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Karos Online shutting down, Rosh Online welcoming refugees

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Karos Online, Promotions

We haven't heard much about Karos Online since its 2010 launch. It seems as though the title struggled to find an audience over the past two years and is now facing the end of its days. The team announced that Karos Online will be shutting down soon and urged its community to migrate to Rosh Online.

As of today, new accounts for Karos are disabled, and current players will be unable to purchase in-game currency for the cash shop. Karos Online will spend its next week spinning down its wheels before turning off the lights on April 13th.

Happily, Ignited Games has created a generous welcome package for Karos players willing to make the jump to Rosh Online. The benefits for doing so include in-game goodies and the conversion of cash shop currency to a compatible equivalent. On top of that, Karos players can jump into higher-level Rosh characters depending on how high they leveled their Karos contemporaries.

[Thanks for the tip, Jeff!]

Karos Online shutting down, Rosh Online welcoming refugees originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest Online Adventures slays its final dragon

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Everquest Online Adventures, Consoles

EverQuest Online Adventures, the console spinoff of SOE's EverQuest franchise, is counting down the hours until the server is switched off at midnight tonight. In addition to EQOA, SOE is shuttering three other underperforming titles today: Cosmic Rift, Infantry, and Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga.

Instead of spending its final days in sorrow, the EQOA community joined the dev team for a series of epic battles against marauding dragons this past week. Players have filled the forums with posts about their favorite in-game memories over the past nine years of gameplay. To compensate players for the loss of their game world, SOE gave EQOA subscribers three months of gold-level status in EverQuest and EverQuest II.

EQOA came out in 2003 on the PlayStation 2 and was one of the first generation of console MMOs. For those Massively readers feeling nostalgic or curious about it, definitely check out our series on the game: part 1, part 2, and part 3.

EverQuest Online Adventures slays its final dragon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Culture, Events, in-game

While many players are celebrating the announcement of EverQuest's upcoming free-to-play transition, there is one EQ community that was crushed by the news. The small but dedicated fanbase of EverQuest: Macintosh Edition found out that with F2P, EQMac and its one server would be sunsetted on the same date.

EQMac fans have begun to stage a campaign to save their favorite game, but it looks like there will be no budging SOE's mind on the matter. SOE President John Smedley took to the forums today to answer specific questions about the shutdown. "It breaks my heart to have to do this," he laments, before admitting that it's a done deal. Smedley cites the fact that the codebase is so ancient that only one SOE programmer knows how to work it, the player population is too small, and SOE was never that "proud" of the version.

However, Smedley promised that he will run a poll to see if there's enough interest in a Mac port of the current version of EverQuest. If the response is big enough, he says, the company will consider doing it. Meanwhile, the game will be available for current players free of charge until the March 29th shutdown. SOE has a celebration planned for its final hurrah.

EQMac came out in 2003 and was unique for remaining "frozen in time" in the years since, receiving no further active development or expansions. We will be covering this game and its shutdown more in-depth in a future Game Archaeologist column, so stay tuned.

EverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 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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LEGO Universe shutting down January 2012

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, Free-to-play, LEGO Universe, Kids, Family

Playtime's over, people -- time to pack up your LEGO bricks and move on. The word's come down from the LEGO Group that LEGO Universe is closing its doors on January 31st, 2012 due to a lack of paying customers. While the game has been free-to-play for a while, apparently not enough players were interested in dishing out cash to keep the MMO operational.

The news was posted just moments ago on the official forums along with a more in-depth FAQ:

Hello Adventurer, today we are very sad to announce that LEGO Universe will be closing on January 31, 2012. This was a very difficult decision to make, but unfortunately LEGO Universe has not been able to attract the number of members needed to keep the game open.

We are thankful to have had the opportunity to share this adventure wiith an amazing community of players. We hope you will continue to enjoy LEGO Universe for the last few months. As a thank you, if you are a paying subscriber on December 31, 2011, we will provide you the full game for the final month for free.

Again, we want to thank the fantastic community of players who made LEGO Universe such a vibrant, fun and creative experience.

Sincerely,
The LEGO Universe Team

Unfortunately, this closure means that the associated studios, including one in Colorado and one in Denmark, will be shuttered and 115 employees will be affected. LEGO Universe launched in October 2010 and converted to a free-to-play model this past August. We've included the official press release behind the break.

Continue reading LEGO Universe shutting down January 2012

LEGO Universe shutting down January 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars Galaxies puts the end of the saga in the hands of the players

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Star Wars Galaxies

This is how the galaxy ends: not with a wimper, but with a mighty bang.

At least, that's what SOE hopes as Star Wars Galaxies' devs map out the final few months for this sunsetting MMO. Instead of weeping into a glass of strange blue milk, the team is issuing a challenge to the Imperials or Rebels. The stakes? The fate of the galaxy, once and for all.

SOE is ramping up the Galactic Civil War in the game, by adding new events and opportunities to win points for your respective side. The Civil War got a little bigger with the recent GU20 update that put the war footing on an interplanetary scale.

At some point before the December 15th shutdown, the game will tally up the score and determine who won -- for all time. Depending on which side comes out victorious, the ending of the game itself will change. If you're a neutral party, don't worry; SOE is making sure that you can participate in shutdown events as well.

Take note, as only players that subscribe or have an account in good standing prior to September 15th can participate in this final battle, since registration -- and game charges -- will cease after that date.

Star Wars Galaxies puts the end of the saga in the hands of the players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Sunsetting

Larry Everett — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, Star Wars Galaxies, One Shots

Yavin IV was always one of my favorite planets to visit in Star Wars Galaxies. Especially when you would hit just the right time of day to see the gigantic planet of Yavin hovering in the sky. I caught this screenshot as I was on my way to the Jedi Temple on the jungle world. With the news of the Galaxies shutting down, this screenshot has become a bit mournful for me now. It reminds me of a sunset. It you'd like to celebrate the sunset of SWG with me, I'll be on the Starsider server on Aerron in the evenings EDT.

All this week, Massively writers are spotlighting some of our personal One Shots. What exciting stories revolve around our screenshots? Stay tuned to find out. Next week, after staff picks week, will be free-for-all week for you, our readers. Send any eye-catching, beautiful, scary, or generally epic screenshot to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll pick the best of the best for One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

One Shots: Sunsetting originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LucasArts releases an official statement to Star Wars Galaxies fans

Larry Everett — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, Endgame, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies

For a majority of MMO players, the announcement that Star Wars Galaxies was shutting down came as no surprise. However, many SWG loyalists have been extremely upset by the turn of events, blaming everything from the hacks on Sony earlier this year to the impending release of Star Wars: The Old Republic. SOE CEO John Smedley stated in his interview with us that the security breach and SWG's shutdown were unrelated. Furthermore, Community Manager of SWTOR, Stephen Reid, stated emphatically on the TORWars podcast that there was no relationship between the date of SWG shutting down and the release of The Old Republic. Lastly, GamePro posted a statement directly from LucasArts about the efforts put into keeping the MMO alive:

The decision to shut down the game has not been an easy one. SOE and LucasArts investigated every option to keep the game open, including taking it to a free to pay model. However, that model just isn't financially viable. Changing the business model for an experience like Star Wars Galaxies takes a major investment and overhauling of the existing infrastructure of the game. We're unfortunately at a point in our life cycle where a change of this magnitude is just not possible. The harsh reality is that we've reached a point where the game is no longer a sustainable business. None of us wanted to see this point, but we're extremely proud of the last eight years of the game and the community that has supported it.

We have a lot planned between now and December and we want to make sure that from now until then, we send off Star Wars Galaxies in a style befitting such a great game. We'll be right there in the game with everyone else, counting down until the end, making sure we connect with all the friends we've made over the past eight years. It may be bittersweet, it may feel like it's happening before it should, but we have approximately five months remaining where we can all enjoy the game together. We sincerely hope the community will join us.

Read the article on GamePro and check out Massively's full interview with Smedley for more information.

LucasArts releases an official statement to Star Wars Galaxies fans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kitsu Saga closing down

Jef Reahard — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

It's never a fun day when an MMO gives up the ghost, and unfortunately today marks just such an occasion for Kitsu Saga. Aeria Games is shutting down the game for good, and a somber announcement on the official website marks the beginning of the end.

"This was a very difficult decision for us and has only been made after much deliberation. We'd like to thank those who played Kitsu Saga and especially those who stuck with it through the more difficult times," the news blurb states.

Aeria also offers up a bit of info regarding AP Spender compensation, and the long and short of it is that refunds may take a while to process due to the large number pending (Aeria estimates seven to 10 business days after July 14th). Head to the official Kitsu Saga website for the details.

Kitsu Saga closing down originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raph Koster on the legacy of Star Wars Galaxies

Jef Reahard — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars Galaxies

Amid all the internet commentary sure to be forthcoming over the next few days regarding Star Wars Galaxies and its upcoming swan-song, none of it is really as relevant as the thoughts of the man primarily responsible for designing the original game.

Raph Koster offers up a bit of commentary on SWG's demise via his personal website, and despite the brevity, he manages to touch on exactly why the game mattered to so many of us and why it will be sorely missed. "It gave us features that continue to amaze people who don't realize what can be done: Real economies complete with supply chains and wholesalers and shopkeepers, that amazing pet system, the moods and chat bubbles [...], player cities, vehicles, spaceflight," Koster says.

It also gave us dancing, and while many progression-focused gamers scoff at SWG's social features, Koster rightly concludes that they may well be the game's legacy since they allowed us to "stop saving the world or killing rats and realize the real scope and potential of the medium." In the end, Koster says that SWG's potential may have overshadowed the final product, but what remained was nonetheless a mold-breaking MMORPG. "I'd rather work on something with great potential than on fulfilling a promise of mediocrity. There's a reason people are passionate about it all these years later," he wrote.

Raph Koster on the legacy of Star Wars Galaxies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Digital Continuum: Why must MMOs die?

Kyle Horner — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, Tabula Rasa, The Digital Continuum

Sitting on my desk are copies of Earth and Beyond and Auto Assault. In fact, I've even got a CE box for Auto Assault (that thing cost me 80 bucks). Unfortunately, these games are just dust collectors now. I keep them to remind me of the possibility of sunset and how much it can suck. Even if you didn't play Tabula Rasa, there were thousands of people who did, and that's all that really matters

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Why must MMOs die?

The Digital Continuum: Why must MMOs die? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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