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[Tattered Notebook: It's the little things that count in EQII updates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/tattered-notebook-its-the-little-things-that-count-in-eqii-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/tattered-notebook-its-the-little-things-that-count-in-eqii-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/tattered-notebook-its-the-little-things-that-count-in-eqii-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Tattered Notebook It's the little things that count a look at EQII updates
It's like they know me! You'd think with all the bag functionalities that SOE has introduced to EverQuest II this year that the devs have watched my livestreams and taken pity on me and my storage predicament. And it didn't stop with just one new addition; even after one set of sorting capabilities was released, another set came along. With all these new organizational tools, there is a chance even I might actually find something in my oft-overstuffed bags. (Clean bags, however, is another matter entirely and not likely to be resolved!)

Now bag sorting in and of itself really doesn't sound like a big deal, the kind complete with flashing lights and a ticker-tape parade. It's not. In fact, it's pretty much a little thing... well, except for micro-managers and packrats, of course. So why in heavens would I be spending time talking about piddly updates in EQII when such an expansive one recently released? Because getting the little things (and getting them with regularity) is big. The subject of minor updates warrants just as much attention as a named one like Scars of the Awakened, both for what the updates are and for what they portend. And those updates bode well for everyone.

Continue reading Tattered Notebook: It's the little things that count in EQII updates

MassivelyTattered Notebook: It's the little things that count in EQII updates originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everyone dresses like Thana, all the time. News at 11.
The downside of picking up some special items and drops in Star Wars: The Old Republic is that a lot of them are limited. Sure, you might be able to buy Revan's Mask, but you have to decide which of your characters will get to wear it. But that's changing in patch 2.1. A recent interview sheds more light on the upcoming Collections system, which will allow you to unlock items you have obtained on one character for repeated access.

Once you've obtained an item on a character, that item will be marked in your collection, allowing you to recreate that item for that character. Pay a few Cartel Coins and that item unlocks for every character in your account, including characters on other servers. The system will include mounts, armors, and pets, with more room for special promotions and the like in the future. So now you don't have to worry about who gets the special mount -- everyone can get the benefit.

MassivelyCollect all the things in Star Wars: The Old Republic's 2.1 patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-unlocksbenefitsbiowarecollectionseaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicslucasartsperkssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-patch-2.1the-old-republictorunlocksupdatesMon, 06 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrating Guild Wars' 8th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/celebrating-guild-wars-8th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/celebrating-guild-wars-8th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/celebrating-guild-wars-8th-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars
Today is Guild Wars' eighth anniversary. Depending on which tradition you follow, I should be getting the game either bronze, salt, linens, or lace as a gift. Since I don't happen to have any of those handy, I'd like to reflect upon the rich life that Guild Wars has led so far. The game didn't start out with all of the neato features that it has now, so I'd like to look a bit at its evolution over time. I can't hit every update ever, but I thought we'd take a stroll down memory lane and look at some of the key moments in the game's life.

Continue reading Celebrating Guild Wars' 8th anniversary

MassivelyCelebrating Guild Wars' 8th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetanniversaryarenanetbuy-to-playembark-beacheye-of-the-northfactionsfantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicsguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-factionsguild-wars-nightfallguild-wars-propheciesgwgw1gw2hard-modehistoryncsoftnightfallopinionpatchpatchespropheciessorrows-furnaceupdateupdateszaishenzaishen-challengeSun, 28 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Pushing back on Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/the-mog-log-pushing-back-on-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/the-mog-log-pushing-back-on-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/the-mog-log-pushing-back-on-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Push the tempo up.
Among the things I'm reluctant to talk about early when it comes to Final Fantasy XIV are the live letters from Naoki Yoshida. There's always a thread rapidly updating players on what is said during those letters, but that thread is filled with quick translations that may or may not be accurate, and I'd prefer not to analyze and speculate on information that may have been misconstrued. The man speaks in dense blocks of information.

To my surprise, this week we got the full translation of the latest live letter, and something that struck me was how much of the game we're still being told is just over the horizon. This is not to say that I don't believe in Yoshi-P; Final Fantasy XIV 1.0 showed that if he promises something, it will be delivered. But there are a lot of things being held back for later, and honestly it's a little disconcerting for someone waiting eagerly for the game to come out.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Pushing back on Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Pushing back on Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivlive-lettermog-lognaoki-yoshidaopinionrelaunchsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logupcoming-featuresupdatesSat, 20 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the fastest you've hit the level cap after a raise?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/the-daily-grind-whats-the-fastest-youve-hit-the-level-cap-aft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/the-daily-grind-whats-the-fastest-youve-hit-the-level-cap-aft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/the-daily-grind-whats-the-fastest-youve-hit-the-level-cap-aft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Unfortunately, I did not get to slap these guns on my ship. More's the pity.
I hadn't really been trying to hit the level cap in Star Wars: The Old Republic after the expansion launched. I wanted to, certainly, but I figured it would happen when it happened. Turns out that it happened very shortly after the expansion launched, thanks to a combination of early access and a whole lot of play for first impressions. As it stands, I'm pretty sure it's the fastest turnaround I've had for hitting the cap after it's been raised.

Everyone's racing to the cap when a game first launches, but when the cap is raised it's a different ball game. You know how to play the game, you've got resources on your character, and you are often in pretty good equipment to start off. So what's the fastest you've ever hit the level cap after it's been raised? A week? Four days? A few hours after the patch has gone live?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the fastest you've hit the level cap after a raise? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capsdaily-grindexpansionslevel-caplevel-cap-raiselevel-uplevelingopinionpatchestdgthe-daily-grindupdatesTue, 16 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2's March update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-march-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-march-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-march-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Flameseeker Chronicles Guild Wars 2's March update
It's patch day! Today marks the arrival of the long-awaited World vs. World patch for Guild Wars 2. There are, of course, many other things being bundled into this month's big update, but WvW might be stealing the show a bit.

Of course, WvW updates probably mean hideously long waiting times as folks hop in to check out the new shinies, so how about you go ahead and queue up for whichever Battleground you prefer, and we'll talk about the details of this patch while you wait.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2's March update

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2's March update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbountybuy-to-playcullingfantasyfeaturedflame-and-frostflame-and-frost-the-razingflameseeker-chroniclesguildguild-missionsguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2march-patchncsoftopinionpatchthe-razingupdateupdatesworld-rankworld-vs-worldworld-xpwvwwxpTue, 26 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos Theory: Hoppin' TSW's train to Cairo]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/chaos-theory-hoppin-tsws-train-to-cairo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/chaos-theory-hoppin-tsws-train-to-cairo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/chaos-theory-hoppin-tsws-train-to-cairo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Chaos Theory Hoppin' that train to Cairo in TSW
It doesn't matter one iota what I had planned to talk about today, regardless of how phenomenal it may have been. The fact that The Last Train to Cairo has pulled into the station means I'm hopping on it! Yes, The Secret World's latest update hit this week with barely a day's warning and (thanks to my lifetime membership), I've been sinking my teeth into it since last Thursday.

However, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that I have not boarded the actual train part of the adventure. I had no interest in blowing through the new content in just a couple of days; I prefer to savor the new goodies. But I have delved pretty deeply into it and have a experienced a fair share of Issue #6. So how's the ride so far? Keep reading for a test drive, then come watch as Creative Director Joel Bylos joins me for a livestream tour on Thursday, March 21st at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Massively TV.

Continue reading Chaos Theory: Hoppin' TSW's train to Cairo

MassivelyChaos Theory: Hoppin' TSW's train to Cairo originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-faction3-factionsbugsbuy-to-playchaos-theoryconspiracyconspiracy-thriillerdark-days-are-comingdragonfactionfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedfuncomhand-to-handhand-to-hand-combathintshorrorilluminatiIssue-6Issue-6-The-Last-Train-to-Cairomythologynew-contentopinionpatchsabotage-missionssci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-chaos-theoryskill-basedsubscriptionlesstemplarsThe-Last-Train-to-Cairothe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-chaos-theorythree-factionthree-faction-pvpthree-factionstswtsw-chaos-theorytsw-dragonupdatesMon, 18 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vindictus introduces PvP changes, new clothing, and the deadly Cross Gun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/vindictus-introduces-pvp-changes-new-clothing-and-the-deadly-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/vindictus-introduces-pvp-changes-new-clothing-and-the-deadly-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/vindictus-introduces-pvp-changes-new-clothing-and-the-deadly-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Vindictus introduces PvP changes, new clothing, and the deadly Cross Gun
You know what sucks about crossbows? They're so slow. Sure, they make a nice thrum as you fire off a bolt at whoever is about to die a pointy death, but then there's the whole reloading process and it's really just not quite action-combaty enough, is it? Vindictus is sorting this appalling deficiency by introducing the Cross Gun, a rapid fire ranged weapon available to folks playing as Kai.

While that is impressive in its own right, the Cross Gun is not all that's coming to the game this month. Nexon America has plans for new open PvP death matches, custom clothing options, and a number of in-game events throughout March. The new PvP mode will be open to players regardless of their guild membership. One of the inbound clothing options is a St. Patrick's Day outfit, for those of you who want to look a little luckier whilst slaughterfying your opponents.

Skip below the cut for a video teasing the March updates.

[Source: Nexon America press release.]

Continue reading Vindictus introduces PvP changes, new clothing, and the deadly Cross Gun

MassivelyVindictus introduces PvP changes, new clothing, and the deadly Cross Gun originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmocross-bowf2pfantasyfree-to-playnexonnexon-americanexon-entertainmentpvpst-patricks-dayupdateupdatesvideovideosvindictusFri, 15 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR panel at SXSW touches on Hutt expansion and other updates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/swtor-panel-at-sxsw-touches-on-hutt-expansion-and-other-updates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/swtor-panel-at-sxsw-touches-on-hutt-expansion-and-other-updates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/swtor-panel-at-sxsw-touches-on-hutt-expansion-and-other-updates/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

SWTOR panel at SXSW touches on Hutt expansion and other updates
If you weren't able to make it to Austin to catch the Star Wars: The Old Republic panel at the SXSW Interactive Gaming Expo this past weekend, we've got you covered; here's a video of a good chunk of it so you don't have to miss out. Of course, we also understand that some of you might be pressed for time due to things like, oh, maybe work, so you can't kick back and watch it all at once right now. For those, we've got a synopsis of the highlights to tide you over.

The devs opened with a few words about the upcoming Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion. Sadly, no date announced, but they did mention the bonus items coming with each pre-order. Folks who spring for the expansion early (which is $10 cheaper for subscribers) will get a holostatue, a pet, and an exclusive title. The devs also emphasized the new content coming with the expansion, including gear, abilities, and two storylines on the new planet -- one for the Republic and one for the Empire.

During the audience Q&A session, the devs also revealed that the cartel market update expected today will offer a cartel pack with almost entirely new items instead of repeats. All of the items can also be sold via auction. There are more tidbits to be had in this video, so pull up a chair and watch the final 22 minutes of the panel after the break.

[Thanks to Jose for the tip!]

Continue reading SWTOR panel at SXSW touches on Hutt expansion and other updates

MassivelySWTOR panel at SXSW touches on Hutt expansion and other updates originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecartel-marketconventioneaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfree-to-playlucasartspatchpreorder-bonuspreorder-bonusespreorerrise-of-the-hutt-cartelsci-fisouth-by-southweststar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorSXSWSXSW-2013the-old-republictorupdatesvideoTue, 12 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Allods Online dev blog details the Dominion Wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/allods-online-dev-blog-details-the-dominion-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/allods-online-dev-blog-details-the-dominion-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/allods-online-dev-blog-details-the-dominion-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Allods Online
For some time now, gPotato has been detailing the features of Allods Online's upcoming content update, Lords of Destiny. Today, the final Lords of Destiny devblog discusses one last major feature: the Dominion Wars. The Dominion Wars are described as "battles that will allow guilds to become true leaders of the Astral and gain precious resources, and from them players can gain glyphs that will enhance their equipment even further.

In order to join in the battle, players must be level 55 and have the necessary keys for access to the Dominion Wars. Each skirmish in the Dominion Wars consists of two rounds, each lasting 10 minutes. In the first round, one team will play on defense and the other on offense with the roles being reversed in the second round. Attacking players will be tasked with capturing enemy checkpoints, and each checkpoint captured will increase the time of the round by two minutes (though the second round can be no longer than the first). At the end of both rounds, whichever team captured the most checkpoints is declared the victor. For the full details on this complex new system, check out the entire post at the Allods official site.

MassivelyAllods Online dev blog details the Dominion Wars originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allodsallods-onlineastrum-nivaldev-blogdev-blogsdev-diariesdev-diaryf2pfantasyfree-to-playgala-netgpotatolords-of-destinymail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamespatchpatchesthe-dominion-warsupdateupdatesFri, 08 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mechwarrior Online has big plans for March]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/mwo-has-big-plans-for-march/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/mwo-has-big-plans-for-march/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/mwo-has-big-plans-for-march/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

MWO has big plans for March
March is upon us! March has actually been upon us for a handful of days, but those days were lame. Now is the time of awesome days, and those days will be full of updates and new features for MechWarrior Online. Creative Director Bryan Ekman has laid out the team's plan for the coming month.

Training grounds, an offline game mode that loads a player into a random map with eight enemy targets to test out their current 'Mech, will be made available. This game mode is "just the beginning" of an incoming wealth of training options. Consumables will extend the module system and will be available for C-Bill and MC purchase. A host of UI, user controls, and statistics-tracking improvements are coming in, as is Tourmaline Desert, MWO's largest map to date.

The ability to acquire fuzzy dice for one's cockpit has been hinted at. You know what to do, soldiers.

MassivelyMechwarrior Online has big plans for March originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bryan-ekmandev-diaryf2pfree-to-playmarchmechmechsmechwarriormechwarrior-mmomechwarrior-onlinemwopiranhapiranha-gamessci-fiupdateupdatesMon, 04 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tomorrow's EverQuest II update brings three new raids, guild achievements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/tomorrows-everquest-ii-update-brings-three-new-raids-guild-ach/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/tomorrows-everquest-ii-update-brings-three-new-raids-guild-ach/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/tomorrows-everquest-ii-update-brings-three-new-raids-guild-ach/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- EverQuest II's guild achievements
The folks behind EverQuest II took to Twitter today to reveal more details about tomorrow's big update. Raiders had better polish their gear because the update will be bringing three new raids to the table. Two X2 raids will take place in Wurmbone's End and are referred to collectively as Nox Incessit, and one is tuned to be on the easier end of the scale whereas the other is intended to be a real challenge. An X4 raid will take place on the Dreadcutter and the devs stress that it is a hard mode raid in which "the final boss is designed to be the most difficult encounter in [the] game!"

Guilds will also have a lot to work toward, as the update is adding over 150 guild achievements that cover content from all of EQ2's expansions. The devs state that every guild will start with a "clean slate," meaning that achievements will not be rewarded retroactively. This first set of achievements is raid-based, and for a guild to earn one of these achievements, at least two-thirds of the raid group must belong to the same guild, so it's time to rally your friends and go for glory, honor, and of course, precious intangible internet points. Remember Norrathians, the update hits tomorrow, so head on over to the game's official site for all the details you need to be prepared.

MassivelyTomorrow's EverQuest II update brings three new raids, guild achievements originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playguild-achievementspatchpatchesraidraidssoesonysony-online-entertainmentupdateupdatesMon, 25 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DDO celebrates a birthday, shares Update 17 notes, and introduces new Augments]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/ddo-celebrates-a-birthday-shares-update-17-notes-and-introduce/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/ddo-celebrates-a-birthday-shares-update-17-notes-and-introduce/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/ddo-celebrates-a-birthday-shares-update-17-notes-and-introduce/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DDO celebrates a birthday, shares Update 17 notes, and revokes ghasts' ghoul status
Happy seventh birthday to Dungeons and Dragons Online! Like every good game, DDO is celebrating its anniversary-birthday-thing by giving out presents. Update 17 is live, a gift in its own right, and characters that were created before the patch will find that they've got a giftbox in their inventory.

But wait, there's more! Update 17 is a substantial patch. A whole slew of updates have been made to different bits of the game. On the DDO Store (and free to VIPs) is a new Monster Manual edition that features new deeds and objectives and two new Creature Companions. In what is arguably the most significant update, Restless Bats -- which don't exist and never have existed ever -- have been removed from the manual.

Augments, a new way to customize your equipment, have been added to the game. Items with augment slots can be, well, Augmented. Slotted Augments give their host item an additional effect for as long as they're slotted. People will be able to find named items with augment slots, pick augmentable items up from the DDO Store, or trust their luck to find one of the 5% of randomly generated items to have an augment slot. This system replaces the old Epic and Guild Augments. You can read up about Augments here.

MassivelyDDO celebrates a birthday, shares Update 17 notes, and introduces new Augments originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdayddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfantasyfree-to-playpatchpatch-notespatchesturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-17update-notesupdatesWed, 20 Feb 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[February 26th sees the inclusion of trading post previews for Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/17/february-26th-sees-the-inclusion-of-trading-post-previews-for-gu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/17/february-26th-sees-the-inclusion-of-trading-post-previews-for-gu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/17/february-26th-sees-the-inclusion-of-trading-post-previews-for-gu/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

These fine folks are running to go see what their gear will look like. They are very concerned with fashion.
Guild Wars 2 gives you a fair amount of control over the appearance of your character's armor and weapons, but it's still heartrending to spend a bunch of money on the trading post only to find out that you've bought a Merciless Jacket of Searing Ugliness. But fret not, fashion-minded players! Starting with the game's next major patch on February 26th, you will be able to preview armor on your characters straight from the trading post!

Are there other features in the patch? Well, technically, yeah. I mean, you can choose your daily achievements instead of having to fulfill an arbitrary set, which will work nicely with the existing Laurels rewards. And there's new team vs. team matchups in PvP, guild missions in PvE, and further elaboration of the large meta-storyline started back in January. There's even a new PvP map. But who cares about any of that? The important part is previewing items off the trading post.

[Thanks to Jesse for the tip!]

MassivelyFebruary 26th sees the inclusion of trading post previews for Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarmor-previewbuy-to-playfantasygame-mechanicsguild-wars-2gw2major-patchmajor-updatesncsoftpatchpatchespreviewstyletrading-postupdateupdatesvisual-styleSun, 17 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Wushu gets a UI and localization overhaul]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/age-of-wushu-gets-a-ui-and-localization-overhaul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/age-of-wushu-gets-a-ui-and-localization-overhaul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/age-of-wushu-gets-a-ui-and-localization-overhaul/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Age of Wushu gets a UI and localization overhaul
North American players and fans of Age of Wushu are in for a treat. In response to player feedback from the closed betas, the development team has been working on a major overhaul of the game's localization and UI.

The localization and UI changes are among the updates that kept the game from its original February launch date, but Snail Games is placing more emphasis on a smooth experience at launch than pushing the game out the door as quickly as possible. These updates are in their final testing stages and will make their way into the ongoing beta soon.

[Source: Snail Games press release]

MassivelyAge of Wushu gets a UI and localization overhaul originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-wulinage-of-wushuasiabetabeta-testingchinachinesechinese-mmogpotatogvgjet-likidnappinglocalizationmartial-artsming-dynastypvpsandboxsnail-gamessnail-games-usauiupdateupdateswushuwuxiaMon, 11 Feb 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic drops patch 1.7 on Tuesday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-drops-patch-1-7-on-tuesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-drops-patch-1-7-on-tuesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-drops-patch-1-7-on-tuesday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Who doesn't want to be best friends with a group of cthonic nightmares?
It's almost time to see what you can do about your reputation in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Patch 1.7 is bringing the new reputation system as well as the new Relics of the Gree event to the live servers on Tuesday, February 12th. The maintenance window for the patch is five and a half hours, although as with most major patches, there's always the chance that it'll run a little longer because of unforeseen issues.

If you've still got more questions about what the reputation system will add to the game, a recent development blog answers those questions. Notably, this patch has not been up for testing on the test server, possibly to keep the event a bit more of a secret. Whatever the case, players will get to put their hands on the changes in just a couple of days, so get ready to travel across the galaxy and get some props from galactic reputation.

[Thanks to Jose for the tip!]

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic drops patch 1.7 on Tuesday originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artseventf2pfree-to-playin-game-eventlucasartspatchpatch-maintenancepatchesreputationreturn-of-the-greesci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-patch-1.7the-old-republictorupdateupdatesSun, 10 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Face of Mankind gets a revamp in the upcoming Milestone patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/face-of-mankind-gets-a-revamp-in-the-upcoming-milestone-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/face-of-mankind-gets-a-revamp-in-the-upcoming-milestone-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/face-of-mankind-gets-a-revamp-in-the-upcoming-milestone-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Face of Mankind gets a revamp in the upcoming Milestone patch
The free-to-play MMOFPS Face of Mankind is due for a major update soon. A new dev blog has been put out in order to explain some of the changes that will be coming about in the patch.

The mining and crafting systems are getting an overhaul: Resources will be collected, transported, and refined into useful materials in new ways. Augmenting that will be a reformed death and cloning system. Players will drop all non-bound items in their inventory on death, and the process of creating a new clone to get back into action with will be lengthier (although it can, of course, be sped up for a cost.) Players will now be able to create and manage their own factions, rather than sticking with the eight factions that were previously in the game.

There's more! There's so, so much more (including "stuff with aliens"). Keep an eye out for a Kickstarter campaign to fund new improvements and systems for the game.

Skip below the cut to catch the full details.

[Thanks to intrepid explorer Alex for the tip!]

Continue reading Face of Mankind gets a revamp in the upcoming Milestone patch

MassivelyFace of Mankind gets a revamp in the upcoming Milestone patch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingcrowdfundingdev-diaryf2pface-of-mankindfomfree-to-playkickstartermmofpsnexeonnexeon-technologiespatchpatchesthe-face-of-mankindupdateupdatesvideovideosFri, 08 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Check out these sweet Blacklight: Retribution screenshots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/massively-exclusive-check-out-these-sweet-blacklight-retributi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/massively-exclusive-check-out-these-sweet-blacklight-retributi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/massively-exclusive-check-out-these-sweet-blacklight-retributi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Massively Exclusive Check out these sweet Blacklight Retribution screenshots
Blacklight: Retribution is getting its "largest update ever" soon. What better way to whet your appetite than with some tantalizing screenshots of two upcoming maps? Welcome to Safehold and Metro, agents!

The Metro map is set underneath the ruined cityscape, bringing players into the old subway system to go mano-a-mano with the enemy. Above ground, the Safehold features an open plaza and its surrounding buildings.

Get a taste of the new maps in the gallery below.

Gallery: Massively Exlusive: Blacklight Retribution


[Source: Perfect World press release]

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Check out these sweet Blacklight: Retribution screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flameseeker Chronicles Flame and Frost
Well, my goodness! We've got a week of the Flame and Frost prelude patch behind us, and what a week it's been! The patch notes for this sucker were impressive; for a relatively minor patch, the Flame and Frost prelude brought in a lot of tweaks and updates. I'm kind of glad for that, as quality of life additions were top on my list for hopes for Guild Wars 2 in 2013. I'm very pleased with ArenaNet for shoring up the content that's already out rather than leaving it be in the rush to get out new content.

So! Let's take a look at what ArenaNet brought us in the past week.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Flame and Frost

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Flame and Frost originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playdailydaily-achievementdungeondungeonsfantasyfeaturedflame-and-frostflame-and-frost-preludeflameseeker-chroniclesfractals-of-the-mistsguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2january-patchlaurellaurelsncsoftopinionpatchpatchesupdateupdatesTue, 05 Feb 2013 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forge developer diary discusses the state of the game and what comes next]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/forge-developer-diary-discusses-the-state-of-the-game-and-what-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/forge-developer-diary-discusses-the-state-of-the-game-and-what-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/forge-developer-diary-discusses-the-state-of-the-game-and-what-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

You'd think a game with a title like Forge would be all about competitive smelting, but no.
Forge isn't your typical MMO, set up as a straightforward PvP arena without niggling little issues like outside quests to get in the way. The development team behind the game has been looking at its current state, and in the newest address to the players they state what the game is doing wrong and how to fix it.

The diary makes it clear that while the number of people playing Forge is down, they believe a lot of that has to do with the steep learning curve new players experience. To fix this, there are plans for a new starter area in which players can practice against bots to get accustomed to the combat and the game mechanics. The team also plans to improve the tutorial and the UI so that what an ability does is more transparent.

For players already at the higher end, this is still good news -- the matchmaking system will be updated, visual customization will be improved, and you'll be able to respec at any time to ensure that you aren't stuck with poor choices forever. Check out all the details in the latest development diary.

MassivelyForge developer diary discusses the state of the game and what comes next originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changesdark-valedark-vale-forgedark-vale-gamesdeveloper-diaryforgenew-playerspatchesplayer-retentionpreviewpvppvp-gamestutorialupdatesTue, 05 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What game do you still hope will be revitalized?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/the-daily-grind-what-game-do-you-still-hope-will-be-revitalized/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/the-daily-grind-what-game-do-you-still-hope-will-be-revitalized/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/the-daily-grind-what-game-do-you-still-hope-will-be-revitalized/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

And as long as I'm dreaming I'd like to see Chaos be a bit more gender-neutral.
I do not play Warhammer Online any longer, but it holds a special place in my heart. I greatly enjoyed playing the game when it was selected for Choose My Adventure back in the day, and I still hold out hope that the game will emerge from its slow stagnancy to be some sort of WAAAGH-based phoenix. The odds of that happening are low, but I'd love to see it happen just the same.

Games have a life cycle, and after a certain point, even the most beloved online title slips into a maintenance mode. But we all have titles that we'd love to see get updates once again, allowing us to relive the glory days. This isn't about games that had been shut down; this is about games that are still running but are no longer at the forefront of the gaming zeitgeist. So what game do you still hope will be revitalized, even if you don't expect it to happen? Would you like to see Ultima Online get another day in the sun, or do you just hope that Champions Online will get a big expansion and some development love?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What game do you still hope will be revitalized? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active-updatesdaily-grindexpansionsmaintenance-modemajor-patchesmajor-updatesnew-contentold-gamesolder-gamesopinionpatchesstatic-gamestdgthe-daily-grindupdatesTue, 05 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Path of Exile explains its open beta transition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/path-of-exile-explains-its-open-beta-transition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/path-of-exile-explains-its-open-beta-transition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/path-of-exile-explains-its-open-beta-transition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

You can't stop me! I summon fire!
If you're looking forward to Path of Exile's open beta (possibly in the wake of our own first impressions), you don't have much longer to wait. The testing will start shortly, giving everyone a chance to get in on all of the clicking and looting. For everyone looking forward to the next step, old hands and new players alike, the development team has provided a handy walkthrough of what will take place as the game's gates creak open.

All characters will be returned to level 1 and all items will be removed outside of special promotions, but this will be the last character reset the game will undergo. Players with existing closed beta clients will be able to download the open beta patch directly, but the game's servers will go down for about two hours before the changeover happens. The post also warns everyone to expect that there may be login queues or latency issues given the game's popularity, so consider yourself fairly warned.

MassivelyPath of Exile explains its open beta transition originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmobetabeta-testingdeveloper-newsdiablof2pfantasyfree-to-playgrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesopen-betapatchpatchespatchingpath-of-exilepoeroguelikeserver-downtimeupdatesTue, 22 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet sells three million copies of Guild Wars 2, looks to the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/arenanet-sells-three-million-copies-of-guild-wars-2-looks-to-th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/arenanet-sells-three-million-copies-of-guild-wars-2-looks-to-th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/arenanet-sells-three-million-copies-of-guild-wars-2-looks-to-th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ArenaNet sells 3 million copies of Guild Wars 2, looks to the future
We've got a whole passel of Guild Wars 2 news for you today, courtesy of ArenaNet Game Director Colin Johanson, who took to the company's blog to talk about some of the game plan for 2013. Johanson kicked things off by nonchalantly dropping the fact that Guild Wars 2 has now surpassed three million copies sold. (The last million milestone was hit in early September.) He then moved on to goals for 2013 -- specifically, to "build on areas of the game that were successful in 2012" and to "learn and apply lessons from things that didn't work as well."

ArenaNet has plans to add more events (since more events means fewer repeats all around), build new storylines, and give players of all levels a good reason to go back and re-examine content. Some of those good reasons will come in the form of tokens for achievements (which can be traded in for stuff like ascended gear and infusions), re-imagined daily achievements (and eventually, the option to complete only a certain subset of dailies to get the reward), and more vanity items.

Guilds will be getting more love with some new types of content, due "in early 2013," which will allow members to go on missions together. Over time, that system will be expanded with new rewards, missions, and tools to strengthen the importance of guilds within the Guild Wars 2 community. World vs. World will be seeing a lot of the same tweaks as the rest of the game, with the addition of improvements to culling and the introduction of paid server transfers.

PvP will also be getting some polish. Revamped reward systems, matchmaking based on skill, the ability to observe other matches, custom arenas, and leaderboards have all been listed as part of the plan. In case that's not enough for the first half of the year, there are also plans to improve the looking for group tool, fix up the Fractals dungeon, set up leaderboards on the website, redesign world and dungeon boss encounters, continue the war on bots, and otherwise tighten up the game as we know it.

Skip below the cut to let Johanson speak for himself.

Continue reading ArenaNet sells three million copies of Guild Wars 2, looks to the future

MassivelyArenaNet sells three million copies of Guild Wars 2, looks to the future originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20133-millionanetarenanetbreakingbuy-to-playcolin-johansondungeonsfantasygame-planguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpatchpatchesthree-millionupdateupdatesvideovideoswar-on-botsTue, 15 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RuneScape explains why it does what it does]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/runescape-explains-why-it-does-what-it-does/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/runescape-explains-why-it-does-what-it-does/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/runescape-explains-why-it-does-what-it-does/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RuneScape explains why it does what it does
Have you ever wondered how an MMO studio plans its upcoming content delivery? A new RuneScape dev diary takes us behind the scenes at Jagex, where Mod Mark outlines the nuts-and-bolts of the process: "We think about the next 12 months of content and what we want to achieve within those 12 months and have a broad idea of what we want to achieve over the next three years. We think about what sort of players we've got and we try to make sure that the content we have planned over the next year is appropriate for all of those groups of players."

Mod Mark said that the team also considers what it's focused on recently, what areas haven't been touched on in a long time, and what parts of the game may have become dated. Content additions and improvements are then scheduled according to the time available to the team.

One lesson to take away is that it always takes the development team a lot more time and effort to create new content than players assume. Sometimes even a single quest may spend up to a year in development before being pushed to live.

You can watch the full dev diary after the jump!

Continue reading RuneScape explains why it does what it does

MassivelyRuneScape explains why it does what it does originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-scenesbrowserbrowser-basedclassic-mmodev-diarydeveloper-diaryf2pfantasyfree-to-playjagexjagex-games-studiomod-markrsrunescapesandboxupdatesFri, 11 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/flameseeker-chronicles-hopes-for-the-new-year-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/flameseeker-chronicles-hopes-for-the-new-year-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/flameseeker-chronicles-hopes-for-the-new-year-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Flameseeker Chronicles Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2
It's the dawn of a brave new year. Guild Wars 2 is still in its infancy, really -- ArenaNet's work in this year will do a lot to shape the future and lasting impact of the game. With apparently an expansion's worth of content coming out in January and February, this certainly promises to be an exciting year. I don't know whether the following things are predictions or hopes, but they can't be all that much more inaccurate than fondling sheep guts.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetascalonian-catacombsbuy-to-playdungeondungeonsesportsexpansionsfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguestingguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2legendarylegendary-weaponncsoftnew-yearsopinionpatchespredictionsspvpupdatesTue, 01 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Korean analysts predict Guild Wars 2 expansion in 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/30/korean-analysts-predict-guild-wars-2-expansion-in-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/30/korean-analysts-predict-guild-wars-2-expansion-in-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/30/korean-analysts-predict-guild-wars-2-expansion-in-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In which the Sylvari remain oddly important despite having been born about two minutes ago, relatively speaking.
Considering that Guild Wars 2 runs on a similar business model to the original Guild Wars, we suspect it's inevitable that an expansion is in the cards. But when? According to Korean securities firm KDB Daewoo, it seems likely that one will launch within the next year, a tidbit the analysts slipped into a recent report regarding NCsoft's performance for the most recent financial quarter.

The firm notes that Q4 was an excellent quarter for the company, with a big upswing in operational profits mostly credited to Guild Wars 2. The firm goes on to predict that the market in North America and Europe will be the most lucrative for the company, and based on a recent visit to NCsoft's headquarters, the analysts believe there are signs that the game may be due for its first expansion before too long. It's not an official update from ArenaNet, but fans of the game can feel free to start speculating on what the new year will bring.

MassivelyKorean analysts predict Guild Wars 2 expansion in 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Dec 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013-predictionsanetarenanetbuy-to-playcontent-expansionexpansionfantasyfuture-expansionguild-wars-2gw2major-updatesncsoftpossible-expansionpredictionupdatesSun, 30 Dec 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Blacklight: Retribution shows off the end of the world, part 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/massively-exclusive-blacklight-retribution-shows-off-the-end-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/massively-exclusive-blacklight-retribution-shows-off-the-end-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/massively-exclusive-blacklight-retribution-shows-off-the-end-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Your faceless enemies really just want to party with you.
If you're a fan of Perfect World Entertainment's competitive MMO shooter Blacklight: Retribution, you're in for the end of the world. The game's latest update, World's End, is coming after the end of this week's scheduled maintenance, and it's a big one, complete with new playable characters, new specialized assault robots, and new maps to shoot your way through.

Chronos, the new hero, is meant to act as a group's computer specialist, with an innate ability to hack control nodes faster. He comes equipped with an auto-turret and HRV decoy by default, allowing him to place traps or simply defend himself while hacking. These skills will be put to good use in the new maps, Decay and Trench, with the former featuring close-quarter alleyway combat and the latter giving plenty of mid-range sniping spots.

Take a look at the official launch trailer just past the update screenshot gallery, and stay tuned this week for more previews leading up to the patch launch!

[Source: PWE press release]

Gallery: Blacklight: Retribution screenshots

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Blacklight: Retribution shows off the end of the world, part 1

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Blacklight: Retribution shows off the end of the world, part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blacklightblacklight-retributionexclusivef2pfantasyfpsfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygameplaymajor-patchmmofpsnew-charactersnew-mapspatchpatch-trailerperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpreviewpreviewspwescreenshotscreenshotstrailertrailersupdatesvideovideosMon, 17 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get a good look at Lord of the Rings Online's Update 9]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/get-a-good-look-at-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-update-9/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/get-a-good-look-at-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-update-9/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/get-a-good-look-at-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-update-9/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Get a good look at Lord of the Rings Online's Update 9
You might not be playing as the Hobbit in Lord of the Rings Online, but that doesn't mean you can't follow in his footsteps! We're here to whet your appetite for LotRO's upcoming Update 9: Against the Shadow with some screenshots. If you're impatient to see the webs of the Scuttledells in Mirkwood, kill your very own Goblin in the depths beneath the Misty Mountains, or talk with some Stone Giants, this is your lucky day. The gallery below can give you a taste for what lies in store.

Gallery: LotRO Update 9 preview



[Source: Turbine press release]

MassivelyGet a good look at Lord of the Rings Online's Update 9 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>against-the-shadowf2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-update-9not-a-tie-inpatchpatchesthe-hobbitturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-9updatesMon, 10 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online patches in a significant number of bug fixes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/ultima-online-patches-in-a-significant-number-of-bug-fixes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/ultima-online-patches-in-a-significant-number-of-bug-fixes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/ultima-online-patches-in-a-significant-number-of-bug-fixes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

uo huge bug fixing update see team email, thank tipster
Get your scrollin' finger ready: Ultima Online just got a whole bucket of fixes and updates posted to the test server. If you're tired of your fish pies not being stackable, of mushrooms exploding under your house, or of gargoyles activating their stone form mid-flight, this is the patch for you! Lava Lobster fishing has been fixed, hats have stopped twitching, and gargoyle aprons have all been returned to their proper hue.

At long last, golems can no longer be used to exploit combat training, and vendors are seeing some big changes. Rather than increasing their fees once per day, vendors will charge incrementally over time. They'll also give players a grace period before heading out after running out of funds, and all vending penalties have been abolished. Hit up the official patch notes for the lengthy list, if only so you can learn that "Robin's Egg candy will no longer fill the tummy of the eater."
[Thanks to groovy webizen Derrick for the tip!]

MassivelyUltima Online patches in a significant number of bug fixes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugsclassic-mmoeaelectronic-artsexploding-mushroomsfantasyfixesflying-gargoyleslord-britishmythicmythic-entertainmentpatchpatchesrobins-eggssandboxstackable-fish-piesultimaultima onlineuoupdateupdatesThu, 06 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MechWarrior Online gives players control over their looks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/mechwarrior-online-gives-players-control-over-their-looks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/mechwarrior-online-gives-players-control-over-their-looks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/mechwarrior-online-gives-players-control-over-their-looks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Clown makeup would be way scarier.
Maybe you want your machine of choice to have a careful camouflage pattern to make it harder for your MechWarrior Online opponents to spot you at range. Maybe you just want to cover it in inherently terrifying clown patterns. However you like to decorate your multi-ton 'Mech, you're now able to do so with the release of the game's new Camo Spec patch. This patch adds paint shop functionality to the game and allows players to enjoy a variety of external decorative options as well as cockpit decorations.

Not enough for you? The patch also adds the classic battle announcer from the original MechWarrior computer games as well as the option for Premium players to choose the start date of their enhanced play time. Only a few decorative options are available at launch, but players can expect more in the future, both earned and (presumably) purchased in the game's cash shop.

[Source: Piranha Games press release]

MassivelyMechWarrior Online gives players control over their looks originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camo-speccustomizationdecorationf2pfree-to-playlooking-prettymechmechsmechwarriormechwarrior-mmomechwarrior-onlinemwopaintpatchpatchespiranhapiranha-gamessci-fiupdateupdatesTue, 27 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World's Big Trouble in the Big Apple raid is now live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/the-secret-worlds-big-trouble-in-the-big-apple-raid-is-now-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/the-secret-worlds-big-trouble-in-the-big-apple-raid-is-now-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/the-secret-worlds-big-trouble-in-the-big-apple-raid-is-now-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- The Secret World
Eldritch horrors are on the rise in The Secret World's latest update, Issue #4: Big Trouble in the Big Apple, which went live last week. And as of today, the issue's biggest draw and the game's very first raid, has hit the servers.

The raid takes place in the heart of New York City, where a tentacled Lovecraftian creature is wreaking havoc on the city that never sleeps. The raid had initially been delayed because of bugs and a need for further testing but is now available. Massively posted a preview of the raid and the rest of the patch last week.

P.S.: Bring your chainsaws!

MassivelyThe Secret World's Big Trouble in the Big Apple raid is now live originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albion-theatreauxiliary-weaponauxiliary-weaponsbig-trouble-in-the-big-applechainsawfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorissue-4its-reticle-not-reticulemythologynew-york-city-raidnyc-raidpatchpatchesreticle-combatsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswupdateupdatesWed, 21 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MechWarrior brings out a new 'Mech and new events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/20/mechwarrior-brings-out-a-new-mech-and-new-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/20/mechwarrior-brings-out-a-new-mech-and-new-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/20/mechwarrior-brings-out-a-new-mech-and-new-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

AC/5 rounds are how I say thank you.
Sometimes you want to give thanks for the many positive things happening in your life. Other times, you want to give thanks that you're the one piloting a 70-ton marching tank and the other guy isn't. MechWarrior Online is celebrating the latter feeling with the introduction of the Cataphract 'Mech, a heavy unit available with four different loadouts in the game's latest update.

In addition to the new machine, the game has also added a new map, the Frozen City at Night, featuring large shooting lanes and patches of shadow to hide within. There are also two new modules and a new piece of equipment, all of which should help keep a better lock on your target even as they dart around the battlefield.

Last but not least, the development team is hosting a live event tomorrow at 9 p.m. EST on the official livestream channel. If you're a player and want to see how your 'Mech skills hold up against those of the designers, be prepared to throw down with some autocannons tomorrow night.

[Source: Piranha Games press release]

MassivelyMechWarrior brings out a new 'Mech and new events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cataphractf2pfree-to-playholiday-eventslive-eventlivestreamsmechmechsmechwarriormechwarrior-mmomechwarrior-onlinemwonew-mechspatchpatchespiranhapiranha-gamesplay-against-developerssci-fiupdatesTue, 20 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World shows off upcoming raid in New York City]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/the-secret-world-shows-off-upcoming-raid-in-new-york-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/the-secret-world-shows-off-upcoming-raid-in-new-york-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/the-secret-world-shows-off-upcoming-raid-in-new-york-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Still doing less damage than Sandy.
In real life, the closest thing you'll find to an eldritch horror in New York City is a half-eaten gyro that's been left in the subway for a week. But in The Secret World, the next major update is bringing some much bigger horrors into the heart of NYC. A new video from the development team explains how players will take on the game's first raid when it goes live with the fourth patch, Big Trouble in the Big Apple.

That's not all the update contains, however -- players will also be able to start up the game's second auxiliary weapon (the chainsaw) and indulge in creativity within London's Albion Theater. There's also a PvP overhaul incoming with new rewards, new vendors, and new battle modes. And even that just scratches the surface. For the full rundown of the patch's features, take a look at the lengthy preview video embedded just past the break.

Continue reading The Secret World shows off upcoming raid in New York City

MassivelyThe Secret World shows off upcoming raid in New York City originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-trouble-in-the-big-appleendgamefactionfantasyfuncomgame-mechanicshorrorissue-4major-patchmajor-updatemythologypatchpatchespreviewraidsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswtsw-issue-4updateupdatesvideovideosTue, 13 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II does away with coin limitations on accounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/everquest-ii-does-away-with-coin-limitations-on-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/everquest-ii-does-away-with-coin-limitations-on-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/everquest-ii-does-away-with-coin-limitations-on-accounts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This guy has a lot of coins right now, but pretty soon the players will be going to town on him.
Recently, EverQuest II introduced Krono, tokens that can be redeemed for subscription time in the game. In theory, this meant that players who were normally free players could purchase game time with in-game currency. However, there was a practical problem with this -- players who purchased Krono tokens weren't exactly giving them away on the cheap, and free players were limited to a currency cap that made purchasing the game time impossible in practice if not in theory.

The most recent game update contains a number of balance tweaks and bugfixes, but the most relevant portion is the abolition of the coin limit, allowing players both free and subscribed to earn money without an upward limit. This gives free players the ability to earn the money they need to buy game time, and it gives players buying Krono tokens a new market for these little bits of time. Everybody comes out on top, except for the monsters that will inevitably be slaughtered to fund these time-related antics.

MassivelyEverQuest II does away with coin limitations on accounts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>currency-capeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playfree-to-play-limitationsgame-timekronolimitationsmoney-cappatchpatchessoesonysony-online-entertainmenttokensupdatesWed, 07 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: There's something in the water in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/flameseeker-chronicles-theres-something-in-the-water/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/flameseeker-chronicles-theres-something-in-the-water/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/flameseeker-chronicles-theres-something-in-the-water/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Flameseeker Chronicles There's something in the water
October is gone, and with it went the Mad King. He's returned to his realm, and if the number of his slippers I have piled up in the corners of my bank vault is any indication, he's ill-prepared to deal with any sudden drops in temperature. On the first day of November, Lion's Arch citizens marveled at the sudden disappearance of all the festive decorations, applauded the continuity of the lion statue's still being absent from the Piazza, and set about life as normal.

Until they saw the whales.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: There's something in the water in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: There's something in the water in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeached-whalescolin-johansondungeondungeonsfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2lions-archlost-shoresncsoftnew-dungeon-typeopinionrampant-speculationshadow-of-the-mad-kingthe-lost-shoreupdateupdatesTue, 06 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: If your favorite game relaunched, what one thing would you fix?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/the-daily-grind-if-your-favorite-game-relaunched-what-one-thin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/the-daily-grind-if-your-favorite-game-relaunched-what-one-thin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/the-daily-grind-if-your-favorite-game-relaunched-what-one-thin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yes, I'll take fun tanking over catboys. As it happens, I know I'm getting the latter.
When Final Fantasy XIV relaunches, my greatest wish is that tanking will actually feel fun. I've done my best to enjoy tanking, but the way the game expects you to tank isn't what I'd call a fun ride. Even if everything else stayed exactly the same, I'd declare the relaunch a screaming success if that changed.

A lot of games don't relaunch -- the majority, even, unless you count now-ubiquitous free-to-play conversions. But those that do so change a lot about the game, some of it good, some of it bad. Today, we're not asking for all of the things you'd change if you had the choice; today, we want to pick a single element of a game that you like. A lone thing that bothers you that you would want changed.

Maybe you'd like to enhance the game's crafting. Maybe you'd like to improve the storytelling. Maybe you even would just add in a few more travel options around a particularly annoying point. If your favorite game was relaunching, what's the one thing that you would want to see fixed in the new version?

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: If your favorite game relaunched, what one thing would you fix? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bug-fixeschangesdaily-grindfixesgame-relaunchimprovementsmechanical-fixesnew-versionopinionrelaunchrules-changestdgthe-daily-grindupdated-rereleaseupdatesTue, 06 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 teases players with The Lost Shores]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/guild-wars-2-teases-players-with-the-lost-shores/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/guild-wars-2-teases-players-with-the-lost-shores/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/guild-wars-2-teases-players-with-the-lost-shores/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I found the shores! They're right here.
Guild Wars 2 is riding high off its recent Halloween event, but that's not the only event that's hitting the game. A new teaser has just been posted for the next event hitting the live servers sometime this month. Deep within the Sea of Sorrows, something is stirring, and the result will lead to an event that we're told will change the face of Tyria forever.

We're told that specifically by the teaser page, that is.

So what will The Lost Shores actually entail? There's no way to know just yet, although some guesses can be made from the handful of teaser screenshots posted to the site, hinting at something vast being dredged up from the depths. What is certain is that this will be a one-time event, something that you can take part in when it happens or miss out on forever. Keep your eyes peeled for more information, and for now, just join us in wondering what might be down there a-stirring.

[Thanks to Prantik for the tip!]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 teases players with The Lost Shores originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenaneteventevent-teaserfantasyguild-wars-2gw2in-game-eventlimited-time-eventncsoftone-time-eventpatchpatchespreviewspecial-eventteaserteaser-pagethe-lost-shoresupdateupdatesThu, 01 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion 4.0 introduces new region of Katalam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/aion-4-0-introduces-new-region-of-katalam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/aion-4-0-introduces-new-region-of-katalam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/aion-4-0-introduces-new-region-of-katalam/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

new aion 40 stuff
Aion's 4.0 patch has been getting more and more interesting ever since NCsoft hinted that it would bring three new classes into the game. We've since learned about the Troubadour and the Gunslinger, but 4.0 is about more than just classes. An official news post today introduced a new region that will be coming in 4.0. Katalam, a lush, verdant region will be awaiting players once the patch hits. In addition to the name, the news post showed off some concept art featuring a mountainside fortress, a plains fortress, some old temple-lookin' thing, and a flying fortress.

We don't know anything else about the region yet, but hit up Katalam's introduction to drool over the scenery for yourself.

MassivelyAion 4.0 introduces new region of Katalam originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4.0aionaion-4.0ascensionconcept-artf2pfantasyfree-to-playkatalamncsoftnewspatchpatch-4.0patchestruly-freeupdateupdatesWed, 31 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a peek at graphical updates for SWTOR update 1.5]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/29/take-a-peek-at-graphical-updates-for-swtor-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/29/take-a-peek-at-graphical-updates-for-swtor-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/29/take-a-peek-at-graphical-updates-for-swtor-update-1-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

swtor 15 tech blog
It's time to start getting excited for Star Wars: The Old Republic's upcoming 1.5 update. In order to whet your appetite for change, Senior Technical Artist Ben Cloward has graced fans with a glimpse of one of the big graphical changes that'll be coming in with the patch.

Foliage is going to be a lot more beautiful and realistic. Instead of looking solid and therefore unnaturally dark when viewed against the sun, players with their Shader Complexity set to High will notice that leaves and grass will be moderately translucent, allowing sunlight to filter through them. While this may be but one small step for graphics, it's joined by "some even better improvements in the pipe," according to Cloward.

Head on over to the official post to preview the change.

MassivelyTake a peek at graphical updates for SWTOR update 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-51.5ben-clowardbiowareeaelectronic-artsgame-updategraphical-updategraphicslucasartspatchpatchessci-fishadersstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorupdateupdate-1.5updatesMon, 29 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Preparing for the Mad King in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/flameseeker-chronicles-preparing-for-the-mad-king/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/flameseeker-chronicles-preparing-for-the-mad-king/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/flameseeker-chronicles-preparing-for-the-mad-king/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Flameseeker Chronicles Preparing for the Mad King
By now, Lion's Arch probably looks a little different than we're used to. It had already taken on a decidedly ghoulish cast in Guild Wars by Friday, so I guess the Mad King's influence shifted by a few calendar days over the course of the 250 years between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2.

Longtime fans of the original game don't need a lot of convincing to get anxious for the fulfillment of the spooky foreshadowing that's been going on for the past week or two. For those of you whose knowledge of Tyrian lore is either developing or a wee bit rusty, let's take a look at what's in store.

Let us begin with a question. Why can't you borrow money from a Dwarf?

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Preparing for the Mad King in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Preparing for the Mad King in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetextra-lifeextra-life-2012fantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2halloweenholidayholiday-eventsjokesking-thornlions-archmad-king-thornncsoftopinionpatchpatchesshadow-of-the-mad-kingthe-shadow-of-the-mad-kingthornupdateupdatesTue, 23 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST