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[Anonymous declares war on Sony over SOPA support]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/anonymous-declares-war-on-sony-over-sopa-support/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/anonymous-declares-war-on-sony-over-sopa-support/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/anonymous-declares-war-on-sony-over-sopa-support/#comments Anonymous Sony may once again be the target of hacking attacks, but at least this time the company has a little heads-up in advance. The secretive organization of hackers known as Anonymous released a video declaring its intent to strike at Sony over Sony's support of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).

The video contains your usual vague proclamations of doom and ego-boosting statements, although with Anonymous' past activity, it will be hard to ignore the threat. The collective of hackers were thought to be at least partially responsible for the attack on Sony earlier this year that forced the company to take its network and games offline.

SOPA is a proposed U.S. bill that would allow law enforcement to combat pirated digital goods by shutting down websites and blocking payments to site owners. While the bill is supported by Hollywood, the music industry, and some major game companies, SOPA opposers worry that the bill will infringe on First Amendment rights and permanently harm the internet.

You can watch the Anonymous declaration after the jump.

Continue reading Anonymous declares war on Sony over SOPA support

MassivelyAnonymous declares war on Sony over SOPA support originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymousdeclarationfirst-amendmentfirst-amendment-rightshackhackerhackershackingoperation-blackoutpiracysoesonysony-online-entertainmentsopastop-online-piracy-actthreatvideowarFri, 30 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Pointing fingers and assigning blame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/behind-the-mask-pointing-fingers-and-assigning-blame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/behind-the-mask-pointing-fingers-and-assigning-blame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/behind-the-mask-pointing-fingers-and-assigning-blame/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

When I posted about teaming roles last week, I really wasn't expecting the feedback you guys gave me. Some of you insisted that the holy trinity was dead, others told me that healers can do just fine if they only have heals, and still others told me that tanks are useless. Some of you also commented that Archetypes make decent tanks or that spread stats are a bad thing. I wish I had time to make a detailed rebuttal to all the comments, but information comes first!

This week, we're going to talk about Champions Online's threat mechanics. Originally I was going to talk about tanks in general, but that is such a huge topic that we're just going to have to break it up into bite-sized chunks. I talked about threat mechanics a long time ago, but some things have changed.

This is particularly relevant because the two adventure packs are on sale right now, and if you're a free member, you really owe it to yourself to pick them up. They're that awesome, and you can explore the game's more interesting team content for a tiny fraction of the price. When you try them out, you'll have this guide to tell you about how big team engagements work and why your Inventor faceplants every fight.

You may even be able to stop it...

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Pointing fingers and assigning blame

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Pointing fingers and assigning blame originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-maskchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhate-meterhealer-aggrotankingtauntingthreatthreat-mechanicsThu, 12 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Threatening]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/11/the-daily-grind-threatening/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/11/the-daily-grind-threatening/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/11/the-daily-grind-threatening/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While not every MMO features aggro mechanics (Second Life is remarkably free of them, for example), nine times out of ten endgame content will at least peripherally involve someone tanking something big and nasty. Usually with claws. And in almost every case, tanking involves a series of mechanics about threat. There has to be some reason why the big nasty is targeting the character in four-inch-thick armor with a shield instead of the robed priest that has a coughing fit when she walks too quickly, after all.

For the upcoming expansion, World of Warcraft's team is considering making some changes to threat mechanics, something that Spinks summarizes and rails against quite eloquently. It does raise the question, however, of how responsible a tank ought to be for managing threat. How big a part of gameplay should tanking actually be? Do you prefer games where you never have to worry about threat, or games where tanking is a very near thing? Which game do you think featured the most engaging methods for holding enemy attention that you'd like to see more of?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Threatening originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggrobig-nasty-clawed-thingendgameenmitygame-mechanicssecond-lifesltankingtankstdgthe-daily-grindthreatworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 11 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Starting out in Vana'diel: See no evil, hear no evil, smell... no evil?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/starting-out-in-vanadiel-see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-smell-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/starting-out-in-vanadiel-see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-smell-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/starting-out-in-vanadiel-see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-smell-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Hola mi amigos! Hoy es la dia de Vana'diel! *clears throat* Ahem, sorry about that. Hello adventurers, and welcome to another edition of Starting out in Vana'diel! Today's topic is actually one that I find quite cool about Final Fantasy XI, especially when you compare it to other MMOs. It's the mechanic that puts the fear of Promathia into every adventurer's step.

Today's column is all about the different monster aggro types -- yes, there are different types. You want to find out more? Come, follow me, and let's find out more!

Continue reading Starting out in Vana'diel: See no evil, hear no evil, smell... no evil?

MassivelyStarting out in Vana'diel: See no evil, hear no evil, smell... no evil? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggressiveaggrodamagefeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xiguidehatehealershealsjoystiqfeatureskupomagicscentsightsoundspellssquare-enixstarting-out-in-vanadieltankthreatwhite-mageTue, 31 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE provides further clarification on EQ2's Fighter revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/soe-provides-further-clarification-on-eq2s-fighter-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/soe-provides-further-clarification-on-eq2s-fighter-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/soe-provides-further-clarification-on-eq2s-fighter-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Whether you're fully behind them or not, the changes to EverQuest II's hate system are quite significant and will have an impact on gameplay for all classes, not just the Fighters. Testament to the enormity of the overhaul is the fact that SOE has put out yet another summary of the changes, available on the EQ2Players community site. This latest clarification does not get quite as specific as Aeralik's take last week, but it does include an explanation and pictures of the new hate meter, which will form part of the standard UI when the patch goes live.

If you have aggro on a mob, your meter will show the figure '100'. For everyone else, the closer their number is to 100, the closer they are to pulling a party foul and stealing aggro. This makes it much easier for DPS and healers to see when they are in danger of drawing an NPC's attention, and they can either remove themselves from the fight for a while, or hit a de-taunt ability (which has an instant effect on the hate meter number). The EQ2Players write-up also includes a list of the changes to fighter's abilities, but for a more detailed analysis and community feedback, Aeralik's thread is where you should head.

MassivelySOE provides further clarification on EQ2's Fighter revamp originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeralikaggroaggro-changeschris-kozakeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifigher-revamphatehate-metersoesony-online-entertainmenttankingthreatthreat-meterWed, 28 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Significant aggro changes on the way for EQII]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/significant-hate-changes-coming-to-eqii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/significant-hate-changes-coming-to-eqii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/significant-hate-changes-coming-to-eqii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's a fairly hefty set of changes to EverQuest II's hate/aggro system currently being ironed out on Test, and they aren't to everyone's liking. Due to the the complexity of the changes, developer Chris "Aeralik" Kozak has offered up a summary for players to wrap their heads around. We'll attempt to boil it down even more for you, at the cost of including some of the finer details.

The problem with the aggro system begins with the fact that hate has scaled linearly as the game has progressed, and damage has scaled exponentially with gear and new skills, making it hard for designated aggro-holders to keep control of mobs. One of the changes on Test has given taunts the chance to hit critically, just like damage spells, and there will be a base and normalized amount of threat from taunt abilities.

Continue reading Significant aggro changes on the way for EQII

MassivelySignificant aggro changes on the way for EQII originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeralikaggroberserkerbruiserchris-kozakeq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iifightersguardianhatemonkpaladinshadowknightsoesony-online-entertainmenttankingtankstesttest-serverthe-shadow-odysseythreatWed, 21 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Teenager arrested for making suicide threat to Blizzard rep]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/01/teenager-arrested-for-making-suicide-threat-to-blizzard-rep/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/01/teenager-arrested-for-making-suicide-threat-to-blizzard-rep/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/01/teenager-arrested-for-making-suicide-threat-to-blizzard-rep/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In a sad bit of news to start the new year, it would appear that a teenager in Fairfield Township, Ohio, was taken into custody yesterday for falsely claiming that he would commit suicide if a Blizzard support representative did not give in to his request. The young man, who remains nameless due to being underage, was arrested for "inducing panic" which carries a first-degree misdemeanor charge according to the Middletown Journal.

The young man was chatting with a Blizzard rep and made the statement that he was "suicidal and that the game was the only thing that he had to live for." Whether or not this was World of Warcraft or a Battle.net account was not disclosed, but even still, it has raised the question in a few circles if Blizzard was beyond the bounds in bringing the police into this situation - or why the police might arrest someone for it.

Continue reading Teenager arrested for making suicide threat to Blizzard rep

MassivelyTeenager arrested for making suicide threat to Blizzard rep originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcompany-policycsrcustomer-servicefalse-alarmfeaturedlegal-repercussionsopinionpolicesuicidesuicide-threatthreatthreatsThu, 01 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST