Massively

Strike like Lightning with PlanetSide 2's latest vehicle reveal

Matt Daniel — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, News items, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2

In PlanetSide 2, wars are not won by infantry alone. Sometimes you've gotta bring in the big guns, and sometimes you've gotta attach those big guns to even bigger tanks that can turn unwitting enemy foot soldiers into a fine crimson smear on the ground. For those times, Sony Online Entertainment has announced the latest Nanite Systems vehicle, the Lightning.

The lightning is a lightweight 75mm tank that uses its mobility and obscene rate of fire to rain havoc upon the battlefield while avoiding enemy counterattacks. The one-man tank can fire up to six rounds in under three seconds, "allowing the driver to quickly adjust [his] aim after [his] first shot." The modular turret can be swapped out for a variety of other turret types for those times when you just want to mix it up a bit, and the Lightning's Skyguard turret is "the most effective ground-to-air weapon on the battlefield, as it's fitted with 40mm cannons with an elevation range of 80 degrees." To top it all off, the Lightning is one of the fastest ground vehicles, which makes it just as useful for tactical retreats as it is for vehicular manslaughter. The vehicle will be available to all three factions, so no matter which side you're fighting for, you can rest assured that you'll have some speedy firepower at your disposal.

[Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release]

Strike like Lightning with PlanetSide 2's latest vehicle reveal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DUST 514 driver's ed includes stealthing, siege mode, and power draining

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Free-to-play, Consoles, DUST 514

While the idea of piloting your own tank or drop ship in a virtual world may seem like a carefree joyride of devastation and destruction, think again: Turning on the engine in a DUST 514 vehicle may be the last thing you ever do if you're ignorant of the basics.

In a new dev post, CCP opens up the manual of vehicle operation in its upcoming title and tells it like it is. For starters, players will need to train up specific skills in order to even be allowed behind the wheel of any of these beasts, and even then, a clueless operator could find him or herself a sitting duck if attention isn't paid to power consumption (in DUST 514's terminology, capacitors). Equipped modules all draw power from capacitors during combat, and while capacitors do regenerate over time, they can be drained, both from a player's actions or an enemy's attack. As such, it's important to keep power demands in mind when modding a vehicle.

Two DUST 514 war machines are used as examples in the article. There's the Marauder HAV, a tank-busting tank that comes with an alternate siege mode, and there's the Force Recon dropship, which can clock, jam enemy sensors, and drain enemy vehicles' power. The post ends with a hypothetical battle scenario involving both of these, showing how they could be used out in the field.

DUST 514 driver's ed includes stealthing, siege mode, and power draining originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Ode to 3.0, second verse

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Expansions, Patches, PvP, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

Encore!

You are my expansion,
My favorite expansion,
You'll make me happy
With a house and more.
You have to know, dear,
How much I want you!
Please hurry the expansion to my door!

Just when I thought I was getting a handle on waiting for Aion's sorta-soon-to-be-released 3.0 patch, NCsoft went and announced a slightly less nebulous launch date of "this spring." Our patch-to-be even has the auspicious privilege of having a name: Ascension. And you know a name means extra special! WOOO! I, of course, started a requisite wing-flapping celebratory dance, but my tune soon changed: As exciting as this news was, I quickly realized that the more concrete the knowledge, the more I wanted it to release already. GAH -- this wait is truly taxing my patience! There is just so much to look forward to.

Last week I regaled you with a stirring, soulful rendition of anticipation for 3.0. Together we explored just a few of the goodies in store for patient and -- luckily for me -- not-so-patient Daevas alike. This week the recital continues, and as promised, Wings Over Atreia takes another peek at more of the features coming our way and highlights some of the more tantalizing additions and changes, including new fortresses with their own unique siege system, XP changes, mounts, and more.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Ode to 3.0, second verse

Wings Over Atreia: Ode to 3.0, second verse originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaderboard: Mechanized vs. monster mounts

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Humor, Miscellaneous, Leaderboard

Unless you're stuck in the invisible wall, no jumping, running-with-your-hands-flopping-about hell of Guild Wars, chances are you've gotten the opportunity to pick up a mount or two in an MMO. It's one of the ways that MMOs are so superior to the real world: There are no driver tests, no insurance policies, no (usually) gas. You just plop down some money and the vendor looks the other way while you go off-roading in a major metropolitan area.

But it wouldn't be a Leaderboard if we didn't force you to choose between your '67 Mustang and your pet Tauntaun, and so it shall be. In the world of mounts, there are two categories: the mechanized and the monsters. Vehicle mounts may be more rare due to fantasy's dominance over the genre, but they're still there and quite popular for the set that doesn't appreciate staring at horse doody all the live-long day. Then again, the fantastic creatures that have served as animal mounts are unceasing in variety as they are in style.

So what shall it be? Will you plug Old Yeller and go with your motorcycle, or will you mothball your favorite dune buggy in favor of Seabiscuit? Vote after the jump!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Mechanized vs. monster mounts

Leaderboard: Mechanized vs. monster mounts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR: Starship operator's guide

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Launches, Previews, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guides

Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of an actual, factual, interstellar starship! Or you soon will be, assuming that you're planning to play Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Starships have captured the imaginations of Star Wars fans for over three decades now, as the Millennium Falcon, Luke's X-Wing, Boba Fett's Slave-1, and Knights of the Old Republic's Ebon Hawk have become geek cultural icons. It's not Star Wars without the stars, after all, which is why BioWare will be handing you the keys to your very own starship as part of your SWTOR journey.

But what does that entail? There's a lot of confusion and misinformation swirling about starships, which is unfortunate. SWTOR's starships are part player housing, part combat vehicle, and part story platform, and that combination lacks an easy analogue in other MMOs. That's why you've got this handy holocron with all of the starship "must knows" to aid your initial voyage to the stars!

Coordinates for the jump are plotted. Punch it, reader!

Continue reading SWTOR: Starship operator's guide

SWTOR: Starship operator's guide originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Nuna bites

Larry Everett — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, New titles, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

If you happened to be in San Diego this weekend then you may have noticed a large gathering of geekery known as Comic-Con. Usually, this mecca of nerdom focuses on comic book related publications. Although Star Wars: The Old Republic isn't exactly comic book gold, Dark Horse comics rose through the ranks of pulp royalty because of its vast library of Star Wars-related publications. It only seems right that TOR presents itself to this audience.

Besides the panel in Comic-Con proper, BioWare developers hosted three separate question and answer sessions focusing on Star Wars: The Old Republic. As with most Q&As, the majority of questions asked have been answered already in the past. If you were hanging out in Darth Hater's Ventrilo server like I was during the live broadcasts, then you heard a lot of "We knew that already." That being said, there were some pieces of juicy meat tossed to the crowd that we had not heard before. I will call them nuna bites, and you can find your slice after the break.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Nuna bites

Hyperspace Beacon: Nuna bites originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When teddy bears attack: Champions Online suits up for another Ask Cryptic

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Free-to-play, Champions Online, Community Q&A

Cryptic's future may be in flux, but the show, as they say, must go on. And part of the great Cryptic show is the monthly Ask Cryptic feature, the latest of which has landed at Champions Online.

Champions Producer Rob Overmeyer tackles the smorgasbord of player-submitted queries, which range from vehicle transformation to shrinkage to shared banks. Overmeyer confirms that the team is working on revamping several additional lairs, including Dr. D's Robot Factory. The upcoming comic series, available for all types of players, looks to be promising:

"Our first Comic Series is called Aftershock. The first issue is scheduled to release Wednesday June 1, 2011 and each subsequent issue in the series will be released each Wednesday of the following weeks. Each issue will be available to play following its debut along with any previous issues. You will need to complete any previous issue in the series before you can play the latest in the series. Aftershock will wrap up the first week of July and once the entire series is out it will be playable as a complete adventure. Each issue targets about 30 minutes of gameplay, however, that time can be affected by a number of factors."

Overmeyer also said that while there are no set dates for porting Star Trek Online's Foundry system over to Champions Online, it's only a matter of time. "Getting The Foundry working in Champs is actually easier than getting Champs ready for The Foundry," he writes.

You can read the full Q&A over at Champions Online.

When teddy bears attack: Champions Online suits up for another Ask Cryptic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 17:15:00 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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Does this mean there will be vehicles in SWTOR?

Larry Everett — Thu, 27 May 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, New titles, Rumors, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Further insight into the wondrous world of Star Wars: The Old Republic whisked its way to us via a teaser trailer GameSpot posted about the Sith Warrior Class.

In this revealing tease, the Sith apprentice relives his training under his master and threatens the Jedi of the galaxy. Wicked lightsabers clash atop a bridge overlooking a glorious rocky canyon calling back to the epic duel between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Our ominous warrior effortlessly deflects blaster bolts from four enemies, sending the deadly plasma flashing back towards his adversaries. Then in a fit of Force rage the dark apprentice slams full-force into his Jedi opponent, tossing the gallant foe over the edge of the bridge many stories to his death. The armored tank of the Sith Warrior is not one to cross lightly.

As nail-biting as the trailer is, that is not all. Notice at 1:15 of this exciting video trailer, the Sith Warrior is driving a speeder bike. What does this mean? Are players going to have vehicles in SWTOR? We do not have the answer, but given the footage in this trailer, the answer looks positive. Continue after the break and judge for yourself.

[Update] The official site has added more to the Sith Warrior class page. Unfortunately, there is nothing about vehicles.

Continue reading Does this mean there will be vehicles in SWTOR?

Does this mean there will be vehicles in SWTOR? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 May 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallen Earth's special pre-order ATV goes vroom vroom

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Fallen Earth, Business models, MMO industry, New titles

Remember when we mentioned that if you pre-order Fallen Earth over at Direct2Drive that you would get a special horsey known as the Wasteland Runner? Yes, of course you remember, because we just gave you the link to the story so you would remember.

But, apparently, there's a second pre-order gift in town now. A gift that goes by the title of the Fallen Earth ATV. Pre-ordering the game straight from the developer will get you this nifty vehicle that comes with more hitpoints, a larger gas tank, better fuel efficiency, more storage, and a special Fallen Earth paint job. Plus, you get the ability to tell anyone you kill that they can "stick it in your tailpipe and smoke it." Horse riders just don't get that social ability.

So, if you're pre-ordering Fallen Earth, it looks like you have a decision to make. Horse or ATV? It's up to you!

Fallen Earth's special pre-order ATV goes vroom vroom originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO pacifism: Expanding combat alternative systems

Brooke Pilley — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: PvP, PvE, Opinion

Murder. Death. Kill. These words are synonymous with most MMORPGs (oh, and 1993's Demolition Man too, but let's not go there). There have been a number of systems introduced to the genre since its birth, but combat (PvE and PvP) has always been at the forefront. One blogger wants that to change.

Syp of BioBreak has been playing a lot of LOTRO lately and he's starting to feel like Turbine are a bunch of nature-haters forcing players into the roll of exterminator extraordinaire. "It's not just 'kill 10 rats,' it's 'kill 10 of every freakin' last thing that ever walked, crawled, slithered or flew over the earth, just because'." This got him wondering about what the alternatives were. If done well, what activities would he choose over combat?

He came up with a fairly extensive list of established features that could use some buffing up in his opinion, including: crafting, mini-games, puzzles, trading card games, vehicle action, achievements, and diplomacy/politics. Head on over to read his thoughts.

MMO pacifism: Expanding combat alternative systems originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vehicles, 200 weapons and hospitalized writers in Champions Online

Kyle Horner — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, New titles, News items, Champions Online

All right, so maybe the 200 mundane weapons available in Champions Online won't fit into a vehicle -- but it makes for some startling imagery. Unfortunately, according to the panel which took place last weekend at the New York Comic-con, Champions Online is unlikely to launch with drivable wheels of steel or any other form of bodacious transportation. But don't feel like all is lost, because Cryptic was quick mention that situation would be remedied soon after CO-day.

(Everyone calls launch day CO-day, right?)

Continue reading Vehicles, 200 weapons and hospitalized writers in Champions Online

Vehicles, 200 weapons and hospitalized writers in Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallen Earth video showcases lots of gameplay

Kyle Horner — Tue, 27 May 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Fallen Earth, New titles, News items

We've been following Fallen Earth for a while now, so it's very nice to finally see a new official video after waiting patiently for several months since the last. Everything looks like it's running incredibly smoothly too, which is a relief given the nature of the combat system in the game. Speaking of that, the combat looks pretty solid to us, but don't be fooled by the run-and-gun gameplay. Fallen Earth's MMO qualities are littered about in-between all the blazing guns you see in the footage. We do love those details. For instance, if you listen closely to the scene with the sniper scope you'll hear a nice clicking sound as the sharpshooter zooms in slightly.

Beyond the guns, girls and giant mutants in the video, you'll also be seeing some footage of players riding their very own mounts. It's some sort of buggy from what we can gather, some might even consider it to be puma-like. Here's hoping for some mounted gun upgrades so our friends can have something to do while we drive them around the wastelands!

Fallen Earth video showcases lots of gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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