Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How important is surprise to you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Of course, the fifth time you see the sea serpent it doesn't really shock you.
For some players, MMOs are all about discovery. The game is at its most fun when you're just exploring the world, figuring out what you need to do as best you can. But to other players, wandering around without a clue isn't as fun as knowing what to do and enjoying that actual accomplishment.

Of course, surprises come in both big and small varieties. No matter how well you might know Star Wars: The Old Republic's quests, for example, you might avoid looking up all of the datacrons and thus get a pleasant surprise when you find one. Or maybe you don't like knowing about the bosses you'll fight in a dungeon until you get into the fight.

We all like discovering things, but what we like to discover varies. So what about you? How important is having surprises in a game for you? Do you like to walk in with as little foreknowledge as possible, or do you like to have a pretty good map in your head before you start playing?

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: How important is surprise to you? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedaily-grinddiscoveryexplorationexplorersopinionsurprisesurprisestdgthe-daily-grindSun, 20 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT flags more trial servers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/rift-flags-more-trial-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/rift-flags-more-trial-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/rift-flags-more-trial-servers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You kids are going to have to get off this server, now! I mean it! I will turn this whole plane around if I have to!
In a rather surprising move for a number of RIFT players, it turns out that several of the game's servers have been converted over to trial servers. Naturally, it makes players instinctively fearful that it's the first step toward server shutdowns and closures.

But that's not quite what's going on. As explained by community manager Elrar quite some time ago, trial servers are lower-population servers that are essentially being put to one side for large-scale trial programs. Character creation for subscribers is disabled on those servers, and there's a message encouraging you to move to another server with a free transfer, but it's not a shutdown, just a ramp-up to a larger trial period for non-subscribers.

According to Rift Junkies, a total of 11 servers are seeing the trial tag applied, and players are encouraged to move off these servers by January 18th. If you've got a character on Belmont, Galena, Atrophinius, Crucia, Alsbeth, Estrael, Shadefallen, Sunrest, Freeholme, Dayblind, or Faemyst, now would be a good time to start planning for greener, non-trial pastures.

[Thanks to Celestial Lord for the tip!]

MassivelyRIFT flags more trial servers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitynewsriftrift-planes-of-telaraserverserver-consolidationserver-mergersserverssurprisetrialtrial-serverstriontrion-worldsThu, 12 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews CCP Greyscale on the EVE Christmas gift]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/massively-interviews-ccp-greyscale-on-the-eve-christmas-gift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/massively-interviews-ccp-greyscale-on-the-eve-christmas-gift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/massively-interviews-ccp-greyscale-on-the-eve-christmas-gift/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Early yesterday morning, a new devblog by EVE Online developer CCP Greyscale brought us an exciting first look at something awesome arriving in the upcoming Incursion expansion's December release. Speaking on behalf of development team Yggdrasill at CCP's top secret Iceland hideout, Greyscale explained CCP's plans to completely abolish learning skills in EVE. Learning skills increase a player's attributes, which decrease the time it takes to train skills. Since they take some time to train, however, dedicating time to them will only pay off after several months of subsequent skill training. As a result, new players are often advised to put off training for that ship they want or those useful industrial skills, as focusing on learning skills early on will pay off in the long run. This can stunt a player's progression in his early days, making for a very boring early play experience that can be distinctly off-putting.

As part of the company's Christmas gift to all EVE players, the skillpoints we have invested in learning skills will be reimbursed so that we can add them to any skill we want. To compensate for the decrease in attributes and give new players a bit of a boost, all players will have 12 points added to every attribute. This is exciting news, as the removal of learning skills has always been strongly supported by the EVE community. We caught up with CCP Greyscale to ask a few important questions about what this change means for players.

Skip past the cut for our interview with CCP Greyscale on the EVE Christmas gift and what the learning skill changes mean for players new and old.

Continue reading Massively interviews CCP Greyscale on the EVE Christmas gift

MassivelyMassively interviews CCP Greyscale on the EVE Christmas gift originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-greyscalechristmasdevblogdeveloperdevelopersdevelopmenteveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineinterviewlearningLearning-Curvelearning-skillspresentskillssurpriseFri, 26 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What announcements do you expect at GDC this week?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/the-daily-grind-what-announcements-do-you-expect-at-gdc-this-we/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/the-daily-grind-what-announcements-do-you-expect-at-gdc-this-we/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/the-daily-grind-what-announcements-do-you-expect-at-gdc-this-we/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The Game Developers Conference is all this week and we'll be there to report the latest MMO news on your favorite games, old and new. Last year's conference revealed some exciting news on fresh projects like Love, as well as unexpected hits like the reveal of APB.

As we gear up for a week of interviews, panels and hands-on play time, we can't help but wonder what the big announcements will be for this year. We already know about Funcom's unveiling of The Secret World, as well as goodies from Blizzard, Mythic and CCP, but what secrets lie in store for us hungry MMO news junkies? Let us know what you think will be the biggest surprises of GDC 2009.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What announcements do you expect at GDC this week? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementsgame-developers-conferencegdc-09gdc-2009gdc09revealsurpriseMon, 23 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Surprise! Age of Conan Collector's Edition revealed to be monstrous]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/surprise-age-of-conan-collectors-edition-revealed-to-be-monstr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/surprise-age-of-conan-collectors-edition-revealed-to-be-monstr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/surprise-age-of-conan-collectors-edition-revealed-to-be-monstr/#commentsFiled under: , ,


So are you the type of person who simply loves special editions of anything? Do you pine for leather-bound bits in all their bountiful beauty? Well then FunCom has quite the surprise for you with their monster of a Collector's Edition for Age of Conan. Details were revealed today by Ten Ton Hammer.

Not satisfied with a simple "ten dollars more edition", the makers of Age of Conan have gone above and beyond the call of collector's duty.

That's right, you'll be getting a metal embossed cover, an actual poem written by none other than Robert E. Howard, a 128-page art book, of course a soundtrack, a "professionally crafted" leather map of Hyboria, the standard bonus DVD with various footage and five buddy keys which we assume can be used to get your friends in on the head-lopping action. Still not satisfied? Well apparently neither was FunCom, because you also get two in-game items. The Ring of Asheron gives you a 2% Experience Modifier and 3% Stamina Regeneration. Meanwhile, equipping The Drinking Cape gets you free drinks for life.

Now remember, getting drunk lets you start bar fights -- so that means bar fights to your heart's content! We're pretty much sold on this thing now, even if it's clocking in at a whopping $89.95 at retail.

MassivelySurprise! Age of Conan Collector's Edition revealed to be monstrous originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conancollector's-editioncollectorl aocfuncomsurpriseThu, 10 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST