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The Daily Grind: How would you improve tutorials?

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Yesterday on Massively Speaking we had a lively discussion about what we dislike in MMO tutorials (the popups, oh the popups!) and how we'd improve them. But we are just a few humble souls slaving over old-fashioned typewriters, while you are a legion of computer-savvy geeks who have timed the wild, wild web. So how would you improve tutorials?

Keep in mind that MMO tutorials can and should be aimed at two different demographics: those who have never played online RPGs before and those who are experienced genre vets who are giving this game a go. Introducing a newcomer to the genre in such a way that he or she is not scared off is trickier than you might suspect, especially in the era of Angry Birds accessibility. What could be done to ease new players into the games? How could tutorials better transmit the information that you truly need and skip the stuff that you don't?

Let's brainstorm today! No idea is too silly, except for the sixth, 20th, and 41st comments. Those are just wack.

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

The Daily Grind: How would you improve tutorials? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: First impression turn-offs

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Humor, First Impressions, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

A year ago our very own Shawn "The Mittani" Schuster wrote a memorable Soapbox column around the idea that MMOs had an hour to grab his attention or else he was out the door. No, don't go read it now. You're reading this! Stay! Good reader.

I concur with his point that while MMOs may ask us to experience them for the long haul, first impressions still count. And if those impressions aren't favorable right out the gate, it's not likely that we will be around for hour two, no matter how good it is.

I know what you're thinking right now: "What is this itching, burning sensation between my toes?" It's Athlete's Foot, and you need to get on that ASAP. You're also thinking, "But Justin, whose opinions I respect, admire, and use to teach my children, what drives you away from MMOs when you give them a try?" Again, it's an itching, burning sensation between my toes.

No, not really. It's more complicated than that -- so complicated, in fact, that it requires a 10-point presentation on what turns me off when an MMO is making a first impression. Imagine that!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: First impression turn-offs

The Perfect Ten: First impression turn-offs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: The new player experience, part 2

Brendan Drain — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, EVE Online, Culture, Game mechanics, PvE, Opinion, Hands-on, EVE Evolved, Sandbox

Two weeks ago, I began an experiment to look into EVE Online's new player experience from the perspective of someone who has never played the game before. I convinced my friend Kajatta to try the game for the first time, with his only prior knowledge being the same stories, videos and screenshots that anyone will have seen before signing up to give the game a shot. In the first part of this investigation into the new player experience, Kajatta delivered a harsh first impression of the user interface and character creation.

A common story I've heard when I'm talking to current EVE players is that many didn't really get into the game the first time they played. As happened to Kajatta, some found adapting to the UI and control scheme a jarring experience and were put off as a result. It was usually the second time they played EVE that seemed to make the game stick, whether that was restarting a new character immediately or giving the game a second try up to a year later.

Could it be that EVE is most likely to appeal to new players the second time they play it? To put this theory to the test, this week Kajatta took a fresh second stab at EVE Online and played through all the career agent content. But has his first attempt provide the equipment necessary to scale EVE's famous learning cliff, or did the UI and control scheme prove as impenetrable a barrier as ever?

In this week's EVE Evolved, Kajatta delivers his verdict on whether EVE is better the second time around and delves into the Cash Flow For Capsuleers combat missions.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The new player experience, part 2

EVE Evolved: The new player experience, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: The new player experience

Brendan Drain — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Expansions, Game mechanics, Interviews, Hands-on, EVE Evolved, Sandbox

Ever since a graph showing a downward trend in daily peak concurrent logins started to make the rounds on blogs, players have insisted that EVE Online's recent Incarna expansion has been a complete failure. I mentioned in an earlier article that we should really have expected this as the captain's quarters were primarily designed with new players in mind. Starting the game as an avatar, even one who's been grounded in his space-room by his space-dad, helps people identify with their characters in a way that bridges the gap between EVE and traditional avatar-based MMOs. By introducing a player to his character as a person rather than a ship, the new player experience may also help make the loss of a ship not such a big deal.

It's all fine and well to theorise about Incarna's success or failure, but ultimately it's only new players who can make that determination. If the captain's quarters do their job of flattening that initially jarring part of EVE's learning curve, the expansion's effect on subscriptions would be to convert more free trials into paid accounts -- an effect that wouldn't be immediately noticeable until another exciting and heavily advertised gameplay expansion brings in large numbers of new players. To help figure out if the captain's quarters have been successful in that regard, we have to turn to people who have never played EVE before.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I finally convince my friend Kajatta to try EVE for the first time. I delve into his first experiences with the game to find out what EVE does right and wrong in the new player experience.

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EVE Evolved: The new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: Testing out the future

Brandon Felczer — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST

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

Captain's Log, Stardate 65264.3...

Hello, computer (and players)! As you have must have seen by now, open beta testing of Star Trek Online's new F2P model is well underway; the developers have been posting dev diaries about the impending changes for the last couple of days. Because testers on the Tribble test server were required to start new characters, and because character transfers will not be an option for at least a few weeks, many players have begun a mad dash to level up their test characters in order to test out some of the retooled endgame content.

Since testing, especially in this manner, can be confusing, I have decided to dedicate this week's Captain's Log to those who are willing to take on the challenge. Past the jump, you will find a checklist of sorts that you can use while testing (or, ultimately, playing) the new content and updates. I suggest reading each section and then checking it out in-game. While some recommendations may seem less interesting than others, I suggest you give each a fair shot so you can provide feedback on what can make the game better.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's give our dedicated Tribbleites some structure to their testing time...

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Captain's Log: Testing out the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reakktor and gamigo release Black Prophecy tutorial videos

Jef Reahard — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

If you're having trouble sleeping at night, Reakktor and gamigo have a series of new Black Prophecy tutorial videos that just might do the trick. OK, that's mean, but the producers could stand to work on the monotone voiceover that drones throughout the entirety of three separate clips.

Happily, the clips themselves are pretty informative, and they cover interface basics, advanced UI features, and basic game functions. If you're new to MMOs or new to the world of Black Prophecy, it's probably worth spending the 10 minutes required to check them out (and of course you can do so after the break). Just make sure you've got a Red Bull instead of a glass of warm milk.

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Reakktor and gamigo release Black Prophecy tutorial videos originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dark Age of Camelot takes players to school

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Dark Age of Camelot, Patches, Previews, PvP, Dev Diaries

Dark Age of Camelot's new website is already paying off in spades for players, as the developers are able to pass along a host of new information, concept art and previews for the populace. DAOC will be 10 years old as of next month and isn't slowing down. Exhibit A: The team is already hard at work on the 1.110 patch.

John Thronhill penned a dev diary about the patch this week; he focuses on the new Lesson Quests that will go hand-in-hand with the beginner experience. Lesson Quests are designed to help newbies get their footing in this complex setting, especially since the game continues to see a "large amount of returning and brand-new players" each month.

As players progress through Lesson Quests, they'll not only get a better understanding of how DAOC works but be rewarded with buff tokens, potions, and other nice goodies. As part of the quest chain, NPCs will demonstrate crowd control techniques and other RvR survival skills in the hopes that new players will be able to make a better contribution to the war. These tutorial quests can also be skipped if players already know the ropes.

Lesson Quests aren't the only new additions coming with 1.110, although Thornhill says we'll have to wait until another day to hear about the rest.

Dark Age of Camelot takes players to school originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tibia summer update features new world quests, tutorial

Jef Reahard — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

Quick, name a few of the world's oldest MMORPGs! Now, name a couple that are still running. Chances are most of you chimed in with Ultima Online, EverQuest, or maybe even Meridian 59. You're correct of course, but there's another title that released in 1997 that's still going today.

That title is Tibia, and the 2-D fantasy game from CipSoft GmbH has just announced a world-changing summer update. World quests are "highly complex missions which can only be accomplished if dozens or even hundreds of Tibia players cooperate," according to a new press release.

The new quests add another level to Tibia's conflict-driven dynamic that sees players and guilds war with one another for years at a time, as the battlefield will now extend further into the open world and likely result in competition for quest objectives. Tibia is also offering a new quest line for newbs. The comprehensive tutorial series leads new players through various gameplay tasks and offers a concise yet thorough introduction to one of the genre's longest-running titles.

Tibia summer update features new world quests, tutorial originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: New Zentia patch 1.3 screenshots and trailer

Matt Daniel — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play

Zentia fans get a special treat today, as ChangYou has given us a few goodies to help show off Zentia's upcoming patch 1.3. We have a handful of new screenshots as well as a short trailer to help whet your appetites for stylized martial-arts action.

What's new in Zentia version 1.3? For starters, character creation and selection have both received an overhaul and boast brand new designs to make the process even smoother. A new tutorial has been introduced to the game as well, letting new players get their bearings on the Immortal Plane. For long-time players, the patch introduces a new high-level epic questline that culminates in a battle with the demon lord, Demonor. Check the gallery for the new screenshots, and kung-fu kick your way past the cut for the trailer.

Gallery: Zentia Patch 1.3 Preview

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Massively Exclusive: New Zentia patch 1.3 screenshots and trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes' Intrepid Informer introduces new Freedom tutorial

Matt Daniel — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Previews, News items, Free-to-play

Paragon Studios has released a very special Intrepid Informer for City of Heroes players today, giving them a look into the new-player tutorial that will arrive with the advent of City of Heroes Freedom. In true superhero fashion, the new tutorial will incorporate a hand-drawn comic book by Paragon's own David "Noble Savage" Nakayama.

The game will open by dropping new players smack in the middle of Galaxy City as it falls under siege by Shivan invaders. The villains of the Rogue Isles -- opportunists that they are -- aim to take advantage of the chaos to cause mayhem while the heroes work to thwart the threats to the city. The full post details the process that went into creating this exciting new tutorial and also includes a sneak-preview of Nakayama's stylish comic work, which players will see prior to the tutorial proper. To read up on all the fine details of the game's new introduction, head on over to the official CoH site.

City of Heroes' Intrepid Informer introduces new Freedom tutorial originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: How welcoming should a game be?

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

In the old days, games started you out in a few tattered rags, and if you were very lucky, you had a weapon after character creation. The tutorial was "try not to die." You learned where things were by asking other players or blindly stumbling from place to place. In many ways, themepark games like RIFT can be seen as a direct counter to that playstyle, giving players a clear sense of purpose and a direction so reliable it can feel like handholding.

But there's another side to the discussion: the fact that how easy it is to figure things out at the start of a game contributes to how welcome you feel. There's a rush when you realize you're in a hostile world that won't hand you what you need to survive, but there's also a question of whether or not you want to carve out a niche in a world that doesn't seem to want you anyway. So how welcoming should a game be to new players? Should it be gently guiding at the risk of over-protectiveness, or should it throw you in the deep end and let you sink or swim?

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

The Daily Grind: How welcoming should a game be? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DAoC rolling out new website, allowing server transfers

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Dark Age of Camelot, Previews

As Dark Age of Camelot counts down to its 10th year anniversary in October, Stuart Zissu breaks out a few early presents by revealing four "big ticket items" in his latest producer's letter.

An upgraded new player experience is on its way for the game to help new and returning players get up to speed for epic RvR battles. Dubbed the "New User Journey," this extended tutorial will give pointers on everything from pets to crowd control.

The team's also hard at work on a new website for the game, which should be coming soon. Or "soon." The new website will operate in conjunction with the third big ticket item, which is a DAoC wiki. Zissu put out a call for players to help fill the wiki once it's up and running.

Finally, players on the Glamorgan cluster will be able to transfer to Ywain in the near future. You can read all of the nitty-gritty details of these items on the Camelot Herald.

DAoC rolling out new website, allowing server transfers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: Back to the future

Brandon Felczer — Thu, 19 May 2011 18:00:00 EST

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

Captain's Log, Stardate 64884.1...

Hello, computer (and players)! Guess what's back? That's right! Hailing frequencies are now reopened -- Captain's Log is no longer on hiatus. Over the past few weeks, there has been some great news released about the Star Trek Online universe: the winner of the Design the Next Enterprise Contest was announced, the May Ask Cryptic was released, the dev team revealed the 500-day veteran rewards, and the Featured Episode reruns began. While everyone has had his or her own opinions on these stories, there is one piece of news that everyone can agree on: the awesomesauceness of the latest Engineering Report.

As first announced earlier this week, Executive Producer Dan Stahl dropped his latest report, which describes the updates to the game coming in Season Four. As usual, aside from the imminent new content, Dan foreshadows the future for us. Captain's Log is no stranger to talking about the future of the game, so I am excited to share some more details about the upcoming updates with you. Since Season Four is right around the corner and I believe it will be the "game changing update this game has needed since launch," let's get on to this week's Log entry.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's talk about Season 4 and beyond...

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Captain's Log: Back to the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda fires up patch 1.41

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, Free-to-play, Global Agenda

Poor minor patches -- they're the little brothers of the development world. They have to wear second-hand clothes, they never get the respect of their older siblings, and they develop a deep-rooted insecurity complex that requires years of therapy to resolve. And yet -- they're still important!

So it is with Global Agenda's patch 1.41, which rolls out on the live servers today. According to the patch notes, the tutorial and introductory missions have received some additional work, and Steam users can use their Steam wallets to purchase in-game items from the Global Agenda store.

A couple of the bug fixes pertain to the recent Dome Defense raid, which recently went online. You can read the full patch notes over at Global Agenda, which is now free-to-play for anyone interested in some fast and furious hi-tech battles.

Global Agenda fires up patch 1.41 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CCP releases EVE Online planetary interaction video tutorial

Jef Reahard — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items

EVE Online's learning curve is somewhat notorious (if not downright legendary) and may even be part of the reason the game's hardcore fans are so hardcore. There is truly nothing like it in the MMO space (and not much in gaming period aside from Elite and the X series). Getting into the ebb and flow of New Eden is challenging even for seasoned video game vets, and that was before CCP added a new wrinkle in the form of planetary interaction.

Luckily, the Icelandic development firm is also producing some spiffy video tutorials to help capsuleers wrap their brains around everything from scanning to harvesting resources from planets. A new planetary interaction video covers the basics including required modules, skills, and the successful manipulation of the new interface additions, all of it presented with in-game footage and voiceover narration. Check it after the cut or via CCP's YouTube portal.

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CCP releases EVE Online planetary interaction video tutorial originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Breaking 'Dawn': Mortal Online announces expansion

Justin Olivetti — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Patches, PvP, Mortal Online

It's the dawn of a new era -- and considering all of the bloodshed that goes on in Mortal Online, you may even call this a... Red Dawn? Wolverines? OK, sorry, but we had to get past the obvious puns.

