Massively

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[Spiral Knights celebrates 3,000,000 registered accounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/spiral-knights-celebrates-3-000-000-registered-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/spiral-knights-celebrates-3-000-000-registered-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/spiral-knights-celebrates-3-000-000-registered-accounts/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Culture, News items, Free-to-play, Promotions

They're adorably threatening.

Spiral Knights seems to be doing pretty well for itself. The latest official dispatch proudly states that the game currently has three million registered accounts in total, which is certainly a sign of good health. To celebrate, the development team is running a small promotion: all Elevators will cost no energy to use from now until Saturday at 5 p.m. EDT. Players under the effects of an Elevator Pass will see the two free days added on, so all players who want to take advantage of this will be able to.

The dispatch also reveals that the team is hard at work on developing new features for the next year, including new missions, more accessible DLC, and improvements to both combat and guild systems. All in all, if you're one of the three million account holders, it sounds like the game is going to provide you with more fun stuff to do in the future... and if not, well, you can always start the road toward four.

Spiral Knights celebrates 3,000,000 registered accounts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountsf2pfantasyfree-to-playpromotionregistered-accountsregistered-playerssci-fantasysci-fisegaspiral-knightssteamthree-ringsthree-rings-designThu, 17 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: City of who?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/one-shots-city-of-who/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/one-shots-city-of-who/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/one-shots-city-of-who/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Super-hero, Galleries, Screenshots, City of Heroes, Massively Meta, One Shots, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Miscellaneous

One Shots - City of Heroes

Massively reader Torch Light has a theory that someone at Paragon Studios is a Doctor Who fan, and I think he might be right -- and not just because the game boasts a Time Manipulation power set. Torch Light sent in today's featured image from City of Heroes' VIP testing servers along with this explanation:

The beta for Issue 23 of CoH has just gone live with a new parallel world of spookiness. While exploring around, I saw a familiar (yet strangely colored) police box. Looks like Paragon called in an expert to help fix those wibbly wobbly timey wimey problems.

The image isn't bigger on the inside, but it is after the cut alongside two more reader pics!

Continue reading One Shots: City of who?

One Shots: City of who? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebring-back-one-shotscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdoctor-whoeaelectronic-artsf2pfantasyfree-to-playfreedomgalleriesgalleryissue-23its-bigger-on-the-insidelucasartsncsoftnight-wardone-shotsparagonparagon-studiosreader-screenshotsreader-submissionssarlaccsci-fantasysci-fiscreenshotscreenshotssegaspiral-knightsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsteamsubsubscription-feesuperherosuperheroesswtortardisthe-old-republicthree-ringsthree-rings-designtortorch-lightuser-submissionsSun, 22 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Free-to-play MMO versions of your favorite Nintendo games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/free-for-all-free-to-play-mmo-versions-of-your-favorite-nintend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/free-for-all-free-to-play-mmo-versions-of-your-favorite-nintend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/free-for-all-free-to-play-mmo-versions-of-your-favorite-nintend/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Races, Casual, Humor, Kids, Free for All, Family, Miscellaneous

Nintendo banner

I have to be honest -- I wasn't the biggest Nintendo fan. I grew up right as the whole thing was really smashing and keeping kids glued to their TVs, but I generally went outside and played more than stayed inside and played games. (Odd, huh?) Still, I had my fun with certain titles. Contra rocked my boat, along with Kid Icarus and a bit of Mario Brothers. My friends, on the other hand, were full members of the Nintendo nation. They subcribed to the magazine, played the same games for hours and hours, and generally acted as though the fate of the real world hung in the balance as they attacked that last boss monster.

Stylistically, the games have left a mark on the genre. Many of those same titles still sell as well, some of them reaching so many variations that I lost track a long, long time ago. I thought it might be fun to list off some free-to-play MMOs that remind me of those old classics. See what you think, and leave any suggestions in the comments section!

Continue reading Free for All: Free-to-play MMO versions of your favorite Nintendo games

Free for All: Free-to-play MMO versions of your favorite Nintendo games originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmandrift-cityf2pfantasy-onlinefeaturedfree-for-allfree-realmsfree-to-playFreejackfusionfalljunebud-abmario-brosmario-brothersMario-KartmilmonintendoplatformerPlatformingrealm-of-the-mad-godside-scrollerSOESony-Online-Entertainmentspiral-knightsthe-legend-of-zeldathree-ringszeldaWed, 14 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: A bit of Wakfu, a smidge of Spiral Knights, and some Lime Odyssey]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/rise-and-shiny-a-bit-of-wakfu-a-smidge-of-spiral-knights-and-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/rise-and-shiny-a-bit-of-wakfu-a-smidge-of-spiral-knights-and-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/rise-and-shiny-a-bit-of-wakfu-a-smidge-of-spiral-knights-and-s/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Fantasy, Screenshots, New titles, Previews, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Casual, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Miscellaneous, Sandbox

Rise and Shiny banner

This week in Rise and Shiny, things did not go as planned. This sort of thing actually happens often enough to almost be a problem: I pick out a title or am tasked with taking a look at a certain game, but communication lines are crossed and the game I was supposed to give a first impressions-style look at closes down its beta in the middle of the week. Like I said, it does happen, enough to force me to plan out my articles on a month-long calendar. Even then, things can change.

So instead of talking about the game I said I was going to be this week, Seven Souls Online, I decided to go over the three games that I gleefully jumped into over the last few days. This will not be a typical first impression-style piece but instead will hint at the specific adventures I had while playing these games.

These wonderful, wonderful games.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: A bit of Wakfu, a smidge of Spiral Knights, and some Lime Odyssey

Rise and Shiny: A bit of Wakfu, a smidge of Spiral Knights, and some Lime Odyssey originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesankamabeau-hindmanf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playftphands-onlime-odysseypoliticsrise-and-shinyryzomsandboxsci-fantasysci-fisegaspiral-knightsSquare-Enixsquenixsteamstrategystrategy-mmosubsubscriptionthree-ringsthree-rings-designturn-based-combatwakfuSun, 04 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spiral Knights update introduces new mission types and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/spiral-knights-update-introduces-new-mission-types-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/spiral-knights-update-introduces-new-mission-types-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/spiral-knights-update-introduces-new-mission-types-and-more/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

Screenshot -- Spiral Knights

It's been a little while since we heard from Three Rings' free-to-play dungeon-crawling title, Spiral Knights, but today we have some new information regarding the game's latest patch, and it brings a whole new degree of structure to the title in the form of new mission types. The team is adding four different types of missions in order to give players a solid path of progression as well as a quick fix for players who don't have a ton of time on their hands.

The first of the four mission types is known as a rank mission. Rank missions comprise the main campaign of Spiral Knights and will allow players to climb the ranks of the organization. Each rank mission will grant players pre-set awards in addition to any loot found on the mission itself. Prestige missions, the second type of mission, are daily tasks that will reward players with prestige. Players with high prestige scores will receive an unspecified bonus sometime in the future. The third mission type, expansion missions, operate similarly to rank missions in that they "feature set rewards," but the missions must first be "unlocked with purchase," though as of now we don't know whether that means a microtransaction or an in-game-currency purchase. Lastly, we have arcade missions, which are the same arcade missions that players know and love, except now they can be joined directly from the mission interface instead of making you run to the arcade itself.

For the full details on all the new mission types and features being added in the new patch, just head on over to the Spiral Knights forums and take a look.

Spiral Knights update introduces new mission types and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcadearcade-missionsdungeon-crawlerdungeon-crawlingexpansionexpansion-missionsf2pfree-to-playmissionmission-typemission-typesmissionspatchpatchesprestigeprestige-missionspverankrank-missionssegaspiral-knightsthree-ringsupdateupdatesThu, 23 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/free-for-all-the-still-satisfying-world-of-action-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/free-for-all-the-still-satisfying-world-of-action-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/free-for-all-the-still-satisfying-world-of-action-mmos/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Humor, Free for All, Vindictus, Dragon Nest

Vindictus screenshot

Look, I'm a red-blooded American gamer. I even call it 'Merica. So it should be no surprise when I feel like getting down with a melee-based chop-'em-up or have the desire to leap, jump and bounce my way through countless levels. In other words, action. We 'Mericans love our action games. I have my particular favorites, for sure, and within that list are my favorites of favorites that get the nod for different reasons. Honestly I'm not into action-based games just for the challenge. I don't need to make repeated attempts at downing a boss to have fun. I enjoy the immediate response that an action game gives me. I love to click the mouse button and see my character's sword swing or gun fire. It's satisfying.

Of course, action games can have their drawbacks. Not only do they tend to produce a euphoric haze that can only be described as "stoner glare" and an open-mouthed state of hypnosis, but they can take a toll on delicate, drum-beaten wrists like mine as well. I take the good with the bad, I guess. Click past the cut and I'll let you know my favorite F2P action MMOs.

Continue reading Free for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs

Free for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionaction-mmobeau-hindmabrowser-baseddragon-nestdungeon-fighter-onlinef2pfeaturedffafpsfree-for-allfree-to-playftpjef-reahardjunebud-abmericanmilmommofpsNexonnexon-americaperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentrusty-heartsSide-scrollerspiral-knightsthe-firing-linethree-ringsvindictusWed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/not-so-massively-free-steam-games-and-promotional-gifts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/not-so-massively-free-steam-games-and-promotional-gifts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/not-so-massively-free-steam-games-and-promotional-gifts/#commentsFiled under: Video, Game mechanics, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Not So Massively, MOBA

Not So Massively title image

It's Christmas time, and what better way is there to celebrate than to smash some internet people to bits in your favourite MOBA? League of Legends leads the charge with a gift of 450 RP delivered to every nice player who hasn't been banned in the past two months, and it shows off upcoming champion Victor the Machine Herald. Heroes of Newerth gives all players two free Christmas alt avatars and has a limited-time offer to buy a pack containing every previously released hero for just $10.

Rise of Immortals takes part in Steam's Great Gift Pile promotion that gives you the chance to win discount coupons or free Steam games, and it releases an immortal spotlight on Kavashiir. CrimeCraft: Gang Wars also offers players a Steam prize for playing its festive Snow Brawl game mode. Firefall clarifies the beta process and reminds fans that the game will be "done when it's done," and Torchlight developer Runic Games announces a new armour design contest. Finally, of all the intellectual properties to be made into an online game, did you ever think Doctor Who would make the list? BBC Worldwide has released an open preview of Doctor Who: Worlds in Time, a team-based puzzle game by the makers of Puzzle Pirates and Spiral Knights.

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other big online games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts

Not So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assistsbbcbbc-worldwidebrowsercompetitioncompetitive-gamingcontestcrimecrimecraftcrimecraft-gangwarsdotadr-whodr-who-worlds-in-timedungeon-crawlere-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfreefree-to-playheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslolmobanewsnot-so-massivelynsmpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvpred-5-studiosriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprunic-gamess2s2-gamessteamthree-ringsthree-rings-designtorchlighttorchlight-iivideoviktorMon, 26 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Win free Steam games with Spiral Knights and Rusty Hearts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/win-free-steam-games-with-spiral-knights-and-rusty-hearts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/win-free-steam-games-with-spiral-knights-and-rusty-hearts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/win-free-steam-games-with-spiral-knights-and-rusty-hearts/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Video, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Casual, Giveaways, Guides

Win free steam games image

If you've been checking out this year's Christmas Steam sales, you'll undoubtedly have seen the Great Gift Pile giveaway. By completing various game achievements and objectives, Steam users unlock prizes that can be anything from a lump of coal to discount vouchers or even a full copy of any game on Steam. There are reports of people winning massive prizes like Skyrim or the Valve complete pack, and even if you just get a lump of coal, it's still a valuable prize; seven lumps can be exchanged for a new random prize, and those left over at the end of the holiday event will count as tickets in a lottery to win a copy of every single game on Steam.

While many of the achievements require the purchase of cheap indie titles, there are several ways to get your hands on a gift from the great pile absolutely free. Checking your Steam inventory page and trading any item with another user will get you two free gifts, and joining the 2011 Holiday Group will net you a third. Two more prizes can be collected by completing the Son of a Nutcracker! achievement in Spiral Knights and the All I Want for Christmas is Sewers achievement in Rusty Hearts, both of which are free-to-play MMOs available through Steam.

Skip past the cut for details on how to beat the Steam gift achievements for Spiral Knights and Rusty Hearts, including full walkthrough videos.

Continue reading Win free Steam games with Spiral Knights and Rusty Hearts

Win free Steam games with Spiral Knights and Rusty Hearts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementachievementsaction-mmoall-i-want-for-christmas-is-sewersanimef2pfantasyfreefree-to-playgiftsgreat-gift-pileguidenewsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentprizespvppwerise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprusty-heartsson-of-a-nutcrackerspiral-knightssteamthe-great-gft-pilethree-ringsvalvevideowinMon, 26 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Three Rings prepares to connect Puzzle Pirates' oceans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/three-rings-prepares-to-connect-puzzle-pirates-oceans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/three-rings-prepares-to-connect-puzzle-pirates-oceans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/three-rings-prepares-to-connect-puzzle-pirates-oceans/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Casual

Puzzle Pirates - green-clad avatars

Three Rings is making some interesting changes to its Puzzle Pirates MMO. A new post on the game's official forums outlines what's in store for the new year, and in a nutshell, players will be able to sail between many of the game's oceans (which, in regular MMO-speak, are actually the game's servers).

"We've been working on a way to consolidate the game's oceans for quite some time now, and after much deliberation, we determined that the fairest way to go about this is to combine the geographies of two oceans on one server," Three Rings explains.

The post hints at massive new explorable areas and also reassures players that their existing properties will be unaffected in spite of the mergers. There's a large FAQ in the thread as well, so head over to the Puzzle Pirates board for all the details.

Three Rings prepares to connect Puzzle Pirates' oceans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolidationf2pfantasyfree-to-playocean-consolidationpatchespuzzle-piratesthree-ringsthree-rings-designupdatesFri, 09 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Treat yourself to a freebie from Spiral Knights for Black Friday!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/treat-yourself-to-a-freebie-from-spiral-knights-for-black-friday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/treat-yourself-to-a-freebie-from-spiral-knights-for-black-friday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/treat-yourself-to-a-freebie-from-spiral-knights-for-black-friday/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Contests, Free-to-play, Giveaways

Regal Parrying Blade

Black Friday sales started ridiculously early for Americans this year, with stores opening at midnight on Friday and even 10:00 p.m on Thursday in some cases. Thanks to that, you've probably done your shopping, hauled your loot home, and recovered from the insanity as you read this. Alternatively, you avoided the insanity entirely because really, a cheap Blu-Ray player isn't worth the risk of death by trampling.

In either case, if you're in the U.S., you're hanging out at home enjoying your day off work or school, ready to indulge in some gaming. The developers at Spiral Knights are right there with you and have whipped up a cool little accessory for your Spiral Knights characters. The Regal Parrying Blade is a decorative sword that you can get only here at Massively.

All you need to do is visit our giveaway page to pick up a code, then log into Spiral Knights. Click on the "gear" icon in the top corner of your game screen, select "redeem code" from the options menu, and enter your code. Voila, you're the proud owner of a brand-new Regal Parrying Blade.

Join us in thanking the Spiral Knights team for this gift, and have fun!

TO THE GIVEAWAY

Treat yourself to a freebie from Spiral Knights for Black Friday! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontestsf2pfree-to-playgiveawaygiveawaysregal-parrying-swordsegaspiral-knightsthree-ringsFri, 25 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SEGA acquires Spiral Knights creator Three Rings Design]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/sega-acquires-spiral-knights-creator-three-rings-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/sega-acquires-spiral-knights-creator-three-rings-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/sega-acquires-spiral-knights-creator-three-rings-design/#commentsFiled under: Culture, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

SEGA announced today that it has acquired indie developer Three Rings Design. Three Rings is no newcomer to the MMO industry, with popular titles such as Puzzle Pirates and the new Spiral Knights. SEGA's Senior VP of Digital Business, Haruki Satomi, says of the acquisition, "We are proud to welcome them as the newest member of the SEGA family, and look forward to seeing what great things we can create together over the coming years." Three Rings CEO Daniel James seems quite pleased as well, stating that his company is "honored to be joining such a legendary team and look forward to collaborating on amazing ideas together." We know we're looking forward to seeing what this unique combination manages to produce as well. We'll just have to wait and see.

SEGA acquires Spiral Knights creator Three Rings Design originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdaniel-jamesharuki-satomiindustrypuzzle-piratessegaspiral-knightsthree-ringsthree-rings-designThu, 17 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spiral Knights adds Shadow Lair boss content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/spiral-knights-adds-shadow-lair-boss-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/spiral-knights-adds-shadow-lair-boss-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/spiral-knights-adds-shadow-lair-boss-content/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeons

Spiral Knights - little sword guy

Darkness! Danger! Death! All await you in the latest Spiral Knights content update from Three Rings. More specifically, the game features new Shadow Lair boss zones, which in turn feature big baddies with names like Lord Vanaduke and Snarbolax (yep, that's really his name, Snarbolax).

Players who recover iron lockboxes have a chance to find shadow keys which can then be used to unlock one of several express elevators that lead right into the depths of the Shadow Lairs. The bosses themselves will provide "trickier, tougher boss fights [and] will challenge even the bravest, boldest, and best-equipped knights, presenting the greatest challenges the game has seen so far," according to a new Three Rings press release. There's more info available on the official Spiral Knights forums, and you can download the game via the official website.

Spiral Knights adds Shadow Lair boss content originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boss-lairsbossesdungeonsf2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-vanadukepress-releaseshadow-lairsnarbolaxspiral-knightsthree-ringsThu, 20 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: News roundup from some of my favorite free-to-plays]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/free-for-all-news-roundup-from-some-of-my-favorite-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/free-for-all-news-roundup-from-some-of-my-favorite-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/free-for-all-news-roundup-from-some-of-my-favorite-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, News items, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Free for All

Istaria screenshot

Interesting stuff is happening all of the time in the world of indie, free-to-play, and browser-based gaming. In fact, it's hard for me to keep up with it all. I have to say that some developers make it much easier on me by contacting us here at Massively or by maintaining a good news feed on their website. Some developers (*ahem*) make tracking down news harder than it should be. Still, it's out there, and I decided to recap some of my favorites over the last few weeks.

Of course, I will always miss something or just forget to put something in. The search bar is always good for finding bits of news, or you could just visit us here every single day. Several times. And leave comments about how cool I am.

Click past the cut and let's get to it!

Continue reading Free for All: News roundup from some of my favorite free-to-plays

Free for All: News roundup from some of my favorite free-to-plays originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ablegamersalganonbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playftpillyriadistarialimbo-game-studiosnewsquest-onlineRyzomspiral-knightsstarjack-onlinethree-ringsvirtriumwinch-gatewinch-gate-property-limitedWed, 14 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spiral Knights adds spooky Candlestick Keep content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/spiral-knights-adds-spooky-candlestick-keep-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/spiral-knights-adds-spooky-candlestick-keep-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/spiral-knights-adds-spooky-candlestick-keep-content/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Casual, Dungeons

Spiral Knights image

If you thought steampunk couldn't mate with adorkable, think again. Spiral Knights, Three Rings' lobby-based action-MMO, delivers both in the consummate concoction of clockwork and cute, and the company recently launched an update bringing new dungeon content to the game. The haunted Candlestick Keep, "all that remains of the once prosperous Owlite Academy," is crawling with undead monsters like Grimalkins, but fortunately, players can make use of colored ward candles to protect them from spookats and open pesky locked doors. The update also adds challenging new Danger Rooms, a revamped Crash Site, and cash shop tweaks.

Our own free-to-play guru Beau Hindman took a stroll through the game way back in March, deeming it "repetitive but really fun." It is currently available for download on the official site and as part of Steam's F2P offerings.

Spiral Knights adds spooky Candlestick Keep content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmocandlestick-keepdungeonf2pfree-to-playlobbylobby-basednewspatchspiral-knightssteamsteampunkthe-clockworksthree-ringsWed, 07 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: June 20 - 26, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/mv-guide-june-20-26-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/mv-guide-june-20-26-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/mv-guide-june-20-26-2011/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, Livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program! The Massively crew is recovered from E3 and ready to dive back into livestreaming. We've got plenty lined up this week, so follow along after the jump and see what's coming up on MV TV!

Continue reading MV Guide: June 20 - 26, 2011

MV Guide: June 20 - 26, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeria-gamescity-of-eternalscrypticeden-eternalfeaturedfrogsterlivestreamlivestreaminglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromv-guidemv-tvohai-studiosriftromrunes-of-magicspiral-knightsstar-trek-onlinestothree-ringstriontrion-worldsturbineMon, 20 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Puzzle Pirates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/27/rise-and-shiny-recap-puzzle-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/27/rise-and-shiny-recap-puzzle-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/27/rise-and-shiny-recap-puzzle-pirates/#commentsFiled under: Puzzle, Video, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

Puzzles Pirates is pretty deceiving when you first look at it. The decade-old game looks closer to what you might have expected from LEGO Universe than it does a strategic, puzzle-based combat game. But as you get more into the basics of the game, you realize that many of the tricks up Puzzle Pirate's sleeve would be awesome if featured in other games. The puzzles are integrated into your experience flawlessly, and the grouping system is wonderful.

In fact, I couldn't stop thinking about why other games don't feature systems like those in Puzzle Pirates. Name me a game that does group combat, ship combat or even crafting based on puzzles! I think that the perceived silliness of puzzles, or the perceived juvenile nature of puzzles, keeps them out of popular developer's minds. It's not as though raiding or other group activities in other games are high art or much more than a very basic puzzle. Stand here, push that. Repeat. Now move. Push that, followed by this. Repeat.

So let's look at how Puzzle Pirates plays, how the community members fare, and what issues I did have with this brilliant puzzler. Click past the cut!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Puzzle Pirates

Rise and Shiny recap: Puzzle Pirates originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancash-shopf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpLiveStreamPiratespuzzlepuzzle-piratespuzzlesrise-and-shinythree-ringsthree-rings-designyarryohohoSun, 27 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: Spiral Knights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/26/first-impressions-spiral-knights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/26/first-impressions-spiral-knights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/26/first-impressions-spiral-knights/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Puzzle, New titles, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Casual, Humor, First Impressions, Kids, Family

If you were one of the lucky few who grabbed a Spiral Knights beta key recently, then you will appreciate the joy I feel when talking about this game. It's simply a toy -- a ray-gun or a tin robot. It does what it is supposed to do and does it on a variety of machines without many issues. It is mechanized fun, simple and to the point, yet somehow also endearing and even sweet.

Perhaps the tiny robots and adorably destructive weaponry implemented by the folks at Three Rings help to bind the game to our hearts, because I found myself worrying that the little robot I was aiding would never find the materials he needed to escape from the dreadful gearworks and steam engines I was forced to investigate.

Confused? Well, go log in and try it out or click past the cut to hear my explanation!

Continue reading First Impressions: Spiral Knights

First Impressions: Spiral Knights originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmandungeon-crawlerf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpHack-and-Slashlobbymario-brotherspreviewpreviewspuzzlepuzzle-piratesrobotsspiral-knightssteamcutesteampunkthree-ringsSat, 26 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Preview Spiral Knights with an early access pass from Massively!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/preview-spiral-knights-with-an-early-access-pass-from-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/preview-spiral-knights-with-an-early-access-pass-from-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/preview-spiral-knights-with-an-early-access-pass-from-massively/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Contests, Previews, Free-to-play, Giveaways

SEGA announced last week that it will be working with game developer Three Rings to publish Spiral Knights, a new free-to-play title described as "classic, console-style adventuring in a persistent online world."

Things are moving ahead quickly for the title -- fans enjoyed a sneak peek at the game thanks to an open preview event over the weekend. The game is back in closed preview now, but if you want to get a look at it, we've got just the thing for you. The powers that be at Spiral Knights have provided us with a link that will allow 500 Massively readers into the closed previews. Simply click, sign up, and you're ready to dive into the game!

So go get your early access, and keep your eyes peeled for more news on Spiral Knights on Massively!

TO THE GIVEAWAY

Preview Spiral Knights with an early access pass from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closed-previewclosed-preview-accessf2pfree-to-playftpgiveawaygiveawayssegaspiral-knightsthree-ringsMon, 21 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BBC and Three Rings readying Doctor Who online multiplayer title]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/bbc-and-three-rings-readying-doctor-who-online-multiplayer-title/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/bbc-and-three-rings-readying-doctor-who-online-multiplayer-title/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/bbc-and-three-rings-readying-doctor-who-online-multiplayer-title/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

Doctor Who is the latest in a long line of intellectual properties that have made the transition from the TV screen to the computer screen. BBC Worldwide has just announced a new partnership with developer Three Rings that will result in a free-to-play online multiplayer title set in the good doctor's strange and popular universe. While we're not quite sure of the upcoming game's MMO pedigree, we are pretty confident that series fans will dig it regardless.

Players will follow in the iconic character's footsteps by exploring new worlds, traveling through space and time, and befriending (and battling) various alien races. Gameplay revolves around the TARDIS and enables fans to accept challenges from the Time Lord and "defend civilized culture against infamous Doctor Who enemies."

Doctor Who: Worlds in Time has been in development for some time now and is "expected to launch later this year."

BBC and Three Rings readying Doctor Who online multiplayer title originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbcbbc-worldwidedoctor-whodoctor-who-worlds-in-timef2pfantasyfree-to-playmultiplayernew-titlessci-fitardisthree-ringstime-lordworlds-in-timeThu, 24 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Whirled and deviantART announce design contest winners]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/whirled-and-deviantart-announce-design-contest-winners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/whirled-and-deviantart-announce-design-contest-winners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/whirled-and-deviantart-announce-design-contest-winners/#commentsFiled under: Contests, Culture, Fan art, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Browser, Casual, Whirled

Three Rings, the developer of the Flash-based casual MMO Whirled, has just announced the winners in their new "Design your Whirled" art contest. In conjunction with deviantART, the largest online social network for artists, this contest challenged members to create the best individual or multiple rooms for the game. Because of the success of this first contest, Three Rings has already announced that they're accepting entries for the second contest of the same name.

The top winner was awarded a new 15-inch Macbook Pro and one year subscription to deviantART, while the second and third place winners were awarded Wacom tablets and other deviantART subscriptions. You can view the winning entries by visiting the main Whirled site, and register your own entry for the next contest at the Whirled wiki.

Whirled and deviantART announce design contest winners originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casual-mmocontestdeviantartflash-basedthree-ringswhirledwinnersTue, 23 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzle Pirates celebrates five years of puzzley skulduggery]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/puzzle-pirates-celebrates-five-years-of-puzzley-skulduggery/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/puzzle-pirates-celebrates-five-years-of-puzzley-skulduggery/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/puzzle-pirates-celebrates-five-years-of-puzzley-skulduggery/#commentsFiled under: Puzzle, Puzzle Pirates, News items

It's hard to imagine that Puzzle Pirates launched five years ago, but it's true. The online game from Three Rings has seen quite a lot over the years, too. In fact, according to Three Rings there have been over 250 million hours of puzzling, 4 million Puzzle Pirate accounts and one and a half million forum posts. That's a ton of puzzle skulduggery, not to mention the laundry list of past game updates. We can only hope for the same kind of content in Whirled.

As part of the celebration for five years going, Three Rings is recognizing all their longtime pirates with a special in-game trophy to show off. We hope Puzzle Pirates and its players see another five fine years of updates, pirating and puzzling on the high seas!

Puzzle Pirates celebrates five years of puzzley skulduggery originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarypiratepiratespuzzlepuzzle-piratesthree-ringstrophyThu, 11 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Three Rings officially launches Whirled project]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/three-rings-officially-launches-whirled-project/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/three-rings-officially-launches-whirled-project/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/three-rings-officially-launches-whirled-project/#commentsFiled under: New titles, Virtual worlds

Whirled, an ambitious web/virtual world hybrid from Three Rings, launched into Beta early this year. We were incredibly impressed with the project even back then, bouncing pieces of tofu or not. From there the project has only grown by leaps and bounds, and word now comes down that Whirled has officially launched! The interactive web environment now offers a microtransactional system where you can make money directly from your content. You can make or play games, chat with a wide array of players, or just enjoy the numerous and creative rooms players have generated over the last eight months.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Daniel James about the new vision of Whirled, and you'll be able to read that discussion tomorrow. For the time being, go check out Venturebeat's analysis of the project or (if you're so inclined) read upon the full press release below the cut. PS: If you play, we recommend Brawler Whirled or Corpse Craft. They're both fantastic!

Gallery: Whirled

Continue reading Three Rings officially launches Whirled project

Three Rings officially launches Whirled project originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdaniel-jamespuzzle-piratesthree-ringswhirledMon, 10 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Birthday fun on the Puzzle Pirate GM seas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/one-shots-birthday-fun-on-the-puzzle-pirate-gm-seas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/one-shots-birthday-fun-on-the-puzzle-pirate-gm-seas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/one-shots-birthday-fun-on-the-puzzle-pirate-gm-seas/#commentsFiled under: Puzzle, Screenshots, Puzzle Pirates, Free-to-play, One Shots

As some of you may remember, we recently sent out a call for different GMs to send along some of their favorite screenshots. The above screenshot was in response to that call, and comes to us from Ocean Master Eurydice. She helps players out in Three Rings' incredibly addictive, free-to-play game Puzzle Pirates! Here's what she had to say:

I'm a GM on Puzzle Pirates, although over here we call them Ocean Masters. I saw your call for GM pictures and got this OKd with a supervisor. (Always good to check first...) [This] is a screenshot of my first ship, called the Queen of Shadows. It was colorfully decorated a couple years ago for my birthday by wonderful co-workers -- on their off time! It is where I stand when on duty on the Midnight Ocean (a server). We stand on ships so that we can have quiet while we answer petitions, but we can pop off at a moment's notice and be with the players if we need to. As you may be able to make out from the faint messages in the lower left-hand corner, there are parts of the ship not pictured here that are so decorated that I can't walk around them.

That seems like it's definitely a fun place to work if your co-workers decide to pull silly pranks like crowding your ship full of flowers and blocking you from moving around too much! (You know, especially when you also have awesome GM-type powers and can just move the flowers around.) Are you a GM who would like to show off something fun from your game? Send those screens in to us here at oneshots AT massively.com, along with whatever you'd like to say about them. It's almost as much fun as a ship full of flowers.

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: Birthday fun on the Puzzle Pirate GM seas originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eurydiceGMocean-masterocean-mastersone-shotspuzzle-piratesscreenshotscreenshotsthree-ringsFri, 08 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 Worlds in Motion Summit schedule announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/2008-worlds-in-motion-summit-schedule-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/2008-worlds-in-motion-summit-schedule-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/2008-worlds-in-motion-summit-schedule-announced/#commentsFiled under: Business models, Events, real-world, News items, Second Life, Virtual worlds

The 2008 Worlds in Motion Summit schedule has been announced, along with a synopsis of this year's speeches and panels. The conference on virtual worlds and social gaming will be held on September 16th and 17th, during the Austin Game Developers Conference.

Worlds in Motion bills the 2008 Summit as a conference geared toward those who wish to better understand the business opportunities offered in the expanding social game networking space, and who plan to leverage their content and brands into interactive online worlds. Early bird registration ends July 31st; details can be found at the Austin GDC homepage. Read on after the jump for highlights of the upcoming 2008 Worlds in Motion Summit.

Continue reading 2008 Worlds in Motion Summit schedule announced

2008 Worlds in Motion Summit schedule announced originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>areaeaustinbunchballbusiness-modelsconferencedouble-fusionelectric-sheepelectric-sheep-companygame-mechanicsgdcmetaversenbcneopetsnumedeonopportunitiesopportunityraph-kostersecond-lifesocialsocial-gaming-networksulakesummitthree-ringsvirtual-worldswhyvilleworlds-in-motionzwinkySun, 20 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The subscription debate continues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-subscription-debate-continues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-subscription-debate-continues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-subscription-debate-continues/#commentsFiled under: Business models, MMO industry, News items

Ah, the ever-debated subject of MMO subscription models. We've seen a lot of discussion on the subject, some good and some bad. Gamasutra just so happens to be running a pretty good discussion featuring SOE's John Smedley, Three Rings' Daniel James and EA Mythic's Mark Jacobs all chiming in with their opinions on the matter. The selection is also a good one as Smedley represents a company hybridizing its models, while James is from a company that's more or less full-on microstransactions and Jacobs is firmly for sticking with subscriptions.

Each of the three mens' reasoning for their companies' model choices all make sense when you consider their reasoning. From what we can gather, all three viewpoints have their merit and really no one subscription model is going to win out anytime soon. Subscription models were a hot topic this year at ION and of course Massively discussed it as well in one of our podcasts. So if you'd like to dig deeper on the current state of the argument we highly recommend those features to you.

The subscription debate continues originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daniel-jamesea-mythicgamasutraion08john-smedleymark-jacobsmassively-speakingsoesony-online-entertainmentthree-ringsThu, 05 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[More details on the Whirled online games platform]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/more-details-on-the-whirled-online-games-platform/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/more-details-on-the-whirled-online-games-platform/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/more-details-on-the-whirled-online-games-platform/#commentsFiled under: At a glance, Betas, Puzzle Pirates, Bugs, Business models, New titles, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual

Icon for indie games businesses and designers alike, the piratical Daniel James has more details on the recently beta'd Whirled available on his blog. Whirled is, as we've previously discussed, a social games platform in development for some time now by Three Rings, makers of Puzzle Pirates and Bang! Howdy. The large investment Three Rings landed last year has assisted in the further development of their existing titles, and has pushed Whirled to the tantalizing position it exists in now.

Daniel's blog has numerous tidbits on the platform's background, for the curious. At the moment the service is still kind of resource intensive, and you'll need Flash 9.0.115 and FF 2/3, IE 7/8 or Safari - Firefox 3 beta 4 might help. They made most of the games, and implemented an 'attention-based' currency that can be obtained from playing those games. Most of the avatars, furniture, and pets, though, have already come from the community. Plenty more details (esp. those for the technically inclined) are available at the Whirled Wiki.

A few thoughts on the project below.

Continue reading More details on the Whirled online games platform

More details on the Whirled online games platform originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betadaniel-jamesthree-ringswhirledThu, 03 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Three Rings' Whirled now in open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/three-rings-whirled-now-in-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/three-rings-whirled-now-in-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/three-rings-whirled-now-in-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: At a glance, Betas, Launches, New titles, News items, Browser, Virtual worlds

Three Rings, the makers of Puzzle Pirates, has just gone live with the open beta of its browser-based, 2D social space, Whirled. Whirled has all the features that have become de rigeur for a virtual world these days: minigames, a personal page-embeddable room for your avatar, purchasable objects, and basic creation tools.

Also, how can you not love a VW where the default avatar is an adorable piece of tofu? Yes, tofu. And it dances. Expect a First Impressions post for Whirled in the near future, boogieing soy critters and all!

Three Rings' Whirled now in open beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingopen-betapuzzle-piratesthree-ringstofuvirtual-worldwhirledMon, 31 Mar 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzle Pirates creators land a big sack of booty]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/puzzle-pirates-creators-land-a-big-sack-of-booty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/puzzle-pirates-creators-land-a-big-sack-of-booty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/puzzle-pirates-creators-land-a-big-sack-of-booty/#commentsFiled under: Puzzle Pirates, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

The Venture Beat site is reporting that Three Rings, the developer of the fantastic Puzzle Pirates and the unique microtransaction title Bang! Howdy!, landed a big chest of gold this past summer. I imagine the gold was given to them in the form of American currency, as the company negotiated for some $3.5 million in venture capital money. The site also notes that the company's unique virtual currency platform is enormously successful, with $4 million in revenue reported by the company for 2007.

Though the site's article on the investment is light on what that VC money will be used for, they do briefly discuss Three Rings' work on the Whirled platform: The success of [the virtual currency] model has helped propel the company to 30 employees and is planning its new social networking game world, Whirled, where users will be able to create their own avatars, games, rooms, music, and pets.

[Via Next Generation]

Puzzle Pirates creators land a big sack of booty originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daniel-jamespuzzle-piratesthree-ringsventure-capitalThu, 06 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The top 5 free MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/the-top-5-free-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/the-top-5-free-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/the-top-5-free-mmos/#commentsFiled under: At a glance, Fantasy, Puzzle, Galleries, Screenshots, Dungeon Runners, MapleStory, Puzzle Pirates, Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Opinion, Mythos, Free-to-play, Casual, Massively highlights

It's been said that the best things in life are free. Whoever said it probably didn't have MMOs in mind, but it's certainly true that there are many quality games out there that are completely free to download and play. Here's a list of the top 5 free massively multiplayer online games.

Now, to pre-empt the equally massive glut of angry emails and comments I'm sure to receive for leaving someone's favorite title off of this list, I'm going to state right up front that these choices are based completely on the number of times I've heard them mentioned with favor by a variety of different sources. I make no guarantees of having played any of these MMOs, so they're not necessarily my personal picks. But if I keep hearing people mention them in different contexts, there must be something to them. In short, these games are popular for a reason, and if you haven't played them, you might find that they're worth your download. We begin after the jump!

Continue reading The top 5 free MMOs

The top 5 free MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneydungeon-runnersfeaturedflagship-studiosfree-to-playmaple-storymythosncsoftnexonpirates-of-the-caribbean-onlinepuzzle-piratesthree-ringstop-5-free-mmosThu, 21 Feb 2008 20:30:00 EST