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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[Betawatch: May 19 - 25, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/betawatch-may-19-25-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/betawatch-may-19-25-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/betawatch-may-19-25-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

The test is coming, it's plane to see.

This week in Betawatch, the biggest news is that the game everyone expected to be in beta isn't around. Guild Wars 2 is not running a beta weekend this weekend, meaning that anyone hoping to spend their long weekend in Tyria is going to have to go with the classic version. We also say farewell to Star Supremacy in wake of its launch.

However, for those who love testing unreleased games, it's not all bad news. World of Warplanes has announced its closed beta kicking off at the end of the month, and MechWarrior Online is heading into its closed beta this week. While you won't have a chance to get your paws on The Secret World just yet, we do have a nice new shiny set of impressions from the beta to help tide you over.

Jump on past the break to see the full list of what's still in testing!

Continue reading Betawatch: May 19 - 25, 2012

Betawatch: May 19 - 25, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 25 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: May 12 - 18, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch - D3

This week on Betawatch, we say farewell to Diablo III, which (at least nominally) moved on from beta to official launch on Tuesday. Bizarrely enchanting new MOBA SmashMuck Champions takes its place, joining our list with a closed beta planned within the month. We've also added MechWarrior Online to the alpha list, as reader mblakeman2001 rightly pointed out the game is in a friends-and-family beta!

CCP has begun sending out DUST 514 beta keys and opened registration, and we've also learned that Blade & Soul will leave beta and launch in July... but only in Korea. Sadface.

Finally, The Secret World's second beta weekend kicked off earlier today, but if you're not in it, you can content yourself with our hands-on with the game's combat and mission system.

Enjoy the entirety of our Betawatch roundup post-cut!

Continue reading Betawatch: May 12 - 18, 2012

Betawatch: May 12 - 18, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 18 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: May 5 - 11, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/betawatch-may-5-11-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/betawatch-may-5-11-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/betawatch-may-5-11-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

PSO2

The Spirit Tales open beta launched this week, bumping that game up a tier on our beta list. In fact, the game proved so popular that an additional beta server was added to accommodate the avalanche of fans of all things cute.

City of Steam has announced an alpha test for July, while Storybricks is accepting alpha signups for its alpha demo right now. Compounding the season's MMO drama is Phantasy Star Online 2, which is aiming to open up its beta early this summer.

The Secret World, with its 1,000,000 beta signups, is is kicking off its first beta weekend starting today. Meanwhile, Glitch's epic beta housing patch is finally upon us, World of Warcraft has unveiled cross-server grouping in the Mists of Pandaria beta, and Guild Wars 2 announced a surprise stress test for pre-purchasers this coming Monday.

Finally, if you're bored this weekend, why not check out Diablo III-rival Path of Exile? Tipsters Don and James report it's holding a public stress test starting right as this post is published at 8 p.m. EDT tonight.

The full Betawatch roundup lies in wait behind the break.

Continue reading Betawatch: May 5 - 11, 2012

Betawatch: May 5 - 11, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 11 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: April 28 - May 4, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/betawatch-april-28-may-4-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/betawatch-april-28-may-4-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/betawatch-april-28-may-4-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Lore, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch (Glitch)

Beta launches numbered few this week, but Betawatchers were amply supplied with beta news. Glitch launched its new imagination system, we logged hands-on time with Firefall, Diablo III unveiled the Wizard and the game's TV spot, Storybricks kickstarted a Kickstarter promotion, The Repopulation promised a sandbox-worthy gear system, and the Guild Wars 2 gem store crept online.

We also say farewell to TERA this week as it's now out of beta and available in the West!

The full Betawatch roundup is tucked behind the break, ready and waiting to take over your weekend.

Continue reading Betawatch: April 28 - May 4, 2012

Betawatch: April 28 - May 4, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 04 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: April 21 - 27, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/betawatch-april-21-27-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/betawatch-april-21-27-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/betawatch-april-21-27-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, Massively Meta, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch - Tamer Saga

Tamer Saga and Grimlands join Betawatch's closed beta list this week, while Pirate101 (arrrr!) and Dragon Crusade have been added to our alpha list. And if you were hoping to jump into Spirit Tales' open beta on Wednesday, you're out of luck: Koramgame has postponed that test until May 10th with a lengthy explanation.

Want in on the Neverwinter beta? Prepurchasing Torchlight 2 through Perfect World Entertainment's portal will guarantee your spot.

You're no doubt keeping a steady eye on both TERA, which has opened up its head start program in advance of launch next week, and Guild Wars 2, whose first beta event for prepurchasers began earlier today. EVE Fanfest attendees can now redeem their voucher codes for DUST 514 as well.

Finally, reader Chet tipped us off to the ~~rumor~~ fact that Salem beta test invites are going out!

Enjoy the full Betawatch roundup after the break.

Continue reading Betawatch: April 21 - 27, 2012

Betawatch: April 21 - 27, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betaroundupsalemtamer-sagatestingFri, 27 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: April 14 - 20, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/betawatch-april-14-20-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/betawatch-april-14-20-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/betawatch-april-14-20-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch - Otherland

Three new games join Betawatch this week! The Tad Williams-inspired Otherland is now accepting alpha sign-ups; Aeria Games announced Waren Story with a beta sign-up and a trailer; and Gamania opened up the testing rolls for its newest MMO, Soul Captor.

Meanwhile, heavy-hitters TERA and Guild Wars 2 are focusing on their impending beta weekends. TERA's first open beta weekend starts today, while Guild Wars 2 plans its first beta event for pre-purchasers next weekend.

Finally, Blizzard will be closing down the Diablo III beta come Tuesday in preparation for launch next month. That means that today through Monday is your last chance to get it on the open beta!

Read on for the full Betawatch roundup!

Continue reading Betawatch: April 14 - 20, 2012

Betawatch: April 14 - 20, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 20 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: April 7 - 13, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/betawatch-april-7-13-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/betawatch-april-7-13-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/betawatch-april-7-13-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch - Glitch

Betawatch bids farewell to Tribes: Ascend this week; it's officially launched and shiny, and even better, it's F2P, so go get your pew on! If you're that one guy who just doesn't dig jetpacks, maybe try a free beta key for UFO Online, currently still in closed beta.

Meanwhile, fantasy MMO heavyweights Guild Wars 2 and TERA have been ramping up their beta hype with sneak-peeks, open beta plans, and pre-purchase kickoffs. If you're more into vampires, you'll be pleased to learn that Dark Legends has also rolled out to Android phones and Chrome. And finally, we've gotten another update from the Glitch folks about that game's impending housing revamp.

Enjoy the full Betawatch roundup!

Continue reading Betawatch: April 7 - 13, 2012

Betawatch: April 7 - 13, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testingglitchlaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 13 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2012: Neverwinter discussion and impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-neverwinter-discussion-and-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-neverwinter-discussion-and-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-neverwinter-discussion-and-impressions/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, First Impressions, Massively Event Coverage

Okay, now to do the dungeon part.

Many words come to mind when you mention Dungeons & Dragons, but "action" is not usually one of them. So at first glance, Neverwinter might seem like a bit of an odd beast. The game is meant as an action-based MMORPG that takes place in the distant future of the beloved Neverwinter Nights series; it's being developed by Cryptic Studios and published by Perfect World Entertainment. While the game isn't yet in open testing, the early version was playable on the floor of PAX East, and we had a chance to sit down with Cryptic Studios to discuss the game's development.

I came to the show with no real expectations about the game beyond the fact that I knew the companies involved and was distantly aware of the game's development. I walked away more than a little impressed by what I had seen. However odd the collection of elements might seem, the game itself certainly piqued my interest.

Gallery: Neverwinter

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Neverwinter discussion and impressions

PAX East 2012: Neverwinter discussion and impressions originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoalphabetaconconventioncrypticcryptic-studiosdndearly-lookexpof2pfantasyfirst-impressionsfree-to-playhands-onimpressionsneverwinterpaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expoperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpreviewpreviewspwetestingSat, 07 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: March 31 - April 6, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/betawatch-march-31-april-6-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/betawatch-march-31-april-6-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/betawatch-march-31-april-6-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch (Star Conflict)

This week on Betawatch, we say farewell to Seven Souls Online and Blacklight Retribution, both of which have now launched officially. In their place, we've added two new games to keep an eye on: Star Conflict, a PvP-oriented space-combat MMO, joins our open beta list, while Grecca, a 2-D sandbox MMO, earns its city-building self a spot on our (open) alpha list.

Meanwhile, Spirit Tales announced an open beta date of April 25th, TERA kicked off its final closed beta weekend with a look at what open beta will entail, and Ensemble Online reached out for Kickstarter funding for its beta.

Enjoy the full Betawatch roundup beyond the break.

Continue reading Betawatch: March 31 - April 6, 2012

Betawatch: March 31 - April 6, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betaensemble-onlinefeaturedgame-testinggreccalaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 06 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Phantasy Star Online 2 posts a benchmark and character creator for all [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/phantasy-star-online-2-posts-a-benchmark-and-character-creator-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/phantasy-star-online-2-posts-a-benchmark-and-character-creator-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/phantasy-star-online-2-posts-a-benchmark-and-character-creator-f/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, New titles, Previews, News items

If there was ever an excuse for breaking out the Genesis for some 16-bit nostalgia, this is it.

If you're an American fan of Phantasy Star Online 2 -- or heck, just a non-Japanese fan -- you're kind of out of luck at the moment. The game is currently not anywhere near a translated state, and testing has thus been mostly limited to Japanese players. If you're in that unlucky boat, however, things are getting at least a little bit better now. The game's character creator and benchmark has just been released for all, whether or not you're testing the game or even able to read the language.

A fan blog for the game features both screenshots of the character creator and corresponding benchmark as well as a guide to getting the program to work on your machine. While it's not quite the same as being able to log into the game and enjoy the testing sequence, it's at least a chance to get a taste of what the game will be like when (and if) it comes to our shores.

[Update: Thanks to Venova for the original tip as well as the news that there's an unofficial English patch for this benchmark toy!]

Phantasy Star Online 2 posts a benchmark and character creator for all [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>benchmarkforeign-titlesgame-testingjapanjapanesephantasy-star-onlinephantasy-star-online-2previewspsopso2segasega-gamestestingupcoming-gamesThu, 05 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: March 24 - 30, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/betawatch-march-24-30-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/betawatch-march-24-30-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/betawatch-march-24-30-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch (UFO Online pic)

This week in Betawatch, UFO Online entered its next round of closed beta, World of Warcraft's Mists of Pandaria beta opened up to more annual pass subscribers, and Auto Club Revolution kicked off a testing phase of its own, thereby joining our official open beta list.

Tired of standard MMOs? MMOFPS Firefall has announced its next stage of beta, and fans of Roguelikes can pile on the Path of Exile public stress test all weekend (thanks to reader Carson for that tip).

Don't forget our coverage of the latest and greatest Guild Wars 2 beta media event!

The full Betawatch roundup is tucked behind the cut.

Continue reading Betawatch: March 24 - 30, 2012

Betawatch: March 24 - 30, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 30 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: March 17 - 23, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/betawatch-march-17-23-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/betawatch-march-17-23-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/betawatch-march-17-23-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch - WoW pic

This week has been huge for Betawatchers: The beta for World of Warcraft's Mists of Pandaria expansion kicked off, Wrath of Heroes' beta servers are now open, and Salem has begun accepting beta signups. We also learned that the End of Nations closed beta will start this spring.

Are you hoping to populate The Repopulation? Alpha signups went live just a few hours ago! Or maybe you're still waiting on Glitch's re-release? TinySpeck released a progress report earlier this evening (housing fans should go peek).

Finally, ArenaNet confirmed that a batch of Guild Wars 2 beta invites went out this week. Massively will be in attendance over the weekend, so tell us what you want to know and we'll do our best to focus on it!

The full Betawatch roundup is after the cut!

Continue reading Betawatch: March 17 - 23, 2012

Betawatch: March 17 - 23, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingthe-repopulationFri, 23 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[End of Nations closed beta to start in spring, open beta in summer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/end-of-nations-closed-beta-to-start-in-spring-open-beta-in-summ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/end-of-nations-closed-beta-to-start-in-spring-open-beta-in-summ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/end-of-nations-closed-beta-to-start-in-spring-open-beta-in-summ/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Previews, News items, War, Free-to-play, MMORTS

If you're a fan of the underrepresented MMORTS genre, you've likely been waiting for news from Trion Worlds regarding the upcoming End of Nations. That makes today quite a good day for you because the team behind the game has just revealed the plan of attack for the game from this moment forward. Beta testing is barreling toward potential players (who are encouraged to register for an upcoming slot), with the game opening up sometime in the spring.

Not in the mood to wait for a closed beta slot? Hoping for one but not trusting your luck? That's all right -- open beta is set to start in the summer, giving everyone a chance to get in on the large-scale persistent tactical battles. Past that, players can expect the game to launch completely free-to-play, most likely sometime in the fall. The announcement video just past the cut also promises that players can look forward to a lot more in the way of news updates, something that should help contribute to the overall good feeling of any MMORTS fans.

[Source: Trion Worlds press release]

Continue reading End of Nations closed beta to start in spring, open beta in summer

End of Nations closed beta to start in spring, open beta in summer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testingbetabeta-testingend-of-nationseonf2pfree-to-playmmortsnewspetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespreviewrtssci-fitestingtrailertriontrion-worldsvideowarWed, 21 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Betas are a boon vs. betas are a bust]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/leaderboard-betas-are-a-boon-vs-betas-are-a-bust/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/leaderboard-betas-are-a-boon-vs-betas-are-a-bust/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/leaderboard-betas-are-a-boon-vs-betas-are-a-bust/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Culture, Opinion, Leaderboard

Leaderboard

For many, betas are the apex of the pre-launch experience. After months and even years of hearing about a title, discussing it rabidly, and scouring the internet for information on it, fans are finally given the chance to try it out for themselves. For many, this is wonderful, a drink of water to a parched gaming soul. For many, but not for all.

You see, betas can be a doubled-edged sword, capable of hurting as much as helping. They can be a boon to those who truly want to help a game's development by testing for bugs, they can help players decide if this is a product worth purchasing, and they can assist in getting one's "game legs" before the main event begins. However, betas have been known to foster an environment of entitlement ("Why isn't this game 100% polished? I judge it fail!") while robbing the newness of an MMO that has yet to release.

So, overall, do you deem that betas are a boon to the community or a bust? Are they useful tools for both developers and players, or are they nothing but glorified demos that harm more than help? Put your vote where your opinion is after the jump!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Betas are a boon vs. betas are a bust

Leaderboard: Betas are a boon vs. betas are a bust originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalbetabetasbug-testingdemodemosleaderboardone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollspublic-demostestingversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 19 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: March 10 - 16, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/betawatch-march-10-16-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/betawatch-march-10-16-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/betawatch-march-10-16-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch - Spirit Tales

Happy Friday, Betawatchers! This week, Spirit Tales entered closed beta, Seven Souls Online and Command & Conquer Tiberium Alliances joined our open beta list, and we caught more than a glimpse of The Secret World's current beta build at GDC.

Yesterday, we gave away 10,000 closed beta test keys for TERA. Apparently, you guys really wanted in because they're all gone. But if you didn't snag one, maybe you'll want to check out RaiderZ or one of the other Betawatch games in the list after the break!

Continue reading Betawatch: March 10 - 16, 2012

Betawatch: March 10 - 16, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 16 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: March 3 - 9, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/betawatch-march-3-9-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/betawatch-march-3-9-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/betawatch-march-3-9-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, New titles, Massively Meta, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch - Tribes Ascend pic

GDC has brought with it several tweaks to the Betawatch list! We've learned that DUST 514 will be entering a more open beta come April and Tribes: Ascend will officially launch on April 12th.

Meanwhile, the TERA team has kicked off a series of contests to accompany its third closed beta weekend. Line of Defense and Remanum have begun accepting beta signups; Dragon Born aims for a closed beta later this month; and City of Steam is offering a sneak-peek for long-time followers.

Finally, we say farewell to Rise of Dragonian Era, which launched today, and Crystal Saga, which launches on March 12th.

Enjoy the full Betawatch roundup!

Continue reading Betawatch: March 3 - 9, 2012

Betawatch: March 3 - 9, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betacrystal-sagafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarise-of-dragonian-eraroderounduptestingFri, 09 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The gates hiss open for a peek at City of Steam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/the-gates-hiss-open-for-a-peek-at-city-of-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/the-gates-hiss-open-for-a-peek-at-city-of-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/the-gates-hiss-open-for-a-peek-at-city-of-steam/#commentsFiled under: Betas, New titles, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Miscellaneous

This screenshot looks more like it comes from the City of Green Women With Cool Armor and Guns. Which is a pretty neat city too.

The steampunk genre is loved by a lot of gamers, but it has yet to see a surfeit of titles. The good news for fans is that City of Steam is on the horizon, and it's promising a free-to-play browser-based experience for anyone who wants to take part in exploring ancient mechanical ruins. Of course, the question then becomes whether or not the game is worth the investment of time... something that can be solved by taking part in the game's currently running sneak peek event.

The sneak peek is available only to players who already snagged a code for access, meaning that players just coming into the game will be out of luck. It's certainly an encouraging sign that the game is moving toward its full release, which should make fans of clockwork automatons and arcane science quite happy. And if you're one of the players taking part in the sneak peek... well, all the better, right?

The gates hiss open for a peek at City of Steam originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetasbrowserbrowser-gamescity-of-steamcosf2pfree-to-playin-game-eventsmachinist-gamesnew-titlessneak-peeksteampunktestingupcoming-titlesSun, 04 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: February 25 - March 2, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/betawatch-february-25-march-2-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/betawatch-february-25-march-2-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/betawatch-february-25-march-2-2012/#commentsFiled under: Betas, MMO industry, News items, Betawatch, Miscellaneous

Betawatch - Wafku image

Betawatch makes its final farewells to Wakfu this week; the strategy-sandbox launched on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Rise of Dragonian Era aims to launch March 9th, RaiderZ plans to open its alpha test on March 14th, and Spirit Tales will begin closed beta on March 15th.

There's a bit of sad news for fans of Stellar Dawn and Dawntide; the development of both titles has been paused as their respective studios regroup.

Finally, we scored some hands-on time with pseudo-MMOs End of Nations and Blacklight: Retribution.

Enjoy the rest of this week's Betawatch roundup beyond the cut!

Continue reading Betawatch: February 25 - March 2, 2012

Betawatch: February 25 - March 2, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarise-of-dragonian-eraroderoundupspirit-talestestingwakfuFri, 02 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Call the exterminator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/hyperspace-beacon-call-the-exterminator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/hyperspace-beacon-call-the-exterminator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/hyperspace-beacon-call-the-exterminator/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Bugs, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

Hyperspace Beacon: Call the exterminator

When deciding what I want to talk about on the Hyperspace Beacon every week, I check over the buzz from various news outlets, personal experiences, and columns from the community. An internet community will inevitably steer toward the negative -- that's just the nature of the internet. And one of the most common themes out there is bugs. I am not talking about Killiks; I mean parts of the game that are not working as intended.

When we -- the press and other fansites -- gave our impressions of Star Wars: The Old Republic, we were at conventions or at lower levels in the game. Level 28 was the highest I ever reached in any beta, and conventions set us on a predetermined path. At that time, I was completely impressed with the level of polish the game had received. I still believe that this game has fewer bugs than a good chunk of MMOs; however, there are certainly more bugs in this game than I'd expect from a single-player release.

I could probably spend a whole article just listing unintended issues with the game, but I do like to be the voice of reason as well. On top of that, I want to see SWTOR succeed. Therefore, beyond just talking about bugs, let's deal with the overall issue of why these critters pop up in the first place.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Call the exterminator

Hyperspace Beacon: Call the exterminator originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebugsdc-universe-onlinedcuoeaelectronic-artsendgamefeaturedhyperspace-beaconlucasartsopinionptspublic-test-serversci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortestingthe-old-republictorTue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SteelWar Online kicks off alpha testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/steelwar-online-kicks-off-alpha-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/steelwar-online-kicks-off-alpha-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/steelwar-online-kicks-off-alpha-testing/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser

Once those robots have you in their grasp, you can't escape. Because robots are made of steel, and steel is strong.

Are there enough robots in your life? If your answer is "yes," you're most likely not concerned about the alpha testing of SteelWar Online. For those of us who instead welcome our new mechanical overlords, the kickoff of the alpha test is good news, as it means that the game is drawing ever closer to release. And seeing as it's a browser-based game available directly via Facebook, you'll have an easy time if you feel the urge to take part in said testing.

Not a big fan of testing free-to-play games? Well, developer PopPace is trying to sweeten the pot slightly. During the alpha test, players will be given the equivalent of $2000 to blow in the game's cash shop, unlocking every option at will. While that's only good for the alpha test, players will receive an extra stash of microtransaction currency once the game goes live, and an extra stipend will be granted to players who find and report bugs. It's just the thing to fill that robot-shaped void in your life.

[Source: PopPace press release]

SteelWar Online kicks off alpha testing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testingbetabrowserbrowser-gamesearly-testingf2pfacebookfacebook-gamesfree-to-playnew-gamespoppacerobotssteelwar-onlinetestingWed, 15 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Singularity UI test coming tomorrow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/eve-singularity-ui-test-coming-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/eve-singularity-ui-test-coming-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/eve-singularity-ui-test-coming-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox

EVE Online - Helios and a wormhole

It's almost time for the next EVE Online Singularity test. What's Singularity? It's the New Eden equivalent of a test server, and you can connect to it by following the steps for the SisiLauncher tool on the EVE website.

This week's test starts tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. Eastern and will last about an hour. CCP says you'll be testing "performance improvements to the overview window and other parts of the UI," and your character will receive two million skillpoints to distribute as you see fit.

Further info is available on the (new and improved) EVE web portal.

EVE Singularity UI test coming tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseveeve-onlineinternet-spaceshipsmass-testsandboxsci-fisingularitytestingMon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online 'ambitiously' re-itemizing the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/champions-online-ambitiously-re-itemizing-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/champions-online-ambitiously-re-itemizing-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/champions-online-ambitiously-re-itemizing-the-game/#commentsFiled under: Super-hero, Previews, Free-to-play, Champions Online, Dev Diaries

Champions Online

As the groundhog pops up to see his shadow, so too do the devs of Champions Online pop up with their monthly UNTIL Field Report, dishing out the plans and proposed future updates for the game. This month's report is rather lengthy and kicks off with a promise about upcoming "ambitious" re-itemization of all items and rewards in Champions.

Currently in testing and on deck for the near future is a '90s Iron Age costume set, alerts, zone balancing, and a look at why them women folk walk so dang funny (apparently arms and legs are moving out of sync on female characters). Players also have a new travel power -- Distortion Acrobatics -- and specialization trees to look forward to.

There's also some good information in the report as to why some features and concerns have yet to move from low to high priority, such as the "lukewarm" feedback of team duels and the difficulties of balancing XP gifting.

As the next update for Champions Online nears, Cryptic promises a more in-depth series of dev diaries detailing the changes.

Champions Online 'ambitiously' re-itemizing the game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-studiosdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playiron-ageitemizationpatchpreviewre-itemizationtest-servertestinguntil-field-reportupcoming-patchupdateFri, 03 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard continuing to make big mechanical changes to Diablo III]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, News items, Miscellaneous

In the next patch, perhaps these will all be bunnies.

While there's still no release date set for Diablo III, it seems the release may be further off than some players were guessing, judging by the latest round of sweeping system overhauls. A new post by game director Jay Wilson goes over several major changes being made to the game, starting with the fact that Scrolls of Identify are gone. You have a short casting time to identify and item and that's it, with no need to carry around a separate item.

The latest changes also remove the Mystic artisan, the Cauldron of Jordan, and the Nephalem Cube. The latter two were removed due to the inclusion of a Town Portal button, making trips back and forth far easier, while the Mystic artisan lacked a sufficiently defined role amidst other item modifications. There's also a major stat overhaul, which reduces the core attributes to Strength, Dexterity, Intellect, and Vitality. They're far-reaching changes, and only time will tell how much their impact might slow the game's release as the team tests the altered systems.

Blizzard continuing to make big mechanical changes to Diablo III originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdiablodiablo-3diablo-iiigame-testinggame-updatesjay-wilsonnewssystem-changessystem-overhaulssystemstestingThu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jagged Alliance Online adds in PvP for testers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/jagged-alliance-online-adds-in-pvp-for-testers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/jagged-alliance-online-adds-in-pvp-for-testers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/jagged-alliance-online-adds-in-pvp-for-testers/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Real life, Game mechanics, PvP, News items, War, Free-to-play

He shot my bike? He shot my bike! Why are you negotiating with the man who just shot my bike?!

If you've been playing in the closed beta of Jagged Alliance Online thus far, the "Online" portion of that name has probably seemed to be something of a misnomer. Beta testers have been exploring the game mechanics from the point of set missions against AI opponents, but that's all about to change. Cliffhanger Productions and gamigo have just unveiled the game's new multiplayers modes, with three different modes and six different maps for players to take up arms against one another.

The three modes consist of Deathmatch (self-explanatory), Bounty Hunter (a race to fight to a target and be the first to kill said target), and Search and Destroy (destroy three targets while protecting your own). Players will be matched via a matchmaker system based upon levels and position in the overall rankings, preventing unfair matches (in theory) and giving good players more substantive rewards for success. If you've got a need for some online turn-based strategy, it might be well worth keeping an eye on these features at they develop.

[Source: gamigo press release]

Jagged Alliance Online adds in PvP for testers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacliffhanger-productionsclosed-betaf2pfree-to-playgamigojagged-alliance-onlinejaonew-titlespvppvp-modesstrategytestingturn-based-strategyupcoming-titlesupdatesMon, 16 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT asks its community to test raids]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/rift-opens-up-to-the-community-for-raid-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/rift-opens-up-to-the-community-for-raid-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/rift-opens-up-to-the-community-for-raid-testing/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Guilds, Patches, Endgame, News items, RIFT

You will probably not be fighting this guy. Things are looking up already!

Do you like RIFT? Do you like raiding? Do you like to test raids in RIFT? Well, then, your ship may very well have come in. The team at Trion Worlds is looking to get some solid raid testing going, giving players a chance to see the next tier of raiding before it goes live. So the call is going out to guilds that have demolished the current endgame, and the best of the best will be pitted against the newest challenges on the horizon.

To be eligible, guilds must have at least 20 members able to participate in two hours of raiding two nights per week; they must also currently be at 11/11 in Hammerknell. Candidates are also expected to have mature members capable of responsible feedback, since they are going to be testing new and possibly buggy combat. If you think your guild qualifies, have your guild leader (which may be you) respond to the call. And be prepared to blow through everything in minutes once it goes live -- that's always the risk.

RIFT asks its community to test raids originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycommunity-eventsendgameendgame-testingguildguildsraid-testingraidingraidsriftrift-planes-of-telaratest-servertestingtriontrion-worldsTue, 10 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA consolidating servers in Japan [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/teras-japanese-beta-test-to-shrink-by-66/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/teras-japanese-beta-test-to-shrink-by-66/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/teras-japanese-beta-test-to-shrink-by-66/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Fantasy, TERA

TERA

While highly anticipated in the West, not all is sunshine and rainbows for TERA overseas. Under assault by bots and bugs, NHN Japan announced that it will be reducing the number of open beta players currently in the game down to 33% by consolidating servers. Players in Japan shell out $38.50 per month to test the game.

TERA's been testing in Japan for five months now and has shown promise, with over 48,000 concurrent players logging in at one point. Even though the beta test is shrinking in players, NHN is making tweaks to the game to improve the experience for those who remain. These improvements include doubling the amount of free time for new players and cutting the cooldown time of dungeons in half while increasing the amount of loot dropped.

NHN Japan says that the population decrease will help to improve the game's performance as it progresses in testing: "Although the CCU has been decreased from the initial start, it is now more stable than we expected. The server consolidation is to promote better cooperative play."

The Korean beta test of TERA conducted a similar server consolidation last May.

[Update: While the developers are currently consolidating servers, TERA is no longer in beta testing in Japan. TERA launched several months back as a subscription-based game. We apologize for the confusion.]

TERA consolidating servers in Japan [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testingconcurrent-playersconcurrent-usersconsolidationen-massejapanjapanesenhnnhn-japanopen-betaopen-beta-testpopulationserver-consolidationserversteratestingWed, 28 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic beta test attracts 2 million players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/star-wars-the-old-republic-beta-test-attracts-2-million-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/star-wars-the-old-republic-beta-test-attracts-2-million-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/star-wars-the-old-republic-beta-test-attracts-2-million-players/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic

It's no secret that Star Wars: The Old Republic is one of the most highly anticipated MMORPGs in recent memory, and the game's recently concluded public testing phase confirms the hype. The game's publisher, EA, announced that the SWTOR test phase drew in over 2 million players, and of those 2 million, 750,000 unique players jumped into the game over the Thanksgiving weekend alone.

EA also shared some interesting statistics about the game's test players. Over the holiday weekend, players averaged about 12 hours of game time each for a grand total of over 9 million hours of playtime across the playerbase. If you didn't get a chance to try the beta, or if you simply couldn't get enough, you don't have much longer to wait. The game launches in about two weeks on December 20th, with pre-order head start beginning on the 15th.

Star Wars: The Old Republic beta test attracts 2 million players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2-million2-million-playersbetabiowareeaelectronic-artsplayersstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortestingtesting-weekendthanksgiving-weekendunique-playersMon, 05 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic approaching the final phase of testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-approaching-the-final-phase-of-testi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-approaching-the-final-phase-of-testi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-approaching-the-final-phase-of-testi/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Guilds, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Republic agents preparing to beta test The Even Older Republic. It's pretty meta.

It's hard to believe that after all this time, Star Wars: The Old Republic is launching in less than a month. As you would expect, the game is making its final testing pushes for players. According to Stephen "Rockjaw" Reid's Twitter feed, players selected for the final testing weekend will be seeing schedules sent out over the next 12 hours, with players allowed to start testing either Friday or Saturday, starting at 11:00 a.m. EST. Existing testers and visitors to the site will also have to contend with some degree of maintenance trouble, as the site is experiencing an understandable groundswell of traffic.

The final push also means that the deadline is approaching for players to get in on the Pre-Launch Guild Program, which ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on December 2nd. This means that players who fulfill all the requirements will be able to transfer their guilds straight into the live game -- but they'll have to finalize everything before the deadline. So if you're a guild leader with a few things left to finish up before launch, the holiday weekend might be an ideal time.

Star Wars: The Old Republic approaching the final phase of testing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-conclusionbeta-testingbeta-weekendbiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicbioware-star-warsbioware-swtoreaelectronic-artslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgpre-launch-guild-programrockjawstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicstephen-reidstephen-rockjaw-reidsw-torswtortestingtesting-conclusionthe-old-republicWed, 23 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA monthly chat talks public previews, PvP, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/tera-monthly-chat-talks-public-previews-pvp-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/tera-monthly-chat-talks-public-previews-pvp-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/tera-monthly-chat-talks-public-previews-pvp-and-more/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, PvP, News items, TERA

Screenshot -- TERA

TERA's November edition of the monthly Twitter dev chat has been posted on the game's official site, and it brings a few choice morsels involving the current alpha test and the upcoming closed beta. The team notes that the current testing is going quite well, and the first public preview event will be starting in early 2012.

Many players also ask about the game's open world PvP, and the team mentions that a free-for-all-from-level-1 PvP server is not out of the question, though it won't happen at launch. Master glyphs, guild wars, and fashion customization are all on the table as well, so for the full transcript, head on over to the official TERA site.

TERA monthly chat talks public previews, PvP, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholecombaten-masseen-masse-entertainmentguild-warsproduction-chatpublic-previewspvpteratera-onlinetestingthe-exiled-realm-of-arboreatwitterTue, 22 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR beta participants log one meeeeellion hours of testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/swtor-beta-participants-log-one-meeeeellion-hours-of-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/swtor-beta-participants-log-one-meeeeellion-hours-of-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/swtor-beta-participants-log-one-meeeeellion-hours-of-testing/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Dr. Evil says one meeellion testing hours is quite a lot

If it seemed like everyone and their dog got in on last weekend's Star Wars: The Old Republic beta event, well, they did. BioWare invited tens of thousands of Star Wars fans to the TOR testing party, and probably a few Star Trek fans and the blue glowy spirits of dearly departed Jedi Knights as well. The mass invites are designed to strain the servers prior to the game's December 15th launch date, and BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk says this is just the beginning.

"One crazy number is we had over a million hours of testing over the weekend. It was a huge test, and there are even bigger ones coming. The key thing is for us to take those learnings, apply them and make the service really stable. We're happy with the game," Zeschuk told Eurogamer.

Zeschuk and his BioWare cohorts aren't exactly raising pinkies to lips like an overconfident supervillain, though. "Everyone's cautiously optimistic. We're all very paranoid," Zeschuk said, before going on to explain how BioWare will carefully control TOR's launch availability to ensure a smooth experience.

SWTOR beta participants log one meeeeellion hours of testing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testingbeta-weekendbiowareea-biowareElectronic-Artsgreg-zeschuksci-fistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstress-testswtortestingtorWed, 16 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefall dev update talks beta progress, testing schedules]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/firefall-dev-update-talks-beta-progress-testing-schedules/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/firefall-dev-update-talks-beta-progress-testing-schedules/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/firefall-dev-update-talks-beta-progress-testing-schedules/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS

Firefall - vehicle screenshot

Wondering how Firefall is progressing as we inch closer to the end of the year? Wonder no more, as a new Red 5 dev blog sheds a bit of light on what's happening with everyone's favorite cel-shaded MMO shooter.

The dev team is currently focused on Firefall's open world experience, and said functionality is currently at the center of "a huge push for us this month," Red 5 says.

The dev blog also makes mention of the relatively limited access to beta, and says that players shouldn't worry if they haven't received invites yet. "It is definitely not a demo of the game. There are many times where testing is nothing but repeatedly banging your head against a wall while we watch the log files," Red 5 explains. The devs also plan to roll out more beta invites as infrastructure allows, with the process stretching "all the way into next year."

Firefall dev update talks beta progress, testing schedules originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-invitescel-shadeddev-blogdev-diaryf2pfirefallfpsfree-to-playmmo-shootermmofpsopen-worldred-5red-5-studiossci-fishootertestingWed, 09 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Isometric DarkEden vampire MMO enters closed beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/isometric-darkeden-vampire-mmo-enters-closed-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/isometric-darkeden-vampire-mmo-enters-closed-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/isometric-darkeden-vampire-mmo-enters-closed-beta/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

DarkEden screenshot

Quick, name a vampire-themed MMORPG other than CCP's long-awaited World of Darkness. If you said DarkEden, you get a gold star. The isometric hack-and-slash game debuted way back in 1997 and while none of its various versions really caught on in the western market, that's not stopping Ignited Games from attempting to reanimate the game for a modern audience.

The game features three races and "distinctive gameplay mechanics and methods for character progression such as the vampire's need to drink blood to gain experience points," according to a new press release. DarkEden's closed beta phase is currently live, and you can sign up for a chance to test at the game's official website.

[Source: Ignited Games press release]

Isometric DarkEden vampire MMO enters closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaclosed-betadarkedendarkeden-onlinef2pfantasyfree-to-playhack-and-slashhorrorignitedignited-gamesisometrictestingvampire-mmovampiresTue, 08 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online dev blog talks test server rewards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/star-trek-online-dev-blog-talks-test-server-rewards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/star-trek-online-dev-blog-talks-test-server-rewards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/star-trek-online-dev-blog-talks-test-server-rewards/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Bugs, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries

Star Trek Online - Scotty with tribbles

Star Trek Online's latest dev blog is live, and executive producer Stephen D'Angelo spends a bit of time talking about tribbles. Rest easy, they're not taking over the Cryptic offices, and D'Angelo spends this week's Path to F2P installment outlining the benefits of participating on the game's Tribble test server.

The dev team has increased the character transfer limit, and players may now copy up to three of their avatars from the main server. D'Angelo outlines the various rewards available for players willing to roll up their sleeves and get down and dirty with the bug squashing. The goodies range from tribble pets (naturally) to XP boosts and Dilithium chunks. Exclusive titles, starship slots, and duty officers are also available, so head over to the test shard and do your part!

Star Trek Online dev blog talks test server rewards originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bug-squashingbugscharacter-copycrypticcryptic-studiosdev-blogdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playperfect-world-entertainmentpwerewardsscif-istar-trek-onlinestephen-dangelostotest-servertestingtribbletribblesFri, 04 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Repopulation update talks tutorials, testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-repopulation-update-talks-tutorials-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-repopulation-update-talks-tutorials-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-repopulation-update-talks-tutorials-testing/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Sandbox

The Repopulation - scary mob critters

Development on The Repopulation is moving right along, and Above & Beyond Technologies has updated fans with a lengthy October recap.

The lion's share of the work during the past month went towards preparing the sci-fi sandbox for testing, and the news blurb mentions a new tutorial system that focuses on repeatable training scenarios. While many sandbox MMOs have simply thrown players into the middle of the action and expected them to figure out complex systems as they go, The Repopulation looks to be placing a premium on educating new users before turning them loose.

Also on the testing front, the devs are targeting "early 2012" for beta, and the exact date will depend on how quickly the team can develop content and stockpile enough of it "to keep players busy during the initial months." Finally, there are quite a few patch-note-style updates in this month's recap, and you can find the full post on the official Repopulation website.

The Repopulation update talks tutorials, testing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiesbetacontentdevelopment-updaterepopulationsandboxsci-fitestingthe-repopulationtutorialsThu, 03 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA exalts its game testing team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/tera-exalts-its-game-testing-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/tera-exalts-its-game-testing-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/tera-exalts-its-game-testing-team/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Fantasy, TERA, Dev Diaries

TERA team

"You'll probably never see our names until you read the credits, but we have one of the most important jobs in game publishing," writes Scott James Magner. He heads up the "unsung heroes" of the TERA development team -- the game testers -- and he's written up a few fun insights into the behind-the-scenes process that is helping to refine this MMO as it heads to launch.

According to Magner, the En Masse QA team's been flooded with requests to join the testing and feedback process as they continually poke and prod at all of TERA's systems and content. "At this point," he says, "we've played every class and race multiple times, but no one is tired of coming to work."

The team is currently testing fights against "Big-Ass Monsters" in the Celestial Hills, and Magner says he's still learning new combos and techniques even after a full year of testing. While the testing team usually is far out of the spotlight, he says that its job is crucial to the game's success and that all of the testers are "you" at heart -- passionate gamers who want the best for this title.

[Thanks to Joseph for the tip!]

TERA exalts its game testing team originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bambig-ass-monstersdev-diarydeveloper-diaryen-masseen-masse-entertainmentgame-testersgame-testingqaqa-teamquality-assurancescott-james-magnerteratesterstestingThu, 27 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI gets an updated roadmap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/final-fantasy-xi-gets-an-updated-roadmap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/final-fantasy-xi-gets-an-updated-roadmap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/final-fantasy-xi-gets-an-updated-roadmap/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, News items, Consoles

Don't ask why, it's on a chart. It must be true if it's on a chart.

