Massively

The Daily Grind: Are cash-shop lotteries a black mark on MMOs?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Western players gripe about random number generators, especially when it comes to cash shops. Many of us rebel against paying for lockboxes in Star Trek Online, TCG cards in the now-defunct Star Wars Galaxies, and super-packs in City of Heroes because we want to buy a thing, not a chance at a thing.

Apparently, the idea annoys at least one government too. Earlier this week, rumors began swirling that the Japanese government might crack down on social games that employ "konpu gacha" -- essentially a crafting mechanic that requires a succession of lottery-esque random rolls. To gather the random and rare items you need to craft the gizmo you really want, you wind up spending tons of real cash on a bunch of stuff you don't. Sound familiar?

I'm not a fan of legislative meddling in how fools and their money are parted, but I'm still wondering what you all think. Are these kinds of cash-shop tricks fair play, or do you think the genre would be better off without them?

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

The Daily Grind: Are cash-shop lotteries a black mark on MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Hero Squad Online introduces Ant-Man, new Avengers costumes

Matt Daniel — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Family, Super Hero Squad Online

Avengers, assemble! In Super Hero Squad Online, that is. The fine folks at Gazillion Entertainment announced today that in order to celebrate the upcoming release of the much-anticipated Avengers film, the latest update to the free-to-play title will allow players to assemble the original Avengers team thanks to the introduction of Ant-Man and a new World-War-II-era costume for Captain America.

As comic aficionados know, the original Avengers team (unlike the team featured in the upcoming film) consisted of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Ant-Man, and Wasp. Now that Ant-Man has joined the fray, the entire roster of original Avengers characters is now available in SHSO, and not a second too soon. The mischievous trickster-god Loki is back in business, and it's up to players to protect Baxter Plaza and the fallen remains of Asgard from his destructive antics. So what are you waiting for? Assemble your team and get to work; humanity is depending on you, heroes.

[Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release]

Super Hero Squad Online introduces Ant-Man, new Avengers costumes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Family: Kid-friendly MMO roundup, part 1

Karen Bryan — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Free-to-play, Casual, Kids, MMO Family, Family, Clone Wars Adventures, Super Hero Squad Online, Miscellaneous

With all of the buzz centered around "grown-up" MMO titles like Star Wars: The Old Republic and Guild Wars 2, it's easy for the kid-friendly games to get lost in the shuffle. There may not be as many kid titles on the horizon, but for the games that are currently out there, there's been an amazing amount of activity going on in these virtual worlds.

I decided to take a peek at some of my (and the kids') favorites, along with a few games that we've done first impressions on, to see what they've been up to lately. Since there are too many great kid-friendly MMOs out there to fit into one column, this will be the first of what will probably be many follow-up entries covering other games, so if you don't see your favorite family-friendly game here, fear not!

Continue reading MMO Family: Kid-friendly MMO roundup, part 1

MMO Family: Kid-friendly MMO roundup, part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Hero Squad trading card game to feature bonus MMO content

Jef Reahard — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Casual, Kids, Family, Super Hero Squad Online, Miscellaneous

For those of us who grew up as sports fans during the early 1990s, the name Upper Deck is synonymous with baseball cards. Nowadays, the firm has branched out into customizable trading card games, and the latest such is a tie-in to Gazillion's kid-friendly Super Hero Squad Online MMO.

The Super Hero Squad TCG features a 300-card base set chock-full of the usual Marvel suspects. Alongside the Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Captain America cards are special loot inserts with reward codes that unlock bonus items and exclusive playable characters in SHSO. Look for booster packs at your favorite gaming retailer on April 24th.

[Source: Marvel press release]

Super Hero Squad trading card game to feature bonus MMO content originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Family: Heroing-up in Super Hero Squad Online

Karen Bryan — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Opinion, Free-to-play, Kids, MMO Family, Family, Super Hero Squad Online

There's a growing number of great kid-friendly MMOs available, and one that I've been meaning to check out for a while now is Super Hero Squad Online. The game has only been out for eight months, yet in that short time, it's reached over a million registered users and added lots of new content and characters.

I've spent some time in the game, along with my two young testers, to find out what the buzz is all about. We formed up a squad and set off to check out missions, the card game, our headquarters, and the opportunities for exploration out in the world, and our first impressions are found below. If you've ever wanted to know what the little super heroes eat or what holiday treats are available at the Parker household, you'll definitely want to read on!

Continue reading MMO Family: Heroing-up in Super Hero Squad Online

MMO Family: Heroing-up in Super Hero Squad Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last chance to join Star Wars Galaxies sunset

Brianna Royce — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, Star Wars Galaxies, Massively Meta, Trading card games, Sandbox

In June, we broke the sad news that Star Wars Galaxies would be shutting down this December. But if you were hoping to check out one of the best sandbox MMOs in existence before the final curtain falls, you're running out of time.

According to Sony Online Entertainment, only accounts that are active and in good standing on September 15th will be eligible for the sunset period and events, so if you want to play, you'll have to plan ahead and reactivate your account one last time to make sure your account is active on Thursday. After that, your account will remain active for free until December 15th, when the galaxies are closed down for the last time. Confused? Mepps on the official forums has an even more detailed explanation for all the caveats and what-ifs you can dream up.

Players meeting the criterion will also find that their accounts are flagged for free access to other SOE games (including EverQuest II and DC Universe Online) from October 15th to the end of the year, further sweetening the deal.

Finally, although the SWG TCG will remain in operation as long as the game does, loot cards cease being redeemable after September 15th, so grab your free loot cards while you still can!

Last chance to join Star Wars Galaxies sunset originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive: Referee Ruby plays Treasure War in Free Realms

Brianna Royce — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Free-to-play, Browser, Trading card games, Humor, Free Realms, Kids

Referee Ruby is back again this week with another exclusive Free Realms video, this time showing off the Treasure War card game. Accessible through Greenwood Forest, Treasure War is a simple, card-styled rock-paper-scissors game in which players pit their cards against opponents' cards in an attempt to steal -- you guessed it -- treasure. The game features three modes: Quickplay, for low-risk, speedy, and fun matches vs. other players; Campaign, which requires the participant to face off against increasingly difficult NPCs for prizes; and Tournament, a competitive version of Quickplay that offers lucrative rewards.

Ruby notes that Treasure War isn't a standard TCG in which you build a custom deck; instead, your cards are chosen at random from your collection by the game itself. Of course, the Free Realms cash shop sells gems that can boost your odds of winning if you really need that extra edge. You can also purchase card packs for a chance at rare prizes like the glowy phoenix mount Ruby's riding at the end of the trailer.

Enjoy the full video just behind the break!

Continue reading Exclusive: Referee Ruby plays Treasure War in Free Realms

Exclusive: Referee Ruby plays Treasure War in Free Realms originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive: Smedley on the sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies [Updated]

Brianna Royce — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Interviews, MMO industry, Star Wars Galaxies, Trading card games, Massively Interviews

When I penned this week's Soapbox about Star Wars Galaxies and the NGE, I had no idea what was in store for MMO gamers today. In fact, I was so confident that the pre-eminent MMO sandbox was going to be around forever (or at least another eight years) that I reassured commenters that there was no need to fear Star Wars: The Old Republic. The two games might both feature the Star Wars IP, but their goals are so dramatically different -- one being a dialogue-driven themepark, the other being a player-driven sandbox -- that they shouldn't conflict unduly. Surely Star Wars fans could play both indefinitely and enjoy both types of gameplay.

Unfortunately, on Thursday we learned that just won't be so. Sony Online Entertainment has announced that Star Wars Galaxies will be shutting down on December 15th of this year, marking what is in my mind the most significant sunset of a major MMO to date (and a personally painful one for many on the staff at Massively, including me). I know what you're thinking, and no, the impending closure is due neither to the hackings nor to a dwindling playerbase. Past the break, an audibly regretful John Smedley, President of SOE, sits down with us to chat about SWG's sunset, explaining the reasons that led to the decision and offering a new hope for the future.

Continue reading Exclusive: Smedley on the sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies [Updated]

Exclusive: Smedley on the sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: The lower decks

Brandon Felczer — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Expansions, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Captain's Log

Captain's Log, Stardate 64977.3...

Spock, Riker, Kira, Worf, Chakotay, and T'Pol. What do they all have in common? They are the notable men and women who served under their Captains as First Officer. Joret, Sito, Alyssa, Taurik, Sam and Geniveve. What do they all have in common? No one knows who the heck they are. In the world of Star Trek, these "unknowns" are the members of the lower decks, people whose work goes unnoticed, whose accomplishments are unacknowledged, and who are often killed off at the end of the episode when you finally do get to know them.

While the ships in Star Trek Online currently seem to be manned only by the Captain, his or her Bridge Officers (BOff), and some random crewmen walking around the ship, this is about to change. In the next couple months, get ready to welcome new members to your ship's lower decks. The Duty Officer (DOff) system will be adding a new form of gameplay to STO and give players even more ways to level characters and become immersed in the universe surrounding them. While there are a ton of random pieces of information about it floating out there, I think that Captain's Log is the perfect place to put it all together and give you a more concise picture of how it will work.

Ensign, warp 10! It's time to attend your new favorite class, DOffs 101...

Continue reading Captain's Log: The lower decks

Captain's Log: The lower decks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox

Brianna Royce — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, The Soapbox

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.

This week, the venerable Star Wars Galaxies celebrates its eighth year of existence. I was there in the beginning -- before the beginning, in fact. I did what a lot of you early SWG players probably did: I had a guild and a guild city, multiple accounts, a booming business as a chef, and a character who could entertain and fight. Even then, we realized how different SWG was from its immediate predecessors like EverQuest and Dark Age of Camelot. We'd returned to the earlier age of Ultima Online, of persistent worlds (as the term was used back then). It was more a world than a game, and in it we could roleplay whatever we liked, to a point. Nowadays, we'd call it a sandbox.

Old-school MMO gamers know well that the sandbox is under attack. Some will blame it on EverQuest, some on World of Warcraft, some on the free-to-play phenomenon. Among the Massively commenters, there's a large contingent of gamers who consider SWG's own NGE to be the beginning of the end of the classic sandbox. I can't say they're wrong when it comes to the philosophy governing new MMOs, but the sandbox isn't dead yet.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox

The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KingsIsle brings Wizard101 goodies to Canada

Beau Hindman — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Free-to-play, Trading card games, Casual, Kids, Wizard101, Family

KingsIsle Entertainment, maker of the very popular card-based freemium title Wizard101, announced today that it will be releasing a brand-new mega-bundle pre-paid card to stores across the country. Here's how the cards work: Players pay a set amount and receive a card with a code that, once redeemed in-game, can add all sorts of gold, goodies, and other options. The new card features a new flying carpet mount, a massive sultan's palace complete with a mirage, 5000 crowns to be used in the cash shop, and several other fun items. It's no wonder the cards have become one of the best-selling cards at Gamestop -- they offer an all-in-one package that is easy to pick up.

Canadians worried about getting their hands on these cards can rest easy -- KingsIsle is pushing the cards into major Canadian retailers this fall. Concerned players who have been "surprisingly vocal" about the lack of card access will also get the chance to own exclusive pets available only in their area. This move will bring Wizard101's combined retail presence to over 50,000 stores. Not bad -- not bad at all.

So, what's next for the freemium giant? Well, KingsIsle just partnered with Gameforge to bring the game overseas. Interesting things happen when you have to port a fully voice-acted game like Wizard101 to a place like Germany. The UI and map has to be tweaked to allow room for the longer written language, and everything needs to be localized. There are also cultural differences to consider, and the cash shop can be received differently than here in the U.S.

The new game cards will be offered for $39, but the items included are valued at over $100.

KingsIsle brings Wizard101 goodies to Canada originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CardMon Hero offers up colorful new trailer

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Free-to-play

While CardMon Hero went into open beta last week, the teams at Hanbitsoft, T3fun, and Redbana have just put out a new video offering up some gameplay from the game for you to check out. Why did they wait so long? Well, perhaps they hoped to lure you in to all the card-building dueling action, or maybe they just wanted to film some fun fights featuring players running around the world.

Whatever the companies' reason, if you are curious for a look at this fast-paced free-to-play MMO, and haven't had a chance to check it out, we've tucked the newest video behind the break. With complex card strategies, crafting, and some pretty wicked-looking henchmen to collect, it's a brightly-colored MMO-offering for those who remember playing insane amounts of TCGs in their youth. Also, we've added our gallery full of concept art, screenshots, and more from CardMon Hero for you to enjoy. If you're ready to get into the action, head over to the CardMon Hero site and get signed up!

Gallery: CardMon Hero

Continue reading CardMon Hero offers up colorful new trailer

CardMon Hero offers up colorful new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose My Adventure: Wings rule, horses drool edition

Beau Hindman — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Polls, Screenshots, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Trading card games, Casual, Wizard101, Choose My Adventure, Family

For those who might not know, it was decided last week that my Wizard101 character was to be a boy from the school of Death. On top of that, he was ordered to get around town by using a pair of beautiful white wings. I heard a few comments in different places about how the wings would not look cool with a Death student or about how a horse mount or broom was better. I held fast and nabbed a pair of the white, fluttering back pieces. I had to obey orders!

Once I made my character and put the wings on, though, I looked completely metal. For those younger players who might not understand what that means, Google "Dio" and watch a few videos. Avoid Slayer -- your parents would not like that. (Note: If you come across a band called Queensryche, that's not metal.) Anyway, my white wings only accentuated my dark intentions. It was a fantastic choice.

But what else did I do over this last week besides wait for the vote to end? Well, click past the cut and I'll let you know.

Gallery: CMA: Wizard 101 first edition

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Wings rule, horses drool edition

Choose My Adventure: Wings rule, horses drool edition originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wookiees, witches and (Star) Wars: SWG breaks out Game Update 19

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Patches, Star Wars Galaxies

It's a busy day for Star Wars Galaxies, as Game Update 19 jumps to lightspeed with a trio of exciting events. First up is the return of Wookiee Life Day, "a time to reflect on the renewal of life and to remember those who have passed on." Wookiee Life Day was first introduced in the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special and has become a beloved fixture of SWG since its inception a few years ago. New features to the holiday this year include the ability to plant a Life Tree anywhere you like, four new paintings, a Wookiee Life Day robe, a collectible badge, and an R2-D2 ornament.

Game Update 19 also brings the next chapter of the Witches of Dathomir, which began a little over a month ago. Players can travel to the planet of Dathomir and decide which clan of Force-sensitive Witches they'll align with: the Nightsisters or the Singing Mountain Clan.

Finally, a new expansion pack to the trading card game is available, titled The Price of Victory. You can read up on Game Update 19 at Star Wars Galaxies, and travel back in the Massively time machine to revisit our chat with SWG's Teesquared on the patch.

Wookiees, witches and (Star) Wars: SWG breaks out Game Update 19 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWG to release seventh trading card game expansion

Larry Everett — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Star Wars Galaxies, Trading card games

It has been nearly eight months since Star Wars Galaxies has seen a new Trading Card Game expansion, but this week, Sony Online Entertainment has announced the seventh expansion: The Price of Victory. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Empire Strikes Back, this expansion includes gameplay scenarios, and of course, loot cards that revolve around the second movie release in the Star Wars saga.

After the crushing blow to Imperial morale with the destruction of the Death Star, the Empire strikes back hard by weeding out Rebel insurgents galaxy-wide. The Price of Victory features 10 brand-new story-arc scenarios, which delve deep into the story of the Empire's revenge. The new and unique 175 playing cards are all highly detailed and inspired by the Empire Strikes Back. Then, of course, there are the loot cards inspired by Episode V. They include cards for the tauntaun armor statue, the cloud car vehicle, and the Cloud City-inspired player house.

You can catch more information about this new expansion on the official Star Wars Galaxies website or by visiting the Trading Card Game forum. So what is the price of victory? $2.99 a pack.

SWG to release seventh trading card game expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dress up in new costumes with Super Hero Squad Online!

Larry Everett — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Super-hero, Trailers, Video, Events, in-game, New titles, Kids, Family, Super Hero Squad Online

Children of all ages (yup, that includes most of the adults out there) have dressed up for Halloween as their favorite super hero. The Super Hero Squad Online from Marvel and Gazillion is giving out new costumes for the kids (and adults) this trick-or-treat season. We all know what the classic Spider-man costume looks like, right? Well, why not try the black costume? Or maybe a red Hulk fits you better? Whatever best helps you to hero up! Each costume is not just a cover to wear over your existing costume, but they are full-fledged heroes with their own emotes and superpowers that are different from any other hero.

After the costume try-ons are over, go play the amazing online trading card game or save Super Hero City from evil. What? You haven't signed up for beta yet? Well, get over there an do it now, and while you're at it you can sign up your children, too. Gazillion is looking for a whole range of different testers! And if you haven't seen the "spooky" Halloween trailer, you can watch it by hitting "Read More" below.

'Nuff said.

Continue reading Dress up in new costumes with Super Hero Squad Online!

Dress up in new costumes with Super Hero Squad Online! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Squaring off with SWG's producer, Teesquared

Larry Everett — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Previews, Star Wars Galaxies, Trading card games, Massively Interviews

The fans of Star Wars Galaxies are stalwart. Despite all the trouble the game has gone through, it features one of the most active communities in the Sony Online Entertainment library of MMOs. The developers have noticed this and have continued to work diligently on new content for the loyal players.

Recently, we took the opportunity to ask SWG's current Producer Tony "Teesquared" Tyson some questions about the present and future of the title. He answered all our inquiries about holiday events, future updates, the Galactic Civil War, and the Trading Card Game. Some exciting things are coming!

Follow us after the break to find out what future holds in a galaxy far, far away...

Continue reading Squaring off with SWG's producer, Teesquared

Squaring off with SWG's producer, Teesquared originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smith and Tinker talk of green goo, Marvel partnership

Beau Hindman — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Polls, Launches, New titles, Previews, PvP, Free-to-play, Browser, Trading card games, Casual, Kids

Smith and Tinker is a company that is building products for today's "roaming audience," such as 2009's collectible-monster game Nanovor. Essentially, tweens battled microscopic silicon-based monsters that lived deep within their PCs. While it garnered much attention, Smith and Tinker decided it was time for a re-do. Now, we have Nanovor Evolution, a newly rendered 3-D multi-platform version of the game that offers "every player complete gaming satisfaction anywhere and everywhere, and by evolving our Nanovor digital collective game and future titles onto multiple platforms, we are on track to making that a reality."

The new version runs within a browser, with future versions available on iPhone and iPad. After our discussion, I decided to a look at the game myself. True to the company's word, it loaded and ran within my browser and looked great. I walked through an animated tutorial, customized my avatar, learned the basics of combat, and was introduced to the public area -- a square for players to chat safely and challenge each other to matches. Really, it's a miniature version of many full-scale MMORPGs, built to be played on many different devices and while on-the-go.

Take a look after the jump to catch a glimpse at the action!

Continue reading Smith and Tinker talk of green goo, Marvel partnership

Smith and Tinker talk of green goo, Marvel partnership originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX 2010: It's clobberin' time with SHSO's PvP online card game

Larry Everett — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Events, real-world, Interviews, New titles, Previews, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Trading card games, Casual, Kids, Super Hero Squad Online

Massively has taken a swing at Marvel's Super Hero Squad Online several times in the last few months, now. So, on our trip to PAX, the boy-in-grown-up-shoes, Jay Minn, could not wait to show us the newly announced PvP portion of this dynamic game. Minn, who is the Director of Games for The Amazing Society, turned in to a giddy imp and directed me to a computer station that had a burning Human Torch on the screen, all prepared to fight some bad guys. Even though PvE wasn't what I was there to cover that day, Minn just had to show me anyway. "Click on a bad guy," he told me, "and good things just happen." I obliged; the Torch lit up and chased some bad guys away! At that point, we were told we had to move on to the PvP portion of the demonstration. Marketing people can be such spoil-sports sometimes.

The giddy grin returned to Minn's face as he gave me instructions on how to get into the online card game. In the lower right-hand corner simply sat an icon that looked like fanned-out cards. As part of the demo I was able to pick my opponent, and since I just love seeing the Ol' Canucklehead Wolverine get beaten down, I picked him for my enemy. And who is the best Marvel superhero? Spider-Man, of course. I had to choose him as my character.

Hero up with me after the break to find out the details of my adventure through this shiny and lively online card game.

Gallery: SHSO PAX 2010 Gallery

Continue reading PAX 2010: It's clobberin' time with SHSO's PvP online card game

PAX 2010: It's clobberin' time with SHSO's PvP online card game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE vets create new studio for TCGs based on upcoming MMO

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Trading card games

They're not quite Three Wolf Moon, but the folks over at Dire Wolf Digital have their own special brand of magic waiting in the wings. Formed by several Sony Online Entertainment veterans, including Scott Martins, Paul Dennan, Ryan Anderson and Bruce Mitchener, Dire Wolf Digital will focus on creating online trading card games (TCGs). The SOE vets have several TCGs under their belt, including Legends of Norrath and the Free Realms TCG.

What's interesting for MMO fans is that Dire Wolf Digital is working on a project in conjunction with an upcoming MMORPG. Per the press page: "The company is currently producing a trading card game based on an upcoming massively-multiplayer online game, and is in pre-production on additional social and strategy game projects for 2011."

Of course, we have no idea what this upcoming MMO is, but the talent involved makes Dire Wolf Digital worth watching. Considering that the team has previously worked on several TCGs for SOE and elsewhere, it certainly appears to have the pedigree necessary to succeed in the field.

SOE vets create new studio for TCGs based on upcoming MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The history

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Star Wars Galaxies, The Game Archaeologist

Each month, the Game Archaeologist dusts off one MMORPG of yesterday and investigates while hanging on to his hat.

From the ancient lands of Ultima to a galaxy far, far away, the Game Archaeologist is always on the move, looking for the next treasure trove to uncover. Some say that covering Star Wars Galaxies is a moot point: that the true game as it was is dead, and that with The Old Republic on the horizon, SWG is all but passé. Yet through the steamy jungles of Kashyyyk to the dangerous dunes of Tatooine, there is evidence of passion, play and Imperial Stormtroopers shooting all willy-nilly.

It's weird to think that in early 2003, the MMO genre was almost an entirely different creature. World of Warcraft was still over a year away, and the most successful developer at the time (Sony Online Entertainment, along with Verant) had teamed up with LucasArts to create a Star Wars game above all other games. A killer IP, a beefy development team, and incredible fan-fueled hype made Star Wars Galaxies THE game to watch as it raced toward launch -- even IGN crowed in 2000 that SWG could become "one of the biggest games of all time."

Join us now as we hop back to the wild frontier of the early 2000s and peruse the first seven years of Star Wars Galaxies' run. It's had its highs, its lows, and a three-letter acronym that became one of the most infamous MMO events ever -- but no matter what your opinion, the Force has been strong with this title indeed.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The history

The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The history originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runes of Magic upgrades trading card system

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic

While Runes of Magic is often dismissed as a straight-up World of Warcraft clone, that does a disservice to game features that march to the beat of a different Frogster. One such system is their monster trading cards, where defeated mobs have a chance to drop a special card that show statistics and details about each monster.

While these cards were mostly cosmetic up to this point, Runes of Magic is planning to both upgrade and expand the system with the Chapter III: The Elder Kingdoms update this month. 48 new monster cards will be added to the game, which will increase the monster compendium to 800 foul beasts and critters. In addition, each monster card will now bestow attributes to the player, such as a boost to dexterity or strength. As such, demand for these cards will rise, which Frogster hopes will fire up player interaction as gamers trade for their most desired attributes.

The Chapter III update won't just focus on monster cards, of course. A huge number of additions to Runes of Magic will come packaged with it, including a level cap increase to 60, new areas, a PvP ranking system, new mini-games and the opportunity to get married in the game. Well, "officially" married, at least. Look for the update later this month!

Runes of Magic upgrades trading card system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Camon Hero closed beta is in the cards

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Trailers, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Camon Hero

If you're one of the multitudes who grew up playing a lot of Yu-Gi-Oh or other card battling games, then we've got news about an upcoming MMO that may well interest you. Camon Hero, also known as Orka in other parts of the world, is coming to the West with fast-paced free-to-play card game MMO fun -- and a closed beta that starts tomorrow.

In Camon Hero, players explore the world, attempting to rid the lands of evil, and picking up different cards along the way. The game offers a classless system based entirely on the cards you have selected at the time. In the mood to be a battle mage? Load those cards up and get to playing. Prefer to go full-on melee or pure caster? You can do that too. From there, it's all about who has the better cards as you pit your deck (and thereby character) building skills against players in PvP, or against the world in PvE. Only unlike playing a traditional TCG, the cards spring to life and fight for your side!

For now, we've embedded the trailer for Camon Hero behind the break, which shows off some tantalizing hints of game play. Hopefully we'll hear some more news about this interesting MMO (or maybe score some beta keys) in the days to come.

Continue reading Camon Hero closed beta is in the cards

Camon Hero closed beta is in the cards originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EQ's producer discusses new Legends of Norrath-gated instance after player concerns

William Dobson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Business models, Culture, Forums, Legends of Norrath

Although the Legends of Norrath digital trading card game can be played completely separately from EverQuest, the two games have a lot of ties to each other beyond just lore. The former can be launched from within the latter game. There are also "loot cards" which not only function in LoN but can be redeemed in EverQuest for certain bonus items. Some people that play EQ but not LoN may have been upset in the past at missing out on a few of these loot card items, but it's doubtful that anything has caused as much of an outcry as is currently occurring over an upcoming loot card. The card in question is the Dragon Brood Crypt Key Card, and the resulting EQ reward will be the only way to access a brand new dungeon instance.

Continue reading EQ's producer discusses new Legends of Norrath-gated instance after player concerns

EQ's producer discusses new Legends of Norrath-gated instance after player concerns originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE announces a new way for Free Realms players to get in the game

Krystalle Voecks — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, News items, Trading card games, Free Realms, Kids

Like the Free Realms Card Duelist job? Ever thought how cool it would be to have a card of your duelist? Well, it seems like Sony Online Entertainment thinks that would be pretty cool too, as they've just added a new service allowing players to do just that. The Duelist on Demand service allows Free Realms players to create physical Topps cards of their very own duelists. As an added bonus, each physical card has a code on the bottom of it that you can redeem in-game for a virtual copy of your unique duelist card!

The cards are currently only available in the US (except Maine for some strange reason) and are $12 US for 10 cards. "This print-on-demand option gives Free Realms players an entirely new way to immerse themselves into the game, with a unique, physical Topps trading card," said Scott Martins, Director of Development at SOE Denver. "Imagine creating a trading card based on your in-game character and then trading it with your friends for their personalized card. It's as if you are passing out your very own Free Realms business cards." With school back in, this could also be a pretty nifty way to reward excellent grades, or as a unique gift idea for friends and family who enjoy Free Realms.

SOE announces a new way for Free Realms players to get in the game originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO pacifism: Expanding combat alternative systems

Brooke Pilley — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: PvP, PvE, Opinion

Murder. Death. Kill. These words are synonymous with most MMORPGs (oh, and 1993's Demolition Man too, but let's not go there). There have been a number of systems introduced to the genre since its birth, but combat (PvE and PvP) has always been at the forefront. One blogger wants that to change.

Syp of BioBreak has been playing a lot of LOTRO lately and he's starting to feel like Turbine are a bunch of nature-haters forcing players into the roll of exterminator extraordinaire. "It's not just 'kill 10 rats,' it's 'kill 10 of every freakin' last thing that ever walked, crawled, slithered or flew over the earth, just because'." This got him wondering about what the alternatives were. If done well, what activities would he choose over combat?

He came up with a fairly extensive list of established features that could use some buffing up in his opinion, including: crafting, mini-games, puzzles, trading card games, vehicle action, achievements, and diplomacy/politics. Head on over to read his thoughts.

MMO pacifism: Expanding combat alternative systems originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More on the Free Realms trading card game

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Galleries, New titles, Free-to-play, Trading card games, Free Realms, Kids

We first mentioned the Free Realms trading card game when it was announced by SOE back in November of last year, but now we get treated to even more exclusive artwork from the game as it approaches official launch. This TCG will be available in both online and in-store versions where you can battle your friends in the MMO or face-to-face, courtesy of cards made by Topps.

So check out the exclusive new pieces straight from SOE's Denver studio, in our gallery below. It includes the full hi-res artwork itself, as well as the final cards as they'll look in the stores. Also be sure to check out the Free Realms website for complete info on these cards, in both online and offline versions.

Gallery: Free Realms TCG

More on the Free Realms trading card game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Destroy all droids and nab some free loot!

Seraphina Brennan — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, News items, Star Wars Galaxies, Trading card games

What do bounty hunters and trade federation droids have in common? They're both rewards for playing through the upcoming Star Wars Galaxies trading card game scenario, "Destroy All Droids!"

Yes, you too can bask in the glory of a rare card featuring bounty hunter Bane Malar and a nice piece of Star Wars Galaxies in-game loot for your house. All you have to do is simply complete the upcoming card game scenario, which will be released on April 15th. That's it!

When you complete the small little storyline, the game will reward you with your card and a trade federation droid vendor for your house. If you beat it again with a new deck that has a different archetype you'll get another copy of the Bane Malar card, but you can only have up to four copies. So, if you're a Star Wars Galaxies player, you might want to check this out even if you aren't a rabid follower of the card game. Free stuff is free stuff!

Destroy all droids and nab some free loot! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you play MMO-based tabletop games?

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind, Roleplaying

Sure, there aren't really any such things as 'tabletop MMOs' but there are quite a few tabletop games based on MMOs. There are trading card games for a few different MMOs - both online and off. World of Warcraft has an actual board game, complete with expansions. Dungeons & Dragons Online is based on the much beloved Dungeons & Dragons pen & paper system - and now we have Champions Online in the pen & paper to MMO market. It's not quite the same thing as EverQuest spawning its own pen & paper game, though. Warhammer made the jump from minis to MMO, and WoW has jumped from MMO to minis. With this much cross-pollination going on, we thought we'd ask this morning; do you play any of the tabletop variants? From board games to card games to pen & paper games, there's a lot to choose from out there. Any you thought were really well done? How about crossovers that you tried but just didn't make the cut for you?

The Daily Grind: Do you play MMO-based tabletop games? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A little more about Wizard101

Alexis Kassan — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trading card games, Kids, Wizard101

There have been quite a few releases for magic-themed game Wizard101 of late as well as the preview of the first expansion. Enough so that WhatTheyPlay has posted an overview aimed at parents to explain the basis of the game and what they can expect if their kids play it.

In a nutshell, Wizard101 is a world where players are students of magic. Combat relies on a trading card system and is turn-based. No one ever "dies" in the game. It's free to play in much the same way that Runescape is - meaning that many areas and quests are only available to paid accounts. The options are numerous in terms of membership levels depending upon what the players (or their parents) want to be able to do. For those parents worried about the community, they do discuss the limitations on communication and the average age of players (about 12). Then again, with family plan pricing available, parents could join their kids in the game and find out for themselves what it's all about.

A little more about Wizard101 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Realms gets a TCG too, courtesy of Topps

Samuel Axon — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Trading card games, Free Realms

SOE is going all in with Free Realms, what with beta signups already underway and rumors of spinoff PSP projects, so well-known-card-maker Topps has made a deal with SOE to distribute a trading card game that will exist both virtually within the game and in physical packs you can buy at the store.

The card game will launch in the Spring with 200 or so cards, and each booster pack (priced at $3.99) will feature a loot card that will allow consumers to unlock unique in-game items. Keep in mind that the game itself was designed by SOE's Denver studio -- Topps is just printing and distributing the physical card packs. Anyway, check out our gallery of artwork from the TCG -- fine stuff!

Gallery: Free Realms TCG

Free Realms gets a TCG too, courtesy of Topps originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA's Battleforge takes a nod from MMOs

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Business models, News items

Ambitious is a word that comes to mind after reading up on EA Phenomic's upcoming offering, Battleforge. A recent article on Eurogamer notes that it's something of an RTS, MMO, and TCG hybrid. On top of that, it would appear that the company is hoping to take advantage of the Eastern microtransaction model, offering their booster packs online, and giving players the ability to trade cards back and forth via their email. See? Ambitious.

Sebastian Nell of EA Phenomic discussed some other interesting aspects of what they're working on to make Battleforge more MMO-like. One of the things mentioned was including co-op maps against a raid boss type of monster that will drop special loot. However, as they list the game as being for (at most) up to 12 people at a time in a battle, we're going to have to lean towards calling this on the "not an MMO" side of the house, despite their taking some aspects from the genre we love. Of course, if you're looking for an RTS/TCG with a nod to MMOs involved, you still may want to check out the beta. Sounds like it will be interesting - if only to see them accomplish all they've set out to achieve.

EA's Battleforge takes a nod from MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Warcraft miniatures game launches

James Egan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, MMO industry, Trading card games

One of the biggest names in the trading card industry is Upper Deck Entertainment. Given the success of their World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, they've released a follow-up game this week: The World of Warcraft Miniatures Game.

The World of Warcraft Miniatures Game went on sale worldwide as of Tuesday, November 11th. There are 70 different miniatures, including Warchief Thrall, Varimathras, and yes... even Leeroy Jenkins. There's a bonus for your actual WoW characters as well -- miniatures booster packs come with sample packs from the WoW Trading Card Game which might include Loot cards. Essentially, they're unlocks for "cosmetic in-game upgrades for their online World of Warcraft characters". Check out the Upper Deck launch announcement for their World of Warcraft Miniatures Game for the full details.

One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

World of Warcraft miniatures game launches originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What do you think of table-top games?

Samuel Axon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Culture, Warhammer Online, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Trading card games

There exists a very close relationship between MMOs and table-top games.

Yesterday saw the launch of Ethernauts, the fifth expansion to EverQuest-related collectible trading card game Legends of Norrath. LoN is digital, but gameplay-wise, it's totally a table-top game. World of Warcraft has an entirely material trading card game. Warhammer Online is of course based on the Warhammer miniatures game, and WoW is getting a miniatures game of its own. And of course, the RPG genre originated on the table-top with Dungeons & Dragons.

We're wondering: how much crossover is there between digital and table-top games? How many of our readers play them? Tell us! What do you think of table-top games?

The Daily Grind: What do you think of table-top games? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath launches fifth expansion: Ethernauts

Samuel Axon — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, News items, Trading card games

Today marks the release of the fifth expansion to the Legends of Norrath digital trading card game -- Ethernauts. More than 280 cards join the existing arsenal, including four avatar cards, two new unit races, and 20 loot cards. They all play into a story that sets the stage for EverQuest II's upcoming The Shadow Odyssey expansion. In fact, there are even some scenarios based on never-before-seen TSO content.

In an attempt to give would-be newbies an incentive to buy in, SOE has also introduced the Legendary Starter Pack at the price of $19.99. If you're a vet, though, you can pick up Ethernauts booster packs for $2.99 each. Current EverQuest or EQ2 subscribers will get a free starter deck, 'cause, y'know -- you're not hooked on Norrath enough already, right?

Oh, and there are a bunch of special events all weekend celebrating the launch.

Well met, fellow Norrathian! Make sure to check out all of our coverage of the next EverQuest II expansion, The Shadow Odyssey as well as Seeds of Destruction, the next expansion to EverQuest!

Gallery: Legends of Norrath

Legends of Norrath launches fifth expansion: Ethernauts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Star Wars Galaxies TCG goes live

Michael Zenke — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, Star Wars Galaxies, Trading card games

Word from the official Star Wars Galaxies forums is that Champions of the Force, the brand new SOE TCG, is now live. We confirmed with a quick duck in-world, and claimed our five booster packs and starter decks from the jaws of the interface. All you need to do to play the game is type a quick /TCG into the chatbox, a method that will hopefully soon be joined by a standalone interface.

Along with the launch of the TCG itself comes a brand new section of the forums to support the card players. There are areas for strategy discussions, tech issues, and of course some talk of the game's simply fantastic art. If you're as excited as we are about the new game you might want to attend a player-organized Launch Party for the new game. It's taking place on the Starsider server (this blogger's home in the galaxy far, far away) both Friday and Saturday. There are handy timezone markers in the official party post to let you know what time to show up. Make sure to put on your dancing shoes and tell them Massively sent you.

Gallery: Champions of the Force

Gallery: Champions of the Force Set 1 Loot Cards

The Star Wars Galaxies TCG goes live originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE announces online trading card game for Galaxies anniversary

Chris Chester — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, News items, Star Wars Galaxies, Trading card games

In celebration of five years of Star Wars Galaxies, SOE and LucasArts have put out a press release announcing the production of Champions of the Force, a trading card game that will be available only to current Galaxies subscribers. The trading card game will only be available online, and will allow players to play decks against one another or even single-player in a story-based solo game. Interestingly, the game will sport "loot" cards which will be redeemable for virtual items within Galaxies proper.

Subscribers will get a bountiful five booster packs a month just for paying their subscription fees, but starter decks and booster packs will be available for purchase from the Station store as well. They're aiming for a release late this summer, so make sure to check out the official site for more details if it sounds like it's up your alley. Also make sure to look at their community site to find the other goodies they've got planned for the five year anniversary.

SOE announces online trading card game for Galaxies anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath Living Legacy Photo Contest

Brenda Holloway — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Trading card games, Legends of Norrath

EverQuest and EverQuest II are getting the lion's share of the attention in SOE's Living Legacy promotion. But they are reserving something special for their massively collectible card game, Legends of Norrath. Win the Living Legacy Photo Contest, and not only will you get your picture painted, in character by artist Kieran Yanner for use on a Legends of Norrath card, but you'll be flown to the SOE Fan Faire this August. If you're an EverQuest player, your image will be made into a statue and placed into the guild halls of every guild in Norrath. If you are an EverQuest II player, your card will be made into a painting that can be hung in a place of honor in your apartment. All you need to do is to send them a picture that shows your passion for EverQuest. Find the complete rules on the Legends of Norrath web site. And good luck!

Legends of Norrath Living Legacy Photo Contest originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview with Chuck Kallenbach, Game Designer on Legends of Norrath

Matt Warner — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Free-to-play, Trading card games

What's this gab we're hearing about Legends of Norrath, it isn't all about the loot cards? Heresy! We're still buying up those virtual packs in hopes to score a rare loot card. Nevertheless, over on IGN's EQ2 Vault we came across this interview with Chuck Kallenbach, Game Designer on Legends of Norrath. Much is discussed gameplay wise about the insight behind the new Monk class, one that doesn't use weapons. One other topic covered includes the conundrum on scaling the game's complexity with new gameplay mechanics with the importance to not veer away from the game's intuitiveness and accessibility.

The Oathbreaker set is the latest expansion introduced last week from Sony Online Entertainment. It brings 250 new cards, fresh gameplay mechanics, a new challenging raid scenario, and the following classes: Monk, Coercer, Templar and Beastlord. Many classes from EverQuest and EverQuest II are now represented in the game. If you are interested learning how to play Legends of Norrath but don't want to dump a bunch of cash you can download the client and play through the tutorials and it won't cost a you a dime.

Interview with Chuck Kallenbach, Game Designer on Legends of Norrath originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively hands-on: Wizard101

Elizabeth Harper — Thu, 22 May 2008 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Video, New titles, Previews, Hands-on, Kids, Wizard101

KingsIsle Entertainment was founded way back in 2005 -- and since their inception, they seem to have stayed quietly sequestered in their offices, hard at work on unknown projects. With a team consisting of industry veterans from Wolfpack (creators of Shadowbane) and Ion Storm, it was hard not to be curious about their work. If you're one of the many who have been wondering what the team has been working on, you're in luck, because they've just announced their first project: Wizard101.

We recently had a chance to visit KingsIsle's Austin studios (they've taken up residence in a corner of the complex formerly inhabited by Origin Systems) and enroll in the Ravenwood School for the Magical Arts for a day to get a feel for the game. Though this game is aimed at kids ("tweens" that are too old for the likes of Club Penguin but too young for their parents to feel comfortable letting them loose in Barrens chat), its turn-based combat system and trading card game elements may interest you, too. So what makes Wizard101 different from the proliferation of MMOs on the market? A few elements of the game caught our eye...

Gallery: Wizard101 concept art

Gallery: Wizard101

Continue reading Massively hands-on: Wizard101

Massively hands-on: Wizard101 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 May 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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