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[Blizzard's project Titan still in the works]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/blizzards-project-titan-still-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/blizzards-project-titan-still-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/blizzards-project-titan-still-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Some day we'll have images for Titan posts.
In and around the flurry of news swirling about >World of Warcraft's upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion, a kind soul has been looking out for everyone waiting for news on the mystery-shrouded project Titan. Tom Chilton, a lead designer for WoW, told The OC Register about the "slow trickle of expertise" from the WoW team into the Titan team. Although he didn't confirm anything, Chilton said that it's possible that the movement of developer talent over to the Titan project may ramp up.

Despite laying off about 13 percent of its workforce, Blizzard is still hiring in order to fill the development teams for both WoW and the new project. Chilton says:
"I do believe there's room for us to have two highly successful MMO games. I don't feel like there's going to be a time where we just say 'OK, everybody on the WoW team, pack it up you're moving over to the Titan MMO.' I don't see that as being a realistic probability. I think we're going to try to staff up both teams and actually end up with two large, strong MMO teams."
Hopefully this sort of talk means that MoP is nearing readiness so the company can give a little more attention to the Titan MMO -- might we someday soon find ourselves with actual, hard facts about this mysterious project?

MassivelyBlizzard's project Titan still in the works originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasymists-of-pandariaproject-titantitantom-chiltonwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 19 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Blizzard embracing F2P for unannounced game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/rumor-blizzard-embracing-f2p-for-unannounced-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/rumor-blizzard-embracing-f2p-for-unannounced-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/rumor-blizzard-embracing-f2p-for-unannounced-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Blizzard logo
Rumor has it that Blizzard is hopping on the free-to-play crazy train. Develop reports that the company "will embrace free-to-play and will apply the model in an upcoming, as yet unannounced game."

The website says that Blizzard has declined to comment in an official capacity, and the site's source could not provide more details. It's been speculated that World of Warcraft's recent subscription losses, the fact that DOTA is free-to-play, and the game's unlimited free trial though level 20 all indicate a shift in Blizzard's business model mindset.

COO Paul Sams also paid lip service to F2P at BlizzCon last October, saying that F2P "certainly is possible, if we find ourselves in that circumstance, or if we come up with a game where we think that's the right business model, the most appropriate for players to experience it."

Could the long-awaited Project Titan MMO be Blizzard's first F2P offering, or is a completely new title in the works? We'll update you as the story develops.

MassivelyRumor: Blizzard embracing F2P for unannounced game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzard-f2pblizzard-f2p-rumorbusiness-modelsf2pfantasyfree-to-playpaul-samsproject-titanrumorrumorssci-fititantitan-f2pWorld-of-WarcraftwowThu, 23 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This Week in MMO: Beta weekend edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/this-week-in-mmo-beta-weekend-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/this-week-in-mmo-beta-weekend-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/this-week-in-mmo-beta-weekend-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Gamebreaker crew
It's Friday, and that means it's time for the traditional recap of This Week in MMO. What's that, you say? Why, it's the weekly videocast roundup over at Gamebreaker, of course.

Gary Gannon is your host, and he's joined by series regulars Mike B. and Mike Schaffnit. The trio discuss anything and everything relating to popular MMOs, including Star Wars: The Old Republic's Ilum-related troubles, Sony Online Entertainment's noises about selling user-generated content, and the upcoming Guild Wars 2 beta.

The guys also get around to talking about Blizzard's ongoing Titan project, and more specifically, the speculation surrounding in-game advertising. The full show is yours after the break.

Continue reading This Week in MMO: Beta weekend edition

MassivelyThis Week in MMO: Beta weekend edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarenanetbetablizzardgamebreakergamebreaker.tvguild-wars-2ilumin-game-advertisingroundupsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortitantoruser-generated-contentvideoFri, 27 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon skipping 2012 due to 'jam-packed schedule']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/blizzcon-skipping-2012-due-to-jam-packed-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/blizzcon-skipping-2012-due-to-jam-packed-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/blizzcon-skipping-2012-due-to-jam-packed-schedule/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BlizzCon
Sorry Blizzard fans, you're going to have to go without your BlizzCon fix this year.

Our sister site WoW Insider spotted the word on the World of Warcraft forums, in which a community manager posted a brief update on the popular convention: "In light of our jam-packed schedule, we've decided to hold the next BlizzCon in 2013." Currently the studio is working on Diablo III, World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, and its top-secret Titan MMO project.

BlizzCon has been held yearly since 2005 with only one exception: The studio declined to hold it in 2006. The convention was notorious for being the venue in which Blizzard announced its major upcoming projects.

The absence of BlizzCon this year may be offset by the announcement of the 2012 Battle.net World Championship to take place in Asia toward the end of this year.

MassivelyBlizzCon skipping 2012 due to 'jam-packed schedule' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012-Battle.net-World-ChampionshipBattle.net-World-Championshipblizzardblizzconblizzcon-2012diablo-3diablo-iiimists-of-pandariatitanworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 25 Jan 2012 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard job listing mentions 'product placement' within its next MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/blizzard-job-listing-mentions-product-placement-within-their-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/blizzard-job-listing-mentions-product-placement-within-their-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/blizzard-job-listing-mentions-product-placement-within-their-n/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Activision Blizzard
When details of Blizzard's upcoming casual MMO, code-named Titan, are incredibly scarce due to the developer's ironclad secrecy, it falls to enterprising fans to ferret out any scraps of information that may exist. One such player on the NeoGAF forums was combing through a Blizzard job posting for a Franchise Development Producer and noted an interesting line that indicated the studio could be mulling over the idea of in-game ads for its next MMO.

The line in question specifies that one of the duties of the position is to "work with major consumer brands to facilitate product placement and licensing within the world of Blizzard Entertainment's next-gen MMO that enhances the gameplay experience." Whether this is a sign that we'll be seeing billboards for Skittles while we raid or that players will be able to get endorsements and decorate their outfits a la NASCAR cars is anyone's guess.

It's important to note that the rest of this position entails a number of efforts to promote Blizzard's "next-gen MMO" outside of the tight-knit gaming sphere, including comics, action figures, and short movies.

MassivelyBlizzard job listing mentions 'product placement' within its next MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-figuresadsadvertisingblizzardbookscasual-mmofranchise-development-producerin-game-adsmoviesnext-gen-mmorumorshort-moviesskittlesspeculationtitanMon, 23 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The most popular Massively stories of 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/the-most-popular-massively-stories-of-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/the-most-popular-massively-stories-of-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/the-most-popular-massively-stories-of-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Popular picture
When you consider the most popular debate subjects or recent conversational trends, you might think about politics or religion or even pop culture. So when the bloggers of Massively looked back on the previous year to take stock of which articles and categories were the most popular by pageview, we were surprised at the results. The year 2011 was unorthodox, and the list of the most popular posts reflects that.

There are some obvious topics, the ones any loyal reader of Massively would expect to see, but others represent a dramatic shift in the subjects and games readers most enjoyed reading and responding to.

So what were the most popular stories and categories of 2011? Onward!

Continue reading The most popular Massively stories of 2011

MassivelyThe most popular Massively stories of 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbetabetawatchBioWareBlizzardccpchoose-my-adventuredc-universe-onlinedust-514eve-onlineeverbloomExpansionsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpGuild-Wars-2interviewjohn-smedleykingsisle-entertainmentLiveStreamlord-of-the-rings-onlinemists-of-pandariamonocle-gatencsoftPlaystation3riftSOESONYSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortitantrionturbinewizard101World-of-WarcraftWed, 04 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Returning EVE to the Crucible]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/eve-evolved-returning-eve-to-the-crucible/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/eve-evolved-returning-eve-to-the-crucible/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/eve-evolved-returning-eve-to-the-crucible/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
When EVE Online launched in 2003, it was a barren game without many of the comforts we enjoy today. The user interface was abysmally worse than today's (if you can imagine such a thing), players with cruisers were top dog, and practically the only activities were mining or blowing up miners. The culmination of years of hard work by a small indie studio, EVE Online sold almost entirely on its future potential. When I was introduced to the game by an excited friend in early 2004 during the Castor expansion, he encouraged me to get in on the ground floor because he believed the game was going to be huge. Years later, I find myself introducing the game to thousands of readers on the same premise.

EVE's continual success over the years transformed a fresh-faced CCP Games into a multinational game development giant. And yet, for all that growth and all the updates to EVE over the years, the fact that the game sells largely on future potential is still firmly embedded in both players and developers. Players subscribe not only because they like the game but because they want to support development to reach EVE's true potential. Two years with very little iteration on existing features sent the message that developers weren't trying to reach that potential, but it seems that trend is soon to be completely reversed. With the newly announced Crucible expansion, CCP will be adding countless small features, graphical updates and iterations that put EVE firmly back on the path to reaching its full potential.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at CCP's plans to return EVE to the crucible and reforge it into something awesome. Those waiting for the third part of my look at the new player experience can catch that in next week's column, as Kajatta is enjoying his final week in EVE before delivering his verdict.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Returning EVE to the Crucible

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Returning EVE to the Crucible originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebomb-launcher-iibubbleccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-soundwavecommand-shipcrucibledreadnoughteveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedfleetfleet-warfarefuel-blocksgraphicsmothershipnebulanebulaenewsnyphurpatchpvpsiegesiege-modulesiege-module-iistarbasestarbasesstealth-bomberssupercapitalsupercapital-nerfsupercapitalssupercarriersupercarrierstech-2tech-3tech-iitech-iiititantriagetriage-module-iiwarfarewarfare-linkswarp-disruption-field-generator-iiwinterSun, 20 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Defining the WoW-killer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-soapbox-defining-the-wow-killer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-soapbox-defining-the-wow-killer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-soapbox-defining-the-wow-killer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

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

I haven't written much about World of Warcraft. There are many reasons for this. For one, Massively rarely pays WoW more than the bare minimum lip service (due to the game's being fairly exclusive to our WoW Insider sister site). For another, I don't look at Blizzard's behemoth all that fondly, and the sum total of my time in Azeroth amounts to about 20 hours spread over six weeks.

As it does for everyone else who makes a living off of MMORPGs, though, WoW looms over my shoulder like a billowing dust cloud after a titanic explosion, reaching relentlessly for the heavens and effectively blotting out the sun. There's really no way to measure how influential this one game has been on not just MMORPGs but gaming in general. There are the population numbers, of course, and even though WoW has been shedding subs in bushels of late, it could continue to do so for the better part of a year and still dwarf the second largest subscription title by a considerable margin.

That kind of success cannot be planned, nor do I believe that it will be replicated. WoW was a happy accident for Blizzard, a perfect storm of polish and timing the likes of which the MMO industry will not see again.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Defining the WoW-killer

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Defining the WoW-killer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardarenanetbiowareblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzard-titanea-biowaref2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguild-wars-2gw2opinionsci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-soapboxthere-will-never-be-another-wowtitantitan-blizzardtorworld-of-warcraftwowwow-killerTue, 15 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard says mass layoffs are 'just a rumor']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/blizzard-john-staats-let-go-mass-layoffs-just-a-rumor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/blizzard-john-staats-let-go-mass-layoffs-just-a-rumor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/blizzard-john-staats-let-go-mass-layoffs-just-a-rumor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Blizzard logo
Yesterday we ran a rumor that a senior level designer on Blizzard's Titan project, John Staats, had been laid off. We've received confirmation presumably from the man himself that he is no longer working at Blizzard, though the reasons for his firing are unknown. Rumors also ran wild that Blizzard had seen some kind of "mass layoffs," but Bashiok stopped by the forums today to put an end to that, saying, "Hey guys, out of respect for their privacy, we don't discuss individual employees, but the speculation circulating about 'massive layoffs at Blizzard' is just a rumor." Zahrym confirmed this on his personal Twitter account, as well. What Staats' absence will mean for the future of Titan remains to be seen, but we'll be sure to let you know as soon as we get word.

MassivelyBlizzard says mass layoffs are 'just a rumor' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bashiokblizzardblizzard-entertainmentjohn-staatslayoffsmass-layoffsproject-titantitantwitterzahrymTue, 08 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Senior Titan designer laid off by Blizzard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/rumor-senior-titan-designer-laid-off-by-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/rumor-senior-titan-designer-laid-off-by-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/rumor-senior-titan-designer-laid-off-by-blizzard/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Blizzard logo
The recent spate of MMO industry layoffs isn't discriminating in terms of company size if the latest rumors are true. We've just been informed that one of Blizzard's golden boys has been served his walking papers, joining hundreds of devs from the likes of NCsoft, GamersFirst, GameForge, and CCP in recent weeks.

John Staats, the senior level designer on Blizzard's secretive Titan project, has been let go, according to our tipster. Staats has been with the company for over a decade and is responsible for some of World of Warcraft's most celebrated content including all the raid dungeons, Blackrock Mountain and Booty Bay, and numerous other instanced dungeons.

Staats was also described by Jeff Kaplan as the "hero of the WoW dev team."

[Thanks to Steve for the tip!]

MassivelyRumor: Senior Titan designer laid off by Blizzard originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-titanbreakingfantasyjeff-kaplanjohn-staatslayoffsmmo-industryrumorrumorssci-fititanwowMon, 07 Nov 2011 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA['Quality concerns' keep user-created content out of World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pictured: quality.
User-created content can be a real hornet's nest in any game. When the user-created content systems are done correctly, you get a lot of new and imaginative content in the game straight from the players. But it's the question of what happens when it goes wrong that keeps user-created content out of World of Warcraft, according to Chris Metzen. As Metzen put it in a recent GDC online panel, while he loves the idea and the team does bring it up from time to time, there's a concern about whether or not the regular level of content would meet the standards of quality the team expects for game content.

Metzen also discussed some of the pressures the Blizzard staff faces with Titan's design, since the game is explicitly not set in one of the company's existing and long-running franchises. While he doesn't reveal any major details regarding the upcoming game, if you're eager for every scrap of information about the secretive project, it's well worth taking a look.

Massively'Quality concerns' keep user-created content out of World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-metzengdc-onlinegdc-online-2011titanuser-contentuser-created-contentworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 11 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Looking forward to the winter expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/eve-evolved-looking-forward-to-the-winter-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/eve-evolved-looking-forward-to-the-winter-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/eve-evolved-looking-forward-to-the-winter-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Since EVE Online's release in 2003, CCP Games has been the center of one of the most interesting success stories in the games industry. Produced by a tiny indie development studio on a frozen volcanic rock, EVE was the perfect example of how to do things right. The game's publishing deal with Simon & Schuster allowed CCP to buy back the rights to the game several months after its initial release. With no publisher taking a cut of the profits, CCP ploughed subscriptions back into the game's development and grew the development team organically. As a one-game company, CCP worked closely with players to make EVE the best game possible for its loyal playerbase.

In a recent letter to the players, CCP CEO Hilmar laments that somewhere along the line, things changed for the worse. The CCP of today bears little resemblance to the "little indie studio that could" of 2003, not just housing over 600 employees in offices around the world but also developing upcoming MMOs DUST 514 and World of Darkness. Resources are spread thin, and EVE Online has suffered for it. Last month I looked back at the blockbuster Apocrypha expansion and asked why every expansion since then has cut down on the in-space development players want. Hilmar's letter and its accompanying devblog answered that question this week with a solid plan for iteration on flying in space features during the winter development period.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look forward to the winter expansion and explain why each of the issues being tackled in the coming expansion is a big deal to players.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Looking forward to the winter expansion

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Looking forward to the winter expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlizzCon logo
Remember that one time when Blizzard accidentally leaked some info stating that it's working on a new MMO (codenamed "Titan"), and we all got excited? And then BlizzCon happened, and we all thought the studio would tell us more, but it didn't? And then remember when that happened the next year, too? Well, it's happening again this year.

In a clarification statement to IGN, Blizzard has confirmed that it will not be discussing the "unannounced MMO" during BlizzCon 2011. This follows a VentureBeat interview with M2 Research senior analyst Billy Pidgeon, who predicted that news of Titan must be breaking at this October's event.

Oh well, we still have emote dance contests and the Foo Fighters, right?

MassivelyBlizzard's not talking about its unannounced MMO at BlizzCon this year, either originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2011emote-dance-contestignproject-titantitanunannounced-mmoThu, 29 Sep 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Battle of the Immortals Titan update coming this Wednesday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/battle-of-the-immortals-titan-update-coming-this-wednesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/battle-of-the-immortals-titan-update-coming-this-wednesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/battle-of-the-immortals-titan-update-coming-this-wednesday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Are you excited for Titan? No, not that one, we're talking about the new content update coming this week to Battle of the Immortals. That's right, Perfect World Entertainment has graced us with a release date to go along with the dev blogs we've been featuring over the past couple of weeks.

The patch will hit the live servers on Wednesday, July 13th, and in case your anticipation isn't quite where it should be, PWE has just released a new Titan trailer to further whet your appetite. The one-minute clip is packed with in-game footage that includes glimpses of the new instances as well as some spiffy shots of the soul gear that's coming soon to every class.

You'll also see some boss fights, including a brief look at the god-king Kronos. Sound good? Well, what are you waiting for? Check out the clip after the cut!

Continue reading Battle of the Immortals Titan update coming this Wednesday

MassivelyBattle of the Immortals Titan update coming this Wednesday originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to this week's edition of The MMO Report.

The first order of business on The MMO Report this week is Age of Conan: Unchained. Funcom's bloody MMO went free-to-play last week, and also released their new Blood and Glory PvP servers yesterday.

Next up we have BioWare's latest class video for Star Wars: The Old Republic. It focuses on the Bounty Hunter class and details the progression options available to Boba Fett wannabes.

And then it's... Oh, not again. Monocle-gate, okay? Do we really need to say anything else?

Lastly, we come to the announcement that Blizzard's project Titan is going to be a casual MMO. Considering the fact that, as Casey puts it, many players consider World of Warcraft to be casual as it is, what this means for Titan is ambiguous at best.

For the full MMO Report, including (for the first time in a while) Uncle Casey's Mailbag, jump on past the cut.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Oh come on can we please just drop it already edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Oh come on can we please just drop it already edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conan-unchainedbounty-huntercasey-schreinereve-onlinemmo-reportmonocle-gatemonoclegateproject-titansorry-caseythe-mmo-reporttitanvideoFri, 08 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Titan a 'casual' MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/blizzards-titan-a-casual-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/blizzards-titan-a-casual-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/blizzards-titan-a-casual-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In case you were worried about a lack of new and accessible MMOs coming down the pike over the next couple of years, the king of casual is riding to the rescue. At least, that's what an analyst at Sterne Agee hinted at on Gamasutra recently.

Arvind Bhatia is quoted on the game industry website as saying that Blizzard's product pipeline includes "expansion packs for StarCraft and World of Warcraft, a new Diablo game, [and] a new casual MMO." That casual MMO is of course Titan, the secretive WoW followup that has reportedly gobbled up Blizzard's most experienced designers.

While no one outside of Blizzard has any inkling as to Titan's setting, mechanics, or target audience, Bhatia's prediction makes a certain amount of sense given the realities of the MMO marketplace and the costs inherent in developing and marketing AAA titles. Head to Gamasutra for the full report.

MassivelyBlizzard's Titan a 'casual' MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityaccessibleanalystsarvind-bhatiablizzardcasualcasual-mmoin-other-news-water-is-wetmmo-industrypredictionsrumorsspeculationstern-ageesterne-ageetitantitan-mmoWed, 29 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals reveals two new instances]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/massively-exclusive-battle-of-the-immortals-reveals-two-new-ins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/massively-exclusive-battle-of-the-immortals-reveals-two-new-ins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/massively-exclusive-battle-of-the-immortals-reveals-two-new-ins/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sharpen your swords and fletch your arrows, because when the Titan update hits in Battle of the Immortals, it'll be time to dive into two of the fiercest dungeons known to mankind.

While we've looked at some of the lore behind the Titan update last week, now it's time to get into the nitty-gritty details of what this patch will bring. Perfect World has created two new maps for players to explore -- and exploit -- in their efforts to become big, rich and powerful: Black Dragon Lair and Giants Kingdom.

The update will also include the much-awaited Generation III pets, which can be bred with two Generation II pets of both genders. Generation IIIs feature faster attack speeds and higher damage output, so it's safe to say they'll be highly desired by players.

Battle of the Immortals' Titan update is scheduled for a July release, but in the meanwhile you can read up on the new dungeons in an exclusive dev blog after the jump!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals reveals two new instances

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals reveals two new instances originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-of-the-immortalsblack-dragon-lairdungeondungeonsfeaturedgeneration-iigeneration-iiigeneration-iii-petsgiants-kingdomgunkinstanceinstanceskronosmapmapsmoserperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetpetspwerobotrobotsthird-generation-petstitantitan-updateTue, 28 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan update lore blog]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/massively-exclusive-battle-of-the-immortals-titan-update-lore-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/massively-exclusive-battle-of-the-immortals-titan-update-lore-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/massively-exclusive-battle-of-the-immortals-titan-update-lore-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Perfect World Entertainment's Battle of the Immortals -- which hit its one year anniversary just last month -- is gearing up for its upcoming Titan update. Precious little information about this upcoming addition to the game has been released (all we know right now is that two new instances will be introduced, along with updates to the game's existing features), but today PWE has treated us to an exclusive tidbit of lore to fill players in on the events leading up to the update.

Unfortunately, that's about all we have in regard to this brand-new update, but be sure to check back with us from time to time because we'll be keeping you up to date on all the freshest information on Battle of the Immortals and its Titan update as the news drops. So without further ado, head on past the cut for the first lore blog post from Battle of the Immortals' Titan update.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan update lore blog

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan update lore blog originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-of-the-immortalsboiexclusivef2pfree-to-playloremassively-exclusiveperfect-world-entertainmentpwetitantitan-updateMon, 20 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Odds and Ends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-guild-counsel-odds-and-ends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-guild-counsel-odds-and-ends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-guild-counsel-odds-and-ends/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With summer approaching, school coming to an end, and summer travel right around the corner, I find that this is a good time of year to step back, take stock, and reflect on things. It's easy as a guild leader to put the blinders on and get on the treadmill of day-to-day management. But it's worth pausing every now and then to consider the bigger picture.

In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll do just that. Read on for a few thoughts on some of the odds and ends of guild management.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Odds and Ends

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Odds and Ends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardeq2eqiiEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedguildguild-adviceGuild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsrift-connectsocial-mediaSOESony-Online-Entertainmenttitantriontrion-worldsThu, 09 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Force projection and jump bridges]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/22/eve-evolved-force-projection-and-jump-bridges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/22/eve-evolved-force-projection-and-jump-bridges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/22/eve-evolved-force-projection-and-jump-bridges/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

When EVE Online's Dominion expansion launched, we expected to see large empires contract into smaller areas of space and smaller entities move in to fill in the gaps. High sovereignty maintenance fees were meant to keep alliances from claiming systems they didn't intend to fully use, and smaller territories were meant to localise wars to only an alliance's immediate neighbours. Unfortunately, almost the exact opposite happened. Large alliances continued to group together into massive mega-coalitions, collectively owning huge regions of space and preventing smaller organisations from staking a claim on their own.

Dominion failed to achieve its stated goals, and in the years since its release CCP has been reluctant or unable to revisit the sovereignty mechanics Dominion overhauled. In that time, the face of EVE's nullsec warfare has changed drastically, with most large alliances now flaunting dozens of once-rare supercarriers and titans. Starbase jump bridge networks, titan jump portals and jump-drive enabled ships allow alliances to project force over immense distances, letting them support a war on the other side of the map.

With the recent announcement of changes coming to jump bridges, the force projection debate has once again taken center stage in forums and blogs. In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the problems associated with force projection, examine the jump bridge changes and weigh in on the debate.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Force projection and jump bridges

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Force projection and jump bridges originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdominioneveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedforce-projectionhot-drophotdropnullsecpvpsupercarrierterritorial-warfaretitanSun, 22 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Vindictus patch goes big time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/newest-vindictus-patch-goes-big-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/newest-vindictus-patch-goes-big-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/newest-vindictus-patch-goes-big-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Size matters. It's practically a law of nature -- the bigger something is, the better loot it drops. Well, all right, maybe that's not a law of nature, but it is a law of MMOs and certainly a law of Vindictus. The game's latest titantic update has just gone live, bringing with it the appropriately named Titan raid boss. And the enormous boss is certainly a big part of the newest update, but there are other ways for characters to live large in the patch even without facing the Titan.

Resenlian's Labyrinth has been added to the game, allowing players a chance to face off against a variety of foes including the deepest fears within each character for sizable rewards. Evie's staff skills have also received a big improvement, and the new merged dock system will allow for a massively easier time when it comes to travel. Vindictus players can check out all the details on the gargantuan patch from the patch notes, as well as see the upcoming events for the game.

MassivelyNewest Vindictus patch goes big time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bigf2pfree-to-playlargemergingnew-dungeonsnewsnexonpatchpatch-notespatches-of-unusual-sizesizablethe-titantitantransportationupdatesvindictusThu, 21 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vindictus is making a Titanic Shift!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/vindictus-is-making-a-titanic-shift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/vindictus-is-making-a-titanic-shift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/vindictus-is-making-a-titanic-shift/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The team at Nexon practiced the Galactic Empire's way of handling situations when devising the next upgrades to its action-MMO Vindictus: Make it bigger!

The creators promised on their website today that Titan would be the biggest raid boss to hit the free-to-play MMO. "Only the bravest and strongest mercenaries will come out victorious," claim the developers in the announcement. This colossal boss can easily smash the bones of anyone who opposes him. Then, the creators ask if you will be the first to escape Resenlian's gigantic labyrinth. An evil alchemist filled the tunnels with gruesome creatures, and until now, no mercenary has ever escaped it. Next, Evie's staff has grown larger... in stats, that is. The new functionality of her staff allows her to perform better as a caster. Lastly, the docking system is wider. The devs have heard your pleas; they are revamping the docking system so that you may access more docks at one time. This means less wait-time assembling a party.

This Titanic Shift patch goes live on April 20th! Hop over to the official website for more super-huge (OK -- I'm running out of words for big) information about this update.

MassivelyVindictus is making a Titanic Shift! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bigdock-systemEvief2pfree-to-playftplabyrinthmatch-makingnew-contentNexonpatchtitantitanic-shiftupdateVindictusWed, 13 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard COO: We hope Titan will still be growing in 20 years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/blizzard-coo-we-hope-titan-will-still-be-growing-in-20-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/blizzard-coo-we-hope-titan-will-still-be-growing-in-20-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/blizzard-coo-we-hope-titan-will-still-be-growing-in-20-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Finding (or developing) the first real World of Warcraft-killer is something of a holy grail for MMO fans and developers alike. The extraordinary success of Blizzard's fantasy title has set the company and its flagship product on a seemingly unreachable pedestal in terms of financial success and subscriber numbers.

Conventional wisdom says that's unlikely to be duplicated any time soon, if ever, but Blizzard COO Paul Sams isn't so sure. In a new interview with Gamasutra, he talks a bit about Titan, the code name for the as-yet-unannounced followup to World of Warcraft. "I believe [it's] the most ambitious thing we've ever attempted," Sams told Gamasutra. "And I feel like we have set our company up to succeed on that. We have some of our most talented and most experienced developers on that team. Many of the people that built World of Warcraft are full time on that other team."

Will WoW's 12 million subscribers jump ship and make Titan the raging success that its predecessor was? "The thing that we hope will happen is that it will not stop World of Warcraft but we believe it will eclipse it," Sams said, before adding that he expects Titan to be an industry force over the next two decades.

MassivelyBlizzard COO: We hope Titan will still be growing in 20 years originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbusinessbusiness-modelsfantasygamasutrainterviewmmo-industrypaul-samssci-fititanWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-killerWed, 09 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Space: the final frontier... except for 4chan, which is a lot scarier to explore. These are the voyages of the Starship Massively. Its five-year mission: to explore strange, new worlds; to seek out new life and blow it out of the sky; to boldly exploit trade routes like no one has done before!

Erp, better stop there before I begin infringing on the Captain's Log's territory! In any event, we at The Game Archaeologist Institute for Fuzzy Nostalgia continue to forge ahead with the Earth & Beyond dig, carefully dusting off memories and screenshots to preserve in a blog-shaped museum.

It's one thing to talk of a game, but another to speak with one who was there at the time, so I went on a hunt through the dark recesses of the internet to find seasoned Earth & Beyonders. This search took me about two minutes before one of my associates practically opened the floodgates of fanboy gushing to drown me in his enthusiasm for this title. One interview, hundreds of screenshots and an Electronic Arts dev bible later, and we at the institute knew that we hit the motherlode.

Join us for a civilized discussion with an Earth & Beyond vet as he shares with us crumpets and recollections.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduacanadacaptains-logcelestial-horizonclaudia-christiancolumbia-disastercommand-and-conquerdev-bibleeaearth-and-beyondechoes-of-nonsenseelectronic-artseveeve-onlineexplorerfantasyfeaturedfederationinterviewirelandJenquaijump-to-lightspeedlord-of-the-ringsnet7sci-fiscience-fictionspace-shuttle-columbiastar-trekstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtea-and-crumpetsthe-game-archaeologisttitanwargameswestwoodTue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard speaks (briefly) about new MMO plans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/blizzard-speaks-briefly-about-new-mmo-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/blizzard-speaks-briefly-about-new-mmo-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/blizzard-speaks-briefly-about-new-mmo-plans/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"To break the mold, sometimes you have to start over," says Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime. Apparently the monolithic development firm's next MMO won't be a World of Warcraft sequel, and In fact, the company expects the two titles to co-exist for a number of years.

"We're really trying to leverage all the lessons we learned through the years. Some of which we were able to address in World of Warcraft and others that maybe because of the design decisions we've made, you just can't address. So we're kind of taking a step back with all that knowledge to make something that's completely new and fresh," Morhaime said yesterday while speaking at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas.

Specific details were nowhere to be found of course, but Morhaime did hint at the social aspects that Blizzard sees as defining characteristics for the future of gaming.

MassivelyBlizzard speaks (briefly) about new MMO plans originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-titandicedice-summitfantasymike-morhaimenew-blizzard-mmotitanWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-sequelThu, 10 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's EVE CSM interview: Incarna and nullsec PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/23/massivelys-eve-csm-interview-incarna-and-nullsec-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/23/massivelys-eve-csm-interview-incarna-and-nullsec-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/23/massivelys-eve-csm-interview-incarna-and-nullsec-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In part one of our interview with EVE Online's player-elected Council of Stellar Management, we asked council member Deirdra Vaal about EVE Gate, the upcoming forum revamp, CCP's microtransaction policy and other topics discussed at the December CSM summit. In three meeting sessions, CCP and the CSM tackled some hard-hitting issues, the biggest of which were Incarna and nullsec PvP. Most of the details on Incarna are currently locked under NDA, but that didn't stop us from asking the CSM about it. Nullsec PvP has also been a hot topic recently with the revelation that levels of PvP have actually been declining since the Dominion expansion. Dominion was intended to open up nullsec for smaller entities, but we still see EVE's political landscape dominated by massive coalitions of alliances spanning several regions.

Massively: The CSM expressed significant concerns about the Incarna development plans it had access to. Does the CSM think that CCP is heading in the wrong direction with Incarna?

Deirdra Vaal: We feel that the approach taken to Incarna is the wrong one, and we emphasised this to CCP. However, CCPs general idea to set Incarna as an "off the grid" environment where we go for shady deals is something the CSM is reasonably happy with. It's just that so far we haven't really been shown any compelling gameplay. So we think they might be heading in the wrong direction, if they are lazy about it. They might also be heading in the right direction, but so far we haven't seen compelling gameplay that would support this assumption.

Skip past the cut for the rest of our interview with EVE's CSM on Incarna, nullsec PvP and the future of EVE.

Continue reading Massively's EVE CSM interview: Incarna and nullsec PvP

MassivelyMassively's EVE CSM interview: Incarna and nullsec PvP originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarsccpccp-dr-eyjogccp-eveccp-gamesccp-greyscaleccp-zulucouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdierdra-vaaldominioneveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfleetincarnainterviewmothershipnullsecpvpsupercarrierstitantitansSun, 23 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Blizzard MMO project is confirmed to be Titan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/new-blizzard-mmo-project-is-confirmed-to-be-titan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/new-blizzard-mmo-project-is-confirmed-to-be-titan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/new-blizzard-mmo-project-is-confirmed-to-be-titan/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Blizzard has kept its newest MMO project under tight wraps despite some corporate leakage earlier this month. However, Destructoid seems to have a confirmation from World of Warcraft's Executive Producer Frank Pearce that Titan is the name of the company's next big project. Pearce told Destructoid, "Titan... the media is not supposed to know anything about that. It's our next-gen MMO, and we've only started talking about it in a limited fashion because we wanna leverage the fact that we're working on something like that for the purpose of recruiting, getting some of the best talent in the industry on that project."

However, Titan may only be an internal title for the -- obviously -- massive project. The title is not meant to replace WoW, according to Blizzard President Mike Morhaime. "We think that World of Warcraft can continue co-existing with our new MMO," he said in a GameTrailers interview at BlizzCon 2010.

Massively will be sure to keep you informed as more news becomes available.

[Thank you to Merketh for the link]

MassivelyNew Blizzard MMO project is confirmed to be Titan originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentfrank-pearceMike-Morhaimenew-mmorumortitanWorld-of-WarcraftwowThu, 16 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analysts speculate on leaked Blizzard release schedule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/analysts-speculate-on-leaked-blizzard-release-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/analysts-speculate-on-leaked-blizzard-release-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/analysts-speculate-on-leaked-blizzard-release-schedule/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Last week's leak of a series of internal documents detailing Blizzard's upcoming products has taken a turn away from tabloid headlines with reports of a full investigation underway at the gaming behemoth's China offices. The leak, brought to light by MMOGameSite.com, may be linked to the recent resignation of Ye Weilun, Blizzard China's general manager.

Among other things, the leaked documents indicated that Blizzard could be releasing Diablo 3 and something Starcraft 2-related (dubbed "Phoenix") in 2011. The 5-year roadmap also shows two new World of Warcraft expansions and Blizzard's long-rumored WoW followup, an MMO code-named Titan.

While much of the information surrounding the leak should be taken with a grain of salt (Blizzard has yet to officially confirm any information relating to the story), several analysts and industry reporters have speculated that the scenario seems entirely plausible.

MassivelyAnalysts speculate on leaked Blizzard release schedule originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardblizzard entertainmentblizzard-chinaBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzard-titanBlizzardEntertainmentdiablo-3rumorstarcrafttitanWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-expansionThu, 09 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR40K throws down the gauntlet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/war40k-throws-down-the-gauntlet-to-the-competition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/war40k-throws-down-the-gauntlet-to-the-competition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/war40k-throws-down-the-gauntlet-to-the-competition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Other MMOs are predictable, lazy and lack the real "feel" of combat -- or so says Vigil Games' founder Dave Adams. In a recent PC Gamer article, Adams and Creative Director Mike Maza share their vision for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online -- and it's all about bucking the industry standard.

Adams had a few strong words for Vigil's competition: "A lot of developers see that as an opportunity to cut that corner because there's so much to do on an MMO. They think people care about X, Y and Z. They don't really care about the feeling of the combat... Our goal is when some guy's walking past DMO they won't instantly know it's an MMO. That depends on a minimal interface: it's not a full FPS but it looks more 'actiony'."

The devs confirmed that there would be a wide range of combat features in this action-based title, including fierce melee brawls, intense ranged firefights -- and no action bar icons of which to speak. The team is working hard to recreate the tabletop's iconic world into a virtual one, designing guns (stubber and bolter firearms) and player-controlled vehicles (Titan mechs and Predator tanks) to look deadly, used and WAR40Kish.

The game will kick players into the fight almost immediately. "There's scenarios that introduce you to your character class. We'll throw you into your very first instance, to get a feel for a very player directed experience. Then you'll go to your trainers and merchants, then drop down onto the over-world from orbit," Maza said.

You can read the full article at PC Gamer.

MassivelyWAR40K throws down the gauntlet originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dave-adamsdmomike-mazapc-gamerplayer-controlled-vehiclespredatortabletoptitanvigil-gameswar40kwar40k-dark-millenium-onlinewarhammerwarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlineWarhammer-40KMon, 06 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The gods have their day: Legend of Edda hits open beta on October 14th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-gods-have-their-day-legend-of-edda-hits-open-beta-on-octobe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-gods-have-their-day-legend-of-edda-hits-open-beta-on-octobe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-gods-have-their-day-legend-of-edda-hits-open-beta-on-octobe/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are you lacking weekend plans? It's OK -- Massively has you covered. It turns out that Legends of Edda is sprinting into open beta this Thursday, October 14th, and everyone who wants to give this mythological MMO a spin can do so!

Legends of Edda is a free-to-play MMO loosely based on Greek mythology -- you know, where all of the gods of the pantheon are like soap opera characters who have access to divine dynamite. Players choose to follow Olympus or Titan upon character creation and then follow a unique storyline that will see the two factions butt heads in RvR in a quest for supremacy. The game also includes an interesting mix-and-match class system that should provide a lot of compelling options for personal playstyles.

The open beta includes a lot of recent additions to the game, including a new level cap of 40, high-level dungeons, and an equipment upgrading system. If you're interested in participating, you can sign up for the open beta at the Legends of Edda website, and then log in any time after 10:00 a.m. EDT on October 14th.

MassivelyThe gods have their day: Legend of Edda hits open beta on October 14th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaf2pfree-to-playgamescampusgreek-mythologylegends-of-eddalevel-capolympusopen-betasoap-operathats-what-she-saiddatitanTue, 12 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diagram shows real-world cost of losing ships in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/diagram-shows-real-world-cost-of-losing-ships-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/diagram-shows-real-world-cost-of-losing-ships-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/diagram-shows-real-world-cost-of-losing-ships-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Whether you play EVE Online or not, the chances are you've read a lot about the harsh, cut-throat universe of New Eden. Alliances routinely clash over territorial disputes, spies work to destroy organisations from the inside and death is an inevitability. While dying in most MMOs means respawning at some far-away camp and having to repair your gear, death in EVE is a somewhat more vicious affair. When your ship is destroyed, whether it's by NPCs in a particularly tough mission or pirates hunting in a low security system, it's gone for good. While insurance will provide a sum of ISK to help with the loss, you'll need to re-buy a new ship and all the equipment that went on it. This would be like having to buy a new set of armour every time you die in World of Warcraft; a scary notion.

For the denizens of New Eden, losing a ship is a strictly in-game financial loss but for those that don't play EVE the scale of those losses can be hard to grasp. Jump On Contact tackled this issue head-on recently with a handy chart showing the rough value of EVE ships in both ISK (the in-game currency) and US Dollars. The prices show the sheer scale of the losses incurred in large battles and are based on a player buying game time codes for cash to be sold in-game for ISK. A fully geared battleship, one of the most common types of ship for players to own in the game, comes out as being worth approximately $10 US Dollars. Most ships fall somewhere between $1 and $13 but perhaps most shocking is the price of a fleet-ready titan, which is estimated at $7600. The next time you hear about a titan being killed or a fleet of capital ships being wiped out, perhaps this chart can help show the sheer scale of that loss.

MassivelyDiagram shows real-world cost of losing ships in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdeathdeath-penaltydiagrameconomyeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinejump-on-contactshipstitanMon, 08 Feb 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Making the jump]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/23/one-shots-making-the-jump/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/23/one-shots-making-the-jump/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/23/one-shots-making-the-jump/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


While some are headed to space in Star Trek Online this weekend, the war for sov rages on in various parts of EVE Online. What it doesn't have in avatar combat (yet) it more than makes up for in sandbox play, putting players in total control over their own character's destiny. This gorgeous EVE Online screenshot comes to us today from Andrew, who writes in to explain what's going on for those who may not be familiar: The release of Dominion has seen a lot of freighter convoys hauling infrastructure to nullsec (player controlled space). In this shot we have a gaggle of freighters approaching a Titan, which will use it's Jump Portal Generator to send them to the far reaches of the galaxy.

From large to small, we love to see MMOs of all styles and sizes. If you'd like to show off your favorite game and give others a glimpse into one of the things you think makes it cool, why not send in a One Shots image? All you have to do is email it to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in. Couldn't be easier!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Making the jump originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrewccpdominioneveeve-onlinenullsecone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotstitanSat, 23 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games alters plans for EVE's capital ships in Dominion expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/ccp-games-alters-plans-for-eves-capital-ships-in-dominion-expan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/ccp-games-alters-plans-for-eves-capital-ships-in-dominion-expan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/ccp-games-alters-plans-for-eves-capital-ships-in-dominion-expan/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The EVE Online developers have announced that some of their proposed changes to capital ships will not deploy with the Dominion expansion as originally planned. This may come as good news to some of EVE's supercarrier (formerly "mothership") pilots who've expressed no small amount of dissatisfaction at how their ships were slated to be changed. With the supercarrier changes not going through, this also means that the fighter bombers -- anti-capital ship drones intended to bathe EVE's largest ships in waves of torpedo explosions -- will not arrive on December 1 with Dominion.

Changes to other capital ship weapons systems like XL Turrets, however, are another matter entirely. They're discussed at length in a dev blog from CCP Nozh titled "Capital Ships in Dominion" as are the new Citadel Cruise Missile Launchers intended to be a long range weapon system.

Continue reading CCP Games alters plans for EVE's capital ships in Dominion expansion

MassivelyCCP Games alters plans for EVE's capital ships in Dominion expansion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capital-shipsccpccp-gamesccp-nozhdev-blogdominioneveeve-onlineexpansionsfighter-bombersfightersgame-mechanicsmothershipspvpsci-fisupercarrierstitantitansFri, 20 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The road ahead for 0.0 alliances]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/20/eve-evolved-the-road-ahead-for-0-0-alliances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/20/eve-evolved-the-road-ahead-for-0-0-alliances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/20/eve-evolved-the-road-ahead-for-0-0-alliances/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,


A lot of MMOs rarely (if ever) revisit old gameplay mechanics or areas, focusing instead on new expansions. EVE Online is different in that the developers go back and re-visit old aspects of gameplay rather than just focusing on new mechanics and content. Even Blizzard have seen the wisdom in redevelopment of old content, and in their next planned World of Warcraft expansion "Cataclysm", the entire game world is being given a revamp to bring everything up to their most recent development standards.

CCP Games have been using this development strategy for years and coupled with player-based development in the community, EVE Online is truly a game that evolves over time. Player-managed political states shift allegiances, entire empires can rise, span the galaxy and fall within a year and the emergent gameplay that typifies EVE's sandbox style is constantly being expanding on by players. The game we know now is very different to the one we had a year ago and if recent devblogs are any indication, EVE is about to undergo a major evolutionary leap. The entire sovereignty system and the state of capital warfare is about to undergo a complete revamp.

In this article, I take a more in-depth look ahead at the changes that are coming to 0.0, capital ships and the sovereignty system and how I think they could turn out, given my experiences in EVE.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The road ahead for 0.0 alliances

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The road ahead for 0.0 alliances originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>0.0alliancecapitalccpccp-gamesdominioneveeve-evolvedeve-onlineevolutionexpansionfeaturedinfrastructuremothershipopinionpoliticsrevampsandboxsovsovereigntytitanSun, 20 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online gets rework of 'Destiny' simulation engine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/12/eve-online-gets-rework-of-destiny-simulation-engine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/12/eve-online-gets-rework-of-destiny-simulation-engine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/12/eve-online-gets-rework-of-destiny-simulation-engine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


EVE Online is notable among the MMO titles on the market for having a game with a single shard setting. Whether you're an industrialist mass producing exhumers or fighting in fleet battles for a large 0.0 PvP alliance, you're active in the same setting rather than shards. Keeping as many as 50,000 concurrent users active in one vast galaxy has been a challenge for CCP Games, and of course there have been numerous growing pains along the way. Namely, something called "desync".

Desync has been a catch-all term to describe the various things that can go wrong during gameplay, but in short it's been something that has plagued a number of EVE's subscribers. In the words of EVE Software Engineer CCP GingerDude, desync is "the situation where the server and client disagree on the position of an object in space at a given time." Although it's been an issue for years, the problem has just recently been solved, according to CCP GingerDude's dev blog "Facing Destiny".

Continue reading EVE Online gets rework of 'Destiny' simulation engine

MassivelyEVE Online gets rework of 'Destiny' simulation engine originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugsccp-gamesccp-gingerdudedestinydesyncdev-blogdev-blogseve-onlinegame-mechanicspvepvpsandboxsci-fisimulation-enginesingle-shardtitantitansSat, 12 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Has EVE's most powerful alliance fallen?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/has-eves-most-powerful-alliance-fallen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/has-eves-most-powerful-alliance-fallen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/has-eves-most-powerful-alliance-fallen/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Band of Brothers (renamed KenZoku) was once the most powerful alliance in EVE Online with a stated goal, even here at Massively, to control all of the game's New Eden galaxy. Now, KenZoku has reportedly left the contested, lawless frontier of 0.0 space after months of resisting the combined forces of rival alliances.

One of EVE's in-game journalists, Interstellar Correspondent ISD Clarity Brown, reports from the site of KenZoku's last holdout: "GoonSwarm and their allies deployed a camp on KenZoku's sole remaining outpost last night. A joint force of pilots from Pandemic Legion, GoonSwarm, Morsus Mihi, Razor Alliance and KIA deployed 27 titans around the station in a show of force and gave a demonstration of the sheer power embodied in such a gang."

Titans are the game's most expensive weapons of mass destruction, massive ships capable of unleashing 'Doomsday' area-of-effect attacks that melt fleets caught in the blast. To unleash 27 Doomsday blasts at once is... quite a sight, as the video footage demonstrates.

Continue reading Has EVE's most powerful alliance fallen?

MassivelyHas EVE's most powerful alliance fallen? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>0.0alliance-warfareband-of-brothersbobclarity-brownendgameeveeve-onlinegame-mechanicsgoonfleetgoonswarmisd-clarity-brownkenzokukiamorsus-mihipandemic-legionplayer-politicspoliticspvprazor-alliancesci-fisovereigntytitantitansThu, 18 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Titan Online introduces their cash shop in an unexpected manner]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/titan-online-introduces-their-cash-shop-in-an-unexpected-manner/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/titan-online-introduces-their-cash-shop-in-an-unexpected-manner/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/titan-online-introduces-their-cash-shop-in-an-unexpected-manner/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Martial-art fantasy giant robot MMO (yes, that's the genre) Titan Online is in their open beta phase and they're about to unveil their cash shop and all of the goodies contained within to their players, but they're not going to let anyone buy anything. Not just yet, at least. They aren't letting any user purchase their in-game currency, T-Cash, but they are opening the item shop on June 1st.

So how are you suppose to get the items in the cash shop then? Why you need to win them via an event, of course! Titan Online will be throwing an special event in for the unveiling of the cash shop where players of all levels will be able to win some of the items contained within. They're also letting players win some T-Cash in advance by uploading their fan made movies onto YouTube.

It's certainly an interesting way to open a standard feature of free-to-play MMOs, and hopefully it will be a bunch of fun for everyone involved. Plus, who can argue with free stuff?

MassivelyTitan Online introduces their cash shop in an unexpected manner originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash-shopeventeya-gameseya-interactivein-game-eventt-cashtitantitan-onlineThu, 28 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: Titan Online preview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/gdc09-titan-online-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/gdc09-titan-online-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/gdc09-titan-online-preview/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


At GDC, we had a chance to take a first look at EYA Interactive's upcoming free to play MMO Titan Online. Already available for play in Asia (as Mo Siang Online), a limited public beta has begun in North America and EYA anticipates a spring 2009 release. There's not a whole lot of information about Titan available, so we'll just explain it in EYA's words:

An epic title based on traditional Asian culture, Titan Online is a fusion MMORPG that boasts a unique combination of martial arts and robots that takes place in a spectacular fantasy world. Titan Online is based upon the Korean best-selling novel, "Mo Siang." Set in ancient China, players will experience historic Chinese locales, meet influential figures from various dynasties, experience mysterious aspects of various ancient Asian cultures, all while trying to save the martial arts world by engaging in intense real-time battles. Developed in-house by EYA Interactive, Titan Online offers a very real picture of ancient China with 75 maps of historical sites, including Dun Hwang, Chang An, Kai Feng, Beijing, Shu Zhou, Shao Lin Temple, Chin Shi Huang mausoleum, Hang Zhou, Tai Shan, The Great Wall, and Hwang Her. In order to create the most true-to-life experience, the EYA development team spent time in China researching the ancient and historical cities so they could accurately reproduce them in the game.

A historical martial arts game with robots? Our interest is piqued.

Gallery: GDC09: Titan Online

Continue reading GDC09: Titan Online preview

MassivelyGDC09: Titan Online preview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eyaeya-interactivefree-to-playftpgdcgdc-2009titantitan-onlineFri, 27 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Halo MMO: What could have been]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/the-halo-mmo-what-could-have-been/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/the-halo-mmo-what-could-have-been/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/the-halo-mmo-what-could-have-been/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In an interesting article at Gamasutra, the last days of Ensemble Studios are chronicled to honor the mega studio and what they once were. Regardless of the titles that put them on the map, the studio had some great games in the works. One such game was the Halo MMO, which was confirmed late last year. The project -- codenamed Orion -- has been in the works, in one form or another, since 1998.

According to the article, this project was to be the new focus of the company. There was even a brand new facility being built to house the development of the game. The construction of that building suddenly stopped one day, and Microsoft informed the team that they would be closing down operations. The project originally known as Titan was no more. Check out the entire three-page article for more on the last days of Ensemble Studios.

MassivelyThe Halo MMO: What could have been originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closureensemble-studiosgamasutrahalo-mmomicrosoftoriontitanMon, 02 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Exploring New Eden]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/30/eve-evolved-exploring-new-eden/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/30/eve-evolved-exploring-new-eden/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/30/eve-evolved-exploring-new-eden/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A common theme in popular MMOs today is the idea of exploration. For a surprisingly large number of players, their reason for playing an MMO is to experience new content and explore new lands. Each new MMO or expansion becomes a new country to explore with its own set of features and game mechanics. Limits such as levels, raid progression and quest chains are used to ensure we don't burn through all the game's content too quickly.

New Eden:
EVE Online is set in the expansive universe of New Eden. This nebular stellar nursery contains thousands of stars, of which approximately 5000 have been explored and added to the game's stargate network. Even though EVE doesn't have level limits, it does have a familiar approach to exploring content. Some content such as difficult complexes (space dungeons) will not be completable solo and other content like level 4 missions will be so difficult as to require large ships with a lot of skills behind them. The majority of the universe, however, is free to explore from day one and there's a lot to explore.

In this visual article, I explore some of the stunning content of EVE Online and take a brief look at what the future holds for explorers in New Eden.

Gallery: Exploring New Eden

The Blue PlanetAcceleration gateYan Jung ruinsAzure Canyon tourist resortThe Caldari titan

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Exploring New Eden originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeologyblood raiderBloodRaidercomplexdungeoneveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexplorationfeaturedgallerygatecampjoystiqfeaturesluminairemissionnew edenNewEdenplanetrogue droneRogueDronescreenshotserpentisstargatetitanyan jungYanJungSun, 30 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST