Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Minecraft creator Notch's 0x10c is aiming at a monthly subscription fee]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/minecraft-creator-notchs-0x10c-is-aiming-at-a-monthly-subscript/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/minecraft-creator-notchs-0x10c-is-aiming-at-a-monthly-subscript/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/minecraft-creator-notchs-0x10c-is-aiming-at-a-monthly-subscript/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's like Marathon without crazy AIs.
Minecraft has had a substantial impact on gaming in general and MMOs in specific, which means that Markus "Notch" Persson's next project is going to be watched closely by a lot of people. So it's interesting to note that in a recent interview he discusses giving 0x10c a sort of shared living space in an MMO style as well as mentioning that the game may very well charge players a regular subscription fee.

Notch freely admits that it's a matter of making money off of the game, and it's meant to be a flexible approach. If free-to-play is more palatable than a subscription model, he's willing to experiment with that as well. The interview talks extensively about keeping the game's playing field level regardless of the business model as well as potential actions in an almost-MMO space; if you're curious to see what the game might look like, head on over for all the details.

MassivelyMinecraft creator Notch's 0x10c is aiming at a monthly subscription fee originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>0x10cbusiness-modelsfeegamesgamingindieindie-gamesmarkus-notch-perssonmarkus-perssonminecraftmojangnotchpseudo-mmossubscription-feeThu, 29 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-perfect-ten-holiday-shopping-for-the-mmo-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-perfect-ten-holiday-shopping-for-the-mmo-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-perfect-ten-holiday-shopping-for-the-mmo-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer
With Thanksgiving almost under wraps in the states (Canada got an earlier patch of Thanksgiving because the devs love that country), the starter pistol is about to go off for the busiest shopping season of the year. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and oh-crap-it's-Christmas-Eve-and-only-a-gas-station-is-open are all shopping experiences ahead on the calendar, but perhaps the most challenging experience is that of buying the perfect gift for an MMO gamer.

Sure, you could just phone it in and buy a time card, some cash shop points, a subscription or two, or even a Prima strategy guide if you really hated the person, but a proper MMO gift goes beyond that. For a great gift, you need to put in some effort and actually research the field... or just be lazy and use my following guide. We both know which option you're going to choose.

So while you slowly digest that turkey and moan about having to waddle your butt down to Best Buy at 3:00 a.m., why not allow me to help you with a few shopping suggestions? For this list, I wanted to focus on game-specific merchandise that isn't t-shirts, game cards, or CafePress coffee mugs. I mean, this shirt is the bomb and all, but we can do better!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanetaocaoc-unchainedarenanetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentccpccp-gamescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohconanconsoleconsolescovcoxeaelectronic-artseqeq1eveeve-onlineeverquestf2pfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfree-to-playfreedomfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefuncomgameforgegameforge-berlinguild-wars-2gw2humorhyboriainternet-spaceshipslucasartsncsoftopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenromrounduprunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxsci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinesquaresquare-enixstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feesuperherosuperheroesswtortaboreathe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthe-realmthe-realm-onlinetop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtorunchainedwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 22 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR begins testing Update 1.6]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/20/swtor-begins-testing-update-1-6/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/20/swtor-begins-testing-update-1-6/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/20/swtor-begins-testing-update-1-6/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR begins testing Update 16
Hot on the heels of last week's Update 1.5 release, Star Wars: The Old Republic has begun testing its next content patch. Update 1.6: Ancient Hypergate is currently on the test servers and allows players to experience a new warzone and tougher space combat.

The Ancient Hypergate PvP warzone has been in the works for months now. In it, players will compete to control two energy pylons. While the pylons can open portals to let in reinforcements, they might also do some damage to the controlling team.

Also available for testing are a dozen new heroic mode space missions, six per faction. These are designed for the most skilled (and geared out) pilots in the endgame. While the missions may be tough, the bounty of Black Hole Commendations and elite gear should be incentive enough to give them a go.

MassivelySWTOR begins testing Update 1.6 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient-hypergateancient-hypergatesbiowareeaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playlucasartspvpsci-fispace-combatspace-missionsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.5update-1.6warzoneTue, 20 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Beyond Shawn's Thunderdome]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/mmo-blender-beyond-shawns-thunderdome/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/mmo-blender-beyond-shawns-thunderdome/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/mmo-blender-beyond-shawns-thunderdome/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

MMO Blender Beyond Shawn's Thunderdome
If there's one thing I've noticed about these MMO Blender articles, it's that the Massively staff members seem to really like their sandboxes. Maybe it's not even so much a staff preference as it is a statement about where we all are as MMO players. Themeparks have been done and have been perfected, but many of us want to stretch the limitations of a truly persistent and open online world.

At least that's what I'd like to think. It's an ideal situation I can dream about, but do we all really want a truly open world with limitless possibilities? What would we do with so few rules?

My perfect MMO has what I'd consider to be the best of all worlds. The trick is, of course, getting it all to work in one game.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Beyond Shawn's Thunderdome

MassivelyMMO Blender: Beyond Shawn's Thunderdome originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tale-in-the-desertaction-mmoarmchair-game-designatitdbiowareeaegenesisegyptelectronic-artsf2pfallen-earthfantasyfavorite-mmofefeaturedfree-to-playg1game-designgame-mechanicsgamersfirsthistoricallucasartsmad-maxmechanicsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologymythologynexonnexon-americanexon-entertainmentopinionpost-apocpost-apocalypticsandboxsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtortaletellingthe-old-republictorvindictuswastelandsFri, 16 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA given best workplace title for LGBT employees]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/ea-given-best-workplace-title-for-lgbt-employees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/ea-given-best-workplace-title-for-lgbt-employees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/ea-given-best-workplace-title-for-lgbt-employees/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EA given best workplace title for LGBT employees
If there's one thing reading Massively's comments has taught me, it's that major big-budget game companies are evil and probably kill kittens. But a recent rating by the Human Rights Campaign might work towards changing your mind about EA a bit.

The Human Rights Campaign has given the company a 100 percent rating which has earned it the title of "Best Place to Work for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Equality" for 2013. In addition to providing what they call a welcoming work environment for everyone, EA has also made changes to its medical benefits, involved itself in LGBT community events, and publicly denounced the Defense of Marriage Act.

EA currently publishes some of the most popular console and PC games out there, including the MMOs Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Secret World, Warhammer Online, and more.

MassivelyEA given best workplace title for LGBT employees originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareconquesteaelectronic-artsendless-trialfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorhuman-rights-campaignlgbtlucasartsmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologypvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republicthe-secret-worldthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptortriontrion-worldstswwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineThu, 15 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Everything you need to know about Star Wars: The Old Republic's free-to-play update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/all-you-need-to-know-about-star-wars-the-old-republics-f2p-upd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/all-you-need-to-know-about-star-wars-the-old-republics-f2p-upd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/all-you-need-to-know-about-star-wars-the-old-republics-f2p-upd/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

All you need to know about Star Wars The Old Republic's F2P update
Listen up, pilots: The devs have made a critical update, and the time for our return has come. Star Wars: The Old Republic is releasing both Update 1.5 and its free-to-play transition today, which means that the doors are open for both new and returning players to join BioWare's flock. That's right: sheep with lightsabers. You can Google Image search that later.

To help get you caught up to speed, we've rounded up all of our pertinent posts about Update 1.5 and SWTOR's F2P in this handy holorecording. For those of you not thinking about black sheep turning to the dark side of the Force and baaa'ing out lightning, you can check out our coverage after the jump.

Continue reading Everything you need to know about Star Wars: The Old Republic's free-to-play update

MassivelyEverything you need to know about Star Wars: The Old Republic's free-to-play update originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100-cartel-coin-email-bonanzabiowareeaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playguidelucasartsroundupsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.5Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Origin hacked, EA denies intrusion [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/rumor-origin-hacked-ea-denies-intrusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/rumor-origin-hacked-ea-denies-intrusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/rumor-origin-hacked-ea-denies-intrusion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Rumor Origin hacked, EA denies intrusion
If you have created an EA Origin account for any reason, such as for Star Wars: The Old Republic or Ultima Online, we advise you to change your password posthaste. Numerous sites are reporting that hackers have breached Origin's security and are potentially modifying account information and stealing it.

Allegedly affected players claim that the hackers are changing the log-in emails associated with their accounts and that the new email addresses have a Russian suffix.

In response to a question about whether any accounts were compromised by hacking, an EA spokesperson made the following statement: "At this point, we have no reason to believe there has been any intrusion into our Origin database."

EA has updated us with its full security statement:
Anytime a player has a question about the security of his or her account or personal data, we take it very seriously and take all possible steps to help. For any customer who cannot access their Origin account for any reason, we ask them to please contact Origin Help or EA's customer experience group at help.ea.com. The robust security measures in place to protect Origin users accounts are constantly being expanded and upgraded, and we also strongly recommend customers take the protective steps of using strong passwords and changing passwords often.

MassivelyRumor: Origin hacked, EA denies intrusion [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreachclassic-mmoeaea-originelectronic-artsfantasyhackhackedhackersintrusionlord-britishlucasartsmythicmythic-entertainmentoriginsandboxsci-fisecurity-breachsecurity-intrusionstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorultimaultima onlineuoWed, 14 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Will you be playing SWTOR for free?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/the-daily-grind-will-you-be-playing-swtor-for-free/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/the-daily-grind-will-you-be-playing-swtor-for-free/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/the-daily-grind-will-you-be-playing-swtor-for-free/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Daily Grind 11
So Star Wars: The Old Republic's free-to-play conversion is almost upon us. The title throws open its doors on November 15th, and whether you're a Star Wars fan or just curious to see what all the fuss is about, it's a prime opportunity to sample BioWare's MMO story opus on the cheap.

While the company has taken some lumps for its monetization model (paying for hotbars, really?), we're betting that the obligatory eleventy-billion-registered-players press release is already being prepped in anticipation of a successful F2P launch.

What about you, Massively readers? Will you be playing SWTOR for free?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Will you be playing SWTOR for free? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredaily-grindeaelectronic-artslucasartsopinionsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorMon, 12 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Larry's anti-power-creep MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mmo-blender-larrys-anti-power-creep-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mmo-blender-larrys-anti-power-creep-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mmo-blender-larrys-anti-power-creep-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

MMO Blender Larry's no power creep MMO
On Tuesday, I suggested ways to get rid of power creep in MMOs. You know power creep: the constant treadmill of stats that keep getting better and strong but ultimately start to feel like more of a grind? It's very annoying to long-term players, and I'd imagine that it's frustrating to game designers because it's time and talent wasted when game content is no longer useful to anyone.

In my quest to find the ultimate MMO, I have searched for game elements that reduce the amount of power creep but still come together to support a themepark game. Let's be honest: Sandbox games might suffer power creep, but because most sandboxes are skill-based, that power creep is not as prevalent or can easily be mitigated by tweaking classes. But themeparks are linear by design, and to remain fun, they have to retain part of that linear quality. Progression and continually racking up numbers and achievements is enjoyable to a large number of MMO players, otherwise it would be games like Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies dominating the market, not World of Warcraft.

Believe it or not, there are online games that have done a tremendous job of trying to defeat power creep, but unfortunately, they do not exist as one game... until now in my Anti-Power-Creep MMO!

Continue reading MMO Blender: Larry's anti-power-creep MMO

MassivelyMMO Blender: Larry's anti-power-creep MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarmchair-game-designbiowarecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohconquestcovcoxdotae-sporteaelectronic-artsendgame-treadmillesportf2pfantasyfavorite-mmofeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgame-designgame-mechanicsguild-wars-2gw2leagueleague-of-legendslollucasartsmechanicsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologymobancsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospower-creeppvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telarariotriot-gamesrvrsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feesuperherosuperheroesswtorthe-old-republicthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptortreadmilltriontrion-worldsFri, 09 Nov 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the worst thing a cash shop can try to sell you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-thing-a-cash-shop-can-try-to-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-thing-a-cash-shop-can-try-to-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-thing-a-cash-shop-can-try-to-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

What's the worst thing a cash shop can try to sell you?
MMO gamers, including our commenters and even some of our own writers, are in an uproar over the terms of Star Wars: The Old Republic's upcoming free-to-play transition. The game's F2P matrix seems to be hitting all the industry low points: lottery tickets, combat-affecting items, travel buffs, content caps, storage. Perhaps the worst of all is the quickbar unlocks. That's right -- if you want to play sublessly, you'll even have to pay to unlock extra hotkey bars.

I've certainly played free-to-play MMOs that didn't try to milk me dry or annoy me into a subscription, so I know it's possible to design a hybrid pay model that doesn't generate the community's ire. Still, most every cash shop features at least one thing that gets under my skin. So today we're wondering, what's that one thing for you -- what's the worst thing a cash shop can try to sell you?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the worst thing a cash shop can try to sell you? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>annoy-to-playannoy-to-subannoywarebiowarebrianna-royce-tdgcash-shopdaily-grindeaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playfreemiumhotbarlucasartsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionpremiumquickbarsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorunlocksFri, 09 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic, Riot, and more weigh in on free-to-play growing pains]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/cryptic-riot-and-more-weigh-in-on-free-to-play-growing-pains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/cryptic-riot-and-more-weigh-in-on-free-to-play-growing-pains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/cryptic-riot-and-more-weigh-in-on-free-to-play-growing-pains/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Cryptic, Riot, and more weigh in on freetoplay growing pains
Anyone adamantly wanting a return to gaming where a handful of publishers and platforms run the show might need to acquire a time-machine to do so. In a recent article, various development studios -- including Cryptic Studios, Riot Games, and EA -- discussed the growth of free-to-play and how the model is affecting the games industry as a whole.

According to these publishers, there's no argument that F2P will become a major force in the industry. Cryptic Studios COO Craig Zinkievich remarked that although F2P is stigmatized as evil in the social market, the recent influx of titles has gotten the core gaming audience more excited about the model. More consumer excitement, of course, leads to higher-quality games. Sean Decker, VP of EA's Play4Free label, noted, "The good thing about so many companies moving into the free-to-play space is that it's great for the players: the quality of graphics are going up, the quality of the gameplay is going up."

However, in the rush to capitalize on F2P, some are going to crash and burn. Zinkievich said, "I think there will definitely be failures within the next 12 to 24 months. Many who are entering the market right now are doing it as almost a money-grab." He added, "But subscription is dead. [Star Wars:] The Old Republic was the biggest possible swing for the fences. There is no longer any argument over whether that can be done. Free-to-play is the way of the future. It is the new world." Does that include console gaming? According to these folks, yes.

MassivelyCryptic, Riot, and more weigh in on free-to-play growing pains originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmobiowarechampionschampions-onlinechampscoCraig-Zinkievichcrypticcryptic-studiosdnddotae-sportEAElectronic-Artsesportf2pf2p-can-move -to-consolesF2p-can-move-to-consolesf2p-takes-over-the-worldfantasyfree-to-playfreemiumgrowing-painsleagueleague-of-legendslollucasartsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmobaneverwinterperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpremiumpweriotriot-gamessci-fiSean-Deckerstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feesuperherosuperheroesswtorthe-old-republictorThu, 08 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Character creation options nobody uses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/the-perfect-ten-character-creation-options-nobody-uses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/the-perfect-ten-character-creation-options-nobody-uses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/the-perfect-ten-character-creation-options-nobody-uses/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Perfect Ten Character creation options nobody uses
There are two types of people in the world: those who can't get through the character creation menu fast enough to start playing "LordBladezz" and those who spend hours crafting the perfect face that will be seen by the player only 0.03% of the time. I've heard rumors of a species of middle-ground player, but I've yet to see one.

I think there could be a doctoral thesis for someone willing to investigate which visual character creation options most of us use and which ones we ignore. My hunch is that most of us are looking to recreate an impeccable standard of beauty or handsomeness, resulting in game worlds exploding with Abercrombie & Fitch models.

Because exploring the "most-used character creation options" isn't as much fun, today we're going to examine the 10 options that pretty much nobody uses. And yes, you'll feel compelled to comment that you do indeed use one of these and prove me wrong, so let me give you a gold star in advance for doing so. You're awesome.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Character creation options nobody uses

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Character creation options nobody uses originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliterationbeardsbiowarecharactercharacter-creationcharacter-creation-optionseaelectronic-artsendless-trialfacial-hairfantasyfeaturedfreckleshairdoshairstyleshumorlord-of-the-rings-onlinelucasartsmakeupmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionp10perfect-10perfect-tenpvprounduprvrsci-fislidersstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtortattoothe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtortrombonerwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineThu, 08 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic dev blog outlines upcoming F2P transition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-dev-blog-outlines-upcoming-f2p-trans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-dev-blog-outlines-upcoming-f2p-trans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-dev-blog-outlines-upcoming-f2p-trans/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
BioWare will be rolling out Star Wars: The Old Republic's official transition to a free-to-play business model very soon, so today the game's lead designer, Damion Schubert, has put out a new developer update apprising players of the status of SWTOR's F2P incarnation. In this new missive, Schubert lays out two of the core rules held by the development team behind the free-to-play revamp.

First off, the team wants to ensure that all players can reach level 50 without paying a single dime if they so desire. Of course, subscribers will have some advantages over F2P players (such as an increased rate of XP gain, extra hotbars, and so forth), but the team is adamant about ensuring that all players can experience the entirety of BioWare's intricately crafted story without digging into their wallets. Secondly, the team aims to ensure that subscribers will not see any degradation in the quality of their gameplay experience, which includes making sure that subscribers don't feel obligated to make Cartel Market purchases in order to remain competitive. Schubert confidently asserts that the team "not only met these goals... but exceeded expectations." We'll find out for sure soon enough, but for now, head on over to the official post to find out what to expect when SWTOR goes free-to-play later this month.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic dev blog outlines upcoming F2P transition originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredamion-schuberteaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playlucasartssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorWed, 07 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR developers talk about update 1.5]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/swtor-developers-talk-about-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/swtor-developers-talk-about-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/swtor-developers-talk-about-update-1-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

beep beep boop HK 51 ACTIVATED
Star Wars: The Old Republic's game update 1.5, HK-51 Activated, is looming ever-closer. To stir up some interest, the dev team has released information about the new HK-51 companion and the patch's graphical updates. Now it's time for a look at the big picture. A new developer dispatch gives the down-low on what players can expect the update to bring to PvE.

A big feature of HK-51 Activated will be Section X on Belsavis, the site of the Republic's first attempt at a prison colony. Now the area will play home to new Dread Master antics. The area is meant to be "darker" and "edgier" than other content players have encountered and is being touted as the "coolest-looking area" in the game. Players will also find the wreck of the Fatality, which sets them off on a very special venture. (Hint: You're going to track down a legion of HK-51 assassin droids, and this whole thing is called HK-51 Activated, and you know that at some point you get an HK-51 companion.)

Players will be introduced to multiplayer quests during which they have to work together to move through an area without setting off traps or activating alarms. A new world boss, Dreadtooth, will be introduced. When Dreadtooth is killed, he respawns with a stack of Dreadful Resurgence, which makes him harder to kill every time he respawns with players in the area. Those stacks will dwindle if players leave, or they can be deliberately increased to make encounters more interesting. If interesting is what you like, you'll also find nightmare mode available for Operation: Explosive Conflict.

Skip below the cut to hear the developers talk about the patch!

Continue reading SWTOR developers talk about update 1.5

MassivelySWTOR developers talk about update 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredread-mastersdreadtootheaelectronic-artshk-51hk-51-activatedlucasartsno-really-his-name-is-dreadtoothsci-fisection-xsector-xstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorswtor+1.5swtor1.5the-old-republictorWed, 07 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: One character or many?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/05/leaderboard-one-character-or-many/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/05/leaderboard-one-character-or-many/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/05/leaderboard-one-character-or-many/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The guy on the left looks awfully smug about his neck.
Final Fantasy XIV does not encourage players to have multiple characters. Even disregarding the game's somewhat strange pricing structure, you're expected to have one character because that one character can level every class and clear every quest. All that having another character does is slow your overall progress -- you'd only be doing things twice.

By contrast, Star Wars: The Old Republic all but insists that you make alts. The game's Legacy feature encourages you to level several different characters, and the fact that chunks of the game's story differ depending on your choices means that a single character doesn't see the whole game. Having another character enhances both characters to the point that filling your character slots is almost expected.

Most players fall somewhere away from either extreme on the sliding scale of alts. But let's assume you have a game that gives you only the two options -- have one character or have all the characters. Which would you prefer: a lone character who can do everything or an army of characters that collectively do everything?

Continue reading Leaderboard: One character or many?

MassivelyLeaderboard: One character or many? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalbiowareconsoleconsoleseaelectronic-artsfantasyffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivleaderboardlucasartsone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollssci-fisquaresquare-enixstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 05 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR uploads new companion HK-51's backstory]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/swtor-uploads-new-companion-hk-51s-backstory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/swtor-uploads-new-companion-hk-51s-backstory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/swtor-uploads-new-companion-hk-51s-backstory/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SWTOR uploads new companion HK51's backstory
Coming to Star Wars: The Old Republic in Update 1.5 is the game's first additional post-launch companion: HK-51. BioWare's crafted an encyclopedia entry designed to get us familiar with the substance and style of this new character.

Based off of Knights of the Old Republic's HK-47 (who is also in SWTOR), HK-51 is a more advanced droid assassin model that prizes "efficiency over brutality." While remarkably effective at killing, the HK-51s were all but destroyed. Only a single crashed ship carrying the remainder of their kind is reported missing on Belsavis. BioWare also mentions another starship that may have design blueprints for the droid, but it too is lost.

The droid assassin will be obtainable in a new area on Belsavis that also comes with the update, although free players will need to purchase this content to gain access to the companion.

MassivelySWTOR uploads new companion HK-51's backstory originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorybiowarecompanioneaelectronic-artshk-47hk-51Knights-of-the-Old-Republickotorlorelucasartssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 02 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA's Moore on SWTOR: 'Price was always the issue']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/eas-moore-on-swtor-price-was-always-the-issue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/eas-moore-on-swtor-price-was-always-the-issue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/eas-moore-on-swtor-price-was-always-the-issue/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EA's Moore on SWTOR 'Price was always the issue'Wired has a new interview with Electronic Arts COO Peter Moore that touches on just about every facet of the games industry.

The former Microsoft exec talks at length about his Xbox days, Zynga, mobile gaming, digital vs. retail, the PC renaissance and how it may affect both consoles and hand-held devices, and of course the impending free-to-play conversion for Star Wars: The Old Republic.

"Price was always the issue," Moore says. Former customers often said "I just didn't want to pay $15 a month. I felt kind of locked in. I love the game, but I'm locked in, and for a lot of people 15 bucks a month is a lot of money."

MassivelyEA's Moore on SWTOR: 'Price was always the issue' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebusiness-modelseaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playlucasartspeter-moorepeter-moore-interviewsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorWed, 31 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Roleplaying conflict in SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/hyperspace-beacon-roleplaying-conflict-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/hyperspace-beacon-roleplaying-conflict-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/hyperspace-beacon-roleplaying-conflict-in-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon Roleplaying conflict in SWTOR
Like many of you, I'm eagerly awaiting the launch of Update 1.5 for Star Wars: The Old Republic, which will hopefully happen next week. Although I have been on the test server and tried out the new content, I don't want to give my impressions until it's officially launched. So this week, I've decided to address an issue I've seen crop up more and more in the roleplay community that has nothing to do with the pending game update.

In any good story, there is conflict -- physical, interpersonal, or otherwise. In MMO roleplay, a good chunk of conflict turns physical. After all, most of our characters are highly skilled warriors and other combat specialists, and physical conflict is the natural course. That means that roleplayers then have to be highly skilled at PvP if their characters are to be highly skilled, too, right? Don't get me wrong, I love PvP, but this supposition always rubbed me the wrong way, especially in a game like TOR where there is a large disparity between PvE skills and PvP.

So what kinds of physical conflict resolutions are there if it's not straight-up PvP? And doesn't the dueling system in TOR limit itself to one-on-one dueling? How do you resolve that issue? Excellent questions. I'm glad you asked. Let's dive in.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Roleplaying conflict in SWTOR

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Roleplaying conflict in SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareconflictconflict-resolutioneaelectronic-artsemoteemote-duelfeaturedhyperspace-beaconlucasartsopinionPvProleplayRolePlayingRPsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 30 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 222: Trick or treat!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/massively-speaking-episode-222-trick-or-treat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/massively-speaking-episode-222-trick-or-treat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/massively-speaking-episode-222-trick-or-treat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 222
Never accuse us here at Massively of being prejudiced against dinosaurs. We love them. Sure, they're scaly, bitey lizard/bird/demon monstrosities, but they do make great mounts and steaks. Oh, and MMOs. We desperately need more dinos in our MMOs, which is why we applaud Wizard101 for doing so this week.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 222: Trick or treat!

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 222: Trick or treat! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aztecabiowarebrantbrianna-royceconquesteaelectronic-artsf2pfamilyfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhalloweenhalloween-2012historicalhumorjustin-olivettikid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlucasartsmassively-speakingopinionpodcastpodcastingpodcastspvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtortanktanksthe-old-republicthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptortriontrion-worldsturbinewarwargaming.netwizard101world-of-tankswotTue, 30 Oct 2012 17:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 222Massively.com Staff00:47:58podcast<![CDATA[Take a peek at graphical updates for SWTOR update 1.5]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/29/take-a-peek-at-graphical-updates-for-swtor-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/29/take-a-peek-at-graphical-updates-for-swtor-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/29/take-a-peek-at-graphical-updates-for-swtor-update-1-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

swtor 15 tech blog
It's time to start getting excited for Star Wars: The Old Republic's upcoming 1.5 update. In order to whet your appetite for change, Senior Technical Artist Ben Cloward has graced fans with a glimpse of one of the big graphical changes that'll be coming in with the patch.

Foliage is going to be a lot more beautiful and realistic. Instead of looking solid and therefore unnaturally dark when viewed against the sun, players with their Shader Complexity set to High will notice that leaves and grass will be moderately translucent, allowing sunlight to filter through them. While this may be but one small step for graphics, it's joined by "some even better improvements in the pipe," according to Cloward.

Head on over to the official post to preview the change.

MassivelyTake a peek at graphical updates for SWTOR update 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-51.5ben-clowardbiowareeaelectronic-artsgame-updategraphical-updategraphicslucasartspatchpatchessci-fishadersstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorupdateupdate-1.5updatesMon, 29 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR lead dev addresses free-to-play concerns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/swtor-lead-dev-addresses-free-to-play-concerns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/swtor-lead-dev-addresses-free-to-play-concerns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/swtor-lead-dev-addresses-free-to-play-concerns/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR lead dev addresses freetoplay concerns
Star Wars: The Old Republic players are checking out the game's potential free-to-play changes on the test server, and serious concerns about some of the restrictions have prompted a response from BioWare.

Lead Designer Damion Schubert wrote a lengthy forum post to state that the team's been observing the test server and has decided to make a few changes to the F2P restrictions. In particular, free players will now get two quickbars instead of one, can experience five PvP warzones a week instead of three, and will find the temporary lock timer for items bought in the cash shop reduced.

Schubert said that a more detailed post is incoming; it will spell out details for preferred status players, who include any former subscribers to the game. He also addressed the controversy over the store selling endgame mod crystals to low- and mid-level characters by explaining that it will not unbalance the game: "We're still philosophically avoiding putting any stat advantage at this level that subscribers cannot earn through reasonable normal play."

MassivelySWTOR lead dev addresses free-to-play concerns originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecash-shopcontroversycrystalsdamion-schuberteaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playitem-shoplucasartspublic-test-serverquickbarssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorwarzonesThu, 25 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic launches the Cartel Market on the PTS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-the-cartel-market-on-the-pt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-the-cartel-market-on-the-pt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-the-cartel-market-on-the-pt/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic launches the Cartel Market on the PTS
Since the free-to-play announcement, Star Wars: The Old Republic fans have been asking what exactly will be offered in SWTOR's microtransaction cash shop. Fans on the public test server now have the chance to find out. This morning, BioWare shut down the PTS for a few hours and brought it back online with a fully installed Cartel Market.

To test out its new market, BioWare set all PTS players to F2P status so the team can fully assess the F2P options. But does that mean that players have to spend real money to test out F2P? No; according the patch notes, "all PTS testers will be periodically granted a small amount of Cartel Coins for the purpose of testing the Cartel Market."

Earlier today, the Hyperspace Beacon talked about the impact of F2P on SWTOR. Log on to the PTS, test out the Cartel Market, then let us know what you think in the comments. How does it stack up to other cash shops? Is this enough to change the course of the game?

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic launches the Cartel Market on the PTS originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecartel-coinscartel-marketcash-shopeaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playftplucasartsmicrotransactionMicrotransactionsptspublic-test-serversci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 23 Oct 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare details SWTOR's Kira Carsen companion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/bioware-details-swtors-kira-carsen-companion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/bioware-details-swtors-kira-carsen-companion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/bioware-details-swtors-kira-carsen-companion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Kira Carsen
So, companions. Apparently they're a thing in Star Wars: The Old Republic. They're also a thing in Firefly, but we won't go into that right now. In SWTOR they're a thing that has spawned a web series called Companions 101, which features screenshots, biographical info, customization details, and various and sundry gameplay tips designed to maximize your relationship potential.

The latest entry focuses on one Kira Carsen, whom BioWare describes as anything but your typical Jedi. "Kira disregards authority on multiple occasions. She respects the Jedi Order, but when you are choosing your conversation options remember that she doesn't mind breaking the rules from time to time," BioWare advises.

Check out the full entry and related media on the official SWTOR website.

MassivelyBioWare details SWTOR's Kira Carsen companion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecompanionscompanions-101eaelectronic-artskira-carsenlucasartssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 23 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Don't go chasing waterfalls]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/21/one-shots-dont-go-chasing-waterfalls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/21/one-shots-dont-go-chasing-waterfalls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/21/one-shots-dont-go-chasing-waterfalls/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

One Shots Don't go chasing waterfalls
The wisdom of TLC flows down through the ages in many forms, but perhaps the group's greatest lesson was this: Don't go chasing waterfalls; please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to. In other words, if you go exploring in MMOs, you're only inviting destruction to rain down on your head, so just stay home.

Wait a minute, that's not a good lesson at all. Forget it. Right now.

Welcome back to One Shots, the column that you brought back and is now extremely lonely because only faithful reader Eric sent us in something from this past week! Admire Eric's pursuit of Guild Wars 2 waterfalls after the break, and be more like Eric by sending us in your favorite MMO screenshots with descriptions.

Continue reading One Shots: Don't go chasing waterfalls

MassivelyOne Shots: Don't go chasing waterfalls originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpganetarenanetbattlenetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblueholebluehole-studiosbring-back-one-shotscash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiieaelectronic-artsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasygalleriesgallerygothic-fantasyguild-wars-2gw2lucasartsmultiplayerncsoftone-shotsonline-multiplayerpics-or-it-didnt-happenreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsroguelikerpgsci-fiscreenshotscreenshotsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorterathe-old-republictoruser-submissionsSun, 21 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic transmits free-to-play video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-transmits-free-to-play-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-transmits-free-to-play-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-transmits-free-to-play-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic transmits freetoplay video
The race toward free-to-play is gaining momentum for Star Wars: The Old Republic. BioWare's been talking the transition up quite a bit lately, and has just released a new video giving players an overview of the differences once the change is made.

While most of it is old news to those following the game, there are a few new tidbits worth noting here. One of these is clarification on character creation restrictions; BioWare revealed that the three free-to-play races are Human, Cyborg, and Zabrak.

Previous subscribers are targeted for hugs and love with the F2P transition, as BioWare is not only granting them instant preferred status but also handing them currency to spend in the Cartel Market. Speaking of which, the market is briefly shown in the video with the following categories: featured, newly added, packs, cosmetic, unlocks, equipment, and consumables.

Check out the video after the jump and let us know -- are you going back to SWTOR for F2P?

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic transmits free-to-play video

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic transmits free-to-play video originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecartelcartel-coinscartel-marketeaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playitem-shopitem-storelucasartssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorvideoThu, 18 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR delineates restrictions on F2P players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/star-wars-the-old-republic-breaks-down-the-restrictions-on-free/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/star-wars-the-old-republic-breaks-down-the-restrictions-on-free/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/star-wars-the-old-republic-breaks-down-the-restrictions-on-free/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For some reason, the movement to make everything completely free for everyone and fund the game through good wishes has yet to gain traction.
Inevitably, the first question anyone asks in the wake of a free-to-play conversion is about how much a person can get for the price of nothing. Previously, Star Wars: The Old Republic had posted an explanation of the many ways free players would get only limited access, but an updated chart makes the exact limitations clear.

As a general rule, the restrictions are in threes: three Flashpoints per week, three Warzones per week, three Space Missions per week. Players will also be able to buy weekly passes for these features to get unlimited access. There will also be restrictions on inventory expansions and cargo hold storage for free players, and field revivals on death will be limited. Taking a look at the full chart should make the breakdown obvious (although there's a believed typo under the restrictions on equipping items). Meanwhile, current subscribers can take advantage of a new account feature to see just how many bonus coins they'll get if they're subscribed when the conversion takes place.

[Thanks to Marc for the tip!]

MassivelySWTOR delineates restrictions on F2P players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebusiness-modeleaelectronic-artsf2pfree-player-restrictionsfree-to-playlucasartsmicrotransactionsnewssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feesubscription-rewardsswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 16 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 220: BraveStarr Citizen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/massively-speaking-episode-220-bravestarr-citizen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/massively-speaking-episode-220-bravestarr-citizen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/massively-speaking-episode-220-bravestarr-citizen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 220
Is it probable, even inevitable, that we have too many great MMOs to play right now? Are the releases coming in too quickly for the average fan to process? Will Bree and Justin go mad from trying to absorb it all on top of babies and the neverending news cycle?

The answer to all of these is "yes."

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
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Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 220: BraveStarr Citizen

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 220: BraveStarr Citizen originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebrantbrianna-roycedotae-sporteaelectronic-artsesportexpansionf2pfamilyfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhumorjustin-olivettikid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentleagueleague-of-legendslollord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsmassively-speakingmobaopinionpiratepirate101piratespodcastpodcastingpodcastsriders-of-rohanriotriot-gamesrorsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 16 Oct 2012 17:30:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 220Massively.com Staff01:02:08podcast<![CDATA[The Stream Team: October 15 - 21, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/the-stream-team-october-15-12-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/the-stream-team-october-15-12-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/the-stream-team-october-15-12-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Stream Team October 15 12, 2012
What's worse than a surprise monster troll invasion? Missing watching a surprise monster troll invasion happen to your favorite Stream Team host! It may not happen today. It may not happen tomorrow. In fact, you never know when or where or even to whom it might happen, but it just might happen! Heavens to Betsy: It could be that one has already happened.

Don't take chances; don't risk missing such an iconic moment. Be sure to watch Massively TV this week to catch all of the action, commentary, and surprises that live gaming can bring. And check any missed livestreams from last week. Those trolls could be anywhere! They could even be hiding in the poll at the end of this column...

Continue reading The Stream Team: October 15 - 21, 2012

MassivelyThe Stream Team: October 15 - 21, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR's Game Update 15 hits the public test server
After recently winning four GDC Online awards earlier this week, BioWare rides the enthusiasm train a bit longer by releasing new content on the public test server today.

Game Update 1.5 introduces us to Section X, a fresh area to explore on the prison world of Belsavis. You can also earn the final pieces of the Dread Guard gear set in the new Operation: Explosive Conflict. And of course, what update wouldn't be complete without the addition of a new buddy? HK-51 is an assassination droid companion available to those who explore the derelict ship wreckage beneath the icy surface of Belsavis.

Take note that character cloning and full support are not available with this update, so BioWare encourages all players to use the Public Test Server forum with any questions or concerns you may have with the new content.

MassivelySWTOR's Game Update 1.5 hits the public test server originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belsavisbiowareeaelectronic-artsgame-update-1.5gu-1.5hk-51lucasartsptspublic-test-serversci-fisection-xstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorThu, 11 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Online 2012: SWTOR, Diablo III, Koster honored in GDC Online awards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/swtor-diablo-iii-raph-koster-and-more-honored-in-gdc-online-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/swtor-diablo-iii-raph-koster-and-more-honored-in-gdc-online-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/swtor-diablo-iii-raph-koster-and-more-honored-in-gdc-online-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

SWTOR
Wednesday night saw the Game Developers Choice Online awards being handed out to MMO, social, mobile, and free-to-play games. Star Wars: The Old Republic came away with the awards for best online game design, best online visual arts, best online technology, and best new online game. Riot Games won for best live game, the audience award, and best community relations for League of Legends.

Raph Koster was officially recognized with an online game legend award, and World of Warcraft received a hall of fame award. Blizzard also scored with Diablo III, receiving an award for having the best audio for an online game. The award for best social network game went to Draw Something, and thatgamecompany won an online innovation award for Journey.

Massively sent two plucky game journalists -- Beau Hindman and Karen Bryan -- to Austin, Texas, for this year's GDC Online, where they'll be reporting back on MMO trends, community theory, old favorites, and new classics. Stay tuned for even more highlights from the show!

MassivelyGDC Online 2012: SWTOR, Diablo III, Koster honored in GDC Online awards originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's a pun to made here about Venom and comment sections, but I'll let you piece that one together.
Like every MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic is not a game produced by a single person. The community team behind the game has kicked off what promises to be a series of articles introducing the developers, starting with the lead Flashpoint and Operations designer Jesse Sky. Like BioWare's similar articles for other franchises, the interview is a mix of questions about Star Wars: The Old Republic and questions about who Sky is as a person.

Sky goes on record as mentioning that he sees designing Flashpoints as similar to designing an adventure for a tabletop game, with the story choices having a major impact on how the instance is paced out. There's also a science to making sure that the encounters are designed to be challenging while at the same time not insurmountable. If you'd like to know more about one of the minds behind the game's content, check out the full interview, and perhaps throw a few more questions into the official discussion thread.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic kicks off meeting the developers with Jesse Sky originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team October 8 14, 2012
Awareness. Social, self, spatial -- whatever your flavor of awareness, it's a useful trait. And if livestreamers have got it, great. If not, well then Massively TV is just that much more amusing! Didn't notice that boss mob standing at your heels? Chuckles ensue. Was that actually a cliff two steps back? A good belly laugh commences. Yes sir, these things and more have transpired while all eyes were watching.

Don't miss out on the fun! Tune in this week to watch The Stream Team members as they brave a variety of worlds, or watch the classic episodes of yester-streams, so you can see for yourself how well the Massively livestreamers exhibit awareness. But what about you readers? How does your awareness measure up? You could test yourself with the basketball clip, or you can keep reading and take Massively's own awareness pop quiz at the end!

Continue reading The Stream Team: October 8 - 14, 2012

MassivelyThe Stream Team: October 8 - 14, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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daniel erickson leaves bioware thank the tipster
A few weeks ago Star Wars: The Old Republic's lead designer, Daniel Erickson, sparked some rumors by adding the phrase "actively looking for new opportunities" to his LinkedIn profile. A tweet today made his split with the company official, bringing seven years of being at BioWare to a close.

Erickson joins former executive producer Rich Vogel and BioWare founders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk as big names leaving the company in the last handful of months. Of course, that's just people leaving voluntarily -- the company saw substantial layoffs in summer due to refining and restructuring.

[Thanks to alert reader Jay for the tip.]

MassivelyDaniel Erickson leaves BioWare originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR
Do you like free food, free drinks, Tauntauns, and a chance to talk with your favorite Star Wars: The Old Republic devs? Then the SWTOR team has fabulous news for you. A new string of community meet 'n' greet events has been announced!

Starting with the New York Comic Con, the SWTOR Community Cantina Tour will be visiting different parts of the US to eat, drink, and be merry with fans. A blog post before each event will have all detailed information about then meetup, so be sure keep an eye peeled so as not to miss out! For a full list of the four planned tour cities and their estimated timeframe, hit up the official blog post.

If you're more concerned about what's going on in-game than a chance to meet up with devs, you might be happy to know that community manager Joveth Gonzalez has made a post on the official forums responding to complaints about issues in update 1.4.

MassivelySWTOR community tour announced originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars: The Old Republic - Kaliyo Djannis
BioWare's shining the spotlight on Star Wars: The Old Republic's NPC companions via a new blog series appropriately named Companions 101. Today's entry features Kaliyo Djannis, who serves as something of a femme fatale for Imperial Agent players.

The dev blog paints Djannis as a complex character who loves to work for the Empire and manipulate her superiors. "When bringing Kaliyo along on missions, keep this in mind. She loves anarchy and respect -- but she will always have an ulterior motive," BioWare says. "Play her at her own game and keep her guessing. The minute Kaliyo becomes bored is the minute she either stabs you in the back or disappears from the ship... with most of your credits."

MassivelyBioWare's Companions 101 series looks at SWTOR's Djannis originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team October 1st - 7th 2012
Ahh, October! A month of changes: the leaves, the clocks, the infamous fall line up... wait, don't change that dial!

You may notice that a new show has taken over MV Guide's time slot. Was that a gasp? There's no need to worry; Massively TV isn't going anywhere! All your favorite livestreaming info is still included here in this new weekly adventure. And that's not all! On top of the who, what, and where, you get not one, not two, but three action-packed sections highlighting livestream goodness, all rolled into just one weekly show!

So welcome to the pilot episode of The Stream Team! Grab some snacks, settle in, and check out this week's adventures (and the special guest star section) after the break.

Continue reading The Stream Team: October 1 - 7, 2012

MassivelyThe Stream Team: October 1 - 7, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everyone knows that the most failtacular games are the ones that get books.
Those of you who want a more detailed look at the story behind Star Wars: The Old Republic are going to get your wish on October 15th with the Star Wars: The Old Republic Galactic Encyclopedia. The book contains a full rundown of the game's historical events, classes, persons of interests, ships, hardware, races, and so on. And it has a new trailer as of today because apparently books now get video trailers.

Clocking in at 352 pages, the hardcover volume is penned by several members of the SWTOR writing team and explores the nuances behind the universe as presented in the game. The book is set to feature a full timeline and a number of pages on important events, useful for piecing together the full story from somewhat fragmented in-game lore. It can be pre-ordered now on Amazon and should be more than worth the value for roleplayers or dedicated lore hounds. Take a look at the trailer just past the cut.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic Galactic Encyclopedia due out October 12th

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic Galactic Encyclopedia due out October 12th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-BioWare dev: Negativity too much for Zeschuk, Muzyka
Former BioWare dev Trent Oster thinks that fan negativity probably contributed to the recent exit strategy for BioWare founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka.

"The last time I met up with [Greg], I felt his exhaustion," Oster told Now Gamer. 'Punch out, eject, get the hell out,' was my suggestion to him and it hit closer to the mark than I had realized. I also think the Mass Effect 3 fan reaction and the Old Republic fans' negativity was just too much."

Oster goes on to express surprise at Muzyka's departure, saying that he had him "pegged as an EA lifer."

"I'm sure the internal culture at EA had pinned the Old Republic conversion to free-to-play as a failure and hung that completely on Ray, so that would have hurt his upward climb. But, I figured he would fight harder. EA upper management must have been even worse than I thought," Oster explained.

MassivelyEx-BioWare dev: Negativity too much for Zeschuk, Muzyka originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey, dude. Oh, we're just chilling, fighting alien horrors, you know. What's new with you?
The fourth major update for Star Wars: The Old Republic is live right now, but some players may find patch 1.4 a bit lighter than previous updates. According to a new development blog, this isn't by accident but by design. Creative director James Ohlen explains that the development team's previous strategy of launching a single big update every few months did result in big patches but at the cost of long stretches without anything new for players.

Starting with 1.4 and moving onward, the team is moving to prioritize more frequent updates. Ohlen places a rough estimate of every six weeks but notes that it's only an estimate and a target rather than a firm schedule. He goes on to state that the team is planning on three more patches by the end of the year in addition to the free-to-play conversion, with more large-scale improvements and updates due in 2013. If you're mostly just interested in cutting through 1.4's new raid mode, of course, most of this is immaterial, but you can still check out the trailer for the patch just after the break.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic launches update 1.4 and takes aim at faster patches

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic launches update 1.4 and takes aim at faster patches originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredevelopmentdevelopment-blogeaelectronic-artsjames-ohlenlucasartspatch-launchschedulesci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorswtor-patch-1.4the-old-republictortrailertrailersupdate-schedulevideovideosWed, 26 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's 1.4 patch is live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/swtors-1-4-patch-is-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/swtors-1-4-patch-is-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/swtors-1-4-patch-is-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

SWTOR's 14 patch is liveIt's patch day in a galaxy far, far away. BioWare has officially unleashed Star Wars: The Old Republic's 1.4 update to the masses, and there's a summary of all the changes up on the game's official website.

There's a new operation (Terror from Beyond) on the remote world of Asation. There are new weapons and armor courtesy of Dread Guard gear.

Finally, the group finder has been tweaked, as have moods, emotes, and companion color choices. Check out more details on 1.4 in our weekly SWTOR column.

MassivelySWTOR's 1.4 patch is live originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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