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[Lord of the Rings Online explains Moria revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
Since the word came down recently that Turbine is revamping much of Lord of the Rings Online's Moria, players have been buzzing about the merits and scope of such a project. Content Developer Lauren Salk posted an article on the official site explaining the reasoning behind the decision as well as the specific changes involved.

Salk said that Turbine wanted to respond to player complaints about the difficulty and pace of Moria's leveling experience. She admits that the quests did not always lead to the best places and resulted in a frustrating stint underground instead of an amazing journey. Salk confessed that the zone even frustrated her mother, who never made it all the way through.

With Update 7, LotRO will update half of Moria, while the latter half will come later on down the road. In addition to a smoother quest flow, additional quests, and an easier difficulty level, Turbine's adding tasks for all to enjoy.

Travel through Moria will become more pleasant, as the lighting will be adjusted, additional stable routes added, monsters moved out of the major pathways, and a no-reputation goat made available from the start.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online explains Moria revamp originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengedev-blogdev-diarydev-postdifficulty-levelf2pfantasyfree-to-playlauren-salklord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriamoria-revampshades-of-the-pasttravelturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-7Fri, 04 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you want realism or awesome?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-realism-or-awesome/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-realism-or-awesome/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-realism-or-awesome/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tribes Ascend
I realize that any discussion of realism in MMOs can quickly devolve into absurdity, but bear with me. I was recently involved in a discussion between some guildies of mine who were extolling the virtues of Tribes: Ascend over more realistic FPS games. "It's the jetpacks," they told me. In a realism-driven FPS, there's an emphasis on physics and gravity, but in Tribes, it's all about the jetpacks and learning how to fight effectively while using one. The fun of a game like that is in how awesome it is to break realism, not in how true-to-life it might be.

Pure MMOs are no different. Many games make compromises along the spectrum of reality, especially when it comes to travel: In some games, we're grounded, forced to use a horse or our own two feet to make our way across the world; in others, we teleport via magical contraptions or leap tall buildings in a single bound. So riddle me this: When it boils down to it, what do you prefer to be the guiding principle of your MMOs -- realism or awesome?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you want realism or awesome? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awesomebrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindfpsjetpacksmmofpsopinionrealismsuper-jumptdgthe-daily-grindtraveltribestribes-ascendSat, 07 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jumping out an airlock is a legitimate mode of travel in Line of Defense]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/jumping-out-of-an-airlock-is-a-legitimate-mode-of-travel-in-line/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/jumping-out-of-an-airlock-is-a-legitimate-mode-of-travel-in-line/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/jumping-out-of-an-airlock-is-a-legitimate-mode-of-travel-in-line/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Line of Defense
Contrary to many of Derek Smart's previous expansive computer titles, Line of Defense will be "streamlined" to focus on a small corner of the galaxy. In a new dev blog, Smart outlines the scope of the MMO's territory and how it connects to his previously established game universe.

Line of Defense consists of four space regions, each with its own planets and moons. The regions are connected by jump gates in the Sirius/Barnard's Star systems pathway. However, when the game first launches, players will only have access to the planet of Lyrius, with other planets and moons coming afterward.

Players can teleport from base to base on planets using Dynamic Jump Pads or can transfer to a station via a carrier. Jumpgates, however, will allow players in vehicles to traverse entire regions. But probably the most interesting mode of transportation is to let loose with an orbital drop from a space station down to the planet surface below.

The one thing that Line of Defense won't have, however, is the ability to seamlessly transition between planets, bases, and regions without loading screens.

MassivelyJumping out an airlock is a legitimate mode of travel in Line of Defense originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>derek-smartdev-blogdev-diarydr-derek-smartdynamic-jump-padgame-universegame-worldjump-gatejump-gatesjumpgatejumpgatesline-of-defenselodlyriusmoonsplanetssectorstransportationtravelWed, 28 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pathfinder Online goes time-traveling in latest dev blog]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/pathfinder-online-goes-time-traveling-in-latest-dev-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/pathfinder-online-goes-time-traveling-in-latest-dev-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/pathfinder-online-goes-time-traveling-in-latest-dev-blog/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Artwork -- Pathfinder
According to the venerable Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, time is an illusion, and lunchtime doubly so. MMO time is perhaps even more illusory, and that's the exact topic of today's Pathfinder Online dev diary. It's always tricky deciding on the ratio of real-world to in-game time. On the one hand, if time moves too quickly, it can be immersion-breaking; on the other hand, if time moves too slowly, it can lend a sense of stagnance, especially if other gameplay mechanics rely on the day/night cycle (such as mobs that only come out at night).

In light of this, Goblinworks has decided on a 4:1 game-to-earth-time ratio. This means that four in-game minutes will pass in the span of one real-world minute, one in-game day will pass in the span of six real-world hours, and so forth. This will also influence the rate of travel within the game. The team is operating under the assumption that the average human moves at three miles per hour. In-game hexes are about three-quarters of a mile from edge-to-edge, which means that it would take a real person about 15 minutes to traverse one hex. When you take into account the game's chronological dilation, though, the same journey will take an in-game character less than four minutes (assuming he can travel in a straight line), which the team says passes a basic "sanity test when considering the travel times required to cross the zones in other MMOs."

The full dev blog is chock-full of even more information than we can cram into this article, including details on how different variables (such as mounts, magic, and difficult terrain) will affect travel time and the perceived scale of the world, so if you're in the mood to have your brain addled by MMO chronomancy, head on over and give it a read.

MassivelyPathfinder Online goes time-traveling in latest dev blog originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-blogdeveloper-diaryfantasyfast-travelgoblinworkspathfinderpathfinder-onlinepnpsandboxsandparkscaletimetime-scaletravelWed, 14 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Lions and tigers and bears, oh... mounts!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/lost-pages-of-taborea-lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-mounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/lost-pages-of-taborea-lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-mounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/lost-pages-of-taborea-lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-mounts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
Summer is starting to wane, and the cold winds will soon be blustering through the city streets. Kids with chattering teeth and blue fingers will be sitting in front of stoves or fireplaces, rolling their eyes as grandpa proclaims that he had to walk to and from school barefoot through snow uphill both ways. While our grandfathers fantasize about the pride of hardships, we can slip off to the computer and live in our fantasy worlds that provide mounts to make traveling a bit more fun.

Runes of Magic has a wide variety of mounts that can run, hover and float over water. Some of these mounts are more rare than others, like those seen only on holidays or during special fundraisers, while some are two-seaters. From the sleek and vicious to the large and powerful to the just plain wacky, RoM has a mount for all occasions. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I go over the mounts that are available, their rarity, their speed, and some ways to give your preferred mount a boost.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Lions and tigers and bears, oh... mounts!

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Lions and tigers and bears, oh... mounts! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfloat-on-waterfloatingfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegroundhoverhoveringjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamountsover-waterromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttransportationtraveltravelingwaterborneMon, 05 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth 1.9.2 debuts tomorrow, expands fast travel options]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/fallen-earth-1-9-2-debuts-tomorrow-expands-fast-travel-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/fallen-earth-1-9-2-debuts-tomorrow-expands-fast-travel-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/fallen-earth-1-9-2-debuts-tomorrow-expands-fast-travel-options/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

There's a lot going on in the wasteland these days, and the Fallen Earth dev blog updated with a bird's eye view of all the shenanigans over the weekend. First and foremost, the 1.9.2 patch is on the way (it's currently scheduled for tomorrow, in fact), and the blog entry has the patch notes ready for your perusal.

Along with the requisite combat, skills, and recipe updates, the big news is the expansion of the game's fast travel mechanics. Players are now able to zip between certain LifeNet pod locations, with additional destinations becoming available as LifeNet's supplies are restocked. The fast travel system necessitates mission turn-ins at each pod location that a player wishes to use, and the mechanic also features level, chip, and knowledge requirements.

That's not all there is to 1.9.2, of course, and the update notes are pretty extensive. Head to the Fallen Earth dev blog to read new info on progress towns, mission updates, and a laundry list of other tweaks.

MassivelyFallen Earth 1.9.2 debuts tomorrow, expands fast travel options originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.9.21.9.2-patchf2pfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfast-travelfree-to-playgamersfirsticarusicarus-studiosinstant-travellifenetlifenet-podpatchespost-apocalypticsci-fiskill-basedtravelupdateswastelandTue, 09 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The freedom to travel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-freedom-to-travel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-freedom-to-travel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-freedom-to-travel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The issue under discussion today is not something that will make or break City of Heroes. It is not a massive problem or a huge threat to the game's continued operation. But it is an issue, and in many ways it's the same sort of issue that led to the development team finally granting us the Fitness set as an inherent power set more than six months ago.

And just like that, it requires a bit of a history lesson, some conceptual nattering, and an understanding of what relevance gameplay restrictions had in the past and have in the present.

See, today I'm talking about travel powers. The fact of the matter is that we've gone from having travel powers as an important milestone at level 14 to having those powers be more or less irrelevant in their restrictions. There are arguably bigger issues that have to be attended, more pressing areas of the game in need of updates or cleanup... but it's important to look at these issues as well. In the wake of the (singularly awesome) Steampunk Pack, it's as good a time as any to look at what the game is doing now and ask whether there are pieces of complexity that aren't really necessary.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The freedom to travel

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The freedom to travel originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxfeaturedgame-mechanicsncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiostransporttraveltravel-powersWed, 15 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Faxion Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/rise-and-shiny-recap-faxion-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/rise-and-shiny-recap-faxion-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/rise-and-shiny-recap-faxion-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I've been following Faxion Online for quite a while. Aww, I remember when it was just a cute little game in development, back when I visited the UTV True Games studio for a tour during GDC Online last year. The team was very passionate about its product, and there was obviously a lot of talent at work behind the scenes. One of the comments I made then (and that I will always remember) is that the devs all seemed like a bunch of gamers -- they appeared to have a love for what they were doing and truly seemed to believe in the game.

They also talked about how a lot of MMO development took several years and the budget of a small country. I agreed with them on that. So they wanted to create their game in a much shorter time period yet have it still feature free-to-play accessibility along with old-school PvP. It was a tall order, especially considering the time frame they were looking at. Again, though, the team seemed capable of pulling it off.

But did it? I spent half a week (I will explain later) in the game, and my impressions are right past the cut.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Faxion Online

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Faxion Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmaneve-onlinefaxionfaxion-onlinefeaturedfpsmountsoffline-advancementoffline-levelingoffline-skillingperformancerise-and-shinyskill-advancementskill-basedspellbornstylizedstylized-graphicsthe-chronicles-of-spellborntravelutvUTV-Ignitionutv-ignition-gamesutv-true-gamesWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 05 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite mode of travel?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/04/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mode-of-travel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/04/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mode-of-travel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/04/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mode-of-travel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

From the earliest days of video games, players have understood that there's a lot of ground to cover. Of course, you could always walk around like an animal, but most MMOs give you a variety of different ways to get from place to place. Aion lets you take to the sky on wings, City of Heroes lets you take to the sky on absolutely nothing if you like, and Guild Wars lets you just teleport wherever you want to go once you've visited at least once.

Whether you're hopping on a flight path in World of Warcraft, fueling up your ATV in Fallen Earth, or setting off at warp speed in Star Trek Online, it's still the same core concept -- going from point A to point B in the fastest and most stylish fashion possible. So what's your favorite way to fly, drive, or ride around your game of choice?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite mode of travel? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>efficiencyflyingmountsmovementon-the-road-againridingspeedtdgthe-daily-grindtraveltravel-abilitiestravel-methodsSat, 04 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Shopping at the LotRO Depot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/the-road-to-mordor-shopping-at-the-lotro-depot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/the-road-to-mordor-shopping-at-the-lotro-depot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/the-road-to-mordor-shopping-at-the-lotro-depot/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

About 99% of the time I'm in Lord of the Rings Online I never think about the LotRO Store. Ever since the store came online last year, it's been adventure as usual in the Olivetti household. Sure, I mock the "You got 5 Turbine Points! Now you can retire in the Caymans!" popups like everyone else, but I've always felt that Turbine does a good job balancing the store presence between the polar extremes of obnoxious and invisible.

That isn't to say I haven't used the store at all; on the contrary, I've been a sporadic if loyal customer of sorts, trundling my shopping cart through the aisles of Shire-Mart looking for a good deal. Thus far I haven't dropped any additional cash into the game, choosing to subsist on my monthly allotment of TP with whatever I earn through deeds. Every once in a while I'll boot up the store and see what niceties I can give to my character as a reward for slaughtering his 5,000th Neeker-beeker.

The LotRO Store has two categories of customers: the free-to-players and the upper class. Does that sound snooty? It's not intentional -- all I mean is that some folks use the store to provide basic necessities for gameplay (like quest packs, riding skills, class unlocks) while others are already well-off in the game and shop for luxury items. I'm in awe of the F2P gamers who can get a good chunk of their content by methodically knocking deeds out so they can purchase the next zone, but I'm fortunate enough not to have to do that.

So today I wanted to give myself an audit of what I've spent in the store so far and analyze whether they were wise purchases, wasteful frivolities, or overpriced insanity.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Shopping at the LotRO Depot

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Shopping at the LotRO Depot originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auditcash-shopdeeddeed-acceleratorf2pfeaturedfree-to-playin-game-storeitem-shopitem-storekill-acceleratorlegendary-itemslilord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrolotro-depotlotro-storemilestonemountmountsneeker-beekeroutfitshop-smart-shop-shire-martshoppingstat-tomesstoragetptravelturbineturbine-entertainmentturbine-lemon-wedgeturbine-pointstwenty-first-hallupper-classvaultvirtueswardrobeFri, 20 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamescom 2011 opens travel and accommodations service]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/gamescom-2011-opens-travel-and-accomodations-service/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/gamescom-2011-opens-travel-and-accomodations-service/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/gamescom-2011-opens-travel-and-accomodations-service/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gamescom, the world's single largest games event, is gearing up for another great show from August 17th through the 21st in Cologne, Germany -- and the organizers are doing all they can to get you there. Today the official website has opened up its service portal to help attendees make travel and lodging arrangements.

If you're planning on attending, it might behoove you to check out some of the deals that are being offered for the early birds. There are plane tickets starting from 30 euros, train tickets from 79 euros, and hotel rooms from 90 euros. Especially frugal travelers could pitch a tent in the Gamescom campgrounds for just 29.50 euros a night.

The service portal will help you with flying, train travel, driving directions, lodging, the Gamescom camp, travel packages, day trips, and general information about Cologne. This will be Gamescom's third year. Last year, the event was host to 254,000 people and 505 exhibitors from 33 countries.

MassivelyGamescom 2011 opens travel and accommodations service originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accomodationscampcampgroundcologneconventioneuropeeventgamescomgamescom-2011gamescom-campgermanyhotellodgingservice-portaltrade-showtraintravelFri, 13 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blade & Soul closed beta UI profiled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/blade-and-soul-closed-beta-ui-profiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/blade-and-soul-closed-beta-ui-profiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/blade-and-soul-closed-beta-ui-profiled/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

More news made its way out of the Blade & Soul Korean beta this weekend. Blade & Soul Dojo has a breakdown of the game's user interface complete with a large annotated screenshot and plenty of commentary.

While nothing about the UI looks markedly different from long-running MMORPG conventions, there is an interesting hint at a mechanic that is unique to NCsoft's upcoming fantasy martial arts epic. The Qinggong meter (the green bar below the health and fuel meters) ties in to the game's travel system and looks to put a novel spin on both exploration and fast travel. If you're wondering, Qinggong is a Chinese martial art that has been heavily stylized in Wuxia fiction (see the wire-fu action sequences in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers, and The Matrix).

Blade & Soul Dojo also confirms that the game will have an auction house as well as social features including mail, a news page, and a calendar (though these features were disabled in the beta). Check out the original article for more details.

MassivelyBlade & Soul closed beta UI profiled originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betablade-and-soulclosed-betafantasyfast-travelinterfacekorean-betamartial-artsncsoftqing-gongqinggongtraveluiuser-interfacewire-fuwuxiaSat, 07 May 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The road (much) less traveled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/the-soapbox-the-road-much-less-traveled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/the-soapbox-the-road-much-less-traveled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/the-soapbox-the-road-much-less-traveled/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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.

Normally, this column is reserved for some pretty big discussions. This time, however, I would like to talk about one of my specific pet peeves in MMO gaming, or at least one of the problems that I am very interested in solving. If you have ever taken a stroll down a dirt road in your favorite digital world, or if you have found yourself literally taking the long way home, then you might know what I am talking about.

Players similar to me really and truly do not care about impressing other players or about how those other players are trying to impress me. When I log into a virtual world, I want to simply meet people and possibly go on an adventure. The problem is that MMO gaming, like any other activity that humans participate in, has become a hobby with rules and proper guidelines on how to get it all done very quickly.

What about taking the time to travel, though? What about "it's the the journey, not the destination?" No, I mean the journey -- literally. Join me past the cut and let's talk about the need for realistic travel.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The road (much) less traveled

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The road (much) less traveled originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanfeaturedImmersionimmersion-rulesopinionRyzomsoapboxSOESONYSony-Online-Entertainmentthe-soapboxtravelvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroeswinch-gatewinch-gate-property-limitedwurmwurm-onlineTue, 26 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Around the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

My journey around the world of Wurm Online continues on today through the second half of the trip. In yesterday's story, we explored the eastern and southern shores of the map's mainland, and now we get to see the western and northern shores in all their glory.

Although that southwestern-most tip of land is heavily populated, you're back to desolation when you make your way up into the cliff faces of the western shore. I spent one night in the side of a rocky mountain, only slightly protected from the elements as I chiseled my way into the rock just enough for a fire and shelter for the night. I decided to roleplay a bit during the trip, setting up proper shelter before I logged out of the game for the day. What's funny about this particular shelter is the fact that I discovered a very rare diamond only three squares into the cave. I've dug entire mazes of underground mines and never found a diamond before, so this was a sure sign that the rest of the trip was going to be bountiful. And it was! Follow along below for more.

Gallery: Around the Wurm Online world

Continue reading Around the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part two

MassivelyAround the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part two originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurearound-the-worldboatsdiaryexplorationexploreexplorerf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalleriesgalleryhousingjourneylogonetwofree-absandboxscreenshotstravelwurmwurm-onlineWed, 13 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Around the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wurm Online is a unique MMO. I can't think of many other games that allow the freedom of Wurm, which may be why I still consider it my favorite online game to this date.

For anyone who hasn't tried the game or heard me yammer on about it on the Massively Speaking podcast, I'll explain the basics. Wurm Online is a sandbox game created to allow players unbelievable freedom. If you've played Minecraft, you have the basic premise of Wurm, but multiply that experience by about 100. In fact, Markus "Notch" Persson was the co-founder and co-creator of Wurm before moving on to Minecraft and world fame.

Wurm Online starts you off as a fairly inanimate and uncustomizable character whose goal is to simply build. Find a spot of unclaimed land, throw down a settlement token, and build to your heart's content. You cut down trees for wood, mine stone for ore, forage and fish for food, and use it all to create the world that lives within your imagination.

Continue reading Around the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part one

MassivelyAround the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part one originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>around-the-worlddiaryexplorationexplorerf2pfree-to-playfreedomjourneylogMarkus-PerssonMojang-Specificationsnotchonetoofree-abonetwofree-abrolfsandboxtravelwurmwurm-onlineTue, 12 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Making the world (a better place?)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/cma-making-the-world-a-better-place/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/cma-making-the-world-a-better-place/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/cma-making-the-world-a-better-place/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Here we are, drawing closer to the end of our Choose My Adventure journey, and I feel like I have just barely gotten started in Xsyon! There is so much left to do; I haven't even scratched the surface of my goals yet. Since construction is a slow process and gathering resources is taking longer and longer each day (you should see the workout I get hauling logs!), my personal fortress is still just a few completed walls and one pillar. I also haven't managed to circumvent the lake, find any chalk, or convince anyone to let me be President/Supreme Ruler of the Lake.

All right, maybe I haven't really tried hard at that last goal, but this week has seen your CMA correspondent meeting and greeting neighbors throughout the region, gathering resources, politely declining tribe invites (I will remain true to the vote throughout our adventures), and attempting to improve my skill in architecture. Also, I have enjoyed some relaxing fishing. As jaunts into the wilds for wood became longer each day, I kept watch over my shoulder with a touch of apprehension, always on the lookout for hostile folks and animals alike. There is always some question as to whether or not the elusive animals are in the game, but I have had a couple of run-ins with a mama and baby bear that ended poorly for me, so I try to never let my guard down.

What else did I learn this week about life on the shores of Lake Tahoe? Hike past the break to take a look at this week's adventures in Xsyon and then vote on how we approach combat for our final installment of Choose My Adventure.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Making the world (a better place?)

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Making the world (a better place?) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventure-mj-guthriechoose-my-adventure-xsyoncombatcraftingcrafting-systemCraftingBuildingsexploreexploringfeaturedfishingnotorious-gamespollpollspost-apocalypticpvpSandboxsandbox-experiencesandboxingskillskill-masteryskillssurvival-tipstravelxsyonxsyon-earth-2012xsyon-preludeWed, 30 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Spotlight: An interview with EVE Travel's Mark]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/eve-spotlight-an-interview-with-eve-travels-mark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/eve-spotlight-an-interview-with-eve-travels-mark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/eve-spotlight-an-interview-with-eve-travels-mark/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Spotlight is a bi-weekly feature in which we interview prominent members of EVE Online's player community or development team. Every two weeks, we'll be shining the spotlight on a player or developer who has a significant impact on EVE to highlight the efforts of EVE's most influential people.

At the start of this month, the folks at CCP Games updated their Facebook page with a link to a fascinating blog. The aptly named EVE Travel serves almost as a holiday brochure for the many interesting places to visit in EVE. I'm sure some players would look at this as a waste of time, but to me it underscores everything that's great about EVE and sandbox games in general. The number of viable ways to play the game is constrained only by a player's imagination and motivation. Mark and the guest contributors on EVE Travel are all highly motivated to explore the visuals and lore surrounding every interesting thing you might come across in EVE. Where we see a pretty shipwreck, they see an ancient battle with its own motivations and politics.

In reading EVE Travel, I shared in Mark's sense of wonder and excitement about a vast universe that I had taken for granted. That sense of awe, of being lost in the deep and having to learn all about everything for the first time, is something a lot of us have lost over the years. When we run missions or complete exploration complexes, many of us just see the numbers involved -- how much damage we can deal or tank and what rate of ISK per hour we can generate. We look at these areas through the eyes of a player gaming the system, but EVE Travel shows them to us through the eyes of a true explorer. I was even inspired to set out on my own exploration adventure, delving into the lore of places I'd taken for granted and seeing them again for the first time.

In this edition of EVE Spotlight, I talk to blogger Mark from EVE Travel about exploring the collossal sandbox of New Eden and what can be done to help the storyline of EVE come alive.

Continue reading EVE Spotlight: An interview with EVE Travel's Mark

MassivelyEVE Spotlight: An interview with EVE Travel's Mark originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-spotlighteve-travelexplorationexplorerexploringfeaturedinterviewliving-historymark726travelFri, 25 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Ten tips for the virtual traveler]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/free-for-all-ten-tips-for-the-virtual-traveler/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/free-for-all-ten-tips-for-the-virtual-traveler/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/free-for-all-ten-tips-for-the-virtual-traveler/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This week I decided to take a break from analyzing cash-shop models and theorizing over what players might consider "nickel-and-diming" (hint: it doesn't exist) to bring you some frequent MMO traveler tips. Now, if you are the type who enjoys playing one game for years and years or who doesn't have any interest in most any other game, this is not for you. These are a few tips that I have learned from covering games over the last years of my life, especially during my time with Massively.

Since I have been here (it will be a year in March, if I recall) I have been embarking on a journey across all types of MMOs, one MMO per week. I might not remember everything I have done, but I do remember how to make sure that I feel satisfied after spending only a week in each game. Granted, many of the games I have played have stuck around for a long, long time, some of them becoming favorites. Recently, though, I put so much more into playing the current game that I have to let it go in order to put that much into the next one.

How do you live this virtual vagabond lifestyle and still feel good about yourself? What about the golden rule -- a week isn't long enough to get any ideas about an MMO? Well, click past the cut and I'll try to explain.

Continue reading Free for All: Ten tips for the virtual traveler

MassivelyFree for All: Ten tips for the virtual traveler originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonbeau-hindmandcuof2pfree-for-allfree-to-playftpPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbspriston-tale-2quest-onlinetraveltravel-tipsTravelingWed, 19 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: High speed, low drag]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/behind-the-mask-high-speed-low-drag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/behind-the-mask-high-speed-low-drag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/behind-the-mask-high-speed-low-drag/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's not like Champions Online is the first MMORPG with travel powers. Back in the ancient days of Ultima Online, we had things like boats and teleporting spells. Getting a mobility boost to get from point A to point B is nothing unique or special.

CO has something a little different, though. Travel powers are as much a thing of individual expression as they are a transportation method. Sure, there's something to be said for riding a semi-transparent sparkling blue horse, but when you can wrap yourself in a shroud of blue fire and streak through the skies, it says a little more about your character. There's a reason I think people who still go AFK to ride griffons from zone to zone are chumps. Hopping over buildings to get to your next quest objective or sprinting at ludicrous speed into a group of foes and using the momentum to start up your attacks is the epitome of personal expression.

It's all about what you drive, and my ride is Teleportation.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: High speed, low drag

MassivelyBehind the Mask: High speed, low drag originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-maskchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedflyingkitingmobilitypvepvproleplayingsuper-speedteleportteleportationtraveltravel-powersThu, 11 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Getting around in Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/getting-around-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/getting-around-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/getting-around-in-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In addition to the blogging and character database functionality of the Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone site, Square-Enix has been using the player site to post a series of guides for players of all skill levels, with more advanced questions on Friday and more new-player-friendly ones on Mondays. This time around, the topic of discussion is something central to every MMO -- the question of how to get from place to place. While players do not yet have access to the more traditional series methods of transit (airships and chocobos), there are still transport methods available to players, and a lot of ground to cover at that.

The guide covers the basics of aetheryte and aetherial gates, with the former linked to the latter and allowing fast transit through a given area. It also runs players through the procedure of visiting all three capital cities -- a useful method to gain access to more levequests and a greater variety of guild benefits. Players who know their way around seamlessly might not need to know how to get to Ul'dah, but anyone new to the game can benefit from the latest dispatch. And even veteran players might be enticed by the maps of Final Fantasy XIV's less-traveled regions, like the forbidding Mor Dhona.

MassivelyGetting around in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aetherytecapital-citiesffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgetting-aroundguidelodestonenew-player-guidenew-player-primerplayer-sitesquaresquare-enixtraveltravel-methodstravel-routesMon, 08 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Make your travel plans for EVE Online's fanfest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/06/make-your-travel-plans-for-eve-onlines-fanfest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/06/make-your-travel-plans-for-eve-onlines-fanfest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/06/make-your-travel-plans-for-eve-onlines-fanfest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With the holidays coming up, there's a plethora of things a capsuleer could ask for: that shiny new T3 ship you've been eyeballing, a pile of PLEX, or perhaps a bargain at the EVE Online store sale. But the savvy holiday shopper knows to save his cash for the upcoming Fanfest that is slated to be held in 2011. With Incursion coming up, Incarna to follow, DUST 514 underway, and World of Darkness recently announced, this year's party at the top of the world looks like it's going to be full of all manner of cool stuff to check out.

Thanks to a bit of internet digging, it appears that IcelandAir has already released its travel packages for those looking to get the jump on the event and book in at the lowest rates. The travel site indicates that the dates for the upcoming Fanfest are March 24-26, leaving lots of time to get those vacation requests in early. Additionally, IcelandAir lists a CCP dev-attended city tour and a party after the event that offer some idea of the festivities to come, although they're not included with the travel package itself. We've contacted CCP for additional information and will be certain to let you know when we hear more. For now, make sure your passports are in order and get over to the IcelandAir site to get your package booked!

MassivelyMake your travel plans for EVE Online's fanfest originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesd514dust-514eveeve-onlinefanfestfanfest-2011incarnaincursionparty-at-the-top-of-the-worldtravelworld-of-darknessworld-of-darkness-onlineSat, 06 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you think about travel in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-travel-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-travel-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-travel-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you never played Final Fantasy XI, you missed the singular joy of trying to catch a connecting flight in a video game if you wanted to go from, say, San d'Oria to Kazham. And sometimes you missed the flight and had to sit and wait for the airship to come land again. World of Warcraft might have eliminated that issue, but Alliance players still have nightmares about arriving in Darnassus and flying across an entire continent just to go through a single dungeon run. Compare and contrast travel in Guild Wars, a game in which you scroll around the map, click where you want to go, and port there with no fuss.

On the one hand, there's something to be said for keeping travel an inconvenience, as it helps contribute to the feeling that the game world is huge and difficult to get around in. On the other hand, there's no reason in the world why a video game needs to be made that obnoxious and difficult to navigate -- you're not trying to chart a course to India in the fifteenth century, you're trying to go kill internet dragons. So what do you think about travel times in MMOs? Do you like a big world that takes a while to traverse, or would you rather just take the lead from the map travel of Guild Wars?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What do you think about travel in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airshipsboatsferriesinternet-dragonsmountsmovementopinionshipstdgthe-daily-grindtrainstraveltravel-timeszeppelinsTue, 12 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Got cons?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/the-daily-grind-got-cons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/the-daily-grind-got-cons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/the-daily-grind-got-cons/#commentsFiled under: , ,

So the New York Comic Con is in full swing, and the fact that it's here already reminds us of just how many game-related cons there are scattered throughout the calendar year. Whether it's NYCC, Dragon Con, E3, GDC, or the various flavors of PAX, there always seems to be something just around the corner that calls for hotel reservations and airline tickets. More often than not, the next convention on the circuit sneaks right up on us before we manage to shake the jet lag from the last one.

While we'd like nothing better than to shirk responsibilities and tour the world of gaming and pop culture conventions for a year, work must occasionally intrude, and most of us have to pick and choose our events. What about you Massively readers? Did you attend NYCC this weekend, and are you a regular on the gaming convention circuit?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Got cons? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airfareconsconvention-circuitconventionsdragon-cone3e3-2010gdc-2010hotelsnew-york-comic-connyccnycc-2010opinionPAXpax-2010pax-east-2010pax-prime-2010tdgthe-daily-grindtravelSun, 10 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA talks public transportation, releases new screens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/tera-talks-public-transportation-releases-new-screens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/tera-talks-public-transportation-releases-new-screens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/tera-talks-public-transportation-releases-new-screens/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Did you ever think you'd see a bus or a subway train in the fantasy world of TERA? Apparently some community members have, as a recent discussion translated from the game's Korean website makes clear. Aside from the pegasus flightpath system that takes players from cities to quest hubs in the current beta client, no information on mounts in En Masse Entertainment's upcoming action MMO has been released. That said, TERAfans has managed to dig up a posting by Korean community manager Tree in which he solicits community feedback on the types of mounts desired.

In other news, En Masse has released its latest Screenshots of the Week featurette, this time taking us to the cities of Velika and Castanica. Check them out in our gallery below or on the official website.

Gallery: TERA Screenshots of the Week

MassivelyTERA talks public transportation, releases new screens originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castanicacommunity-discussionen-masseen-masse-entertainmentkorean-translationmountspegasuspublic-transportationscreenshots-of-the-weekteratera-onlineterafanstraveltreevelikaThu, 12 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's exclusive SWTOR interview: Starships, PvP, and crafting!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/massivelys-exclusive-swtor-interview-starships-pvp-and-craft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/massivelys-exclusive-swtor-interview-starships-pvp-and-craft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/massivelys-exclusive-swtor-interview-starships-pvp-and-craft/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

E3 has been abuzz with the latest news about LucasArts' and Bioware's new MMORPG, Star Wars: The Old Republic. Yesterday, they teased us with an exciting fully rendered trailer called "Hope." The trailer showed a battle which is a precursor to one the players will be able to experience in game. Unfortunately, this trailer didn't have many answers. In fact, it seemed to present us with even more questions. So we at Massively sent our own Sera Brennan to talk to the designers of SWTOR to see about getting some answers.

Rich Vogel, the executive producer for Star Wars: The Old Republic, was kind enough to sit down with Sera for a few minutes in EA's gameplay booth in the LA convention center on Tuesday. Perhaps we could get some of our burning questions answered about PvP, groups, space, ships, housing, and crafting. Follow after the jump to see what they had to say!

Continue reading Massively's exclusive SWTOR interview: Starships, PvP, and crafting!

MassivelyMassively's exclusive SWTOR interview: Starships, PvP, and crafting! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebreakingcraftinge3EAfeaturgroupinggroupsLucasArtsplayer-housingpvepvprich-vogelStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstarshipstarshipsswtortravelWar-zonesTue, 15 Jun 2010 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine bears proof of fan-power in LotRO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/24/turbine-bears-proof-of-fan-power-in-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/24/turbine-bears-proof-of-fan-power-in-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/24/turbine-bears-proof-of-fan-power-in-lotro/#commentsFiled under: ,

"Powered by our fans" is the well-known motto of Turbine, quoted ad infinitum by said fans, both as proof of a company that understands and a company that's fallen out of touch. While gamers debate this, the devs stand by the company's efforts to keep in touch with what their players want and to deliver it to them. In a recent post on the Lord of the Rings Online forums, "TheStormKing" challenged Turbine to provide clear examples of how player suggestions have made an impact on the game.

The answer was a bit shocking and awesome -- Sapience came back with a massive list off the top of his head of changes made to LotRO because of demands and ideas by the playerbase. These included revamping mounts, housing, fishing, shared storage, new travel routes, being able to skip the tutorial, the quest tracker, UI customization, the Rift skirmish and a whole lot more. You can read the whole list here, and see whether it gives credence to Turbine's motto.

And if you ever wondered whether devs played the same game the players do, Sapience sets the record straight on that as well: "Someone asked if I play. Yes I do (and have for a long time, even before I started working for Turbine). My entire family does. Between us we have almost every class to 65."

[Thanks Lotro Weekly!]

MassivelyTurbine bears proof of fan-power in LotRO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fishinghousinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromountsplayer-suggestionspowered-by-our-fansquest-trackerrift-skirmishsapienceshared-storagetravelturbinetutorialuiMon, 24 May 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Everybody needs a question answered sometime]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-everybody-needs-a-question-answered-so/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-everybody-needs-a-question-answered-so/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-everybody-needs-a-question-answered-so/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If you haven't read Jason Vuic's excellent history of the Yugo, you're doing yourself a disservice -- at least, if you have any interest in terrible cars, history, or just the crazy stylings of Malcolm Bricklin. What does that have to do with today's bevvy of City of Heroes questions, hot on the heels of our anniversary? Well, not everyone can afford the Batmobile. There are places where the Paragon Monorail (aka Justice Mass Transit) won't take you. And on those occasions, well, you truly wish that you'd just dropped the ten dollars on the Martial Arts booster or taken the darn travel power. Onward!

Dashel asked:
"When will Blasters get more secondaries, original or proliferated?"

Soon! Maybe. I've heard tell that we may well be due for another wave of powerset proliferation with the release of Going Rogue, although that's far from a confirmed fact. So Blasters can expect to get some more love there. But we don't have any idea of exactly when we'll see more secondaries as opposed to more primary sets. The trouble is that as Blasters have been designed, they have the undesirable trait that Masterminds share: they've got a setup for one of their sets that nobody else shares.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Everybody needs a question answered sometime

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Everybody needs a question answered sometime originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 May 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypescarscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxfarminggrindingmission-architectparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioespowerset-proliferationpowersetspraetoriaproliferationsuperheroesterrible-carstraveltravel-powersultra-modeyugoWed, 05 May 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Peek inside Lord of the Rings Online's QA team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/peek-inside-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-qa-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/peek-inside-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-qa-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/peek-inside-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-qa-team/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Working on a QA team is simultaneously one of the more important and least glamorous parts of any game's development. On the one hand, QA has the important job of trying to make sure that everything plays smoothly and correctly; on the other hand, a QA team has best done its job when there's very little that the player notices as missing. Lord of the Rings Online has recently posted a QA team diary, with Amanda "Brynhildr" Cosmos discussing the process involved in testing the recent Volume III update for the game.

Contrary to some popular beliefs, testing generally doesn't consist largely of playing the game -- it's more about finding areas of the game that might be a bit weak and straining them to the breaking point. As the diary points out, it's also about investigating the smaller areas of gameplay that might not be immediately apparent from looking at the big picture. Travel routes, pricing on small-scale consumables, and minor text quibbles aren't easy to spot unless you're looking specifically for places that can be shored up. The full diary is worth reading not just for Lord of the Rings Online players, but anyone interested in seeing what the QA teams are actually responsible for in an MMO's production.

MassivelyPeek inside Lord of the Rings Online's QA team originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amanda-cosmosbrynhildrbug-fixesbugsdevelopmentlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropatchesqaqa-teamquality-assurancetravelturbineturbine-entertainmentvolume-3-book-1Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Riddle me this, riddle me that]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-riddle-me-this-riddle-me-that/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-riddle-me-this-riddle-me-that/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-riddle-me-this-riddle-me-that/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We've all heard the repeated statement that there are no stupid questions. This is pretty obviously incorrect, and can be proven as such by asking what color has the most pizza, or how much a clearly-priced item costs, or how you mine for fish. But when it comes to being unsure about things in City of Heroes, that old chestnut rings true. Certainly you can ask questions that have obvious answers in retrospect, but there's enough to learn and know about the game that it's never a bad idea to ask a question.

We'll kick off with a question asked by Sharko:
"Are we ever going to see new Epic Archetypes in the game?"

The developers have been fairly close-lipped on this point, and for somewhat good reason. Making a new archetype requires a concept that doesn't fit within any of the existing power frameworks, has enough to do that it can sustain itself for the same range of play as the other archetypes, and usually requires some complex balancing against the other archetypes to avoid being more powerful or less. With the breadth of options available to current City of Heroes characters, there's not always a lot of new space to squeeze in something else.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Riddle me this, riddle me that

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Riddle me this, riddle me that originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxepic-archetypeexpansionfeaturedgoing-rogueparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioessequelstraveltravel-powersWed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's next update promising alt leveling and travel improvements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/20/age-of-conans-next-update-promising-alt-leveling-and-travel-imp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/20/age-of-conans-next-update-promising-alt-leveling-and-travel-imp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/20/age-of-conans-next-update-promising-alt-leveling-and-travel-imp/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Not every update is going to be a cavalcade of new and awesome systems, even though it feels really satisfying when they are. Craig Morrison, Age of Conan's director, has come out and said in so many words that unlike the game's recent 1.06 update, the upcoming 1.07 will largely feature changes under the hood that might not be as obvious to players. But his most recent letter to the game's fans is hardly all doom and gloom -- even with the lack of major new systems, there are still new things players will notice.

Travel concerns are one of the two major issues that the next update aims to address, allowing quicker travel to quest hubs and faster returns from the field. The transport is limited to quest hubs, allowing players easier access to where they need to return but not cutting out a sense of exploration. That's hardly the only bombshell the letter has to drop -- subscribers will now slowly accumulate extra levels that they can allocate to their characters, even while offline.

The system is intended to help with alt leveling rather than speeding through content, with Morrison stating that it would take nine months for a character to reach max level from this method. It's an interesting approach to helping alts keep up, and Age of Conan's players will soon get a chance to see how well it plays out.

MassivelyAge of Conan's next update promising alt leveling and travel improvements originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the things some have expressed about some of the recent games is the mixed signals on travel. In Fallen Earth you can have a horse or ATV from early levels, but let's face it - the world is enormous. Even with mounts, it still takes you some time to get from one place to another. There is really no method of fast travel there. In Aion, players have access to gorgeous wings after they finish the quest, but they only work for brief periods of time. Sure, there are other methods of travel, but as some reason - if you have wings, why not let players use them to get from here to there? Yet in other games you can teleport from town to town very rapidly. As we don't pay for MMOs by the hour, is slow travel just an antiquated system, or do you think it lends something to the game's mechanic or feel? Should all games incorporate fast travel, or should it be strictly case-by-case? Drop your thoughts in the comment box below, and let us know what you think!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should all games have fast travel? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fast-travelopiniontdgthe-daily-grindtravelSat, 26 Sep 2009 08:08:00 EST<![CDATA[A Sense of Space...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/08/a-sense-of-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/08/a-sense-of-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/08/a-sense-of-space/#commentsFiled under: , ,


For entirely unrelated reasons, I've been giving the Vanguard 14-day trial a go. It is a game that has many things, and lacks many things also, but one thing it certainly doesn't lack, is room. Its initial Isle of Dawn starter map is an immense place, and judging by the map tabs for the three different mainland continents, this theme of great open spaces and expansive countryside appears to continue throughout the game. Early quests send you off on lengthy runs to distant places and the minimap barely flinches, suggesting a very large land indeed.

I found myself quite surprised at the distances and travel times involved, and in turn, surprised that I was surprised. Clearly, I have become used to a much smaller kind of vast wilderness in my online gaming, and for a self-diagnosed Bartle Explorer type I wonder if I haven't gotten a bit soft when it comes to all things distance related. Was this a trend that had crept up on me, or does size simply not matter any more, in our MMO gaming?

Continue reading A Sense of Space...

MassivelyA Sense of Space... originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eve-onlinefeaturedguild-warslord-of-the-rings-onlinemapsmountsstar wars galaxiesStarWarsGalaxiestravelworldSat, 08 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Teleportation/flights versus other travel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/the-daily-grind-teleportation-flights-versus-other-travel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/the-daily-grind-teleportation-flights-versus-other-travel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/the-daily-grind-teleportation-flights-versus-other-travel/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The trend with online games has been to loosen up on some of the more hardcore traditions of previous generations. The endless grinding of older MMOs is nowhere near as prevalent as before, with full quest progression offered in many current titles. Another area that's seen a change is the way we travel around our online worlds. In the early days of EverQuest if you didn't have a friend to port you, you might have walked through countless massive and often highly dangerous zones to get to a boat, then actually sit through a whole boat ride (don't go AFK and forget to disembark, or you'll do the trip twice!), simply to travel to another continent.

These days you've probably set up a bind point in a central location, with easy access to flights or ports. EverQuest itself later introduced a hub zone that offered free ports. A game like Free Realms even allows players to just click on any major area on the map to instantly teleport. This ease of access has its benefits -- it undoubtedly saves time and boring repeat journeys. But is there something to be said for the lost immersion that was once had when traveling the world on foot, learning the geographical features and absorbing the environments? Does it take away from the scale of the world for you? Give us your thoughts on travel in MMOs in the comments section.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Teleportation/flights versus other travel originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flightsportstdgteleportationthe-daily-grindtravelFri, 24 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise developers explain how teleportation will affect gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/earthrise-developers-explain-how-teleportation-will-affect-gamep/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/earthrise-developers-explain-how-teleportation-will-affect-gamep/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/earthrise-developers-explain-how-teleportation-will-affect-gamep/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Last week we wrote about the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise and how players will be able to use mechas to establish trade and supply routes or, conversely, to hijack them. This brings up another transportation-related question, or several really. How will teleportation work in Earthrise? What limitations will be put on it? Is teleportation accessible to individuals or is it a guild-level ability? The latest Question of the Week entry from the Earthrise devs at Masthead Studios answers these questions and more.

The game's sandbox setting of Enterra is a massive island with many zones. Conventional modes of transportation may not always be the best option for players who need to get from one place to another, hence the developers have included teleportation (travel, not combat) game mechanics, but characters seeking instantaneous travel will need to pay fees for the privilege. There will be two simple types of teleportation -- short range for within zones, and long range, which can be a jump from one end of Enterra to another. The further you travel, the more you pay. Teleporters will be run by NPC factions, available to players aligned with that faction or neutrals, but Earthrise's guilds will also be able to establish their own teleporters.

Continue reading Earthrise developers explain how teleportation will affect gameplay

MassivelyEarthrise developers explain how teleportation will affect gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some of you surely played EverQuest back in the day. Whether it was your first MMO or not, one thing's for sure: it was the first huge MMO. When we say huge, we're not referring to subscription numbers; we're talking about the size of the world. It was much grander than that of Ultima Online, Everyone who played EQ remembers his or her first trip from Freeport to Qeynos or vice versa.

That trip was a very dire one, especially for a level 10 character. If memory serves, you had to go through Kithicor, the goblin dungeon of Runnyeye, the Beholder's maze (that was the most dangerous part, since it was all narrow canyons), the orc-sieged Highpass Hold, and of course all of the Karanas, griffins and giants be damned. It was not safe. It also took a really, really long time. If you were coming originally from Faydwer, before any of this you also had to take a fairly long boat ride -- certainly much longer than the almost-instant inter-continental rides in World of Warcraft.

But the journey was exciting. It actually felt like it was an epic adventure. In most recent MMOs, fast travel is prevalent and everything is streamlined to take as little time as possible. As the genre has become more casual with regards to travel time and danger, have we lost something? Are there no more epic cross-continental treks full of thrilling close calls?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: "Are we there yet?" originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antonicabeholders-mazeboatsdiscussioneverquestfast-travelfaydwerfreeporthighpass-holdkaranaskithicor-forestoldschoolopinionqeynosrunnyeyetdgthe-daily-grindtravelultima-onlineworld-of-warcraftSat, 27 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Long treks and earned mounts, or easy fast travel?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/the-daily-grind-long-treks-and-earned-mounts-or-easy-fast-trav/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/the-daily-grind-long-treks-and-earned-mounts-or-easy-fast-trav/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/the-daily-grind-long-treks-and-earned-mounts-or-easy-fast-trav/#commentsFiled under:

Long overland quests are a fantasy staple which migrated into the MMO genre. This blogger remembers when World of Warcraft was first nicknamed World of Walking. It may not have been the first MMORPG to use the model, but it's the most famous: have a huge world that players begin by walking around in, eventually giving them the ability to use mounts to travel much faster. Age of Conan follows the trend, providing glorious landscapes and not allowing players to use horses until around level 40, a full half way through the leveling progression. Even sprinting in Age of Conan can only be done in short bursts.

City of Heroes took a radically different approach. (It could hardly not do so, what with comic book heroes superspeeding and flying all over the place.) The individual zones were much smaller, and characters could take 'travel powers' at level 14, which would get them from place to place in a fraction of the time it would take to run. Later issues introduced temporary travel powers given out as rewards for Mayhem and Safeguard missions, which allowed characters to fly as early as level 5. The flipside is that the game world feels a lot smaller, with no sense of the long trek into the unknown, far from home.

Should games still adhere to the familiar format of walking a long way, taking in the sights, then earning your mount and really appreciating it? Or should characters be able to skip trekking from an early level, and just get to go where they want to go, at risk of missing out on the scenery? Is walking a tiresome chore, or a valid way to ensure players see the world the designers created?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Long treks and earned mounts, or easy fast travel? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conancity-of-heroescohmountthe-daily-grindtraveltravel-powerswalkingworld-of-warcraftFri, 22 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan patch notes for the 17th of July]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/age-of-conan-patch-notes-for-the-17th-of-july/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/age-of-conan-patch-notes-for-the-17th-of-july/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/age-of-conan-patch-notes-for-the-17th-of-july/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The next weekly update for Age of Conan has been deployed, and while it's not the PvP patch, there are a number of things to be happy about this time around. Along with the expected patch notes, Funcom decided to post their reasoning behind the bigger changes in the patch, something which they hope to do every week from now on. After the break, we've made a shortlist of some of the more interesting changes, and due to popular demand we've also included the entire patch notes for your perusal.

Continue reading Age of Conan patch notes for the 17th of July

MassivelyAge of Conan patch notes for the 17th of July originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17th-julyage-of-conanaocassassinbarbarianbreakingcombosdemonlogistfuncommountspatchpriest-of-mitrarangertempest-of-settotem-of-originstradeposttravelThu, 17 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Fanfest 2008 dates and travel packages announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/eve-fanfest-2008-dates-and-travel-packages-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/eve-fanfest-2008-dates-and-travel-packages-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/eve-fanfest-2008-dates-and-travel-packages-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


EVE Online fans, rejoice! CCP Games has announced details about Fanfest, as well as the travel packages they've arranged. For those who've never heard of the EVE Fanfest, for the past four years CCP has put out this call to all pilots:

Join us at the top of the world for the ultimate party: the EVE Fanfest, held in our hometown of Reykjavik, Iceland. This is the best experience of EVE Online: your chance to meet the people behind the avatars in person, including friends and foes alike from the battlefield, plus the CCP Devs. Catch an inside glimpse of what's in store for EVE; participate in live PVP and CCG tournaments versus other pilots; and, if you dare, venture out into the world-renowned Reykjavik nightlife afterwards!

If there's one thing CCP knows how to do right, beyond that whole 'internet spaceships thing', it's throwing a party. EVE Fanfest 2008 will be on November 6-8 at Laugardalur in the heart of Reykjavik, and will be the fifth annual event hosted by CCP. Fanfest is clearly a big deal to the Icelandic game developers, as they've made arrangements for airfare and hotel travel packages for fans wishing to make the journey north. At present, they've announced three 'early bird' travel packages through Icelandair for Germany, Holland, and the U.S.; more packages for other countries are in the works and will be announced at the official EVE Online site as details become available. Note that the offer for Germany ends on June 15. Read on for the full details about the U.S.-Iceland travel package.

Continue reading EVE Fanfest 2008 dates and travel packages announced

MassivelyEVE Fanfest 2008 dates and travel packages announced originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationccpccp-gameseveeve-fanfesteve-onlinefanfanfesticelandplayer-gatheringtournamenttravelSun, 08 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Traveling in LotRO: Are we there yet?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/traveling-in-lotro-are-we-there-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/traveling-in-lotro-are-we-there-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/traveling-in-lotro-are-we-there-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Traveling in any MMO can be a daunting task. In some older games, traveling across the large map was just par for the course, so to speak. Many players found it just a giant hassle and complained that it was simply put in as a way to get you to spend more time paying for the game. In more recent games, many developers have opted to add in waypoints or instant teleportation access for those more casual players who don't have the time to spend running from point A to point B.

When we look at fairly recent games like LotRO or Vanguard though, we see that traveling across the map is just part of the immersion. Sure, it may be irritating when you have a quest that takes you from one end of Eriador to the other (unless you're a Hunter), but that's the whole thing with the Lord of the Rings lore. Exploration and taking your time, enjoying the scenery, is just what this game is all about. After all, it took Frodo three whole movies to get from The Shire to Mordor, right?

MassivelyTraveling in LotRO: Are we there yet? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With gas prices skyrocketing through the roof these days, it's nice to know we have other options in store. Luckily, there is no war over horses in Middle-earth, so the price of travel tends to stay consistent. But when it does change, TheBrasse.com is here to help keep us informed of the changes.

In the latest, most updated stable route chart, you can see the exact routes from stable to stable, as well as the price in silver and minimum level requirements for each one. This chart includes the latest from the Evendim update. Each route is also color-coded for regular overland travel, swift travel and there's a separate section for the Ettenmoors PvP travel. So next time you're scraping together some loose change for gas money, think of the horses!

MassivelyUpdated LotRO stable route travel chart originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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