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[Fighting the EverQuest hacking wildfire]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/fighting-the-everquest-hacking-wildfire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/fighting-the-everquest-hacking-wildfire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/fighting-the-everquest-hacking-wildfire/#commentsFiled under: , ,

EQ
While hacking and botting may not be a source of frustration to you in your daily MMO, to the denizens of EverQuest, it is a real and ever-present headache. In what is already not the easiest MMO on the planet, players are experiencing an onslaught of hackers who go out of their way to ruin the fun for everyone.

In a three-part series, Ten Ton Hammer exposes the systematic problem of rampant hacking in the game, especially on the new progression servers. While guilds are doing their part to crack down on hackers in their midst, it doesn't seem to be enough to stem the flow, especially as with a much smaller team in place these days.

Ultimately, fighting this problem does not seem to be SOE's current priority. EQ Producer Thom Terazzas addressed the issue of hacking by saying, "The expansion is something that we're really focused on right now. That has gotten, I would say, 80 percent of the focus here. So doing anything that dramatically combats the hacking is something that we would really like to do, but it is not something we've been able to do."

Terazzas followed that up by talking with the Customer Service team and promised that the hackings will receive higher priority once the expansion crunch is over. In the meantime, he urged players to file reports with CS if hacking was observed.

MassivelyFighting the EverQuest hacking wildfire originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botbotsbottersbottingcscustomer-serviceeqeverquestexposehackhackedhackershackinghackingsinterviewsoesony-online-entertainmentten-ton-hammerThom-TerazzastthThu, 06 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[All you ever wanted to know about Rift's gear and were not afraid to ask]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-rifts-gear-and-were-not-afrai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-rifts-gear-and-were-not-afrai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-rifts-gear-and-were-not-afrai/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While some players may possess the tact not to come right out and say it to a dev's face, when an upcoming MMO is being discussed there's always the inner voice shouting, "What about my loots? Is the gear pimpin' or what?"

Forget zones and races and dynamic events -- today at Ten Ton Hammer, the crowd finally got the Rift: Planes of Telara dev team to open up about the outfits that constitute a bulk of the rewards of the game. In this reader Q&A, Game System Designer Drew Clowery tackled numerous questions about Rift's gear. Rift will launch with 48 armor set models -- each boasting a number of variants and texture options -- but will not initially offer armor set bonuses.

Veteran MMO gamers will feel at home with Rift's armor system, which is restricted by class (warriors will be able to wear heavier armor than rogues, for example) and can be bound on pickup or equip. Loot comes in one of four levels of rarity -- common, uncommon, rare and epic -- based on its utility and difficulty to attain. Crafted gear will be competitive (and apparently customizable) to dropped gear. And finally, Rift will not launch with an appearance system that replaces the look of worn gear with cosmetic items.

Clowery feels that the team has struck a good balance between loot being useful and being a barrier: "Loot is an important part of our game, and so it has to have an important impact upon the characters. That said, it's not completely overwhelming... We don't design encounters to be gear checks. We design them to see if you can get together and do this."

MassivelyAll you ever wanted to know about Rift's gear and were not afraid to ask originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearancearmorarmor-setarmor-set-bonusescosmeticcrafted-geardrew-cloweryepicgeargear-gear-never-changeslootoutfitq-and-ararerarityriftrift-planes-of-telaraTen-Ton-Hammertriontrion-worldstthWed, 10 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[So say we all: Battlestar Galactica Online's blueprints revealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/22/so-say-we-all-battlestar-galactica-onlines-blueprints-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/22/so-say-we-all-battlestar-galactica-onlines-blueprints-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/22/so-say-we-all-battlestar-galactica-onlines-blueprints-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Whether you're a human, a Cylon, a human working for the Cylons, a Cylon working for the humans, or a slightly off-kilter Massively editor, Battlestar Galactica Online promises to appeal across a wide spectrum. Ten Ton Hammer got in the good graces of Bigpoint at Gamescom this year and smuggled out information vital to the war effort.

While it's not even in the alpha stage as of yet, BSGO is reportedly looking solid, especially for a browser-based title. The primary focus of this space-shooter MMO is the PvP conflict between human and Cylon forces. Players should expect to handle ships from the series (such as the Viper), but Bigpoint is planning on creating new spacecraft unique to the game. Each ship will handle differently, forcing users to adapt on the fly or die.

Although the main stage of the game is the struggle to control systems (and their precious, precious resources), you'll be able to explore areas on foot, such as the titular Galactica, although this is mostly for atmosphere and storytelling. For players worried about the game's microtransactions model, Bigpoint promises that everyone will be able to experience the game from beginning to end without being forced to spend a penny.

MassivelySo say we all: Battlestar Galactica Online's blueprints revealed originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galacticabattlestar-galactica-mmobattlestar-galactica-onlinebigpointbrowser-basedbsgocylongamesCOMgamescom-2010i-am-the-sixth-cylonpvpspoiler-earth-is-conquered-by-monkeysten-ton-hammertthviperSun, 22 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Resolutions from all across the industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/16/resolutions-from-all-across-the-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/16/resolutions-from-all-across-the-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/16/resolutions-from-all-across-the-industry/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2009 isn't so far over the horizon that we can't still be looking back and finalizing our resolutions for the new year. In some ways, it's even better to wait this long to make a few resolutions (as the most common one made after New Year's Eve celebrations involves never drinking that much again in one night). Ten Ton Hammer had an interesting take on the practice, though -- they asked a number of developers what their resolutions are for the next 365 days. (Well, okay, slightly less now.)

The resolutions range from the personal to the public, the serious to the silly. Champions Online's Bill Roper resolves to play more games, David Allen of Alganon resolves to fix bugs and improve visibility, Fallen Earth's intern Sombat Southivorarat resolves to not accidentally delete the game's Facebook fan page again. It's not going to give huge insights into the upcoming patches for several games, but it's good to remember that there are people behind our favorite games, and interesting to see what their personal goals are -- both in and out of the game. If you're so inclined, take a look, although you might want to look away before you reach CCP Nathan's resolution. Just a friendly tip.

MassivelyResolutions from all across the industry originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonbill-roperccp-nathanchampions-onlinecodavid-allendeveloper-resolutionsfallen-earthfenew-year-2010resolutionsten-ton-hammerSat, 16 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth gets extensive graphical update today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/fallen-earths-new-graphic-texture-overhaul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/fallen-earths-new-graphic-texture-overhaul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/fallen-earths-new-graphic-texture-overhaul/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you haven't logged in to Fallen Earth for a few days, that's something you may want to rectify pretty quickly. As you may have heard from Lead Game Designer Lee Hammock on yesterday's Massively Speaking, the newest Fallen Earth patch was pretty huge and there is even more to come.

The patch notes were a long list of small fixes and tweaks -- things like "moved a tire that was sticking out of a wall," and changes to recipes, creatures, and mechanics. But these few hundred little changes weren't what made everyone sit up and take notice.

The graphics were given a significant overhaul resulting in a completely new look for the game; specifically the terrain and skies. Along with cloud movement, players will notice much more detailed and realistic surroundings both far and near. You can find some great before and after comparisons at Ten Ton Hammer from FE Graphics Programmer Kevin Coyle

The full patch notes are worth a read (you'll need to be registered on the forums to view them), but this extensive update isn't the only thing the Fallen Earth developers have up their collective sleeve. If you haven't yet checked out our interview on Massively Speaking, take a listen to see what else is coming up.

MassivelyFallen Earth gets extensive graphical update today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.2.1fallen-earthicarus-studioskevin-coylelee-hammockpatchpatch-1.2.1Ten-Ton-HammerThu, 07 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: SOE to launch casual browser MMO for Clone Wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/04/rumor-soe-to-launch-casual-browser-mmo-for-clone-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/04/rumor-soe-to-launch-casual-browser-mmo-for-clone-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/04/rumor-soe-to-launch-casual-browser-mmo-for-clone-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We're chalking this one up as a rumor for now, but word has it that Sony Online Entertainment is developing another Star Wars MMO property, a casual browser game specifically based on the Clone Wars IP. The info comes from Ten Ton Hammer's Cody Bye, who writes:

"Ten Ton Hammer has learned from an inside source that Sony Online Entertainment has once again partnered with LucasArts to do another Star Wars MMO. While we have not yet learned the title of the upcoming game, it sounds like SOE is planning to use the browser-based Free Realms engine to power the game, and the game's setting will be the Clone Wars."

Massively has not heard anything yet to corroborate this as fact, but let's face it -- this was just too juicy to ignore. If we hear more on this while we're at PAX and Dragon*Con, we'll be sure to let you know.

[Via Shacknews]

MassivelyRumor: SOE to launch casual browser MMO for Clone Wars originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbrowsercasualclone-warscody-byefree-realmslucasartsmmo-industrynew-titlesrumorrumorsshacknewssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsten-ton-hammerFri, 04 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft's Lani Blazier reveals Aion's Spiritmaster class]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/ncsofts-lani-blazier-reveals-aions-spiritmaster-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/ncsofts-lani-blazier-reveals-aions-spiritmaster-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/ncsofts-lani-blazier-reveals-aions-spiritmaster-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


NCsoft's Lani 'Liv' Blazier has revealed more detailed information on Aion's Mage subclass, the Spiritmaster, in an interview with Ten Ton Hammer. Spiritmasters are, as their name suggests, able to summon spirits who will help them battle. In the beta, it's common to see Spiritmasters running around with a fiery minion at their heels but Lani is keen to let everyone know that there's a lot more skill to playing this class than meets the eye:

"In the Aion beta, Spiritmasters can summon four kinds of spirits, each based on one of the core elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. At Aion's release, we will introduce a fifth spirit. This new spirit is specific to a character's race. Asmodian Spiritmasters will be able to summon a spirit that is a combination of the elements of fire and earth, and Elyos Spiritmasters will be able to summon a spirit that is a combination of wind and water. Each spirit has different abilities. It can be challenging at times to recognize which element would be best to call on, and it is a mark of a player's experience in the class to become skilled at this decision. Using the right spirit at the right time can be the difference between winning or losing a battle."

Check out the full interview for more information.

MassivelyNCsoft's Lani Blazier reveals Aion's Spiritmaster class originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternityasmodianelyosinterviewinterviewslani-blazierncsoftncsoft-westten-ton-hammerThu, 09 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion Collector's Edition close to selling out in the UK]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/aion-collectors-edition-close-to-selling-out-in-the-uk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/aion-collectors-edition-close-to-selling-out-in-the-uk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/aion-collectors-edition-close-to-selling-out-in-the-uk/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Pre-orders for the collector's and standard editions of Aion have been going on for a while but Ten Ton Hammer has been getting reports that many UK retailers have sold out of the shiny, special editions of NCsoft's latest MMO which is due to be released in Europe on 25th September. Europe and the US only received 50,000 special editions so it's no surprise stocks are running low (particularly at Amazon UK and GAME where they do indeed seem to have sold out.) Ten Ton Hammer got in touch with NCsoft's PR Director Ryan James who commented:

"We're very excited by the demand we've seen for Aion overall, both in our beta test events and in preorders and presales of the game. We specifically have seen incredible demand for the limited collector's edition version of the game, of which we are producing 50,000 copies in North America and Europe. In some cases, retailers in both territories have indeed sold out of their allotments. However, there are still copies available and the best way to ensure you can get your hands on a collector's edition before launch is to preorder it today either from standard retail outlets."

MassivelyAion Collector's Edition close to selling out in the UK originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-collectors-editionncsoftncsoft-westten-ton-hammerWed, 08 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Delving into the archetypes and specialty classes of Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/27/delving-into-the-archetypes-and-specialty-classes-of-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/27/delving-into-the-archetypes-and-specialty-classes-of-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/27/delving-into-the-archetypes-and-specialty-classes-of-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The folks over at Ten Ton Hammer have been cranking out a number of features that examine the various class archetypes and specialty classes of Aion. So far, they've produced two game guides showcasing the Priest and Mage archetypes and had four interviews with NCsoft discussing the Gladiator, Templar, Ranger, and Assassin specialty classes.

When creating a character in Aion, you must initially choose one of four available archetypes. Anyone who has played a fantasy MMO or RPG in the past decade or so will find them quite familiar. They are the Warrior, Scout, Priest, and Mage.

Once you reach level 9, you're sent on a quest to discover your true identity and ascend to daevahood. The quest is like Red Bull - it gives you wings. At this point you must choose a specialty class defined by your original archetype. Warriors become Gladiators or Templars. Scouts become Rangers or Assassins. Priests become Clerics or Chanters. Mages become Sorcerers(esses) or Spiritmasters.

By our count, TTH has covered half the archetypes and specialty classes so far, so keep your eyes peeled for the second half coming soon. We'll also bring you our own impressions of these classes when beta permits. So far, we've been limited to testing some pretty low level characters.

MassivelyDelving into the archetypes and specialty classes of Aion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionassassinchanterclass-guideclericgladiatormagencsoftpriestrangerscoutsorcererspiritmastertemplarten-ton-hammerwarriorSat, 27 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is World of Warcraft a religion?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/is-world-of-warcraft-a-religion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/is-world-of-warcraft-a-religion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/is-world-of-warcraft-a-religion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Just when you thought you had heard it all, MMO gamers are now being called religious zealots. According to Theo Zijderveld, a grad student at the University of Colorado, gamers who experience online worlds "like World of Warcraft and Second Life" are doing so to transcend their physical bodies and "realize a new identity in cyberspace". This is not exactly news to us, but it's the connection to religion that becomes interesting.

In his 72-page Master's thesis entitled Cyberpilgrims, Zijderveld cites the four dimensions of religion for his cause: community, ethics, culture and emotion. "The community dimension is present in World of Warcraft as well as in Second Life. People are using their avatar online meet other avatars of real people. Avilion is clearly a community of people with the same interest in the fantasy world. The social markers are clear; the rules of how to dress and how to behave are very explicit. Avatars who do not fit in this picture are (sometimes actively) excluded by the community or by the moderators."

At least now your family can't nag you for not going to church enough.

MassivelyIs World of Warcraft a religion? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>masters-thesisreligionsecond-lifeten-ton-hammeruniversity-of-coloradoworld-of-warcraftTue, 03 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NDOORS CEO on Atlantica Online succeeding in the West]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/01/ndoors-ceo-on-atlantica-online-succeeding-in-the-west/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/01/ndoors-ceo-on-atlantica-online-succeeding-in-the-west/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/01/ndoors-ceo-on-atlantica-online-succeeding-in-the-west/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Massively multiplayer online games operating on the free-to-play business model are definitely a mixed bag in terms of quality. As such, they get a mixed reception in the West. Those who like more variety in their gameplay choices than the standard subscription model offers them tend to be more open to alternative business models. Staunch supporters of the AAA subscription model typical of the industry in Western markets have some serious misgivings about what the new crop of free-to-play titles could mean for the industry climate.

NDOORS Interactive hopes to change some of these perceptions with Atlantica Online, their strategic turn-based MMORPG. Danny "Ralsu" Gourley from Ten Ton Hammer interviewed NDOORS Interactive CEO Peter Kang about Atlantica Online and how it fits into the industry climate in the West.

Continue reading NDOORS CEO on Atlantica Online succeeding in the West

MassivelyNDOORS CEO on Atlantica Online succeeding in the West originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaaatlantica-onlinebusiness-modelsdanny-gourleyeconomyf2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgold-spamgroupinginterviewsitem-mallmicrotransactionsmmo-industryndoorsndoors-interactivepeter-kangsatisfactionstigmaten-ton-hammerSun, 01 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The possibility of a Terminator MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/the-possibility-of-a-terminator-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/the-possibility-of-a-terminator-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/the-possibility-of-a-terminator-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Let's start this post off with a bit of a warning: a Terminator MMO has not been announced, and this has nothing to do with the Terminator iPhone "MMO" announced last year. This is merely playing off of some speculation over at Ten Ton Hammer regarding a story at IncGamers. Apparently, when IncGamers interviewed Halcyon Games production executive Mic Rogers, the Terminator MMO topic came up. "You know what, it's something we've looked at," Rogers said, in regards to any MMO plans using the franchise, "and it's an interesting space for sure."

The Halcyon Company recently purchased the rights to the Terminator IP, and are working on a game to coincide with the release of Terminator Salvation. While he confirmed that an MMO version has been considered, he said that there are no concrete plans.

MassivelyThe possibility of a Terminator MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halcyon-gamesincgamersten-ton-hammerterminatorthe-halcyon-companyMon, 26 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A timeline of Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/a-timeline-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/a-timeline-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/a-timeline-of-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , ,


As Tabula Rasa approaches its final lap, the community retrospectives continue to arise, showcasing the best and worst that the game had to offer. Over at Ten Ton Hammer, they've compiled a short run-down which chronicles the rise and fall of NCsoft's failed sci-fi shooter.

Beginning in August of 2007, open beta rolled out, in what easily became tens of thousands of beta testers. Reviews for the game were mixed as the NDA lifted, and the polarizing opinions that later defined the game's community came out in full force. From there, the game suffered a few personnel changes and brought out its biggest guns when Richard Garriott announced a promotional tie-in with a space flight. This wasn't enough to keep the game afloat, as Garriott himself left the flock and the game's closure was announced 10 days later.

This article at TTH gives a brief timeline for the features and highlights of the game from early beta to now. It's worth a read if you're curious about the game's life, or want to simply look back fondly at its progression.

MassivelyA timeline of Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesncsoftradarxrichard-garriotttabula-rasaten-ton-hammertrtthWed, 21 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise releases new screenshots of the Old Town area]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/earthrise-releases-new-screenshots-of-the-old-town-area/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/earthrise-releases-new-screenshots-of-the-old-town-area/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/earthrise-releases-new-screenshots-of-the-old-town-area/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Now that Earthrise's closed beta process is in full swing and we all eagerly await the status of our applications, Masthead has given us a new batch of screenshots to gawk over. In these shots over at Ten Ton Hammer, we see some of the wasteland areas of Old Town, and its mutant rodent inhabitants.

If you're unfamiliar with the storyline behind Old Town, check out this excerpt from the game's website: "During the catastrophic events of the Third World War, many people tried to reach Old Town for sanctuary. The residents turned them away, keeping the already scarce resources for themselves. Not every group of refugees was willing to give up so easily, and they attacked Old Town. Ruined shells of primitive bunkers and defensive obstacles are all that remain to mark the effort to keep the now demolished city."

MassivelyEarthrise releases new screenshots of the Old Town area originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthrisemasthead-studiosold-townpost-apocalypticsci-fiscreenshotsten-ton-hammerWed, 07 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are sci-fi MMOs cursed?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/the-daily-grind-are-sci-fi-mmos-cursed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/the-daily-grind-are-sci-fi-mmos-cursed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/the-daily-grind-are-sci-fi-mmos-cursed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Or are they just waiting for a savior, a la World of Warcraft? Yesterday we covered a recent interview done by Ten Ton Hammer with representatives of Trion World Group, the developers behind the upcoming SCI-FI channel MMORPG, that covered the viability of science fiction MMOs. While they are quite for the idea and are enthusiastic about a science fiction genre MMO, we here at Massively wanted to solicit your opinion. What's up with science fiction?

The new year will be bringing us titles like Star Trek Online, Jumpgate Evolution, Stargate Worlds, and Star Wars: The Old Republic -- a veritable stream of life flowing into the genre that's being dominated by EVE Online. Are you looking forward to them? Will you quickly wrap your hands around them and boldly go where no man has gone before? Or will you hold on to the games you already have and sneer like Gollum? Give us the word readers, speak your mind in our galactic council comments.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are sci-fi MMOs cursed? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareccpccp-gamescrypticcryptic-studioseve-onlinejumpgate-evolutionmmorpgmmossci-fisci-fi-wowscience-fictionsgwstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicstargate-worldsstoswtorten-ton-hammerthe-daily-grindtriontrion-world-networkFri, 02 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NetDevil talks past, present and future of MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/netdevil-talks-past-present-and-future-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/netdevil-talks-past-present-and-future-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/netdevil-talks-past-present-and-future-of-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Now that Tabula Rasa will be closing in two months, many of us are remembering a similar situation in 2007 with NCsoft's Auto Assault. The game's development team at NetDevil was fairly outspoken at the time about what they felt was a savable game, yet NCsoft saw it as a business decision. One of the most vocal NetDevil employees who tried to save the game was Scott Brown. Ten Ton Hammer caught up with Brown in a recent interview where he gave his current views on Auto Assault's closing, what the company is working on now and a hint at what's in their future.

"I would never turn off a game." Brown says in the interview. "I would do what I would need to do to make the game support itself, but why turn it off? Especially when there are people that love your game?" With knowing what they know now, Brown discusses how the studio has changed their development process. Their current projects, including the LEGO Universe MMO, Jumpgate and an unannounced web-based game coming soon, are enough to keep this company from focusing too much on their past mistakes and just blasting forward into the future.

This interview is part one of two, so look for more from Scott Brown in the second half coming next week.

MassivelyNetDevil talks past, present and future of MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-assaultjumpgatejumpgate-evolutionlego-universencsoftnetdevilscott-browntabula-rasaten-ton-hammerSat, 20 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cheyenne Mountain responds to rumors of no pay for employees]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/cheyenne-mountain-responds-to-rumors-of-no-pay-for-employees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/cheyenne-mountain-responds-to-rumors-of-no-pay-for-employees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/cheyenne-mountain-responds-to-rumors-of-no-pay-for-employees/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


As the story spread across the blogosphere yesterday concerning the website http://days-since-cheyenne-mountain-employees-have-been-paid.com, we at Massively remained interested, yet apprehensive on something that was little more than an anonymous url. Yet today we're happy to report on an actual response to the rumor and speculation.

Kevin Balentine, senior Marketing Manager at Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment released an official explanation of the rumors: "At Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, we have always been upfront with the media and our fans that we are a start up. Like many start ups, we face the same cash-flow issues that all pre-revenue companies face. We have maintained a core of dedicated investors, but the new economic realities are forcing us to seek out additional sources of funding and that's what we're doing. We continue to move forward on the Stargate Worlds project. We recently completed a successful phase of closed beta testing and we will start a second phase early in 2009. We invite all of your readers to come to our site, check out our fantastic community and sign up for our beta."

Continue reading Cheyenne Mountain responds to rumors of no pay for employees

MassivelyCheyenne Mountain responds to rumors of no pay for employees originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheyenne-mountain-entertainmentemployeesrumorrumourstargate-worldsten-ton-hammerFri, 05 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO storyline writing: ArenaNet style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/11/mmo-storyline-writing-arenanet-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/11/mmo-storyline-writing-arenanet-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/11/mmo-storyline-writing-arenanet-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In a recent interview with Ten Ton Hammer, ArenaNet's Bobby Stein explains a great deal about the process of creating such an intriguing storyline as we have in Guild Wars. The company's Writing Team Lead speaks candidly about how they were able to concentrate the plot into the most efficient and interesting quest lines, walking that fine line between a boring wall of text and "nothing more than quest dispensers."

Speaking briefly on the upcoming Guild Wars 2, Stein adds, "We were able to keep the coolest things from the world while letting the rest remain in the annals of history. Despite all that has changed, Tyria is very much in need of heroes. A lot can change in a few hundred years. New races have risen to prominence. New threats have surfaced. You'll see threads of current Guild Wars history, along with some new stories." Even as there's no new information on Guild Wars 2 here, it's still a compelling article for those interested in learning more about the storyline writing process from one of the best in the business.

MassivelyMMO storyline writing: ArenaNet style originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbobby-steinguild-warsguild-wars-2plotquestsstorylineten-ton-hammerTue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Paul Barnett thinks you look like a Dwarf]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/paul-barnett-thinks-you-look-like-a-dwarf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/paul-barnett-thinks-you-look-like-a-dwarf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/paul-barnett-thinks-you-look-like-a-dwarf/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Since Warhammer Online's launch, we haven't heard much out of the normally very vocal Creative Director for Mythic, Paul Barnett. Yet, in a recent interview at Ten Ton Hammer, Barnett speaks out about a few topics that are near and dear to his heart; most notably, the psychology of player races in WAR and how they pertain to appearance.

Barnett is usually full of witty metaphors and clever comparisons, and he certainly doesn't disappoint in this interview. On the topic of Dwarfs, Barnett muses on the people who play them and how "Most of the people I've met who like Dwarfs basically look like Dwarfs". He goes on to discuss the psychology of the Greenskins, Chaos players and finally the Elves. "I don't think people that play as Elves look like Elves either, because then I'd have to hunt them all down and kill them because they're too perfect. And if you did look like a Dark Elf or High Elf, you wouldn't be playing our game, you'd be walking around asking people to look at you because you're so beautiful."
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyPaul Barnett thinks you look like a Dwarf originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chaosdwarfselvesgreenskinsinterviewmythicpaulbarnettten-ton-hammertthwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 28 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An in-depth look at the AoC soundtrack album]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/an-in-depth-look-at-the-aoc-soundtrack-album/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/an-in-depth-look-at-the-aoc-soundtrack-album/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/an-in-depth-look-at-the-aoc-soundtrack-album/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of a game music composer as they write the theme for our favorite games? Why was this particular piece chosen for this part of the game? Was it written with the game's lore in mind, or written beforehand, and just added to the game afterwards?

In the recently released Age of Conan soundtrack album, composer Knut Avenstroup Haugen poured his heart and soul into making what could be argued as the best game soundtrack in awhile. In an article at Ten Ton Hammer, Haugen talks in-depth about his masterpiece soundtrack album, and what inspired him to make the music. Each piece is described in detail in an order relative to how you would hear them in the game. You can play and listen to six of the tracks straight from the article, to entice both AoC players and non-players alike.

MassivelyAn in-depth look at the AoC soundtrack album originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccomposerfuncomknut-avenstroup-haugenmusicsoundtrackten-ton-hammerWed, 08 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First hints emerge concerning Champions Online's Omega System]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/27/first-hints-emerge-concerning-champions-onlines-omega-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/27/first-hints-emerge-concerning-champions-onlines-omega-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/27/first-hints-emerge-concerning-champions-onlines-omega-system/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In a recent interview with Ten Ton Hammer, Champions Online's lead designer Randy Mosiondz divulged some of the first specs of information about the game's previously mentioned Omega System. Apparently the end-game system is being designed with the goal of offering content for solo, small groups and large groups alike. According to Mosiondz one of the ultimate goals for players participating in end-game will be to become an "Omega", which are some of the most powerful super-powered beings within the game's universe. Do we get a silver surf board too, or how about a gold one?

It all sounds pretty exciting, if a little bit vague. We can't wait to hear some more news about the system as time marches onwards. Springs isn't getting any further away so we suppose it won't kill us to be patient. Well, it could.

Gallery: Champions Online Main Gallery

MassivelyFirst hints emerge concerning Champions Online's Omega System originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gameschampionschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studioshero-gamesrandy-mosiondzten-ton-hammerSat, 27 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Star Trek Online interview about time travel and travel time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/a-star-trek-online-interview-about-time-travel-and-travel-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/a-star-trek-online-interview-about-time-travel-and-travel-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/a-star-trek-online-interview-about-time-travel-and-travel-time/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've said before that the main source of information on Star Trek Online at this point is hints and implications peppered through interviews with Cryptic Studios' Jack Emmert. The latest of those interviews is lighter on details than were previous conversations, but it's still worth a read.

Speaking to Ten Ton Hammer at Gen Con, Emmert started out vaguely answering questions about character customization. Nothing new there. But it got a bit more interesting when he used time travel as an example of something pivotal to the franchise, but that's made difficult to implement by technological and budgetary limitations. He spoke as if he'd already given a great deal of thought to it; perhaps that's a clue that despite the problems, time travel is something Cryptic intends to put in the game.

Other topics included the uniqueness of Star Trek ship design, instancing, procedurally-generated areas for exploration, and travel time.

MassivelyA Star Trek Online interview about time travel and travel time originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cryptic-studiosexplorationgen-congen-con-08gen-con-2008gen-con-indygencongencon-2008instancinginterviewjack-emmertshipsstar-trekstar-trek-onlineten-ton-hammertime-traveltravel-timeWed, 27 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO weekly roundup questions Turbine's intentions with the Rune-keeper]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/lotro-weekly-roundup-questions-turbines-intentions-with-the-run/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/lotro-weekly-roundup-questions-turbines-intentions-with-the-run/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/lotro-weekly-roundup-questions-turbines-intentions-with-the-run/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In this week's Lord of the Rings Online forum roundup over at Ten Ton Hammer, some interesting points are made on the state of game, Tolkien's view of magic and the player impressions of the Summer Festival. Don't let the high-brow lore excerpts fool you though, the expected forum negativity still shines through this week.

The Summer Festival horse's appearance has been a topic of debate since the photos from Roheryn first surfaced last month. The bright green and yellow saddle has been called everything from psychedelic to nauseating. So it should be no surprise that players are petitioning for a change. Plus, the most-heated debate in this week's roundup revolves around Tolkien's view on magic, its usage by Man and the new Rune-keeper. Does this mean the new magic-user class won't be accessible to the race of Man, or does it mean the lore will need to be stretched a bit? Either way, expect a few complaints here and there.

MassivelyLotRO weekly roundup questions Turbine's intentions with the Rune-keeper originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemasterslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorelotrorune-keepersummer-festivalten-ton-hammertolkienturbineThu, 07 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO weekly forum roundup gives player impressions of Book 14]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/25/lotro-weekly-forum-roundup-gives-player-impressions-of-book-14/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/25/lotro-weekly-forum-roundup-gives-player-impressions-of-book-14/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/25/lotro-weekly-forum-roundup-gives-player-impressions-of-book-14/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In the latest forum round-up over at Ten Ton Hammer's Lord of the Rings Online division, it's no surprise that the focus is on Book 14's new content. There are gleeful praises and there are angry rants, but perhaps the most interesting is the speculation on what's to come with the expanded Critter Play feature.

As one player predicts, the word is out that we may be able to play as Gandalf in Mines of Moria. Now, keep in mind that this is one player's speculation and the evidence he presents for this theory is a bit of a stretch, but wouldn't it be interesting if they were right? Imagine being Gandalf in that infamous Balrog battle scene, protecting the Fellowship from certain doom all by your lonesome. Now that's immersive game play.

MassivelyLotRO weekly forum roundup gives player impressions of Book 14 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemasterslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-book-14mines-of-moriaten-ton-hammerturbineFri, 25 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AO designer says adieu, moves on to The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/ao-designer-says-adieu-moves-on-to-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/ao-designer-says-adieu-moves-on-to-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/ao-designer-says-adieu-moves-on-to-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Anarchy Online content designer Nina "Aythem" Sund has been writing developer journal entries over at Ten Ton Hammer for several months, sharing game design wisdom and insider anecdotes with players. Her latest entry had a different tone, though. She used the medium to bid farewell to AO players as she moves on to work on Funcom's next MMO, The Secret World.

As a parting gift, she spent the rest of her entry telling fans how they too can become game designers. Hers is good advice if that's an aspiration for you. Unfortunately, she didn't slip out any news or information on The Secret World, which as so far been very, well ... secret. Ten Ton Hammer attached two bits of concept art, though, so savor that!

We hope Funcom will continue to support AO even though it now has Age of Conan and The Secret World to worry about, too. Sund was a popular quest designer at AO; we're glad she'll be adding her touch to TSW, but poor AO!

MassivelyAO designer says adieu, moves on to The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaoaythemblogcontent-designercontent-writerdesignerdevblogfarewellfuncomgoodbyejournalnina-sundquestten-ton-hammerthe-secret-worldtransferwriterWed, 25 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More Jeffrey Steefel goodness regarding the Korean LotRO launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/more-jeffrey-steefel-goodness-regarding-the-korean-lotro-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/more-jeffrey-steefel-goodness-regarding-the-korean-lotro-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/more-jeffrey-steefel-goodness-regarding-the-korean-lotro-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In line with the recent interview at MMORPG.com, Lord of the Rings Online's Jeffrey Steefel speaks in another interview with Ten Ton Hammer regarding the plans to bring LotRO to Korean audiences. This is something that has been discussed for quite a long time now, but with the Korean release imminent, we now get into the details of this launch and what LotRO hopes to offer to this specific audience.

One of the most important points made in this article is the projected number of players who could potentially be involved with this game at launch. While Steefel is reluctant to give figures, he says that with half the population of Korea playing online games (which would be a potential market of almost 37 million people), "the numbers could be astounding," he says.

MassivelyMore Jeffrey Steefel goodness regarding the Korean LotRO launch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jeffrey-steefelkoreakoreanlotrolotro-book-14nhnten-ton-hammerMon, 23 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EQ2's GU46 patch notes meet the Pool Noodle]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/eq2s-gu46-patch-notes-meet-the-pool-noodle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/eq2s-gu46-patch-notes-meet-the-pool-noodle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/eq2s-gu46-patch-notes-meet-the-pool-noodle/#commentsFiled under: ,


You don't have to be crazy to read EverQuest II's Game Update 46's patch notes, but it helps. It also helps if you're Ten Ton Hammer's Coyote and RadarX, but I guess that's redundant? Read on for tales of brave shadow knights and their pink pool noodles, armor that loves you so much it hurts, and surprise colonoscopies via your faithful rhino mount.

[Ten Ton Hammer]

MassivelyEQ2's GU46 patch notes meet the Pool Noodle originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coyoteeq2eq2-gu-46eqiieverquest-2everquest-iihumorpatchesradarxten-ton-hammerMon, 23 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jumpgate's Peterscheck talks shop, massive battleships]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/jumpgates-peterscheck-talks-shop-massive-battleships/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/jumpgates-peterscheck-talks-shop-massive-battleships/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/jumpgates-peterscheck-talks-shop-massive-battleships/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hermann Peterscheck is the producer of NetDevil's Jumpgate Evolution. He has a lot of experience working on MMOs -- including the original Jumpgate. For those reasons, Ten Ton Hammer decided he would be a great subject for an interview about the process of developing an MMO. You can read the result now.

Apart from the revelation that the game will feature four kilometer-long battleships (cool), the interview was a little bit light on JGE details. But if you're interested in learning how and why games are made, that's okay, because there's a lot of content on that subject.

We thought it was particularly interesting when Peterscheck explained the philosophy behind NetDevil's decision to make JGE. "It is very difficult to steal people away from other MMOs so you are much better off going after an underserved market," he said. He also suggested that every single big MMO succeeded because it (to some extent) created a new market instead of converting users in an existing one.

MassivelyJumpgate's Peterscheck talks shop, massive battleships originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleshipsdevelopmenthermann-peterscheckinterviewjgejumpgatejumpgate-evolutionnetdevilten-ton-hammerThu, 19 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sci-Fi releases the genre for their new MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/sci-fi-releases-the-genre-for-their-new-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/sci-fi-releases-the-genre-for-their-new-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/sci-fi-releases-the-genre-for-their-new-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Recently we've reported on a partnership between Trion World Network and SCI FI channel to create a new MMO that will be tied into a SCI FI show. But, for all we knew about the new project, we didn't know what genre it would fall under or what the setting would be.

That all changed in an interview from Ten Ton Hammer with Adam Stotsky, the executive vice-president of SCI FI channel, about the new SCI FI project. While most of the interview focuses on the partnership between Trion and SCI FI, Cody "Micajah" Bye was able to pull out the setting for the new project from Stotsky.

Stotsky confirms that the project will be science fiction in nature, centering around Earth in an alternate universe.

"It will be a very different Earth than the one we currently know today," Stotsky told Bye during the interview.

For the rest of the interview, drop by Ten Ton Hammer and check it out.

MassivelySci-Fi releases the genre for their new MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>new-mmosci-fisci-fi-channelsci-fi-projectstotskyten-ton-hammertriontrion-world-networkMon, 16 Jun 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Empyrean Age designed to make PvP more accessible]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/empyrean-age-designed-to-make-pvp-more-accessible/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/empyrean-age-designed-to-make-pvp-more-accessible/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/empyrean-age-designed-to-make-pvp-more-accessible/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Ten Ton Hammer spoke with EVE Online developer Matt Woodward about the features of and the design philosophy behind the Empyrean Age expansion, which is set to go live in just a few hours.

Naturally, the entire conversation focused on the new factional warfare system. Woodward explained that CCP hopes factional warfare will lower the barrier for entry into the PvP side of the EVE experience. Up till now, the transition from low sec mission running and mining to high sec PvP conflict has been intimidating to many players, in part because they might face opponents whose skills and ships far outclass their own. Factional warfare, which for the most part matches participants up against opponents at a similar level of advancement, will make it easier to transition between the two gameplay modes.

Woodward also noted that regardless of what you do in factional warfare, you'll still be able to dock at any faction's station (in cases where you would otherwise), although the NPC navy ships of opposing factions will engage you in high sec space. Fighting back will have no impact on your security rating, though.

MassivelyEmpyrean Age designed to make PvP more accessible originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpempyrean-ageeve-onlinefacitonal-warfareinterviewmatt-woodwardpvpsecurity-ratingten-ton-hammerTue, 10 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's White Lion's pets designed to be meaningful]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/wars-white-lions-pets-designed-to-be-meaningful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/wars-white-lions-pets-designed-to-be-meaningful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/wars-white-lions-pets-designed-to-be-meaningful/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The guys n' gals over at Ten Ton Hammer were able to speak with Mark Jacobs about the newest Warhammer Online class, the White Lion. Pets that gain levels are pretty standard in the MMORPG world, in fact it's almost a given anymore. However, in an interesting twist, players will keep and level just one pet throughout their time with the White Lion class. EA Mythic is promising a dynamic experience that makes each player's lion meaningful, but hasn't yet gone into the mechanic bits of everything just yet.

While this may not be groundbreaking news, it's very interesting to note Jacobs enthusiasm for giving players a pet with which they'll develop an attachment. Just knowing that there won't be any re-teaching of skills and abilities is definitely a big relief to us, too. Now we just have to wonder how many players are going to roll this class -- a worry that many Destruction players are likely sharing.

Then again, Squig Herders still have that whole thing where they jump into their pets and use them like a suit of squishy, toothy, crazed armor. Not to mention the fact that some of the higher level Squigs looks exceedingly awesome. Seems to us like Warhammer Online's supposed imbalance fears may be over before they've even begun, thanks in part to EA Mythic's keen sense of what we're now referring to as "Class Coolness".

MassivelyWAR's White Lion's pets designed to be meaningful originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructionea-mythicelectronic-artsmark-jacobsordersquigsten-ton-hammerwarwarhammer-onlinewhite-lionwhite-lion-of-chraceMon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark Jacobs continues talks on Warhammer's crafting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/mark-jacobs-continues-talks-on-warhammer-s-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/mark-jacobs-continues-talks-on-warhammer-s-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/mark-jacobs-continues-talks-on-warhammer-s-crafting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What do you want to know about Warhammer Online? Last week Massively went to war with Warhammer: Age of Reckoning. The result was an information bonanza never before seen on this site for any big title in development. Our coverage runs the gamut and ranges from crafting, guilds, various classes, capital cities, interviews with developers, and even a controversial post regarding perceptions about the game and its delayed launches.

With such an emphasis placed on PvP and combat, until recently not much has been known about Warhammer's crafting. Mark Jacobs has sort of become the official spokesperson for WAR's crafting system and is still making the rounds hitting up TenTonHammer in this one and two part interview. Nothing new is really discerned if you've been following the news closely. In the TTH interview Jacobs discusses scalability, the impact Apothecary will have on other areas of the game like combat, and more. A definite must read while you wait for your beta invite and are frothing at the mouth for anything WAR related.

If you missed out on all the news be sure to check out first-hand coverage for all the latest goods on Warhammer.

MassivelyMark Jacobs continues talks on Warhammer's crafting originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apothecarycraftingcrafting-systemea-mythicmark-jacobsmythicten-ton-hammerwarwarhammer-onlineSun, 08 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn close in on a North American Publisher]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-close-in-on-a-north-american-publish/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-close-in-on-a-north-american-publish/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-close-in-on-a-north-american-publish/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


In a recent interview over at Ten Ton Hammer, Pierre-Yves Deslandes, the Public Relations Manager for The Chronicles of Spellborn answered some interesting questions about the upcoming fantasy MMO. One of the first questions on the minds of those at TTH and the minds of most players is why the game's launch has been post-poned another six months until autumn of 2008.

Of course, as with most game-launch delays, the development team is still working out some bugs. Plus, to complicate matters, the game is still without a North American publisher. But in addition to this news, we get treated to some wonderful information regarding the unique features of the game, including the "Dress to Impress" gear system.

Head on over to TTH to read the complete interview.

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn close in on a North American Publisher originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chronicles-of-spellborndress-to-impressinterviewpierre-yves-deslandesten-ton-hammerthe-chronicles-of-spellborntthTue, 03 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Product manager gives an inside look at the AoC launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/product-manager-gives-an-inside-look-at-the-aoc-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/product-manager-gives-an-inside-look-at-the-aoc-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/product-manager-gives-an-inside-look-at-the-aoc-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ten Ton Hammer spoke with Funcom product manager Erling Eddison about his experiences at the company, the Age of Conan launch, and ... his vacation plans!

Apart from a few vague hints about future patches, there's not much information about the game itself in this interview. However, it does contain an inside look at what the Funcom team went through in the days leading up to AoC's launch. For example, on May 17th (the early access launch day), there was a large screen in the Funcom offices that showed how many players were logged on to the servers. When the servers opened to the early access players, and the numbers skyrocketed, the team broke out the champagne.

Eddison plans to take a nice, long vacation -- possibly to Egypt -- before continuing to promote AoC and The Secret World.

MassivelyProduct manager gives an inside look at the AoC launch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 May 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanerling-eddisonfuncominterviewlaunchlaunch-eventosloten-ton-hammerthe-secret-worldvacationThu, 29 May 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An ION 08 interview with Nexon America's Min Kim [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/an-ion-08-interview-with-nexon-americas-min-kim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/an-ion-08-interview-with-nexon-americas-min-kim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/an-ion-08-interview-with-nexon-americas-min-kim/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

In a recent interview at Ten Ton Hammer, Nexon America's Min Kim spoke out about some of the company's plans for upcoming games, including their online FPS entitled Combat Arms which will be entering closed beta next week. He also talks a bit about another upcoming MMO title being produced by their Vancouver studio, but details are still not available.

In addition, Min Kim speaks at great length about some of the existing titles they have have available in Korea, that they're hoping to port to the North American audience, including the wildly-popular Korean title KartRider. To garner interest with North American players, Min Kim realizes that the audiences are different, and social competition is where it's at. No other information was said about KartRider's introduction to North America, but he says more details will be available soon.

Update: Though we initially listed both Audition and KartRider as games Nexon was looking to bring to North America, Audition has been available to North American audiences for some time now, complete with a catalog of familiar songs!

MassivelyAn ION 08 interview with Nexon America's Min Kim [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 May 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auditioncombat-armsinterviewion08kartridermin-kimnexonnexon-americaten-ton-hammertthWed, 28 May 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[AoC feats calculator released into the wilds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/aoc-feats-calculator-released-into-the-wilds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/aoc-feats-calculator-released-into-the-wilds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/aoc-feats-calculator-released-into-the-wilds/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


World of Warcraft's various talent calculating applications have always been an essential item in every player's toolbox. An empty talent tree is rife with possibilities; who do you want to be, and how might you become that awesome person? Most importantly: how much longer will you have to grind before you finally get Silencing Shot? Talent calculators helped you figure all that out.

We don't doubt that a similar tool will be just as important for players of Age of Conan. Neither did Ten Ton Hammer; that's why the folks there released a fully functional feats calculator to coincide with with AoC's public launch. All the classes are there, everything seems accurate, and the interface is pretty good; it's a great tool. Go forth, fledgling barbarians, and calculate your paths to greatness!

MassivelyAoC feats calculator released into the wilds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 May 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccalculatorclassfeatfeatsfeats-calculatorfuncomplannertalent-calculatortalentsten-ton-hammertthThu, 22 May 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview with The Agency's Kevin O'Hara]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/interview-with-the-agencys-kevin-ohara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/interview-with-the-agencys-kevin-ohara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/interview-with-the-agencys-kevin-ohara/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Every bit of news from The Agency gets us increasingly more excited about the possibilities that this spy MMO will bring to the table. In part one of a recent interview with Kevin O'Hara, Senior World Designer for The Agency, we learn even more about the environments, levels and combat mechanics of SOE's upcoming game.

One point of this interview that stuck out in our minds the most is the mention of an open vs. linear environment. This seems to be a big draw for many MMOs these days, where players are requesting more and more vast areas to explore, trying to escape the funneled experiences we get with more linear storylines. Thankfully, The Agency seems to tackle this concern by allowing more options in your questing experience, while still allowing a "cool-down" area to prep for the next encounter. The overall faster-paced feel of the game promises to set it apart from the traditional MMOs we know today.

MassivelyInterview with The Agency's Kevin O'Hara originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 May 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kevin-oharashootersoesony-online-entertainmentspyten-ton-hammerthe-agencyWed, 21 May 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[This post has absolutely nothing to do with Age of Conan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/this-post-has-absolutely-nothing-to-do-with-age-of-conan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/this-post-has-absolutely-nothing-to-do-with-age-of-conan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/this-post-has-absolutely-nothing-to-do-with-age-of-conan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We interrupt your regularly-scheduled Age of Conan launch news to bring you a little something about City of Heroes. As you may already know, CoH Issue 12 has gone live today, bringing with it the introduction of time travel to ancient Roman and Greek-inspired lands. This time-traveling Task Force content brings us the beautiful persistent area of Cimerora, which is described as a unique place of its own, using its very own mission and zone content which will all be interconnected.

So in a recent developer's diary at Ten Ton Hammer, Senior Art Lead Ken Morse walks us through some of the conceptual phases behind Cimerora from beginning to finalized product. It's certainly an interesting read if you're curious about the entire conceptualizing process, or just love looking at the pretty pictures!

MassivelyThis post has absolutely nothing to do with Age of Conan originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 May 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cimeroracity-of-heroescohcoh-issue-12ncsoftten-ton-hammerTue, 20 May 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vanguard's dead horses and phoenix ashes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/vanguards-dead-horses-and-phoenix-ashes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/vanguards-dead-horses-and-phoenix-ashes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/vanguards-dead-horses-and-phoenix-ashes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A lot of hot topics come up again and again on the Vanguard forums. Will the rumored Vanguard free trial replace the existing racial homelands? Will Age of Conan and other upcoming games kill Vanguard? Is SOE going to make a "hardcore" server for the trufans, and what will that do to normal servers if they do? Ten Ton Hammer's Dalmarus says, enough with these dead horses. The free trial won't avoid the traditional starting areas. Players don't seem to be flocking to Age of Conan. There is no hardcore server in the works. All dead horses who have been beaten long enough, and deserve a rest.

But there's better news, a sort of bright light coming from that heap of ashes over there. New players are coming to Vanguard; old players are returning. Server populations are increasing, and the game is finding its place in the world. Why focus on dead horses when there's live ones standing all around? Dalmarus makes excellent points. Vanguard has had troubles, but it's far from dead.

MassivelyVanguard's dead horses and phoenix ashes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 May 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocdalmarusfantasyforumsopinionpvprumorssoeten-ton-hammervanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvsohTue, 20 May 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PotBS patch 1.5 is looming over of the horizon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/potbs-patch-1-5-is-looming-over-of-the-horizon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/potbs-patch-1-5-is-looming-over-of-the-horizon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/potbs-patch-1-5-is-looming-over-of-the-horizon/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Pirates of the Burning Sea has seen a few big changes since the game released. The latest addition to the fleet will be new pirate careers in patch 1.4. So what is coming up after buccaneers make their appearance on the high seas? A swabbing of the poop deck to be precise! All that combat and ship destruction leaves plenty of debris around that needs to be picked up. Patch 1.5 is going to do just that.

The details were revealed through an interview with Ten Ton Hammer. According to Flying Lab producer Joe Ludwig, the team is "spending the entire month working on nothing but polish." The coffee is brewing at their offices as the entire team focuses on getting the game to a point where it appears just the way they want it. Some pesky annoyances players often report should be getting a swift kick off the plank as well. Those are, of course, not the only things coming in the next update.

Joe declares that since users do pay a monthly fee, the team is committed to giving them both polish and new content. That content will be appearing as a second epic mission. Joe says it will be something based on the supernatural, but what exactly this means is not made clear. What is clear is that everyone from the lead developers to the interns are going to be cleaning up the world of Pirates of the Burning Sea for the benefit of swashbucklers everywhere.

MassivelyPotBS patch 1.5 is looming over of the horizon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flying-labjoe-ludwigpirates-of-the-burning-seapolishpotbspotbs-patch-1.4potbs-patch-1.5ten-ton-hammerMon, 19 May 2008 11:30:00 EST