Massively

ArenaNet releases a sneak peek of The Making of Guild Wars 2

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, Guild Wars 2

Whether you've reserved one of the coveted Guild Wars 2 collector's edition or are too poor or uninterested to have done so, ArenaNet has a special treat for each and every one of you today. Continuing its blog series highlighting the collector's editions insides, ArenaNet posted three spreads (that's six pages) of the book The Making of Guild Wars 2.

The revealed pages discuss the creation of the Mesmer class (which was apparently never in doubt), the difficulty of mastering the Necromancer and Thief professions, how the game was designed, the differences between Guild Wars' and Guild Wars 2's hex mechanics, and the effort that went into producing the game's many and varied creatures.

This hardcover book is 112 pages and comes with full-color concept art, screenshots, and developer insights into the construction of the game. Earlier today we reported on ArenaNet's glimpse into the creation of the collector's edition statue.

ArenaNet releases a sneak peek of The Making of Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars 2 dev blog talks achievements, Thief tweaks

Jef Reahard — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2

It's been a trying year for impatient Guild Wars 2 fans, but 2011 is closing on something of a high note due to recent beta rumblings as well as an increase in the ArenaNet information trickle. The latest blurb is a year-end development update courtesy of Eric Flannum and Jon Peters, and Flannum kicks things off with a fairly detailed look at the game's achievement system.

As it turns out, GW2's achievements come in three flavors, and they comprise long-term goals, dailies, and monthly tasks that "encourage a variety of play and reward you with gold and experience."

Peters details recent changes to Thief class gameplay, and he pays particular attention to the steal and backstab abilities. He also spends a bit of time talking about improvements to combat timing and animations. "Making these improvements has been really interesting and fun because it has shown us how our game can feel appropriately action-oriented without taking away the familiarity of the MMO genre," Peters explains.

Guild Wars 2 dev blog talks achievements, Thief tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Now that all Guild Wars 2 professions are revealed, which will you play?

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, The Daily Grind

Earlier this week, the internet exploded with a leaked reveal of Guild Wars 2's eighth profession: the Mesmer. The official reveal soon followed, with some of the most amazing skill videos and game mechanics to ever hit an MMO class. OK, so I'm a Mesmer fanboi. Sue me.

But now that we can flip through the entire array of Guild Wars 2 professions, we're left with the question about what class to play... or play first.

Will you be burning stuff with the Elementalist, bashing stuff with the Warrior, or shooting stuff with the Ranger? Perhaps you'd like to pander to your inner kleptomaniac by playing a Thief or dance with the dead as a Necromancer. Throw in the Guardian, Engineer, and Mesmer, and it's fairly impossible to pick just one.

So which will you play first? Let us know your profession plans for Guild Wars 2 in the comments below.

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

The Daily Grind: Now that all Guild Wars 2 professions are revealed, which will you play? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 1

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Classes, Game mechanics, Opinion, Consoles, The Mog Log

The character creator in Final Fantasy XI was my first exposure to character creation in MMOs, which is disappointing. There's no way to paint it as a good system, at least not to someone who is more or less powered by character customization. But it did give you your first six options for character class, and since we're starting the no doubt many-part series on character classes in both games as of today, it's relevant.

At the beginning of the game, you choose a class selected from the same six classes that have made up the "default" arrangement for the series since, well, 1987. Today, I'm going to take a look at the three physical classes from that initial assortment: the Warrior, the Thief, and the Monk. We're going to be using the same initial criteria that kicked off this series, so take a moment to look at that if you're unfamiliar. Without further ado, let's get to classes!

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 1

The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 1 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aeria reveals new Lime Odyssey website, trailer

Jef Reahard — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Crafting

Aeria Games' new Lime Odyssey MMO has been in the works for a while now. We first caught wind of the free-to-play fantasy game in late 2010, and since then news pickings have been rather slim.

Now, though, Aeria has ponied up a press release that adds a few more details into the mix (including a new website as well as a trailer comprised of the game's opening cinematic). Lime Odyssey: The Chronicles of Orta will feature three races -- Humans, Turga, and Muris -- as well as three adventuring and three crafting classes. Players may choose from traditional Thief, Mage, or Warrior archetypes for the former and Tailor, Chef, and Blacksmith disciplines for the latter.

Gameplay revolves around the collection of a sacred substance known as lime, and players will "traverse mountains, deserts, and oceans on [a] quest for peace and harmony (while killing lots of mobs, of course). Hit the jump for the cinematic.

[Source: Aeria press release]

Continue reading Aeria reveals new Lime Odyssey website, trailer

Aeria reveals new Lime Odyssey website, trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars 2 Necromancer, Thief gameplay videos captured at Eurogamer Expo

Jef Reahard — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Classes, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2

If you're a Guild Wars 2 fan who couldn't make the trip to London for this weekend's Eurogamer Expo, Cynical Brit's Total Biscuit has the next best thing.

The site sent a gaggle of its community members to the event, and their impressions are collected in an ever-expanding threadnaught sure to put a smile on ArenaNet fan faces. The news post also features a series of gameplay videos shot live at the event, and all told the three clips clock in at just under an hour of footage. The videos feature both Norn Thief PvP and high-level Sylvari Necromancer shenanigans.

Check them out after the break and head to Cynical Brit for more info.

Continue reading Guild Wars 2 Necromancer, Thief gameplay videos captured at Eurogamer Expo

Guild Wars 2 Necromancer, Thief gameplay videos captured at Eurogamer Expo originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamescom 2011: Guild Wars 2 shows off 40 minutes of gameplay

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Guild Wars 2, Massively Event Coverage

Hey Guild Wars 2 fans, bummed that you're not at Gamescom right now getting your paws, claws, or ferns on the game? We have the next best thing: nearly 40 minutes of video footage for you to digest.

On the Gamescom floor, ArenaNet's Chris Lye took time to walk Wartower.de through the full Guild Wars 2 demo for the event. During the tour, he shows us character customization, the Asura, and the Charr starting experience, capping it off with a giant dragon boss encounter.

So what's Lye looking forward to playing the most when the game goes live? "I've already found it: the Asura Thief. I love the size, I love the animations on the Asura, and I love how great they are as Thieves."

Grab some popcorn and settle in for the full video after the jump!

Continue reading Gamescom 2011: Guild Wars 2 shows off 40 minutes of gameplay

Gamescom 2011: Guild Wars 2 shows off 40 minutes of gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist sees The Shadow of Yserbius

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Virtual worlds, Humor, The Game Archaeologist

Really, I blame my parents for not being filthy rich. If they were, we could've afforded the $130/month unlimited subscription fee to the ImagiNation Network (INN) back in the early '90s. Just think! All of the gaming, the socializing, and the roleplaying that you could handle -- for such a low price! I mean, sure, there were hourly options, but who'd want to play for a mere five hours a month?

So instead of becoming part of a growing online community, I had to be content with my SNES and copy of Chrono Trigger -- hard times, indeed. Sometimes I think how my life would've been different if we had subscribed to Sierra's colorful online world, because I would've had a chance to get in on one of the first graphical MMOs: The Shadow of Yserbius.

It was a step forward in graphic quality from the text-only MUDs of the day but perhaps a step backward from the complexity that many MUDs brought to the table. Still, for a few shining years, it entranced thousands who lined up to delve dungeons deeply alongside their friends (and a couple of complete strangers with odor disorders).

Today we're going to take a quick peek at one of the first MMOs that stepped into the realm of lush color and animations and see what made The Shadow of Yserbius so enduring.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist sees The Shadow of Yserbius

The Game Archaeologist sees The Shadow of Yserbius originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dungeon Fighter Online's Thief class steps from the shadows with new trailer

Matt Daniel — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Trailers, Video, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeon Fighter Online

Stealth, subtlety, and sabotage: These are the three tenets that govern the modus operandi of Dungeon Fighter Online's new Thief class. Beginning this summer, players of Nexon's DFO will be able to take up the daggers of the deadly Thief and stalk the shadows of Arad.

Descended from the Dark Elves of Noire Ferra, the Thief wields the arts of subterfuge and dark magic and melds them together with lethal efficiency. As the Thief grows in experience, he can choose to specialize further into the one of two paths: the Rogue, who specializes in the use of stealth and assassination, or the Necromancer, a powerful summoner endowed with the powers of of the ominously named Spider Prince.

For some lovely new artwork of this deadly class and a brand-spanking-new trailer to boot, jump on past the cut.

Gallery: Dungeon Fighter Online

Continue reading Dungeon Fighter Online's Thief class steps from the shadows with new trailer

Dungeon Fighter Online's Thief class steps from the shadows with new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aeria teases Eden Eternal Thief video

Jef Reahard — Thu, 19 May 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

Another day, another Eden Eternal video reveal. It's almost old hat now since the free-to-play fantasy title from Aeria Games is on its third class trailer in as many weeks. First we had the Warrior, then the Magician, and today we get a glimpse of the Thief as the game rolls on towards its June 2nd beta date.

A glimpse is probably all we'll get, too, since the Thief is a trickster who excels at evasion and stealth. Two cloaking skills come standard with every Thief, and the rascals can also make use of the five branch skills available to all melee DPS classes. Thieves are most effective when dual-wielding a pair of daggers, but like all Eden Eternal classes, they can fight with any weapon in a pinch. Sneak past the cut for a look at the Thief in action.

Continue reading Aeria teases Eden Eternal Thief video

Aeria teases Eden Eternal Thief video originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArenaNet interview gives new details on the Guild Wars 2 Thief

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, New titles, Guild Wars 2

ArenaNet unveiled new information on the Guild Wars 2 Thief early this morning via an interview and skill video on Kotaku, giving eager fans more insight into the demo videos released last week at GDC.

The interview with Eric Flannum, Jon Peters, and Isaiah Cartwright builds on much of what we already know: dual pistols, stealth skills, stealing, and so on. The skill video reinforces much of what the developers have to say as well, but what's new? Follow along after the jump for the latest scoop on the Thief!

Continue reading ArenaNet interview gives new details on the Guild Wars 2 Thief

ArenaNet interview gives new details on the Guild Wars 2 Thief originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What class would you add to your MMO?

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classes, Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

I have to say that last week's revelation that the latest Guild Wars 2 class to be unveiled was the Thief was a mite bit underwhelming to me personally (although I'm sure quite a few Guild Wars fans immediately had to change their pants). It was underwhelming because to announce a Rogue-type class in an MMO is akin to saying that you're including NPC vendors: "Yeah, and...?"

Sometimes it feels like it's the same classes in different games, just cut 'n' paste for our usual expectations. Once in a blue moon, however, a dev team creates a fairly unique class that is not just a cleverly renamed "Warrior" or "Medic" or "Gandalf" copycat but adds something new to the game that wasn't there before.

So if you had your druthers -- and we all know how fond you are of your druthers -- what class would you invent for your MMO? How would this class be different than what's already out there, and what role would it perform?

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

The Daily Grind: What class would you add to your MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flameseeker Chronicles: Feast or famine

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Classes, Patches, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles

Wow! I've joked to other Massively staffers that some weeks I really struggle to find content for Flameseeker Chronicles, while other weeks I struggle simply to stay ahead of the information avalanche. That has never held truer than it has this weekend.

I had planned to cover the huge Guild Wars update this week, then focus on the Guild Wars 2 Thief next week after its reveal at PAX. Thanks to an information leak on the Thief, ArenaNet was forced to hastily rework the release schedule and lift the embargo on the class.

We'll be getting much more information on the Thief all this week, but for now we've got a pretty good first look, so I'll give both Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 equal time. We've got a lot to talk about, so let's get started. Hit the jump and let's see what's going on in Tyria!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Feast or famine

Flameseeker Chronicles: Feast or famine originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Guild Wars 2 video gives info on PAX East demo, more glimpses of the Thief

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Classes, News items, Guild Wars 2

Now that the cat is out of the bag regarding the Guild Wars 2 Thief, ArenaNet is opening the information doors starting with a new video and blog post today.

The video is brief -- 34 seconds total -- but packed with information. There are glimpses of at least two races of Thief characters as well as booth information for those who are eager to try the class for themselves at PAX East.

The teaser video is accompanied by a short blog post telling fans all about the great information planned for next week: "We've already told you that the guardian profession and norn race will be playable, but next week we're going to get into detail about three other major features in the new demo - crafting, our revamped attribute system, and our new profession, the thief!"

Check out the new information on ArenaNet's blog, and keep your eye on Massively all next week for the latest Guild Wars 2 news.

New Guild Wars 2 video gives info on PAX East demo, more glimpses of the Thief originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC 2011: ArenaNet unveils new profession and Norn starting area for Guild Wars 2 [Updated]

Rubi Bayer — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Classes, Events, real-world, Guild Wars 2, Hands-on

Yesterday at GDC, we had the privilege of spending some time with some of the ArenaNet and NCsoft staff. We were promised a look at the new Guild Wars 2 demo, so we were hoping for a look at a new race's starting area or maybe a tour of a few places we hadn't seen before.

ArenaNet delivered that and more: Imagine our surprise when the team casually unveiled the bad girl (and boy) of Guild Wars 2: the Thief. For the next hour, we enjoyed an up close and personal look at the Thief as well as a demo of the Norn starting area of Hoelbrak.

The press release describes the Thief well: "As a master of stealth and surprise, the thief is deadly in single combat - particularly when catching enemies off guard. Thieves compensate for their relatively low armor and health by being quick and evasive. They can travel through the shadows, vanish into thin air, or steal items from their opponents and use them as weapons."

Ree Soesbee made the experience even better by giving some insight into what the Thief is and is not (don't worry, this is definitely not a reskinned Assassin) and chatting about the origins of the class. The grand finale was our very own Shawn Schuster's first hands-on experience with Guild Wars 2 gameplay -- he created a Charr Thief and did some serious dual-pistol damage, helped along by cheers, direction, and encouragement from the ArenaNet and NCsoft staff.

Check out our firsthand look at the Guild Wars 2 demo, insight from Ree Soesbee, and hands-on gameplay in the videos after the jump, and don't miss our in-depth analysis of the Thief in Monday's Flameseeker Chronicles.

Our thanks go out to ArenaNet and NCsoft for their hospitality and for plenty of fun!

[Update: The second video, this one of the demo, is finally uploaded and included after the break. Enjoy!]

Continue reading GDC 2011: ArenaNet unveils new profession and Norn starting area for Guild Wars 2 [Updated]

GDC 2011: ArenaNet unveils new profession and Norn starting area for Guild Wars 2 [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE gambling website SOMER.Blink is the target of 125 billion ISK theft

Brendan Drain — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Lore, News items

It seems like almost every month there's another huge theft or insidious kill in EVE Online, with last month's 30 billion ISK suicide attack and September's record-breaking 850 billion ISK investment scam. In EVE, theft and piracy are part of the game, and players have to make a conscious effort not to put themselves at risk. Trust the wrong person with access to your assets or let your guard down and you might regret it. That lesson was learned the hard way by EVE gambling website SOMER.Blink, as last night it became the target of a 125 billion ISK theft.

The thief, Daquaris of Test Alliance Please Ignore, had access to a stash of ISK, PLEX and items as part of his role -- delivering prizes to Blink winners. Most of the prize-distributors for SOMER.Blink are real-life friends of the site's creator Somerset Mahm, a situation that limits the potential for thefts like this. Although Daquaris wasn't a real-life friend of Somer, he was a trusted old friend from a previous alliance. When reached for comment, SOMER.Blink corporation member Andrev Nox had the following to say:

"The theft was an eventuality we were prepared for. We certainly didn't expect it from Daq, obviously, but we expected it might happen eventually. The main wallet was regularly cleared to a separate corp's wallet as a 'rainy day' fund. Because of that, Blink is still fully solvent, solid, and functional. Somer has [been], and always will be, an incredibly generous and good friend to all of us. Had Daq asked for exactly the things he had stolen, Somer would have given them unflinchingly, without a doubt. Blink can always earn more ISK, it's the loss of someone we trusted as a valued part of the business, and a long time friend."

EVE gambling website SOMER.Blink is the target of 125 billion ISK theft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: Outlaws of EVE

Brendan Drain — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Lore, Professions, EVE Evolved

EVE Online's Community Manager CCP Wrangler once said that "EVE isn't designed to just look like a cold, dark and harsh world; it's designed to be a cold, dark and harsh world." That sentiment sums up the core philosophy behind the game, which permits such nefarious gameplay styles as thief, smuggler, scam-artist, pirate and market manipulator. Underhanded deals go on every day in EVE, with bounty hunters hired to ruin someone's day and spies tearing corporations apart from within. Many are drawn to EVE because it's one of the few MMOs that allows players to embrace their darker side. The opportunity to be a real villain in a sandbox universe can be intoxicating.

Perhaps more intoxicating is the notion that the presence of tangible villains affords players a rare opportunity to play the role of hero. For every pirate gang lurking at a stargate in low security space, there's an anti-pirate squad somewhere planning an attack. For every thief ready to empty their corporation's hangers, there's a security specialist weeding out spies. The true outlaws of EVE are people who have earned their infamy through acts of ruthlessness in their chosen field.

Over the years, we've interviewed and examined some of EVE's most notorious outlaws. In this article, I look back at four of EVE's most wanted, how they earned their infamy, and what they're doing today.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Outlaws of EVE

EVE Evolved: Outlaws of EVE originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two blades are better than one: MapleStory announces dual blade class

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MapleStory, Classes, Free-to-play

When it comes to weapons, the general thought process in pop culture goes, "One is definitely good, but two is twice as good, not to mention really, really cool looking." Let's be honest -- if people had three hands, we'd be seeing Hollywood movies full of triple-wielding gunslingers, and we'd love it.

MapleStory knows this, which is why their latest class strips away pretensions and plays it like it is. Dual blades are a subset of the thief class, specializing in melee weapons to lay down a double-whammy on the bad guys. The new class also comes with an interactive backstory, as they're accepted into an organization of secret thieves (as if thieves advertise) who are out for revenge against the Dark Lord. With a name like Dark Lord, you know he isn't just selling Girl Scout cookies, so he probably deserves what's heading his way.

Nexon's set up a special site for the new class that includes a trailer, three contests for impressive prizes, and a handful of dual blade wallpaper downloads to spiffy up your desktop. You can check out all of MapleStory's double-wielding action here.

Two blades are better than one: MapleStory announces dual blade class originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anti-Aliased: Rogue rage

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvE, Opinion, Roleplaying, Anti-Aliased

There's always a rogue. Doesn't matter what setting you're really dealing with either. Medieval times? Rogues. Renaissance? Professional rogues. Great Depression? Organized crime. Modern day? Thieves. Sci-fi? Assassins. It's the one job that follows you no matter where you go.

Yet, I don't think we utilize our fine shadowy friends well. No, let me say it even stronger, we've sidestepped our shadowsteppers. Rogues use to be more than backstabbers and cutpurses, but since the traditional MMORPG model has taken over, our rogues have taken steps backwards.

No guys, this isn't just some rant thread about how the rogue classes needs uber l33t buffs. This is about how the class plays at its very core across all games. This is about taking advantage of a class's passive abilities and how just a few new tricks of the trade can aid social gameplay for everyone.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Rogue rage

Anti-Aliased: Rogue rage originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: Running your own corporation

Brendan Drain — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Game mechanics, Guides, PvP, Making money, Raiding, Endgame, Quests, Grouping, PvE, Hands-on, EVE Evolved

The term "corporation" in EVE Online is something of a misnomer. While a corp can be run as a full-on business entity, most are just like guilds or clans in other MMOs. It's a group of pilots that join together under one banner for mutual benefit, organised operations or even just to have some nice people to chat to while you mine. For those that can't find a good player-run corporation that's compatible with their aims and goals, there are a few options. One option is to stay in one of the many NPC-run corps but perhaps the most interesting choice is to start your own corp. With the upcoming 11% tax being applied to NPC corps, some of the people currently in those corps may even want to start their own one-man corps to evade the tax.

Running your own corporation provides you with additional tools like corporate hangers and the ability to set up starbases or declare war on other corps. It also opens the opportunity to recruit like-minded individuals and friends into your group so you can work together on anything from mining and mission-running to full-on PvP and piracy. EVE is one of those games that really starts to take off once you start working together with people. Starting your own corp can, however, be a daunting task that carries with it responsibilities and risks.

For all those that have ever wanted to run their own corporation, in this article I explain how to the process of starting a corp, recruiting and keeping the corp secure against threats. I also go into detail on some of the corp operations you can hope to enjoy with friends.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Running your own corporation

EVE Evolved: Running your own corporation originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online's largest player-run bank rocked by embezzlement

James Egan — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, News items

We've just gotten word that EBANK, a player-run bank in EVE Online self-described as "the largest financial entity ever seen in EVE" has been rocked by embezzlement from its own CEO, Ricdic. The former CEO stole roughly 200 billion ISK from EBANK, which is roughly 8.6% of the entire 2.3 trillion ISK that EVE's playerbase has deposited. EBANK chairman Hexxx has issued a statement on the game's official forums, stating that Ricdic has been banned by CCP Games for engaging in RMT, also adding that the former CEO "has scammed."

The loss of nearly 9% of EBANK's deposits is a serious blow to the player-run institution, perhaps as much to investor confidence in the bank as it is to their funds, but Hexxx says their liquidity is still between 400 billion and 500 billion ISK. A June 6th news item on the EBANK site written by bank auditor LaVista Vista states, "We are currently experiencing some technical problems. Therefore, we ask that people do not deposit any ISK, until we have solved the problem." EBANK's director and head teller Athre has now assumed the role of interim CEO, as the EBANK staff determines the best way forward from here.

Continue reading EVE Online's largest player-run bank rocked by embezzlement

EVE Online's largest player-run bank rocked by embezzlement originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Outlaws of EVE Online: Miz Cenuij

James Egan — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Economy, Forums, Game mechanics, Professions, Opinion, Massively Interviews

There are many criminals in EVE Online, but some push their chosen profession to a whole different level, sometimes even at the expense of their fellow outlaws. Being an outlaw in EVE Online's setting of New Eden isn't just about prowess in combat. For some, the pull of New Eden's underworld is all about the social fabric of the game... and how to exploit it. Deception is their greatest weapon, and paired with the endless opportunities for social engineering in EVE, that weapon can be put to devastating use. Among all of the conmen and scam artists in New Eden, there's one name that conjures up more rage and misery than most others: Miz Cenuij.

From the earliest days of New Eden, Miz was on the path to becoming a major antagonist in EVE. While some players love him, most just love to hate him, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Over time, Miz has become one of New Eden's most notorious thieves and hell raisers, an evil celebrity of sorts. His manipulations have triggered alliance wars, brought him numerous threats from other pilots, thousands of confirmed kills, and raked in a fantastic amount of wealth in the process. His preferred modus operandi in EVE is the long con, but since he learned to convert his wealth into influence over others, he's found that corruption and practiced deception make a formidable combination. As if a counter to restlessness, his apparent goal of keeping New Eden set in motion, if not set ablaze, has ensured that Miz Cenuij lives on a steady diet of tears and rage.

Massively caught up with Miz Cenuij, who told us what motivates him to engage in activities that oppose the interests of so many other citizens of New Eden, and why he enjoys igniting controversy in EVE.

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Outlaws of EVE Online: Miz Cenuij originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interplay between ownership and game mechanics in EVE Online

James Egan — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion

The concept of ownership established in the real world doesn't always equate with 'reality' in the virtual. When someone robs a person in real life, we don't just hope that they will be punished for this, we expect it. We demand it. Theft runs counter to law. But within the virtual, what if theft of another's property falls within game mechanics? If something is a crime in the eyes of players but doesn't violate the EULA, and the crime is committed fully within permitted game mechanics in the virtual space -- the game world equivalent of 'law' -- can it even be called "crime" at all? An article at The West Georgian titled "A Nerdy Commentary on Governments, Games, and Property", written by Jacob Lovell, explores this interplay between real world concepts of ownership and the virtual world's crimes.

To do so, Lovell looks back on what stands -- to this day -- as one of the most significant ways people pushed the boundaries of what's permissible in an MMO: the Guiding Hand Social Club's (GHSC) defining act of espionage in EVE Online from 2005. Most EVE players are quite familiar with the event, when the GHSC took a contract to bring down their 'client's' rival corporation, Ubiqua Seraph. Operatives in the Guiding Hand Social Club spent roughly one year infiltrating the target corporation, until the codeword 'Nicole' was called out. At that moment, operatives at all levels within the target corporation raided its assets. The heist coincided with an assassination of the Ubiqua Seraph CEO, by her own trusted lieutenant... also a GHSC operative who led her into the trap, followed by some excellent PR spin.

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Interplay between ownership and game mechanics in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch court convicts 2 minors of stealing virtual items

James Egan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, News items, RuneScape, Legal

Should the theft of virtual items be punishable by law? This varies from country to country, but today's ruling in a Dutch court emphasizes that virtual crime is actual crime under their country's laws, regardless of whether the individuals involved are minors. Associated Press reports: "These virtual goods are goods (under Dutch law) so this is theft," the court said Tuesday in a summary of its ruling.

The court did not reveal the identities of the minors, but they are 15-years-old and 14-years-old, respectively. They apparently coerced a younger boy into giving them a 'virtual amulet and virtual mask' in RuneScape. The offenders have both been sentenced to community service -- 200 hours for the 15-year-old, and 160 hours for the 14-year-old.

Do you feel this is too steep a penalty for virtual extortion, or not steep enough? Should it matter if the items or currency involved are real or virtual?

Update: It's been communicated to us by our readers in Holland that the crime in question was not, in fact, a virtual one, but involved actual violence. The victim in question, according to this source, "was kicked and threatened with a knife." The original Associated Press source omitted this detail, which obviously changes the tone of the discussion below. To clarify, this was real world violence inflicted over virtual items, hence the community service sentences for both of the offending minors.

Dutch court convicts 2 minors of stealing virtual items originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A 200 billion isk theft in EVE Online

James Egan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Economy, Events, in-game, Forums, Game mechanics, Crafting, News items

Corp theft is a daily occurrence in EVE Online. Unlike most MMOs, stealing from other players or organizations in EVE is permissible, assuming that normal in-game methods were employed to pull it off. Simply stated, corp theft in EVE involves becoming a member of the corp and then stealing from the target corporation's hangar(s). Once a thief has access to assets, they can literally clean the corporation out to whatever extent they are able to, depending on their level of granted access. Sometimes corp theft is premeditated, other times it's a crime of opportunity. There are players who approach these heists as a profession, others may do so out of revenge. Regardless of the reasons behind theft in EVE, it's a part of the game and does help establish New Eden's setting as being a harsh, corporation-dominated galaxy where deception is a style of play.

Most corp thefts that this writer is aware of inflict minor damage, often a few billion isk in losses. Generally this isn't enough to cause serious harm to any solid corporation's future, and the only real impact on the corp is emo rage and a few pages of forum drama, and the offender's name being added to Fitz VonHeise's list "The Thieves of EVE" which should be required reading for corp CEOs and Directors who are involved in recruiting players.

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A 200 billion isk theft in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 7 Deadly Sins of EVE Online

James Egan — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, EVE Online, Game mechanics, PvP, Roleplaying

EVE Online is by design a darker game than most other MMOs, which means certain actions unthinkable in other games are allowed in EVE's setting of New Eden. It's a game that rewards cunning and brutally punishes stupidity.

Players can assume many roles in New Eden, but the villains in a story are often the most interesting. In EVE, you get to be one. While there are many wrongs a pilot in New Eden can commit, these are seven of the worst. Some players specialize in one of these 'sins,' while others manage to indulge in all seven.

Come explore the darker side of EVE >>

Gallery: The 7 Deadly Sins of EVE Online

The 7 Deadly Sins of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fraud and its effects on the MMO industry

James Egan — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Economy, Interviews, MMO industry, News items

As the number of people embracing MMOs has increased exponentially over the years, so too has the frequency and scale of fraud related to these games and credit card transactions. Chargebacks resulting from fraudulent credit activity are a growing problem for MMO publishers. Gamasutra has run an enlightening Q&A with Gene Hoffman, Chairman and CEO of Vindicia, a billing and fraud management company with no small amount of expertise in the MMO arena. The interview discussed the ramifications of chargebacks for MMO publishers, such as Blizzard, which sheds some light on the fact that having the dominant industry marketshare comes with a few downsides as well.

While not commenting about Blizzard specifically, Hoffman says, "We have noticed across all our gaming clients when it comes to fraud is that the 1% chargeback rate is really a marketing budget. Having your chargebacks too low often means you aren't being aggressive enough on the customer acquisition side." Have a look at Gamasutra's talk with Hoffman, a discussion which ranges from in-game theft to hybrid subscription/micro-transaction business models.

Fraud and its effects on the MMO industry originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virtual items trader receives Red Herring award

James Egan — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Economy, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items

Red Herring has named Live Gamer, a virtual items trading company, as one of the top 100 privately held companies in North America in 2008. The annual Red Herring 100 North America Awards are given to companies identified as the most promising tech startups.

Love it or hate it, RMT is not going away. The virtual trading economy, which includes avatars, items and in-game currencies, is estimated to be a market worth more than USD 1.8 billion. Much of this trading takes place on the black market, exposing buyers and sellers alike to potential fraud. Live Gamer aims to remove the sketchiness from virtual item trades, enabling secure player-to-player trading while taking business away from some of the banes of the MMO world: virtual item thieves.

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Virtual items trader receives Red Herring award originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 May 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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