Mortal Online's been on the down-low ever since last year's launch, but that doesn't mean that the Star Vault devs were sipping piña coladas on a gore-soaked beach. On the contrary, as the team's been hard at work on a new expansion that was revealed in its full glory earlier this week: Mortal Online: Dawn.

Instead of focusing on a new continent or a higher level cap, Dawn's adding several quality-of-life features to the game. These include an updated mount system that will eventually let you breed your ideal stud or mare, a cooking profession for the gourmet chefs out there, health reserves, a mail system, and a new player tutorial.

Henrik Nyström was on hand for a forum interview about the expansion and the meaning behind the title: "Dawn feels like it's the 'beginning' of us being able to deliver content without struggling with the core mechanics due to the network solution. We can finally enjoy the development in full and start passing the benefits of that onto the community."

[Thanks to everyone who sent in this tip!]

Breaking 'Dawn': Mortal Online announces expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Tanks game modes and grouping discussed in fourth tutorial video

Jef Reahard — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Historical, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Tanks, Miscellaneous

Curious about the game modes in Wargaming.net's World of Tanks MMO? Look no further than the ongoing series of video tutorials detailing various aspects of the free-to-play title. The series covers everything from newbie acclimation, to fighting techniques, to progression systems, and today's fourth installment adds grouping and game modes to that list.

The default game mode in World of Tanks is called random battle mode, and just like the name suggests, it throws together random players on one of the game's extensive battle maps. Players can opt to join the fray solo, or form up into platoons or companies.

Platoons are groups of three players that function as a traditional "pre-made," and, depending on your skill and coordination, vastly improve your chances of walking away from the random battle mode on the winning side. Companies are groups of up to 15 tank drivers that enable a player to enter stand-alone battles against evenly matched companies for practice and profit. Forming platoons and companies requires a premium World of Tanks account, and you can learn more on the game's official site. Don't forget to watch the video after the cut!

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World of Tanks game modes and grouping discussed in fourth tutorial video originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snowballs piling up in Hell: Faxion Online enters its second closed beta test

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Patches, PvP, Free-to-play, Faxion Online

"Free to pray, free to prey, free to play," the tagline goes. While Faxion Online continues to milk all of the religious-themed puns the team can think of (and it's hard not to add your own!), this afterlife MMO continues to charge ahead with the second phase of its beta process.

UTV True Games announced that Faxion Online has entered its second closed beta test, which has been expanded to include new players and a number of improvements implemented after the first test. Faxion now has an improved starter tutorial that invites players to learn about heavenly living or hellish confluct, depending on the class chosen. Other improvements include class reballancing, new areas and teleportation stones that help warriors get to the conflicts even faster than before.

UTV's Frank Lucero credits the players for shaping the game's development: "The responses to the first closed beta have been incredible in helping us determine updates for this second phase."

You can check out this tongue-in-cheek PvP MMO by signing up for the beta test or by vicariously experiencing the spiritual planes in our Faxion Online first impressions.

Snowballs piling up in Hell: Faxion Online enters its second closed beta test originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Tanks progression detailed in third video tutorial

Jef Reahard — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Historical, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Tanks, Miscellaneous

The video tutorial series for World of Tanks is rolling right along, as Wargaming.net has just released the third installment of its ongoing series. The latest update is called Progress, and it's all about unlocking your tank's potential and acquiring bigger and badder equipment.

As each World of Tanks battle comes to a close, the game presents your personal achievements in the form of tanks destroyed, vehicles damaged, and vehicles spotted. These numbers are used to calculate your experience and credit gains, which in turn go toward researching modules and upgrading armor. All tanks have five basic module slots, which are accessed when you click research and select from a list of available upgrades. Advancement takes the form of progressing through research tiers and unlocking new tiers by participating in battles.

World of Tanks also features an experience curve for your NPC tank crew. Leveling your crew members up enhances their overall performance, and once they've reached 100% in their basic skills, the advanced skills of repair, firefighting, and camouflage become available. Click past the cut for more details courtesy of the new video.

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World of Tanks progression detailed in third video tutorial originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Tanks deploys its second video tutorial

Larry Everett — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Video, New titles, War, Free-to-play, World of Tanks, Miscellaneous

All right, listen here, soldier! You learned all about the garage in the first World of Tanks tutorial. Now it's time to get into the action. Wargaming.net just released its latest lesson about playing this unique MMO. There is a lot to learn, and although the controls may seem familiar at first there are a few twists that may throw you for a loop.

This is where the actual fighting starts. By the end of this second World of Tanks tutorial, you should have all the basics down on how to engage an enemy. The step-by-step instructions will teach you how to read the mini-map, target enemies at specific ranges, lock on targets for close ranged battles, and maneuvering your monstrous vehicle.

If you are into strategy and war gaming or if you just like to blow stuff up, check out the video after the break, then march on over to the official World of Tanks website to sign up for beta testing. Ten hut! Forward march!

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World of Tanks deploys its second video tutorial originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Tanks launches video tutorial series

Jef Reahard — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Historical, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Tanks, Miscellaneous

Are you a fresh-faced rookie looking to get a leg up on the competition in Wargaming.net's World of Tanks open beta? If so, you'll want to check out the game's newly launched video tutorials. The first entry in the ongoing series introduces the level system, upgrade options, crew training, and economic aspects of the armor-based action MMO, and it is aimed at newbs who might otherwise be unsure of how to proceed at the controls of a World War II-era tank.

"We saw a lot of new recruits joining World of Tanks with the open beta start. These new videos are designed to make their life a little bit easier and help them adapt quicker to the harsh reality of the armored world we are creating," said Wargaming.net producer Nick Katselapov.

World of Tanks features over 150 historically accurate armored vehicles from America, Germany, and the Soviet Union. The title boasts 15v15 PvP action, global clan wars, and a mixture of action, strategy, and simulation. Learn more about the game and the open beta at the official website, and be sure to watch the tutorial video after the jump.

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World of Tanks launches video tutorial series originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: My expedition

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Humor, First Impressions, The Game Archaeologist

Today I feel a little like Jake from The Blues Brothers, the Jake who, while on the defensive when confronted with his failings, comes up with a laundry list of excuses including earthquakes, flat tires, a lost tuxedo, a stolen car, floods and locusts: "It wasn't my fault, I swear to God!" Yup, Jake, I empathize.

After going through an excellent month of EverQuest on The Game Archaeologist here, I had every intention to marinate in old-fashioned EQ goodness for the very first time in my life. I set several evenings aside, put on my chainmail bikini and Viking hat, and told the computer to, I quote, "Bring it on."

Then the floods and locusts happened, in the form of a number of personal crises compounded by an unexpectedly difficult time just getting into the EverQuest Escape to Norrath unlimited trial. I don't know what's going on over at SOE, but the signup for this trial simply doesn't work. I followed the directions and downloaded the client, but the next screen (which contained the activation key) never appeared. It appears that I'm not alone dealing with this frustrating experience, but long story short, I eventually created a second account to just get the 14-day trial (instead of the unlimited one) to get in the game. By then I was down to just a mere two evenings of EverQuest trompings, which I knew would not be enough to satisfy the fans looking for an in-depth impressions of their favorite game.

So I have to throw myself on your mercy and tell you that I played it, but not nearly as much as I should've. That said, it definitely was an intriguing expedition from which I took away quite a few notes and during which I at least had the opportunity to get my feet wet. What is EverQuest like to an experienced MMO player who's coming to the game for the first time over a decade after it released? Hit the jump and let's see how far down this rabbit hole goes!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: My expedition

The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: My expedition originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE shows off DC Universe Online newbie video

Jef Reahard — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, DC Universe Online

For those of you who haven't run through DC Universe Online's tutorial instance 36,000 times by now, SOE has posted a new video to its Facebook page previewing a bit of the goings on aboard Brainiac's prison/invasion/newbie ship. The one-minute clip is full of furious fists, physics-based combat and flying containers -- and in a bit of a spoiler -- the Man of Steel himself shows up to lend newbs a helping hand.

Curiously, Superman's video voiceover isn't performed by Adam Baldwin, but other than that, the footage is exactly what you'll experience after you've fired up DCUO's character creator and taken your first steps into a larger world. Check it out after the cut and visit the game's official website for more details.

Continue reading SOE shows off DC Universe Online newbie video

SOE shows off DC Universe Online newbie video originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wurm Online adds new tutorial, hybrid F2P/P2P server

Jef Reahard — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Wurm Online, News items, Free-to-play, Virtual worlds

Wurm Online, the Java-based sandbox MMORPG from OneTwoFree AB, has undergone a bit of a Thanksgiving makeover. The game itself features a shiny new tutorial, while players now have access to the new Freedom server, a shard that integrates both paying customers and F2P types into a single space.

Wurm features two account types, basic and premium, both of which may be created for free at the game's official website. Basic accounts function as an extended trial and feature limits on characteristics and skills (20) as well as faith and fervor (30). Basic accounts also cannot access The Wilds PvP server. "We think that it is best for the game if new players can play with the more experienced ones to learn the game and see the possibilities, and we have been taking a lot of precautions in order for this to work," says CEO and designer Rolf Jannson.

Wurm Online adds new tutorial, hybrid F2P/P2P server originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zentia shows off pet and mount videos

Jef Reahard — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, News items, Free-to-play

Pay attention, MMO pet and mount fans. ChangYou.com has some new videos focusing on Zentia's furry (and scaly) companions that you might want to check out.

Over the course of the two-part video series, producer David Markowitz discusses everything from how to obtain your first pet, to basics about the interface, to the care and feeding of your pets and mounts. You can even use your pet as an automatic route to your destination in the game world, and the vids will show you how. You'll also learn about pet storage slots, battle vs. travel mounts, and pet upgrade items. Oh, and over half of the creatures you see in the Zentia game world can be captured and trained as pets or mounts, offering a ton of visual variety.

All in all, the videos are pretty invaluable for both Zentia and MMO pet fans. Check them out after the break or on the official forums.

Continue reading Zentia shows off pet and mount videos

Zentia shows off pet and mount videos originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Do-over! Do-over!

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, The Road to Mordor, Family

This past week I took a break from kowtowing to the haughty elves of Lothlórien and their super-secret elf club to start up a couple alts. It was ultimately a good decision, as I ended up both digging my new lore-master and getting to sample first-hand the many changes that Turbine made to the new player experience.

In mega-patches like this recent one, revamping the starter experience tends to be overlooked by all. Unless they're itching to roll an alt -- like I am -- current players won't be on hand to witness the changes, and completely new players to the game lack the knowledge of how it used to be in order to appreciate how it's been improved. But unsung improvements or no, Turbine's done an excellent job of smoothing out an already-engaging lowbie journey with a startling number of tweaks. I certainly didn't expect there to be so many, but since I have done the 1-20 run umpteen times in the past few years, it felt like a breath of fresh air to me.

So what's all sparkly and different? Is the road to Mordor paved with good decisions (see what I did there)? Reroll a baby-faced adventurer with me and hit the jump!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Do-over! Do-over!

The Road to Mordor: Do-over! Do-over! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wasteland Diaries: New paint job

Edward Marshall — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fallen Earth, Events, in-game, Patches, PvP, MMOFPS, Wasteland Diaries, Post-Apocalyptic

The Fallen Earth 1.6 patch is a couple days old now, and I've had a chance to check out some of its features. I've painted more vehicles than Earl Scheib this week. I was able to test the respec injectors on the Public Test Server (PTS). I haven't tried them on the live server yet, but I have a few misallocated points that aren't serving much of a purpose. I was able to run through the new, extended tutorial with a brand-new clone. And the Fallen Earth team has given us the ability to flag ourselves for PvP anywhere, anytime. This should prove interesting.

If you have been waiting on the sidelines for the next patch or are wondering what new things are in store for us, I will give you a breakdown of the new stuff I have been able to check out myself after the cut. The patch is only a few days old, but I have been trying to experience the new features to the fullest in that short time.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: New paint job

Wasteland Diaries: New paint job originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New screenshots reveal Vindictus' Prologue

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Screenshots, Free-to-play, Vindictus

We got an up close and personal look at upcoming MMO Vindictus last month, so we've got some great gameplay information, but what about the story behind all of this?

Nexon has released a handful of new screenshots detailing the backstory of Vindictus, for a look at what you'll find upon logging in for the first time. The game's tutorial -- or Prologue as it's called by the game -- tells the story of Tieve, the oracle and protector of the town of Colhen. Tieve has a familiar in the form of a giant spider, and all has been well until now.

The spider has begun attacking the citizens of Colhen, and it's up to you to keep the town (and Tieve) safe and find out what's going on. The Prologue teaches the backstory and game mechanics at the same time, introducing the game on both levels.

Check out the gallery for the newest look at Vindictus.

Gallery: Vindictus Gallery

New screenshots reveal Vindictus' Prologue originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose my Adventure: The force is strong in this one

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Star Wars Galaxies, Massively Meta, Hands-on, Choose My Adventure

Join me as I brave my way through lands unknown in an adventure dictated entirely by you, the Massively readers! Vote for everything from game played to character creation to ultimate goal and watch it unfold in a series of posts and galleries here on the site. Then, as our two months are up, we'll do it all over again in a new game!

Last week, our readers voted on various different things that would shape the course of my adventure in Star Wars Galaxies. At the close of the polls, the winning combination turned out to be a male Twi'lek on Starsider. In terms of profession, we had a tie between Jedi and bounty hunter at the close of the poll with 310 votes each, which made it a bit of a toss-up. (Note: there's a bug, thus the additional votes.) Dutifully, I rolled one of each and played them for a few levels, but in the end, decided on Jedi between the two as I'm much more used to melee-based characters when it comes to my previous MMO experience and tastes.

Mind you, I also realize that in the time period that Star Wars Galaxies is set in, there's really only supposed to be one Jedi running around (depending on whether or not Yoda and Obi-Wan have shuffled off their mortal coils as yet) and a handful of force-latent folks scattered out. But let's face it -- who hasn't watched the movies and wanted to be a lightsaber-wielding Jedi or Sith? I freely admit I was that dorky kid waving around a wrapping paper tube and making lightsaber noises. I still do it on occasion: only I have an iPhone lightsaber now.

Anyway, enough with my reminiscing on where I was when Episodes 4, 5, and 6 came out, let's get on with the advenure!

Continue reading Choose my Adventure: The force is strong in this one

Choose my Adventure: The force is strong in this one originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runes of Magic adds tutorial videos and in-game partnerships

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST

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

When you jump into a new MMO, there's always a lot to learn. That is even more true of a game that's been around for a bit. It feels like everyone's miles ahead of you and there isn't anyone left to walk you through the basics.

Runes of Magic is addressing that issue with the addition of tutorial videos with the goal of making a more enjoyable game for new players. The first tutorial video covers a feature that is new to everyone: the pet system. Frogster's Stephen Peak narrated this almost-seven-minute video and walked players through the process from beginning to end.

The RoM crew didn't stop there, though. They've also added in-game partnerships of various types: romantic, family, and friendships. Entering into one of these partnerships will qualify you for special in-game bonuses.

Follow after the jump to see the video for yourself, and keep an eye on the Runes of Magic site for more details on partnerships.

Continue reading Runes of Magic adds tutorial videos and in-game partnerships

Runes of Magic adds tutorial videos and in-game partnerships originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part one)

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Interviews, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor

It just may be the dream of every MMO geek to command the attention of his or her favorite dev team, bombard them with questions, and be shown secrets previously kept behind closed doors. Well, my friends, today that dream came true for this geek, as Turbine graciously sat down with Massively for over two hours to conduct an all-access tour to the fall's hot new LotRO content -- including the details behind the controversial and anticipated F2P switch. Aaron Campbell (Producer), Allan Maki (Senior Designer), Elliot Gilman (Senior Designer), Brian Aloisio (Designer), Joseph Barry (Designer) and Jonathan Rudder (Lore Guru) were on hand to fly me through the new content -- and reveal a few big surprises.

To say that I had questions is an understatement; I fear that I sounded a bit like a six-year-old who peppers parents with unending "Why?" queries. Expecting to hear "no comment" a lot (after all, this content is in beta), I was surprised when the Turbine team enthusiastically answered all of my questions and then some. This is a team who know this F2P move is bringing some apprehension and concern, and they're trying to assuage that with as much information as possible.

So join me as we go through the first part of this tour, looking at an enhanced new-player experience, instance scaling and the addition of Enedwaith to Turbine's Middle-earth.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part one)

The Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part one) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: The game doesn't really start until...

Brendan Drain — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, PvP, Endgame, Opinion, EVE Evolved

While reading the latest Anti-Aliased, Seraphina Brennan's weekly opinion column here at Massively, I couldn't help but apply what she was talking about to EVE Online. Sera's opinion piece was centred on the idea that games should be fun right from the start. If there's a period of boredom or grind before you get to the fun parts of a game, the developers are doing something wrong. While this is most often attributed to theme-park MMOs, with their rush to endgame before the game really opens up, I can't help but think EVE falls into the same trap.

Despite its open-world sandbox nature with no forced progression or crafted endgame, I catch myself saying "EVE doesn't really start until ..." all the time. Most often I'm talking about how EVE's core gameplay really begins with PvP, and how motivationally essential it is to join a good player-run corporation. I've always found EVE's social structures and PvP to be its two most powerful components. Over the years, I've watched players who get involved in them stick with the game for years, while others who don't quickly become bored. I find myself wondering whether anything can be done to bring those parts of the game to new players right from the start.

In this opinion piece, I look at the idea that EVE doesn't really kick off for players until they get into PvP or join a good corporation. I go on to suggest a few changes to the new-player experience that might help bring these elusive endgames to new players.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The game doesn't really start until...

EVE Evolved: The game doesn't really start until... originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Do a little dance

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Age of Conan, One Shots

Sometimes, a little time and distance from an MMO can completely change our opinion of a game. This appears to be especially true of our readers when it comes to Age of Conan. While many may not have cared for the game at launch, the polish and care that the Funcom team have put into the game since then is often remarked on by our readers. That's why we're not surprised to see a screenshot from the tutorial like this one from Mark. As his note is a bit long, we'll simply say if you'd like to join the fun, email your images to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a note about it. Now, here's what Mark had to say:

"I had just loaded up Rise of the Godslayer and could not resist levelling a new Khitai character. While getting back into the flow of the game after nearly one year away, I started playing with the emotes to see what the new race had to offer fluff-wise. She seems to be having a good time dancing with her undead minions. Personally I think Jintana could give Lady Gaga a run for her money!"

"I had forgotten how beautiful and rich the world was in Age of Conan. I am so glad I came back to the game after suffering from general MMO burnout. Even with loading screens now and then, it is for me the most immersive MMO I have ever played. Sometimes I can practically smell the sea air and the fires burning."

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: Do a little dance originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turbine bears proof of fan-power in LotRO

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online

"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!]

Turbine 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.

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A sneak peek at Fallen Earth's newest weapon

Kyle Horner — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, Fallen Earth, News items

Do you like getting sneak peeks at new weapons in Fallen Earth? We hope so, because we've got one for you today in the form of the Slug Thrower, a new gun coming to the game tomorrow.

No, it's not what you think. Sadly.

However, it is replacing the previous starting weapon for new players. Before, you were given a slow-firing crossbow. Now? You get the Slug Thrower, a faster rifle-type firearm that uses the zip gun ammo, shared by pistols as well. As the type of players who enjoy getting fancy weapons early on in our character's life, this is a change we can fully support. Now, if only they'd make a gun that actually shot gastropod molluscs.

A sneak peek at Fallen Earth's newest weapon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso debuts their new mission system with a bang

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Planet Calypso

A literal bang, actually. Not only has Planet Calypso updated to version 2010|01 (their new system uses the year and update number, rather than version number) but they've also had a small volcanic eruption that's changed part of the map. Blizzard, eat your cataclysmic heart out.

While the newly re-terraformed area of Cyclops has been visually improved by the team and patched in under the 'guise of a volcanic explosion, the version update also brings the anticipated mission system to Calypso.

The mission system, which is in a public beta, more or less, is only currently offering 5 tutorial missions to newbies landing on Calypso for the first time. Once you complete those five missions, be sure to offer your feedback in the survey that pops up at the end. That information will be used to make more missions for higher level players, so don't be stingy!

Also, there's fish. Remember those fish we showed last time? Yeah, those fish. If you value your ankles, you'll watch where you swim.

Planet Calypso debuts their new mission system with a bang originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The problem with 'exciting' starting zones

Kyle Horner — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Opinion

We love it when game designers make an observation that sometimes escapes us, like Dusty Monk's insightful post about the issue surrounding starting zones -- specifically in Cryptic Studio's last three games. His problem stems from the way in which the developer is responding to gamers' demands of a starting zone experience that doesn't involve a newly minted character thwacking sickly rabbits with a twig. It's an old -- almost passe -- gripe that was well founded back in the first half of the 00's.

As many of you no doubt know, City of Villains, Champions Online and Star Trek Online tutorials all begin by inundating the character with chaotic immediacy, and information. Dusty's problem is the combination of these two elements. He posits that any sense of urgency is killed immediately upon the opening of a substantially novella-like text window. On the flip side of that problem, he contends that it's tough to learn a new system(s) while a Hollywoood blockbuster is taking place around you.

And like any good person with an opinion, he's got a solution for the problem, too.

Continue reading The problem with 'exciting' starting zones

The problem with 'exciting' starting zones originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phasers set to fun, sit back and bust out the popcorn

Kyle Horner — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, New titles, News items, Star Trek Online, Humor

Got a couple hours to burn? Love Star Trek and subsequently find yourself enjoying Star Trek Online? Well, we've got a couple videos you may want to watch, for entertainment purposes as opposed to tips related purposes. Giant Bomb has two -- although the "parts" aspects suggests further entries -- videos of a few guys sitting around playing Cryptic's upcoming Trek MMO and, well, basically being silly dorks. They start at character creation and hit the ground running, all while providing the kind of commentary that quite possibly could make you want to have on headphones if you're on a lunch break at work.

It's fun stuff, and if you've got some time to kill the videos will most certainly help make time fly by more quickly. You can find the two videos embedded after the break.

Continue reading Phasers set to fun, sit back and bust out the popcorn

Phasers set to fun, sit back and bust out the popcorn originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Masthead Studios addresses player questions about Earthrise

James Egan — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, New titles, Earthrise

Ah Earthrise, you keep dropping tiny breadcrumbs of game info for us each week. We hoard these little morsels and keep them in a jar, slowly trying to piece it all together. This week is no different and Earthrise developers Masthead Studios addressed questions from the playerbase on a few different topics.

The main thing they discussed is how the game's tutorial will allow players to experiment with skills. In RP-terms, players in the tutorial will make use of "mnemonic adaptation kits" which imprint memories. The Masthead devs state, "Simply put, it lets you test drive certain skills - such as using weapons, crafting, etc. - before you dedicate yourself to development of those skills." Those kits, however, can't be used outside of the cloning facility and won't make their way into the game beyond the tutorial zone.

Continue reading Masthead Studios addresses player questions about Earthrise

Masthead Studios addresses player questions about Earthrise originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finding your place in Fallen Earth

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Game mechanics, Guides, Crafting, Opinion

Back just before the holidays, Fallen Earth joined the ranks of many other games on the market in offering a free trial. That's all well and good, but that leaves one to face the slight problem the game has. Once the tutorial is over, you get rather unceremoniously dropped off with a line pointing you toward... well, nothing. Like any true post-apocalyptic survivor, you have the clothes on your back, a couple of weapons, and no real goal handed to you beyond "don't get killed."

While Andy Breckman's advice is certainly a good overall goal, something specific is better. That's why Bio Break has recently compiled a list of tips on finding your place once you get done with your tutorial. The condensed version is simple enough: scavenge everything you can, because it can all be used to craft something, and buy nothing unless you absolutely have to do so. It's also recommended that you avoid spending any of your character's AP early on, instead saving it until you have a clearer picture of what you want to do. The list also includes some links to fansites that can provide excellent data for a first-time player, so if you're diving into the tutorial, it's a handy resource.

Finding your place in Fallen Earth originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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