The promised day is coming to Final Fantasy XI. Specifically, the promised day on which the level cap finally reaches its long-awaited new limit of 99, something that players have been waiting for more or less since the game's launch. But that's not the only thing that's coming around the bend, as detailed in the game's new roadmap stretching from this month out until March of next year. While the dates listed are only for the rollout of features onto the game's test server, it still gives a good idea of what players can expect shortly thereafter.

Updates to jobs and Merit Points are pretty easy to predict as the game rolls to its last update of the level cap, as are the addition of new Magian trials. Players can also expect updates to the Voidwatch battles, new Burning Circle battlefields, and a variety of quality-of-life improvements to several facets of gameplay. There's no hint on what might be coming after March, but it looks as if Final Fantasy XI will at least be starting the year off on the right foot.

Final Fantasy XI gets an updated roadmap originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>development-roadmapffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xifuture-patchesfuture-updatesgame-roadmaplong-term-previewspatchespreviewssquaresquare-enixtestingupdatesMon, 24 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Bad beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/the-soapbox-bad-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/the-soapbox-bad-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/the-soapbox-bad-beta/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

The current circus for betas. Featuring giant robots and Jedi.

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

So the beta for Star Wars: The Old Republic is currently taking place. And while you may be under an NDA and not allowed to say anything, I can freely say that I am not under an NDA without fear of reprisal. I can tell you that despite the fact that almost every other writer on staff seems to be in the beta -- I'm not in it.

And truth be told, I'm not sure if I would be logging in even if I were part of the beta. Not because I don't want to play the game -- no, I preordered as soon as the option was available; I've been watching the news and looking forward to release for quite some time now. I've liked what I've played, and I know I'm going to buy it. But the fact of the matter is that betas are just plain terrible, for several reasons.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Bad beta

The Soapbox: Bad beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beta-accessbeta-keysbeta-testbeta-testingclosed-betacolumnculturefeaturedopen-betaopinionsoapboxstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortesterstestingthe-soapboxtorTue, 18 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online outlining the road to free-to-play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/star-trek-online-outlining-the-road-to-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/star-trek-online-outlining-the-road-to-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/star-trek-online-outlining-the-road-to-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Business models, Previews, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play

Poke the energy being with a stick, sir? Sure thing! This is probably okay.

The conversion to free-to-play isn't here yet for Star Trek Online, but it's on its way. And like so many things in the franchise, it's starting off with a sacrificial redshirt. Specifically, it's kicking off with the advent of the RedShirt test server for the game, as explained in the first "Path to F2P" blog entry on the official site. It's not that Tribble, the longtime test server, is being removed altogether -- instead, it's being repurposed to allow current subscribers a preview of the game's upcoming conversion.

According to executive producer Stephen D'Angelo, Tribble will reopen for players on the 29th, although it will not be accepting character transfers upon opening. This is intentional, as the development team wants players to test out the new early portions of the game and enjoy the revised experience. It's the start of what promises to be a long path, but current subscribers and the team behind the game get to walk it one step at a time.

Star Trek Online outlining the road to free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelconversioncrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdevelopmentf2pfree-to-playpreviewsredshirtst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestephen-dangelostotest-servertestingtrek-onlinetribbleThu, 29 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[XL Games teases new ArcheAge screenshots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/xl-games-teases-new-archeage-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/xl-games-teases-new-archeage-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/xl-games-teases-new-archeage-screenshots/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Screenshots, MMO industry, New titles, News items, ArcheAge, Sandbox

ArcheAge - player ships

ArcheAge may be a ways off from its North American and European debut, but that's not stopping fans of XL Games' upcoming sandpark from scouring the far corners of the web for the latest news.

Today we've got a few new screenshots for you to ogle, and they cover everything from the fantasy title's stunning naturescapes, to some newly revealed personal-sized boats, to what appears to be one of the hang-gliders from the ChinaJoy trailer released earlier this year. Fan site ArcheAge Online has the details, and the source article says that XL is teasing these shots as a quick preview of what players can expect during the fourth phase of Korean closed beta testing.

CBT4 doesn't have a fixed schedule as of yet, but we'll keep you up to date on it, as well as all the latest ArcheAge news as it happens.

XL Games teases new ArcheAge screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arche-agearcheagebetaboatscbt4fantasyhang-gliderkorean-betakorean-closed-betaplayer-boatsplayer-shipssailingsandboxsandparkshipstestingxlxl-gamesSat, 24 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare talks SWTOR testing, post-release content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/bioware-talks-swtor-testing-post-release-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/bioware-talks-swtor-testing-post-release-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/bioware-talks-swtor-testing-post-release-content/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars The Old Republic - Jedi and droid

BioWare project director James Ohlen is apparently on the PR circuit of late, as a new interview at Gamasutra marks his second major gaming publication appearance in the last two days. This time around, there's nary a mention of Star Wars: The Old Republic's companions.

There is, however, some interesting chit-chat about polish, post-release content plans, and the necessity of MMORPG playtesting. Ohlen downplays the notion that large-scale fan testing is paramount to a game's success, saying that "the big changes that we've been making were planned from way before."

He acknowledges that beta testers have their uses, but says that the BioWare devs would be "terrible game designers" if they didn't figure things out on their own. "It's good for fans to feel like they're having an impact, and sometimes they do," Ohlen says. "There [have] been surprises on the project, but mostly they've come from us playtesting this stuff."

BioWare talks SWTOR testing, post-release content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testersbeta-testingbiowareclosed-betadesigngame-designinterviewjames-ohlensci-fiscience-fantasystar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtortestingFri, 23 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST