Anvil of Crom

So how does a new Age of Conan expansion grab you? Well let's not get carried away just yet, but Funcom game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison did drop the barest mention of a hint on the official boards this week. Responding to a post that asked about the size of AoC's dev team, Morrison said that "we are looking at the next new location (still under wraps, sorry no clues there right now)." Taken in the context of explaining why Funcom has development teams flung to the far corners of the earth (Norway, China, and Canada if you're curious), it says very little about where the game is headed.

It is a good sign, though, one indicative of the fact that Age of Conan is a bit healthier than the legions of fail-trolls would have you believe. In this week's Anvil of Crom, I'd like to indulge in a bit of good ol' fashioned speculation as well as a healthy amount of wishful thinking. Join me after the cut to see where Hyboria's next expansion might lead us, and add your two cents in the comments.

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The Anvil of Crom: Dreaming up expansion destinations originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lead writer rounds up everything we need to know about the SWTOR treaty

Larry Everett — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Lore, New titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic

The Treaty of Coruscant is the pivotal document in the cold war between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic in Star Wars: The Old Republic. However, there are many confusing points regarding this treaty. First and foremost, why would a nation hell-bent on conquering the galaxy stop short with only half? There appears to be a hidden agenda here. The SWTOR Lead Writer Daniel Erickson took some time yesterday to post a round-up of information that we know about this treaty.

A couple of strong points of contrition regarding the treaty were the timing of withdrawal and the severity of the "punishment." Essentially, the Republic was a conquered nation, yet all the Empire demanded was that the Empire-controlled planets stay that way and the Republic stays where it was, minus a couple of insignificant planets. The Empire even gave back Coruscant which had just been swiftly razed by Darth Malgus. Many of the generals and Sith Lords of the Empire did not believe this was an advantageous move.

Erickson hints towards the end of the post that the treaty may not have been the Emperor's idea. In fact, he clearly points out that the Emperor had never been seen by any member of the Republic and was not at the signing of the treaty. Speculation abounds regarding the meaning behind the Empire's sudden withdrawal, yet Erickson provided no direct answers. Stay tuned here for more on this developing story.

Lead writer rounds up everything we need to know about the SWTOR treaty originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Istaria drops a big update and looks for testers

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

If you're a fan of Istaria, times have been quiet for far too long, even with unique race selections. Luckily, that longstanding silence has been broken with the game's newest content update, a major patch that delivers a complete loot overhaul and several changes to the game's underlying mechanics. Techniques and Technique components have had their drop sources adjusted, Junk Loot has been added to the game, and a brand-new item type known as Broken Items has been added for crafters to repair and improve.

The loot system revamp is only the least in a long list of changes, including numerous alterations to enemy distribution and large-scale reworking of several quests. The patch notes also mention specifically that this is the first update of the year, which seems worthy of speculation -- after all, there has been a call put out since October for players willing to take part in alpha testing. It seems quite possible some major changes are en route to Istaria, which should make the year interesting for players.

[Thanks to Joseph for the tip!]

Istaria drops a big update and looks for testers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Always in motion is the future

Larry Everett — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Lore, New titles, Endgame, Opinion, Rumors, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

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

Hyperspace 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.

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Waging WAR: On the distant horizon

Greg Waller — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Warhammer Online, Opinion, Waging WAR

It's that time again! Yes, Greg's imagination has escaped its tiny 3x3 cell and is off spreading ruination and ruffling feathers across the countryside, armed with absurd notions and a not-so-surprising lack of reason and logic. This week's Waging WAR attempts to follow along in its wake as we take another look at the potential future of Warhammer Online: The Age of Reckoning.

WAR released with an impressive lineup of playable armies and careers, setting the stage for the Age of Reckoning with a 3v3, two-sided RvR layout. In the summer following the official release of WAR, we got our first free content expansion featuring the Tomb Kings in the Land of the Dead. Just recently, we finally, at long last, got our Skaven wishes granted. In the spirit of the holiday season coming up, I've decided to look ahead at what may come in the future as we approach new horizons in WAR. Even if we discount Brettonia as another flavor of civilized human (akin in many ways to the Empire), the Daemons of Chaos as being already represented in some form or another as a part of Tzeentch's Warhost, and the Ogre Kingdoms (and other assorted Dogs of War) as being more-or-less an NPC army, we're still left with some excellent offerings from Warhammer lore as far as where WAR can go in the foreseeable future.

Follow along after the break as I take another look at what's left on the table to play with for future packs and expansions for WAR.

Continue reading Waging WAR: On the distant horizon

Waging WAR: On the distant horizon originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard's Pardo talks Bungie MMO

Jef Reahard — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Interviews

A Bungie MMORPG is a rumor that simply won't die. Whether it's Joe Staten hinting at a persistent world during the recently concluded GDC, or Bobby Kotick telling investors that one of the reasons Bungie signed with Activision was to avail itself of Blizzard's vast customer service expertise, scuttlebutt about a Halo-themed MMO is a speculative fire that's hard to douse.

In a new interview at Next Gen, Blizzard boss Rob Pardo (co-designer on World of Warcraft) says his company could share resources with Bungie on an MMO project and furthermore, he'd love to play it. "I think that's one of the other reasons we've been so successful at Blizzard -- all of us play and love games. We're as big a fans as anybody. I would love to play a Bungie MMO. I think it would be cool," he said at last week's Blizzcon.

Pardo was also quick to point out that Blizzard is very focused on their own development, and talk of a Bungie collaboration is somewhat premature. "There are a lot of ifs there. It would have to be a very specific proposal," he said.

Blizzard's Pardo talks Bungie MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Don't be surprised if your website is mentioned here

Larry Everett — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Podcasts, New titles, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

The Hyperspace Beacon is your guide through the various twists, turns, and barrel-roles of the yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic, which is being produced by the super-duper developers at BioWare-EA.

As we all wait anxiously for the open scroll of Star Wars: The Old Republic, more fansites are donning their Jedi robes and igniting their lightsabers. Some have have been around for a while now, and others are just getting off the ground, but all these holocrons of SWTOR lore are finding their true destiny in webspace. Some of these websites stand out as potential Jedi Masters, and I would like to take a moment to take note of them.

A few months back, the first Hyperspace Beacon was launched. It recognized sites like Darth Hater and the Jedi Archive. Since then, more have proven to be beacons of light in the blackness of cyberspace. So, in an effort to keep the SWTOR community page up to date, I have explored the reaches hyperspace to find beacons of new hope.

Set your navicomputer to follow me after the break. As Matt from TOROCast may say: Don't be surprised if your website is mentioned here.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Don't be surprised if your website is mentioned here

Hyperspace Beacon: Don't be surprised if your website is mentioned here originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waging WAR: Gamescom and Mythic's anti-hype

Greg Waller — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Warhammer Online, Opinion, Waging WAR

In light of Gamescom coming next week (August 18th - 22nd), this week WagingWAR looks forward to what could be coming for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. But beware: Since Mythic has been so secretive about the future of WAR, we've been forced to compromise and offer mere conjecture. Unchained by reason or fact, we follow in the wake of that terrible beast known only as "Greg's Imagination."

With less than a week left until Gamescom, I find myself more and more excited by the potential of what Mythic could be set to reveal, regardless of the fact that it's given me nothing to chew on. I am hyped by the anti-hype. What follows is the result of that hype. There are no facts, rumours, hints, or tips to back up what amounts to totally unbarred speculation. I have organized the aftermath of my brainstorm in terms of what would excite me, from most to least, followed by why I believe these additions could make sense, and how they might be implemented. Keep in mind that some of what follows could simply be passed off as madness; it might be totally unfeasible, even by the most adept and well-financed of development teams. I'm fully aware of that. The point here was to just "let it go." And I did.

Crazy, or uncanny -- you decide. Follow along after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Gamescom and Mythic's anti-hype

Waging WAR: Gamescom and Mythic's anti-hype originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but, knowing our luck, it probably will

Larry Everett — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Lore, New titles, Opinion, Humor, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

The Hyperspace Beacon is a weekly guide and discussion by Larry Everett about the yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic.

In a world where speculation runs rampant, it seems everyone has his own ideas of what is going to be in Star Wars: The Old Republic. From swoop races to appearance tabs, we have heard them all, but, to be quite frank, it is very unlikely that most of these speculated items will ever make it into the final release of this highly anticipated game. Also, some of the ideas are so far removed from anything that would make sense in the game, that I have a hard time wrapping my wee-little brain around them. I won't name any here because I still want people to read the column, but if your friend's head twitches when you tell him your wicked-cool idea, then it probably will not make it in the game.

In this week's column, I want to go the other direction. Sometimes producers, writers, and game designers will pitch ideas that cause uncontrollable ticks for the listeners, but, for some unknown reason, the design launches anyway. Every once in a while, I would like to turn our attention to some of these kooky concepts in series I like to call: We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but, knowing our luck, it probably will -- or WHTNMIISWTORBKOLIPW, for short.

Click "Read more" to read about the first couple of things I am praying do not find their way into the game.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but, knowing our luck, it probably will

Hyperspace Beacon: We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but, knowing our luck, it probably will originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waging WAR: An in-depth look at the Producer's Letter

Greg Waller — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, Patches, Previews, Warhammer Online, News items, Opinion, Rumors, Waging WAR

This week, Waging WAR is going to take a deeper look at the Producer's Letter for this month of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. There are lots of new promises coming down the pipeline, and plenty of speculation to follow. Let's sift through some of the hubbub and get into the nitty-gritty of it all.

First of all, there's a serious cliffhanger in the notes suggesting that we'll be given a reason to wear all the sovereign gear that's being won in the new city sieges. Currently, there is good reason to wear (or at least acquire) warlord gear if for nothing other than the wards they provide -- and thus the significant advantage they give in the new city sieges. However, there is nothing in the game that requires the wards that the sovereign gear provides. If we insert tab-A into slot-B, the only real conclusion we can come to, speculatively, is that a new expansion is just beyond the horizon, and close to being revealed. Such an expansion could very well add a new tier (and new wards and warded content), in addition to buckets of other new content, such as a new pairing (as has been speculated many times in the past -- Skaven vs. Lizardmen, anyone?) On this point, I suppose we'll have to apply the "wait-and-see" motif, and just wait and see. Also, E3 is also coming up very soon (June 14-17). Could the EA/Mythic booth have some big news secretly tucked up their collective sleeves? As a disclaimer, this is only wild speculation by this particular columnist and nothing above should be taken as official suggestion of anything mentioned at all. But we can hope, can't we?

Continue reading Waging WAR: An in-depth look at the Producer's Letter

Waging WAR: An in-depth look at the Producer's Letter originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Crytek Hiring for MMO Project

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Rumors

We here at Massively like to keep our ear to the ground when it comes to potential new MMOs, and one of the indications that a company is moving in that direction comes from job wanted ads, believe it or not. Crytek, the makers of Far Cry and the Crysis series, recently put up a job posting for a Senior IT Manager that suggests they are looking into online gaming.

ShackNews reported on this ad, noting that the company is looking for someone who would help in "designing, testing, and implementing as part of the development team, the systems infrastructure for an MMO online game." Ding ding ding, them are the magic words, so start the speculation. Of course, this may just be Crytek testing the waters and not a serious commitment on their behalf, especially considering that the mention of an MMO in this ad is only a small part of the responsibilities mentioned.

ShackNews also noted that Crytek filed for three trademarks over a year ago: Gface, Carvatar, and Kingdoms. Whether or not these have anything to do with a possible MMO project is anyone's guess, but it is a tantalizing possibility. We'll be sure to keep a close eye on Crytek to see if they make any more moves toward an online title. One thing is for sure: if they did create a MMO, you can bet the letters "cry" will be part of the title.

Rumor: Crytek Hiring for MMO Project originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log: Assembling the gestalt of Final Fantasy XIV

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 01 May 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Classes, Previews, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log

We've been treated to a veritable onslaught of new information about Final Fantasy XIV of late, and when I say "treated" I mean precisely that. After all, Square-Enix's information comes at a glacial pace, to the point where they're still releasing information about Final Fantasy VII to this day. (Or squeezing blood out of that stone for all it's worth, reader's choice. I think my way is funnier.)

Of course, the problem is that the information is released without a great deal of context. My hat goes off to the brave folks in the testing, scurrying about and trying to reveal as much as possible, but I know from experience what happens when your goal is "find things out" rather than "assemble a coherent picture." We know a lot of facts about Final Fantasy XIV, but we don't have a real idea of the scope of the game.

For some people, that's second nature. For others, it's a challenge. And for some people, they haven't seen the piece or two that would make everything fall into place. So today, The Mog Log is taking a tour back through what we've learned and trying to put it all into some sort of overarching framework.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Assembling the gestalt of Final Fantasy XIV

The Mog Log: Assembling the gestalt of Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is The Agency launching on December 31st? Nope

Kyle Horner — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, The Agency, News items, Rumors

Normally we've got no problem speculating on rumors here at Massively. It's a fun way to pass the days until a beta really does begin or a release date actually is announced. Except, sometimes, it gets taken too far.

Rumors of SOE's The Agency receiving a December 31st release date have been floating into our inbox lately. Of course, that doesn't make any sense, because six days after Christmas (and one day before New Year's Day) is a horrible time to launch any game, especially one that requires all-hands-on-deck like an MMO. Additionally, any time a retailer lists a game at a default price on the first or last day of the month? That's a big shot in the dark.

The fact of the matter is nobody knows the release date for The Agency, even though everyone wishes they did. We're fairly sure that even the development team doesn't have a clear picture of that right now. Most videogames have a moving "release window" and this one is no different from the rest. When we do have a solid information expect to hear all about it right here on Massively.

Is The Agency launching on December 31st? Nope originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare countdown breeds speculation on Star Wars: The Old Republic

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Rumors, Star Wars: The Old Republic

It's a sure thing that if you put a countdown on your site, gamers will start speculating rampantly as to what it means. BioWare has apparently decided to get in on some of that action, with their pages for the company, Dragon Age: Origins, and the Mass Effect franchise all displaying the same cryptic countdown. At the time of the above screenshot, it's going to hit zero on March 29th at roughly noon EST. The question, of course, is only half-answered by doing the math -- because the real question isn't just "when," but also "what?"

Fans of the hotly-anticipated Star Wars: The Old Republic have been speculating up a storm that it ties to an announcement for the game, perhaps the start of beta or even more news on launch. Careful digging from forum members Ianril and Zechio have uncovered a potential launch site for the game, which is currently devoid of content but certainly looks legitimate enough. Short of the company coming out and saying what it's for, we won't know for sure until noon on Monday, but those who can't wait to test the game (possibly after our GDC impressions) might have good reason to hope for the best.

[ Thanks to everyone who sent this in! ]

Update: Attempting to log into the new "launch" page with a BioWare account will return the error, "No game servers are currently available for play." Could this be the actual game servers, or perhaps servers for some other type of promotional game? Speculation continues...

Update 2: BioWare's PR has responded to Joystiq's Ben Gilbert with the following statement: "The announcement is more community focused and won't be a game announcement. Unfortunately we can't share the details with the press."

BioWare countdown breeds speculation on Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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