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[Flameseeker Chronicles: How do trinities work?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/flameseeker-chronicles-how-do-trinities-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/flameseeker-chronicles-how-do-trinities-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/flameseeker-chronicles-how-do-trinities-work/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No, no -- there's three characters. That must mean there's a trinity.
People have had varying reactions to Jon Peters' post on ArenaNet's blog last week, which explained the newest system of traits and attributes for Guild Wars 2. There've been all sorts of thoughts about it: that it's awesome, that it's unnecessary, that it's a whole lot of words to keep track of (I'm saying that, in fact, and I'm firmly in the camp of folks who think it's all pretty great). Specifically, the inclusion of the compassion attribute, which improves a character's healing output, has raised a glaring red flag for some players who are afraid this is the first step toward holy trinities and dedicated healers. I respectfully disagree.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: How do trinities work?

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: How do trinities work? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetattributesdedicated-healerfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-guideguild-wars-2-previewgwgw1gw2holy-trinityjon-petersncsoftopinionravious-makes-a-good-pointtraitstrinityTue, 06 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you deal with class overload?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-deal-with-class-overload/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-deal-with-class-overload/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-deal-with-class-overload/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Not a real depiction of my guild roster :D
As my guild gets around to signing up on the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website in the hopes that we can join the game as a group during the pre-order access phase, we're slowly coming to the realization that we kinda like playing the same class. As in, most of us. As in, more than half of us are planning to play Smugglers at launch, which makes for an awesome themed guild but doesn't really help us much in terms of class balance when it comes to actually putting groups together and running content.

Granted, the new wave of MMOs is doing away with rigid class restrictions and holy trinities, but that doesn't mean all need for balance is dead and gone. So how do you deal with a class overload in your gaming groups? Do you embrace the theme or hope players' desire to be a unique snowflake will help them spread out their choices? Do you impose limits on classes and force people to diversify? Or do you figure your friends will figure it out on their own once they can't form a balanced group out of four Han Solos?

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: How do you deal with class overload? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebrianna-royce-tdgclassclasseseaelectronic-artsgroupsguildsholy-trinityopinionstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgthe-daily-grindtortrinityMon, 12 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-man-in-the-mirror/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-man-in-the-mirror/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-man-in-the-mirror/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

On Friday, our friends on the BioWare community team gave us a second progression video for the Bounty Hunter in Star Wars: The Old Republic. As with anything on the internet, the video wasn't above scrutiny and complaint by followers. The complaints ranged from "we already have a Bounty Hunter progression video" to "why don't we have a Jedi Consular video yet?" But that doesn't hit on the real issue: There were no fiery explosions for the Bounty Hunter to walk away from in slow motion! He just can't be cool unless he turns his back on the destruction like he just doesn't frelling care.

Despite the lack of carnage in the class progression video, we did glean insight into many of the class powers, some of which mirror its Republic counterpart: the Trooper. I know for marketing reasons and to keep from confusing the potential player, it's not a good idea to use the word "mirror" when describing The Old Republic classes. But it's hard to deny that the Imperial Bounty Hunter and the Republic Trooper are very much mirrored insofar as combat roles and abilities. After the break, I will explain to you what I see that is the same and what is different between the two classes. Then, in the end, I will let you decide whether the classes are truly mirrored or not.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebounty-hunterclassescomparisonDamage-Per-SecondDPSEAeletronic-artsempirefeaturedgameplayhealerhyperspace-beaconLucasArtsmechanicsmirroredmirrored-classesprogression-videorepublicStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidswtortankthe-old-republictortrinitytrooperTue, 05 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: The hybrid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/hyperspace-beacon-the-hybrid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/hyperspace-beacon-the-hybrid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/hyperspace-beacon-the-hybrid/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

As many of you know, BioWare revealed the Trooper progression video for last week's Friday update. This surprised me because I was expecting a light update -- after all, E3 is next week, and Star Wars: The Old Republic is going to have a major presence at the expo. During the video, we witnessed many of the different Trooper abilities. The AoE of the gatling-like blaster, the heals from remote droids, the root from the carbonite grenade, and all the other abilities attest to the range of roles the Trooper can play in a group.

The Trooper is not the only class that can possibly fill every role of the group dynamic. In fact, we know four of the eight classes have the choice of being full DPS, healer, or tank: Trooper, Consular, Bounty Hunter, and Inquisitor. There is much debate on what this means for group dynamics and boss fights as well. Although most of the community would agree that having these hybrid classes isn't going to stop anyone from buying or playing the game, they might have an impact on the staying power of the MMO.

For me, it boils down to a couple of different schools of thought. On the Galactic Underground, an internet radio show, the hosts and the IRC audience spoke about the differences between a hard and soft trinity gameplay and which they preferred. For me, how the hybrid works depends on whether the game is set up with a hard or soft trinity. The definition of hard and soft trinity is a bit subjective. After the break, I will outline what I mean by hard and soft trinity and detail how I think the hybrid classes fit in Star Wars: The Old Republic...

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: The hybrid

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: The hybrid originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWaredpsEAElectronic-Artsfeaturedhard-trinityhealerholy-trinityhybridLucasArtsPokketPokketsaysRIFTrift-planes-of-telarasoft-trinityStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicSWGswtortankthe-old-republictortrinitytrooperTue, 31 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Being a good team player]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/behind-the-mask-being-a-good-team-player/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/behind-the-mask-being-a-good-team-player/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/behind-the-mask-being-a-good-team-player/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The holy trinity is a sort of abolished concept in recent MMOs, and Champions Online is really no different. It's easy to make healer-tanks, tank-DPS, healer-DPS, and all sorts of variations on those themes. I commented previously that I like the idea of the trinity, but that was a year ago, and I've got a little more to say.

Champions is a hard game to explain in terms of role, so I don't really expect the community at large to actually accept a lot of what I'm explaining here. However, this is a breakdown of the real contributions each person can make to a team. Although there is no real "crowd control" role, there are still a lot of ways people can contribute to victory.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Being a good team player

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Being a good team player originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-maskchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosdpsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhealerhealer-dpshealer-tankhealer-tank-dpshybrid-dpsspecialist-is-a-garbage-classtanktank-dpstrinityThu, 05 May 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Eight years of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/eve-evolved-eight-years-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/eve-evolved-eight-years-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/eve-evolved-eight-years-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In last week's EVE Evolved column, I celebrated the third anniversary of the column with a competition to win one of three prizes worth over 500 million ISK. Congratulations go to Uniqdragon, mdubs28 and Thorium88, who will be contacted via email to arrange receipt of their prizes. In a bizarre twist that I can't believe I haven't noticed for three years, it turns out that the anniversary of my column occurs just over a week before EVE Online's own birthday on May 6th. With that in mind, this week's column is dedicated to the game's anniversary and to looking back at another successful year.

The past eight years have been a wild ride for EVE Online and its developer CCP Games. EVE has grown from a fledgling niche game with under 40,000 launch subscriptions to a global melting pot of over 360,000 actively subscribed accounts. The company itself has seem similar expansion, starting from humble beginnings as a small independent studio in Iceland and growing into a multinational monster with offices in China, Iceland, North America and the United Kingdom.

In this huge two-page anniversary edition of EVE Evolved, I look at how EVE Online has kept up with the industry over the years and then go on to examine this past year in detail, from the highs and lows to all the scams and awesome events.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Eight years of EVE Online

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Eight years of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8-yearsanniversarybirthdayccpccp-eveccp-gamescouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdominioneveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfanfestfeaturedgameplaygraphicsgraphics-updateincarnaincursioniterationiterative-designlagmmo-industryopinionrmtserverserver-upgradestrinitytyranniswar-on-lagSun, 01 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2's Johanson: MMO class trinity is "tired"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/15/guild-wars-2s-johanson-mmo-class-trinity-is-tired/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/15/guild-wars-2s-johanson-mmo-class-trinity-is-tired/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/15/guild-wars-2s-johanson-mmo-class-trinity-is-tired/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Have you ever wondered where all the hype comes from regarding Guild Wars 2? Sure, the original game was a financial success, and the sequel has NCsoft's considerable financial muscle behind it. When you get right down to it, though, ArenaNet is a company with one game to its credit, yet the firm still has the courage to openly challenge Blizzard as well as the rest of the crowded MMO market. In a new interview at Eurogamer, lead content designer Colin Johanson says ANet's success and confidence largely stem from a culture of creative fearlessness.

How does this attitude translate into a next-gen MMO? Johanson says the best example is the dev team's willingness to scrap one of the themepark MMO genre's sacred cows: the holy trinity. "We're basically saying, listen, this as a core game mechanic is tired, we can do something better, we can do something more interesting than this," Johanson explains.

The interview also touches on ArenaNet's release-it-when-it's-done mantra, and Johanson elaborates on why Guild Wars 2 has been so long in the making. "We're going to do all of this, we're going to make this the game that offers something for everybody, and we're going to get that right, and if it takes us a little longer to do that, the trade-off is totally worthwhile," he said. Head to Eurogamer for the full report.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2's Johanson: MMO class trinity is "tired" originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarenanetcolin-johansondynamic-contentdynamic-eventsfantasyguild-wars-2gw2holy-trinityinterviewstrinityFri, 15 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alter-Ego: An overview of the trinity in DC Universe Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/alter-ego-an-overview-of-the-trinity-in-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/alter-ego-an-overview-of-the-trinity-in-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/alter-ego-an-overview-of-the-trinity-in-dc-universe-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In DC Universe Online, all of the different powersets can pump out DPS -- however, the trinity is alive and well even in this superhero game. Thankfully, due to the way the powers are designed, our ability to stack effects, and the heavy utilization of combos, grouping or raiding in DC Universe Online doesn't generally feel like you're stuck simply mashing buttons. If you get in with a regular group, you'll learn the ways you can play your powers off each other using synergy, thereby adding an entirely new level of awareness to encounters.

Unfortunately, endgame isn't just about going into an instance and unleashing everyone's max damage to tear through the place. While all characters can do damage in DC Universe Online, roles are still vitally important for group PvE and endgame content. As a preamble to a series that will look at builds for each role in the game and what they can bring to the table, I thought it would be a good idea to take this first week to look at which powersets go with the roles players use in endgame. Join me behind the break as I break it all down for those who are new to the game or perhaps are looking for a refresher.

Continue reading Alter-Ego: An overview of the trinity in DC Universe Online

MassivelyAlter-Ego: An overview of the trinity in DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alter-egoaoebuffsclassescontrollercrowd-controldc-universe-onlinedcuodebuffsdirect-damagedpsendgamefeaturedgroupshealerhealsholy-trinityinstancespowersetspverolessoesony-online-entertainmenttanktrinitySat, 19 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should the MMO holy trinity be a thing of the past?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/13/the-daily-grind-should-the-mmo-holy-trinity-be-a-thing-of-the-p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/13/the-daily-grind-should-the-mmo-holy-trinity-be-a-thing-of-the-p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/13/the-daily-grind-should-the-mmo-holy-trinity-be-a-thing-of-the-p/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dungeons, lairs, and instances, oh my! No, Toto, you are definitely not in Kansas anymore. No matter what game you play, there is usually some sort of division of roles that a toon you roll takes on -- some characters are support, some are up-font and center, and others stick to the side and unload what their mama gave them. Undeniably, the holy trinity seems to be something of a standard in most MMOs -- you are going to have to make a choice at some point about how you actually play.

But maybe some day you wouldn't have to choose a spec, roll a new toon, or make compromises in your class picks. Dreams of being a healer who can actually kick some serious winged-monkey butt could be a thing of the future. Or maybe it will never happen. That's why I pose the following to all of you: If the holy trinity became a thing of the past, how would you envision your favorite game changing? Would you rather see every class be able to use a mix of skills? Could it actually work, or would it just create games full of clone characters?

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: Should the MMO holy trinity be a thing of the past? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-mechanicsclassesdpsgroupinghealersholy-trinitytankstdgthe-daily-grindtrinitySun, 13 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: A healer's advice for melee-DPS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/waging-war-a-healers-advice-for-melee-dps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/waging-war-a-healers-advice-for-melee-dps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/waging-war-a-healers-advice-for-melee-dps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Waging WAR starts the month of August with a look at archetypes in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and the way they work together in RvR and scenarios. Although Greg's rules apply to pretty much any class-based, group-based, PvP-centric game, he prefers to think of them as particular to WAR, since there's a bunch of game-specific slang in there that he's too lazy to change.

Having a role to play is integral to the massively multiplayer online experience, but when the term "roleplay" comes up, it usually means something very specific and closely related to dramatic acting. Taken in a broader sense, it means that we choose our roles when we project the most imaginative aspect of our psychic selves and ask the question "who (or what) do I want to be?" Thus, our vicarious adventures begin. For the purposes of social gaming, it should come as no surprise that those classes usually fit another staple in the MMO universe -- the role trinity of tanker, healer, and damager. While the bond between the healer and tanker is obvious, the unspoken pact between healer and damager is just as sacred and yet all too easily forgotten. For those who were unaware such a promise existed, it goes something like, "I, the healer, promise to keep you alive so you can kill stuff in the face (better)." However, in many cases, the damaging character is delegated an expendable role, compared to the tank's priority or the healer's own survival. These are exceptions that the melee-damager is usually aware of and even comfortable with.

But today I'm not here to challenge those roles like I normally would when talking about damage-healer hybrids. As a specialized healer, I've defined a few, easy-to-remember rules that I believe every melee-damage player should follow in group situations (PUG or premade - there is little difference when it comes to these rules). Solo play is an entirely different realm and beyond the scope of this column; I want to focus on the special synergy between healer and melee-damager, and to dispense advice to those brave, wayward souls in their never-ending quest to face blades as they bring their own to bear.

I'll bestow these tidbits of wisdom after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: A healer's advice for melee-DPS

MassivelyWaging WAR: A healer's advice for melee-DPS originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicdpsdpsingEAea-mythicfeaturefeaturedhealer-questionshealersholy-trinitymeleemelee-combatmelee-DPSmmommorpgmythicmythic entertainmentmythic-eaMythic-EntertainmentMythicEntertainmentsquared-addontankTrinitywaging-warWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eaSat, 07 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games releases video tour of EVE's new planets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/ccp-games-releases-video-tour-of-eves-new-planets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/ccp-games-releases-video-tour-of-eves-new-planets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/ccp-games-releases-video-tour-of-eves-new-planets/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


While the Dominion expansion for EVE Online has been focused on changing how alliances claim and hold territory in New Eden, CCP Games has also given the game quite a facelift. We've mentioned the updated starry backgrounds and shown you a bit about how the planets have changed before, but we came across something new today.

While the footage put together by the players was great, CCP has put together a "Planet Tour" video that's quite stunning. It flies the viewer past the different planet types that players can now encounter -- lava and ice, planetary rings, green continents and swirling clouds. We've got a video embed of the EVE Online Dominion Planet Tour (check out 3:34!) for you after the jump.

Continue reading CCP Games releases video tour of EVE's new planets

MassivelyCCP Games releases video tour of EVE's new planets originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesdominioneveeve-onlineexpansionsgraphicsplanetssci-fistarstrinityvideoMon, 14 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New starry backgrounds in EVE Online spotted]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/new-starry-backgrounds-in-eve-online-spotted/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/new-starry-backgrounds-in-eve-online-spotted/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/new-starry-backgrounds-in-eve-online-spotted/#commentsFiled under: , ,


CCP Games has been rolling out some major graphical improvements to EVE Online since the Trinity expansion launched, bringing with it a new graphics engine and an updated look to the game's setting through the premium client. The first iteration of graphics enhancements added a shiny new veneer to EVE's ships, but those changes weren't skin deep. The models themselves were recreated through months of effort by the game's art team, and the look of the ships is now much improved. Later space stations (both inside and out) and stargates were given a facelift with much greater detail and shadows. The Apocrypha expansion brought new effects for electronic warfare modules and weapons, but it also introduced something else to the aesthetics of EVE -- those gorgeous backdrops found in the uncharted expanses of wormhole space.

By comparison, some players feel that the nebula-laced appearance of mapped solar systems is starting to look dated. While EVE's nebulas aren't likely to change anytime soon, players on the Singularity test server are posting screenshots of starry backgrounds which have made an appearance this week. You can check out the shots taken by various players at Scrapheap Challenge and in these threads on the official EVE forums. Whether these new starry backdrops will make their way into the Dominion expansion release in December isn't certain, but combining this look with the swirling clouds on New Eden's planets would certainly kick EVE's aesthetics up another notch or two.

Continue reading New starry backgrounds in EVE Online spotted

MassivelyNew starry backgrounds in EVE Online spotted originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaccpccp-gamesdominioneveeve-onlineexpansionsgraphicsnew-edenpremium-graphicssingularityskyboxskydomestarstest-servertrinityThu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online announces Dominion expansion, 'Walking in Stations' renamed Incarna]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/eve-online-announces-dominion-expansion-walking-in-stations-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/eve-online-announces-dominion-expansion-walking-in-stations-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/eve-online-announces-dominion-expansion-walking-in-stations-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


CCP Games has announced their 11th free expansion for EVE Online, called "Dominion." As the name suggests, the winter expansion focuses on territories and player control over them. We're told that the Dominion expansion focuses on conquering and holding space, and will feature a reworking of the sovereignty system of territorial control for player alliances. We don't have any further details on the sovereignty revamp yet, but according to CCP the changes have been made with subscriber feedback in mind, particularly through the player-elected Council of Stellar Management.

Given that CCP Games is tying more of EVE Online's gameplay into the planets of the New Eden galaxy, the next step they're taking with the Trinity graphics engine is to add more detail to these planets (and presumably moons).

Continue reading EVE Online announces Dominion expansion, 'Walking in Stations' renamed Incarna

MassivelyEVE Online announces Dominion expansion, 'Walking in Stations' renamed Incarna originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancesambulationbreakingccp-gamescosmoscouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdominiondust-514epic-mission-arcseve-fanfest-2009eve-onlineexpansionsgame-mechanicsguildsnew-edennovelpiracypiratesplanetssci-fisovereigntythe-burning-lifetrinitywalking-in-stationsMon, 31 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Making EVE beautiful]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/12/eve-evolved-making-eve-beautiful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/12/eve-evolved-making-eve-beautiful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/12/eve-evolved-making-eve-beautiful/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


When it was released back in 2003, EVE Online was one of the most visually impressive games on the market. Over the coming years, the graphics aged gracefully next to competitors on the market and all seemed well. Nonetheless, CCP were not content to let their flagship game's graphics eventually go out of date. In true CCP style, they developed a long-term staged delivery plan for the complete overhaul of the game's graphics. The first stage of delivery came with the Trinity expansion, in which a premium client was launched with incredible high resolution ship models. This was just the first stage in a plan to keep EVE graphically ahead of any competitors.

In this technical article, I look at the science of making EVE beautiful and examine CCP's plans for the future.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Making EVE beautiful

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Making EVE beautiful originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationapocryphaccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionfanfestfeaturedGPUgraphicsjoystiqfeaturesmodelneutralisernosferatuplanetsshadershipspecial effectsSpecialEffectsstasistrinityvisual computingVisualComputingwebSun, 12 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Major graphics overhaul of EVE's asteroid belts in Apocrypha expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/major-graphics-overhaul-of-eves-asteroid-belts-in-apocrypha-exp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/major-graphics-overhaul-of-eves-asteroid-belts-in-apocrypha-exp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/major-graphics-overhaul-of-eves-asteroid-belts-in-apocrypha-exp/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


When EVE Online's Trinity expansion was deployed in 2007, it brought with it a drastic difference in graphical quality, but the Premium Graphics engine initially only rendered ships and space stations. Premium Graphics as of next month's expansion will complete CCP's across-the-board overhaul of the game's look. Among those numerous graphical enhancements coming to EVE Online in the forthcoming Apocrypha expansion is something that will come as good news to players who enjoy mining: new asteroid belts. EVE developer CCP VanishingPoint writes in his "Miners Rejoice!" dev blog, "The asteroids are getting a facelift. Better than that actually, the asteroids are now going to communicate their value through brilliant graphical treatments."

His blog explains how Team Hot Rocks created the new asteroid and ice belts for Apocrypha. The days of seeing round, floating rocks in identical belt after belt are nearly over. The new asteroids will have unique looks for each type of ore they're comprised of. In addition, they'll be in the form of shards with many different meshes, and will typically appear to be shattered fragments of larger objects. If you're an industry-type and spend a fair amount of your EVE time mining, you'll definitely want to see CCP VanishingPoint's dev blog "Miners Rejoice!" and its explanation of what you'll get on March 10th in the Apocrypha expansion.

MassivelyMajor graphics overhaul of EVE's asteroid belts in Apocrypha expansion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CCP Games, the developer of EVE Online, has announced that they'll have a presence at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) next month. The company's CMO, Ryan Scott Dancey (aka CCP RyanD), is slated to speak about how CCP uses social network engineering to reach out to more subscribers. Specifically, he'll describe how the company puts Tipping Point theory (about how information spreads) into action. That session is titled: "Network Marketing: Leveraging Social Networks to Grow an MMO".

On the technology front, CCP's CTO Halldor Fannar will speak at GDC 2009 in a session geared more towards programmers and technical artists, "From Evolution to Revolution: Upgrading the Graphics Engine of EVE Online". Fannar will lay out the issues CCP has faced with upgrading EVE's graphics engine, and explain how their ideas went from being on paper to a shipping game. His presentation will show the tools in action that allowed them to "take the required generational leap in art production."

Game Developers Conference 2009 runs from March 23-27 at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, and as we've mentioned previously, will have a lot to offer MMO fans of all genres.

MassivelyCCP Games to present at Game Developers Conference 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameschief-marketing-officerchief-technology-officercmoctoeveeve-onlinegame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-09gdc-2009graphicsgraphics-enginehalldor-fannarmarketingmoscone-centerpremium-graphicsryan-scott-danceysan-franciscosci-fisessionstipping-pointtrinityThu, 12 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE to drop Classic graphics support, possibly some subscribers in the process]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/17/eve-to-drop-classic-graphics-support-possibly-some-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/17/eve-to-drop-classic-graphics-support-possibly-some-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/17/eve-to-drop-classic-graphics-support-possibly-some-subscribers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The beauty of EVE Online is often cited as a major draw to the game. EVE's graphics presently come in two flavors: Classic graphics, which is essentially EVE as it's always looked, and Premium graphics, which came out in 2007 and is quite an improvement over Classic. Despite how good Premium graphics look now, according to EVE dev CCP Zulupark, they could look even better.

In fact, CCP Games would like to push ahead with EVE's graphics, but supporting the game in Classic in tandem with improving the Premium graphics has been holding them back. Essentially, CCP has been supporting two different clients and thus a dual pipeline, where they must create two versions of each art asset introduced into the game. Zulupark says, "It complicates build and patching processes considerably and, for the most part, it simply doesn't allow us to make EVE look as beautiful as we want." The solution to this problem, he states, is for CCP to drop the Classic client altogether and focus their attention on Premium graphics as the game moves forward.

Continue reading EVE to drop Classic graphics support, possibly some subscribers in the process

MassivelyEVE to drop Classic graphics support, possibly some subscribers in the process originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The next EVE Online expansion, called Apocrypha, will launch on March 10 and promises to bring a long-missing feature to the Mac client: high res graphics. The Trinity graphics engine (aka Premium graphics) has been available to players using the Windows client since December of 2007. As of today, all active accounts using the Mac client can opt to download a second enhanced client to try out EVE's Premium graphic content on the Singularity test server.

EVE's Community Manager CCP Wrangler says, "This is the culmination of over a year of effort on the part of development teams at both CCP Games and Transgaming and we are extremely happy to see EVE running in all its splendor on the Mac OS." That splendor, however, may not be coming for some EVE players running older Mac hardware.

Continue reading EVE Online kicks off Mac open beta for high-res graphics engine

MassivelyEVE Online kicks off Mac open beta for high-res graphics engine originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online's Fanfest 2008 is now underway, and reports are already coming through on what's happening in Reykjavik. CCP Games held a press conference that discussed EVE's technical side, namely its server technology, but also touched upon EVE's impending graphic enhancements in 2009. EVE Online's Premium 'Trinity' graphics engine was a significant leap forward in the game. While some players felt that the graphics as they were prior to Trinity were still ahead of the curve in terms of what's expected of an MMO, the look of the game changed dramatically with Trinity. However, the Trinity deployment wasn't a complete revamp of EVE's look. Ships and stations benefited from Premium graphics, but other celestial objects did not, jump gates notwithstanding.

"EVE is in a state where, if you run the Premium graphics edition, half of it is done, you could say," said Chief Technologist Halldor Fannar of CCP Games, at Reykjavik's Fanfest 2008, as reported by Oli Welsh of Eurogamer. Future graphics updates will bring celestial objects in line with what's currently seen in Trinity, and may well arrive with the forthcoming Walking in Stations expansion which is slated to launch after the Quantum Rise expansion, just around the corner.

Continue reading EVE Fanfest presentation discusses graphics enhancements

MassivelyEVE Fanfest presentation discusses graphics enhancements originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationccpccp-gameseurogamereveeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2008eve-onlineexpansionsfanfestgraphicsgraphics-enginehalldor-fannaricelandoli-welshpremium-graphicsreykjaviksci-fitrinitytrinity-graphicswalking-in-stationsThu, 06 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games announces Quantum Rise expansion for EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/ccp-games-announces-quantum-rise-expansion-for-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/ccp-games-announces-quantum-rise-expansion-for-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/ccp-games-announces-quantum-rise-expansion-for-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


The next major expansion to EVE Online, known internally at CCP Games as 'Midas', now has a name: Quantum Rise. The winter expansion will bring with it a number of new features and enhancements for the industrial and economic side of EVE, which we've just gotten word about from CCP, as well as confirmation of the rumored "Orca" capital industrial ship:

"Players have great things to look forward to in EVE Online: Quantum Rise. Corporations will be able to set their products apart from the rest by building trust in their goods through customizable storefronts. The backbone of EVE's vibrant economy, industrial ships are being rebalanced and optimized to better suit the needs of haulers and industrialists-including the latest addition to the fleet, a massive capital industrial ship dubbed the Orca. A new certificate system will give a quick and verifiable means to discern a pilot's skill level in trading, gunnery or countless other professions, providing plenty of bragging rights. Meanwhile, the introduction of a medal system allows corporations to distinguish their most valued pilots and honor them for their achievements."

Quantum Rise is being released in stages, some of which we've already seen and experienced, such as Stackless IO and EVE64. But other aspects of the expansion will include weapon linking, continuations of the Trinity graphics update, and other as-yet unannounced features. Keep an eye on our EVE coverage at Massively; we'll be watching closely to see what the Quantum Rise expansion will bring to EVE's players.

MassivelyCCP Games announces Quantum Rise expansion for EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online has a much smaller playerbase than some of the other top-tier MMOs on the market. Despite this fact, CCP Games was willing to provide an even smaller subset of players -- Linux and Mac users -- with an EVE client, via Transgaming's Cedega (Linux) and Cider (Mac). While the 'premium' Trinity graphics are only supported on the Windows client, this writer can attest that the Mac client has improved a great deal since its release.

That said, there have certainly been some issues with providing a stable client for multiple operating systems. The Empyrean Age 1.1.2 patch for Mac and Linux, which was scheduled to deploy during downtime today, should bring with it numerous small fixes to these clients. On the Mac side, Empyrean Age 1.1.2 changes how autopatching works, improves issues with international keyboard layouts, and especially resolves the issue with how station interiors display. If the changes go through smoothly, this funky anomaly will be no more. This gallery may be a last look at the black, translucent interiors of stations that some Mac users have been reporting:

Gallery: Mac client station anomalies

Continue reading Mac and Linux client improvements roll out today in EVE Online

MassivelyMac and Linux client improvements roll out today in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading EVE Evolved: The making of EVE Online, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The making of EVE Online, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castorccpcold warColdWarconcordempyrean-ageeveeve-onlineexodusexpansionfactional-warfaregankhilmarjoystiqfeatureslaunchpatchred moon risingRedMoonRisingrevelationsrmrsecond genesisSecondGenesisserversuicidetrinitySun, 05 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The making of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/eve-evolved-the-making-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/eve-evolved-the-making-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/eve-evolved-the-making-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online's development path from concept to release has followed a very different path to the MMO norm. Starting from its humble beginnings as one man's dream to build an online space game, EVE has developed into the massively popular game it is today. Rather than designing and developing the game all in one go, the CCP crew opted for a staged delivery approach. The game was re-made 11 times, each stage being progressively closer to the final goal. By launch, EVE had been through 5 total recodes where almost the entire game was scrapped and rebuilt from scratch and at least 6 partial recodes.

Join me as I take a look at the course EVE's development has taken from concept all the way to the current Empyrean Age expansion.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The making of EVE Online

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The making of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Long petition queues, particularly related to expansions, has long been a problem in EVE Online. These long waits may very well be a thing of the past, according to GM Nova, Senior Game Master for EVE Online. GM Nova's latest dev blog, "Such stuff as dreams are made on," deals with the deployment of the Empyrean Age 1.1 patch in early September, as seen from a Customer Support perspective. "We at Customer Support, being at the front lines so to speak, are in a unique position to judge or evaluate whether a patch was successfully deployed and if ther is any fallout or unexpected problems involved, as the potential torrent of problems are directed at us to pass on," he said.

GM Nova points out how that 'torrent of problems' has slowed down to a trickle, using graph data of the Trinity expansion deployment (predictably an insane amount of petitions), the subsequent Empyrean Age 1.0 patch (so smooth they thought their petition system had crashed), and finally Empyrean Age 1.1. The trend evidenced by the graphs is that their patch deployments are becoming less fraught with complications, meaning happier players in the long run. GM Nova goes on to discuss some of the structural changes made to CCP's Customer Support department that improve petition response time, saying,"We are happy to announce that our average petition age is currently two days with most normal requests handled in hours. We hope our efforts shine through in the level of support we are able to offer." Would you agree with GM Nova's assessment, and have your own petitions of late in EVE Online been resolved in a reasonable amount of time?

MassivelyEVE dev blog charts much improved customer support experiences originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The next EVE Online update is the Empyrean Age 1.1.1 patch, which deploys on September 30th. It brings with it a number of fixes and a few new features as well. These features are centered around the Jita problems, with three new jumps being added to help players avoid the laggy system: Muvolailen-Maurasi, Maurasi-Perimeter, and Veisto-Sarekuwa. An 'avoid system' option has been added to the autopilot, with a default setting to avoid Jita. Taking the population cap issue a step further, CCP Games is also rolling out an Auto-Move feature to the login process. In the event a player attempts to log in to a system which has already hit its population cap, the player will have the option of moving themself to a neighboring system.

The rest of Empyrean Age 1.1.1 is comprised of smaller fixes and improvements, namely to the user interface and EVE's communication channels -- Voice, Mail, and Chat. In addition, they've fixed a problem where Stabber Fleet Issue ships wouldn't display (or cloak) properly due to an issue with the ship's model in the Trinity graphics engine. These are the changes announced at this time, but see the full patch notes for additional revisions made by CCP as the deployment approaches. Until then, the devs are discussing the changes -- both announced and unannounced -- with players on the official forums.

MassivelyChanges and new features in EVE's latest Empyrean Age patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesempyrean-ageeveeve-onlineforumspatchpatch-notespopulation-cappopulation-limitstrinityMon, 29 Sep 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online patch restores dual boxing alt play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/eve-online-patch-restores-dual-boxing-alt-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/eve-online-patch-restores-dual-boxing-alt-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/eve-online-patch-restores-dual-boxing-alt-play/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

CCP Games released an optional patch for EVE Online today that should improve performance issues for players who opt to dual box. While the Trinity graphics engine brought new eye candy to EVE players, for some it came with a real downside: it became difficult, if not impossible, to run multiple clients on one machine as they did in the Classic graphics engine.

The fix does seem to be a work-in-progress, as CCP is eliciting feedback from players who've applied the patch, but so far the response has been positive. For those players who run into any snags, removing any optional patch in EVE is a simple uninstall accessed via the ESC menu; no harm done. If the patch does as CCP claims, it looks like it's time to drop the Classic environment altogether and fire up those alts in high-res Trinity.

MassivelyEVE Online patch restores dual boxing alt play originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altccpccp-gamesdual-boxeveeve-onlinefeedbackgraphicspatchpatchestrinityWed, 25 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP and EVE need help testing the new networking layer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/ccp-and-eve-need-help-testing-the-new-networking-layer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/ccp-and-eve-need-help-testing-the-new-networking-layer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/ccp-and-eve-need-help-testing-the-new-networking-layer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When flying through space in EVE Online, without a care in the world, things can often go wrong rather quickly. For example, when jumping through a stargate on the way home from a successful trading expedition, the game decides to freeze. The stargate then disappears, the UI becomes completely useless, and the only thing on the screen are twinkling stars. What happened here? A massive battle between alliances just took place and the node decided to choke. This means lag, waiting, re-logging, and the never ending cycle of keyboard smashing. Oh what a wonderful world it would be if this did not happen.

Well, with the next Trinity patch, a new networking layer that may ease the suffering of cosmic travelers is being tested. EVE and CCP are requesting some extra players, about 200 or so, to help test the networking layer on singularity. You only need to log in between 1830 GMT and 2100 GMT on the 29th of April to participate in the test. Sound easy? Well it is just that simple. CCP will have a channel devoted to test results and updates throughout the testing period. Hopefully, if successful, we can all avoid the lag when corporations decide to crush one another or when you make that evil trip into Jita. In order to make sure your ship does not implode when you try to log in, be sure to check out the singularity installation and FAQ page to be ready to test and make the universe a better place.

MassivelyCCP and EVE need help testing the new networking layer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpeveeve-onlineeve-trinitysingularitytestingtrinityMon, 28 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ambulation project closer to reality]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/ambulation-project-closer-to-reality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/ambulation-project-closer-to-reality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/ambulation-project-closer-to-reality/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


"So... it's an MMO where you fly a ship through space, but you can never really get out?"

"Well... yeah. Pretty much."

This is how it plays out, almost inevitably, when I show my friends EVE Online. For some, not being able to see yourself as a 3-D avatar creates a barrier to immersion. For others, the game is too much of a departure from how player characters are depicted in most other MMOs. That's due to change soon, with the forthcoming release of CCP's Ambulation project. Ambulation will allow players in NPC space stations to walk outside of their ship hangars and interact with each other in a number of new ways. CCP clarified some information about the Ambulation project at the recent New York Comic Con.

Continue reading Ambulation project closer to reality

MassivelyAmbulation project closer to reality originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achuraambulationavatarccpcomicseveeve-onlineimmersiontrinityThu, 24 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE approaches fives years of virtual adventure]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/eve-approaches-fives-years-of-virtual-adventure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/eve-approaches-fives-years-of-virtual-adventure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/eve-approaches-fives-years-of-virtual-adventure/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


"I hope they take the servers down so I can go get a shower." It is good to see EVE has not changed since it first blinked into existence. So many memories, so many destroyed ships, so many hours spent hauling ore from can to station. As EVE approaches the five year mark on the 6th of May, public relations and communications director Valerie Massey docked her ship and logged off. Why did she log off exactly? To chat about EVE of course! What else is there to do when not playing EVE?

At five years, EVE is getting a bit on the old side in terms of MMOs. That didn't stop CCP of course. They gave EVE one hell of a Botox injection, hired an ex-commando for a trainer, and put the game into damn fine shape. Trinity was a huge testament to the ability of CCP and EVE to change and grow in very good ways. As Valerie says, the company itself started off with a handful of team members watching their dream become reality on a projector screen. They now employ over three hundred people and can claim a playerbase of over 200,000. From all of us at Massively, happy birthday! We hope the pod popping and ice mining continues for years to come.

MassivelyEVE approaches fives years of virtual adventure originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpeveeve-onlineeve-trinitytrinityvalerie-masseywarcrywarcry-networkFri, 18 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Trinity: Preliminary "Boost Patch" notes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/eve-trinity-preliminary-boost-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/eve-trinity-preliminary-boost-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/eve-trinity-preliminary-boost-patch-notes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Most EVE Online players are heavily anticipating Tuesday's patch, one that is so massive in size it is bound to take over your computer and brick it. Surely, I jest. The unlucky few that won't ever be satisfied or pleased are Amarr players. I can't say I blame them, during an older EVE live-dev blog the devs insinuated the miracle patch would fix everything. "High-five guys, this is going to be so awesome that even the Amarr players will shoot space rainbows from their asses." That's not an exact quote, but I remember the overall tone from the developers being very enthusiastic.

With such a huge patch CCP wants to make sure that every change listed makes it in this installment. The notes were pulled from the official site until further notice. That's not stopping us from posting them anyway. If you'd like to get a jump start on reading there's over 7 thousand words to mull over after the jump. Disclaimer: the following notes are preliminary. The notes might see various changes, but I'm sure these are solid. The final notes should be published on the EVE site sometime tomorrow.

Continue reading EVE Trinity: Preliminary "Boost Patch" notes

MassivelyEVE Trinity: Preliminary "Boost Patch" notes originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boost-patchccpeveeve-onlineeve-trinitypatchpatch-1.1trinitySun, 09 Mar 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE gets a Boost on Tuesday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/eve-gets-a-boost-on-tuesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/eve-gets-a-boost-on-tuesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/eve-gets-a-boost-on-tuesday/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In case you've been too busy ratting, mining, or you've been offline training up those long-duration skills, we thought we'd point out that there's a new patch for EVE Online coming this Tuesday. The patch, called "Boost", is chock full of database fixes from what we've been given to understand. Sadly, the patch notes aren't currently out according to the official thread, or we'd have them for you here.

As to why they're doing such a long downtime this Tuesday, Erlendur S. Thorsteinsson, EVE's Software Director, jumped out to answer:

Continue reading EVE gets a Boost on Tuesday

MassivelyEVE gets a Boost on Tuesday originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Mar 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boostccpdown-timedowntimeeveeve-onlinepatchpatch-1.1trinitytrinity-1.1Sun, 09 Mar 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite archetype?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/08/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-archetype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/08/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-archetype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/08/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-archetype/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It seems like no matter what game you spend time in, the majority of classes fall into the "trinity" of archetypes. You have your damage-soaking tanks, standing on the front line, drawing aggro and taking a beating. Then you have the DPS classes, who can generally DoT, fear, kite, sneak, stab, shoot, and a myriad of other nasty things to bring the pain. And without the third part of the trinity, the healers, the other two would spend most of the time dead on the floor or fighting mobs while using lots of bandages, med-packs, potions or the like. Once in a while you'll find one class that are a "hybrid" these abilities, taking one or all of the three unto themselves, making for a more solo-friendly character.

Personally, I've played all three primary archetypes as well as hybrids. While I've really enjoyed them all, my heart keeps coming back to pure DPS classes, with a close second in hybrids. Whether with stabby knives, flowing robes and fireballs, or carrying a gun, the straight damage classes are fun to me when I've got a good group to run with. When I need to get into a game and see how it works, I tend to go hybrids for their self-reliance. How about you? What's your favorite class archetype (or archetypes) and why?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite archetype? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypedpsfeaturedhealertanktdgthe-daily-grindtrinitySat, 08 Mar 2008 08:07:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP releases EVE QEN, says 250k subs by Q2, and plans Gross User Product report]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/ccp-releases-eve-qen-says-250k-subs-by-q2-and-plans-gross-user/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/ccp-releases-eve-qen-says-250k-subs-by-q2-and-plans-gross-user/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/ccp-releases-eve-qen-says-250k-subs-by-q2-and-plans-gross-user/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


CCP has released their Quarterly Economic Newsletter for the 4th quarter of last year in EVE Online, and the word is "growth." They saw big increases in trade volume and value all over the place on the market. Which isn't surprising, considering how much their population surged late last year, thanks in large part to the well-received Trinity expansion. And the growth isn't done -- CCP expects to see 250,000 subscribers by the end of Q2 2008.

There are lots of great numbers in here -- apparently only 9% of players are out in low sec space (much lower than I'd thought). Jita is still a madhouse (no duh -- you'll already know that if you've ever tried to go in there on a weekend). Finally, they've introduced a new tracking variable, called Gross User Product, that is the value of all services and goods produced in a period of time, minus the amount of goods and services consumed. In other words, a GDP, but for a virtual world. They don't have a figure yet (because it has to be tracked over a period of time), but the next QEN should have some even more interesting information on how we might track virtual economies in MMO games.

MassivelyCCP releases EVE QEN, says 250k subs by Q2, and plans Gross User Product report originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpeconomyeveeve-onlinegdpgraphsguppopulationquarterly-economic-newsletterreportstatstrinityWed, 20 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Making five wishes in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/making-five-wishes-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/making-five-wishes-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/making-five-wishes-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After playing EVE Online for half a year, The Ancient Gaming Noob has revisited his five wishes for the game. Reading through the list reveals it to be pretty reasonable and quite thoughtful -- focusing on functionality over pipe dreams. The last item on the list asks for a simulation mode, which is less about functionality and more about making the learning curve in EVE Online less harsh for newer players. We're inclined to agree here, because it would be nice to have a no risk/no reward system that would let players experiment with their setup. Something like that certainly could save a lot of people several headaches in the long run.

Another item on the list has to do with Trinity and the graphical enhancements that came with the update. The wish -- or complaint, if you want to look at it that way -- concerns performance on lower-end systems. While the new graphics are certainly lovely to look at, many people just don't have the horsepower to pump them out at a smooth pace. CCP will hopefully tweak the classic mode graphics in the future, because we're sure that the Ancient Gaming Noob isn't the only EVE player with this particular wish.

MassivelyMaking five wishes in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpeveeve-onlinethe-ancient-gaming-noobtrinitywish-listsSat, 09 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AIAS nominations for MMO of the year announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/aias-nominations-for-mmo-of-the-year-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/aias-nominations-for-mmo-of-the-year-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/aias-nominations-for-mmo-of-the-year-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You may have heard that the Academy of Motion Pictures announced their Oscar nominations (how about that Ellen Page? And I definitely need to see There Will Be Blood, as soon as my wacky work schedule allows me the free time) this morning, but the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences also announced their Academy Award nominations for videogames earlier this week, and they picked five nominees for MMO game of the year.

And the nominations are: EVE Online: Trinity, Guild Wars: Eye of the North, Richard Garriot's Tabula Rasa, Lord of the Rings: Shadows of Angmar, and World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. I don't want to be a spoilsport, but I'm thinking that any of those others are going to have a tough time beating Burning Crusade-- Blizzard is still pretty far ahead of the game at this point. But it is interesting to note that three of the five nominees are expansions-- Tabula Rasa and LotRO are the two original games on the list.

Hopefully this time next year we'll see some more new names in the mix. The AIAS awards winners will be announced on February 7, 2007 in Las Vegas.

[Via Curse]

MassivelyAIAS nominations for MMO of the year announced originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiasburning-crusadeeve-onlineguild-warslord-of-the-ringslotrotabula-rasatrinitywowTue, 22 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Making light of the bootini incident]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/08/making-light-of-the-bootini-incident/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/08/making-light-of-the-bootini-incident/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/08/making-light-of-the-bootini-incident/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Who was it that said "comedy equals tragedy plus time"? Apparently enough time has passed since EVE's "bootini incident" (at least that's what I'd prefer to call it) that people are finally starting to have a sense of humor about the fact that CCP accidentally may have ruined their OS installations. The forums are filling with jokes (I especially like the fake killmail-- "corp: Microsoft; destroyed: boot.ini"), stories, poetry, ("A fast screen of pain is all he sees, / No boot.ini on XP for he"), and even a Goonswarm-photoshopped card for the EVE CCG. Funny stuff.

The discussion isn't all good-natured-- some folks are trying to demand "compensation" (some in actual cash, and some in the more likely extra game-time), while many people are saying that to not expect bugs, even this big, on patch day is just wishful thinking.

At any rate, the issue has been fixed at this point-- no one who updates after this will have the problem, and the only question that remains is what CCP will do, if anything, for those affected. And Trinity's patching will stand as a warning for other MMOs-- on every big patch day, remember bootini!

MassivelyMaking light of the bootini incident originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bootinibootini-incidentccpeve-ccgeve-onlinetrinitySat, 08 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVEMon was down with API update, is now back up and working]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/evemon-was-down-with-api-update-is-now-back-up-and-working/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/evemon-was-down-with-api-update-is-now-back-up-and-working/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/evemon-was-down-with-api-update-is-now-back-up-and-working/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The good news on this one is that there is no news: EVEMon, the out-of-game app that is a must-have for EVE players, wasn't working for most people after the Trinity patch this week, but a series of bug reports over on the developer website (EVEMon is open sourced) confirms that the problem was just that CCP had taken down the API for testing. By now, EVEMon should be back up and running, ready to help you plan those skill changes out.

And in other EVEMon news, the New Features page over on the developer site is a fun read, too, if you haven't seen it in a while. Very cool to see all the new features planned for the next release: Battleclinic loadouts, a new plan printing feature, and updates to the Ship and Item browser. EVEMon is already a terrific app (definitely the best MMO-related out-of-game app I've ever seen), and it's great to see the devs are hard at work making it better.

MassivelyEVEMon was down with API update, is now back up and working originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apiapplicationccpeve-onlineevemonplanskillstrinityupdatesThu, 06 Dec 2007 23:32:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Trinity: New graphics engine calls for a video card checkup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/eve-trinity-new-graphics-engine-calls-for-a-video-card-checkup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/eve-trinity-new-graphics-engine-calls-for-a-video-card-checkup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/eve-trinity-new-graphics-engine-calls-for-a-video-card-checkup/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Traders, Smugglers, Pirates, Miners, Capusuleers from every walk of life! Today marks a momentous occasion in the EVE Online universe. At approximately 6PM PST the EVE servers will be brought down and fitted for the new EVE: Trinity expansion. The downtime is estimated to last 24 hours, which means this is probably our last heads up beforehand to train a time appropriate skill in advance. The amount of new content is intense as Trinity is EVE's biggest expansion ever: New ships, tweaks, tutorials, new everything, and of course, the grand-daddy of Trinity's enhancements: The long-awaited graphical overhaul featuring EVE's new graphic engine dubbed Trinity 2. Confused yet? All that matters is that every ship, stargate, and station remodeled to sweet perfection.

There is a downside, and that is not everyone will be able to enjoy the new radical graphics. Players who do not have a Shader Model 3.0 or DirectX9c compliant video card will be left in the space dust with the classic client. EVE players with DirectX9c and video cards that support Shader Model 3.0 will be able to use the shiny new doodad client. The important thing is everyone can still play EVE Online regardless or not your rig meets the requirements to run the new graphics. What is SM 3.0 and how the hell do you know your video card supports it? To answer that, with the help of the EVE forums, I have compiled the necessary information to help you find out.

Continue reading EVE Trinity: New graphics engine calls for a video card checkup

MassivelyEVE Trinity: New graphics engine calls for a video card checkup originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aticcpccp-gamesdirectxeveeve-onlineeve-trinityexpansiongraphicsnvidiashader-modelsm3sm4technologytrinityvideo-cardsTue, 04 Dec 2007 18:05:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Trinity screenshots galore]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/eve-trinity-screenshots-galore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/eve-trinity-screenshots-galore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/eve-trinity-screenshots-galore/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The Trinity patch notes dropped yesterday, and apparently the new graphics also went live on the test server, so screenshots of all the new ships coming in the EVE Online expansion are flooding the forums.

We've seen a lot of these before, both in trailers and official screenshots, but there are so many here that if you want to find your ship-- someone even grabbed some Titans-- it's probably here. Still, my guess is that nothing will compare to what we'll see when we log in on December 5th. Screenshots are nice, but I can't wait to see all these great graphics flowing in motion through the outer reaches of space.

MassivelyEVE Trinity screenshots galore originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eve-onlineforumsscreenshotstest-servertitanstrinityThu, 29 Nov 2007 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online: Trinity expansion preliminary patch notes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/eve-online-trinity-expansion-preliminary-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/eve-online-trinity-expansion-preliminary-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/eve-online-trinity-expansion-preliminary-patch-notes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


While the EVE Online: Trinity expansion prepares to take the world by storm beginning on December 5th you might as well get a jump start reading the preliminary expansion patch notes. Important notice: The EVE Online servers and official forums will be unavailable for the duration of Trinity's deployment -- scar it into your brain to keep from forgetting! Everything will shut down at around 6PM PST and will be brought back online by 6PM PST the next day. We'll have you covered with reminders prior to the launch. Hint: Train a skill that takes longer than 30 minutes, preferably with one that takes over a day! (This hint was brought to you by CCP).

The patch notes are over 8,000 words in length; don't let them scare you off! The wall of text has been wonderfully formatted and broken into two pages.

EVE: Trinity Features, Improvements, and Balance

http://myeve.eve-online.com/updates/patchnotes.asp?patchlogID=156

EVE: Trinity Changes and Fixes

http://myeve.eve-online.com/updates/patchnotes.asp?patchlogID=155

EVE: Trinity Quick Highlights:

Continue reading EVE Online: Trinity expansion preliminary patch notes

MassivelyEVE Online: Trinity expansion preliminary patch notes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseve-onlineeve-online-patcheve-trinityexpansiontrinityWed, 28 Nov 2007 22:30:00 EST