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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic launches update 1.4 and takes aim at faster patches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-update-1-4-and-takes-aim-at/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-update-1-4-and-takes-aim-at/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-update-1-4-and-takes-aim-at/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hey, dude. Oh, we're just chilling, fighting alien horrors, you know. What's new with you?
The fourth major update for Star Wars: The Old Republic is live right now, but some players may find patch 1.4 a bit lighter than previous updates. According to a new development blog, this isn't by accident but by design. Creative director James Ohlen explains that the development team's previous strategy of launching a single big update every few months did result in big patches but at the cost of long stretches without anything new for players.

Starting with 1.4 and moving onward, the team is moving to prioritize more frequent updates. Ohlen places a rough estimate of every six weeks but notes that it's only an estimate and a target rather than a firm schedule. He goes on to state that the team is planning on three more patches by the end of the year in addition to the free-to-play conversion, with more large-scale improvements and updates due in 2013. If you're mostly just interested in cutting through 1.4's new raid mode, of course, most of this is immaterial, but you can still check out the trailer for the patch just after the break.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic launches update 1.4 and takes aim at faster patches

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic launches update 1.4 and takes aim at faster patches originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredevelopmentdevelopment-blogeaelectronic-artsjames-ohlenlucasartspatch-launchschedulesci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorswtor-patch-1.4the-old-republictortrailertrailersupdate-schedulevideovideosWed, 26 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Troy Online reveals update schedule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/troy-online-reveals-update-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/troy-online-reveals-update-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/troy-online-reveals-update-schedule/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Troy Online
ALT1Games' Troy Online has been running steadily for just over a month now, and not long ago the devs dropped the news of a large-scale update coming to the game. A tentative schedule for this update was announced in a press release today, with portions of the update being carried out over the span of the next couple of weeks.

The update of the week of September 22nd focused on fixing balance issues, while a new battlefield will be introduced on the 29th. October 6th will see convenience-centric updates, and October 13th's update will round things out with updates concerning the new battlefield system. For more details on these upcoming additions to the game, head on over to Troy Online's official site.

[Source: ALT1Games press release]

MassivelyTroy Online reveals update schedule originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt1gamesdevelopment-schedulef2pfree-to-playpatch-scheduleroadmaptroy-onlineupdateupdate-scheduleTue, 27 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic is keeping a close eye on World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-keeping-a-close-eye-on-world-of-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-keeping-a-close-eye-on-world-of-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-keeping-a-close-eye-on-world-of-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aside from the guns, it almost looks like a telescope. If you squint a bunch.
From the interface to the design, many people have commented that there's a certain degree of similarity between Star Wars: The Old Republic and World of Warcraft. So it probably comes as no real surprise to learn that Electronic Arts is studying WoW when it comes to SWtOR's upcoming launch -- but not in the way you might think. The company isn't concerned as much with the mechanical side of the equation, but with the question of what happens post-launch and how to increase player retention.

This might not seem like terribly relevant information, but a lot of attention is being paid to the game's content release schedule, the speed at which experienced players will go through new content, and the game's post-launch foci. It also extends to an emphasis on smooth networking code to ensure that players can log in and experience the game quickly rather than having to fight off latency. It's no secret that WoW is influencing other games, but SWtOR seems to be designed with an eye toward more than just gameplay.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic is keeping a close eye on World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbiowarebioware-austinblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcontent-updatesea-biowarelaunchmmo-industrynewspost-launchstar-wars-the-old-republicstudyingswtorupdate-schedulewatchingworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 07 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: One-point-four]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-one-point-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-one-point-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-one-point-four/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last week, Karen provided an excellent analysis on Trion Worlds' broad, eight-page State of the Game address as the company outlined its plans for the game's long-term future. This week, we're still going to cast our eyes to the present. As we wrap up the final phase of RIFT's Waves of Madness (how much fun is water bladder throwing, huh?) and raid guilds bang their way through Hammerknell, it's the time to revel in a brand-new content update: patch 1.4.

Yes, another patch. I think people are still in disbelief that Trion is able to pump out updates as rapidly as it has, and the current naysayer theory is that the company is merely polishing up content it wanted to get for launch but had to hold back for whatever reason. There's probably a kernel of truth to that, but it doesn't hold up from what we know. We know that Trion has parallel teams -- up to six of them -- working on live development, which includes world events and content updates. We know that some of the features we've seen in previous patches were a direct result of post-launch player feedback, so it can't all be capping off unfinished projects.

Say what you will, but from where I'm standing, Trion's putting its actions where its mouth is by continuing a hot-and-heavy updating streak without showing any signs of slowing down. It's smart, too; by providing faster updates than most MMOs on the market and giving players incentive to stay, return, and try the game for the first time, Trion's firming up its position as an MMO that's here to stay -- not one that's going to fold up shop when future titles hit.

So let's take a peek through the highlights of patch 1.4 as I offer my award-winning commentary on each of the points!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: One-point-four

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: One-point-four originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4chronicles-of-telaracommentarycrocnard-mountcross-server-lfgdrowned-hallsdungeon-runepic-quest-lineepic-storylinefeaturedintroductory-raidlegacy-of-the-fallenlfglooking-for-grouppatchpatch-1.4pugpvppvp-riftpvp-riftsraidriftstate-of-the-gamethe-drowned-hallsthe-water-sagatriontrion-worldsupdateupdate-schedulewarfrontwarfrontswater-sagawaves-of-madnessworld-pvpWed, 03 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Shut a game down or let it waste away?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/09/the-daily-grind-shut-a-game-down-or-let-it-waste-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/09/the-daily-grind-shut-a-game-down-or-let-it-waste-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/09/the-daily-grind-shut-a-game-down-or-let-it-waste-away/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's not exactly a good time to be a player of Vanguard. Actually, it hasn't been a good time for more than a year now -- while the game isn't shutting down, the December letter that essentially announced the game's development was no longer ongoing was a serious blow to the game's vitality. What's in the game now may very well be all that will ever be in the game. Of course, you can argue that the players are still better off than members of The Matrix Online's community, since that game went completely offline.

But is that really better? Many Vanguard fans almost wanted the game to turn off when SOE made the first announcement, and perhaps in some ways it's better to shut down with grace than waste away on progressively slower and smaller updates. Which would you rather face in your favorite game? A slow fading into the darkness, where the game is still online but less vibrant with each day? Or a cancellation that removes the game forever, cutting you off from an old friend but granting closure?

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: Shut a game down or let it waste away? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-patchesexpansionsgame-mechanicsopinionpatchesshutdowntdgthe-daily-grindthe-matrix-onlinetmoupdate-scheduleupdatesvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgSat, 09 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST