Massively

Conquer Online 9th anniversary celebrations include a free trip to China

MJ Guthrie — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Promotions, Anniversary

Reaching the nine-year mark is quite an accomplishment in the MMO world, and Conquer Online plans to celebrate this milestone in style with a number of special events, bonuses, and gifts both in-game and out. From now through May 31st, players can enjoy a variety of festivities and goodies:

Ongoing special events like Crazy Lotto, Naughty Bunny, and Crazy Invasion.
Special discounts on offers in the shopping mall, including a four-hour event on +3 stones from May 26th to 27th.
A chance to prove which server is truly best in the cross-server Capture the Flag battle.
A Nurture Pack with useful healing and XP items to welcome newcomers.
VIP gifts.
Special upgrades to certain event rewards.

Oh, but that's not all!

The pièce de résistance: Three lucky current Conquer Online players will win a free trip to China to take in the sights of Beijing and visit the TQ headquarters.

To enter the drawing, players must credit at least one $15.99 or one $29.99 TQ Point Card during the period between May 15th and June 30th (the more you credit, the more chances you have), have at least one level 50+ character, and be at least 18 years of age. For full details, check out the contest rules.

[Source: Press release]

Conquer Online 9th anniversary celebrations include a free trip to China originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wings Over Atreia: Clean up on aisle four

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Business models, Economy, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-play, Wings Over Atreia

Careful where you step; there's a bit of a mess.

After much ballyhoo about taking great pains to avoid the dreaded pay-to-win stigma as Aion converts to free-to-play (including screen time in the producers interview), NCsoft went ahead and began offering an eternal-grade weapon in the new BlackCloud Marketplace. Granted, it is for a limited time only, but the fact is that it's been offered at all has sparked a few tizzy-fits within the community. Of all the low-down, double-crossing...

I know some players feel lied to and misled. A few profess they've been downright hornswoggled by that single announcement and have turned away from the game. Meanwhile, others are sitting back chortling "What did you expect?" or mouthing a big "I told you so." But was this really an underhanded trick? Did the devs really go back on what they said? You have to wonder why, right in the midst of generating excitement for Aion, the developers would spite the players they are trying to lure in. And maybe they didn't.

Was this an innocent bonus or portent of things to come? Before we start stringing someone up in effigy, let's take a look at the details. Might just be all the fuss is much ado about nothing.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Clean up on aisle four

Wings Over Atreia: Clean up on aisle four originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE showers Vanguard loyalists with gifts

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Vanguard, Free-to-play, Promotions

While many newcomers to Telon might be checking out Vanguard for the first time when it goes free-to-play this summer, loyal subscribers wondered, "What do we get, apart from an influx of newbie chat questions?" To that, SOE replied: "GIFTS. And lots of them."

The studio announced a series of loyalty rewards for current subscribers that can be grabbed in-game by going to a Herald of Telon in a major city. The first rewards are a "Loyal" title, a Banshee pet, and a Bracelet of Lucky Charms.

Currently only players on Halgar can obtain these rewards, with Telon's inhabitants gaining access tomorrow. Each set of rewards will only be available for a limited time, with more sets to come between now and the F2P relaunch.

SOE showers Vanguard loyalists with gifts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wings Over Atreia: F2P and vet rewards and bears, oh my!

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Free-to-play, Wings Over Atreia

OK, so maybe there aren't really any bears. Wait, I take that back -- there are maybe sorta bears... at least alluded to! Polar bears, to be exact. No really, work with me here: What Winter Festival, Atreian or otherwise, doesn't conjure up images of polar bears? We just won't get into the whole dancing bears thing. What we will get into this week in Wings Over Atreia, however, are musings about a few topics of interest that are swirling around lately, most notably Aion's upcoming conversion to free-to-play in Europe, the changes to the veteran reward system, and the aforementioned Winter Festival (sans dancing bears).

Quick quiz now: Other than involving Aion, what else do these three subjects have in common? Give up? Time. While this column usually delves into single topics at a time, the fact that two of these are time-sensitive necessitates that they share face-time, else the news most relevant to Daevas would become obsolete. The third is less time-sensitive but more time-relevant.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: F2P and vet rewards and bears, oh my!

Wings Over Atreia: F2P and vet rewards and bears, oh my! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aion changing vet reward system

Jef Reahard — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items

Oh NCsoft, you coy devil, you!

Aion's veteran reward system is due for an extreme makeover, and we here at Massively would love to bring you the details. There's just one problem: NCsoft hasn't released any. A cryptic news blurb on the game's official website hints at the changes, and it also touches on the reasoning behind them (apparently the upcoming 3.0 patch is going to make some veteran items obsolete).

Aion players may collect their 28-month vet rewards beginning on January 25th, and claims can also be made in the month of February. After that, though, you may not get another chance since the "current veteran reward system will be discontinued." We'll update you on the situation as we learn more.

Aion changing vet reward system originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE makes EQII veteran rewards available to F2P players

Jef Reahard — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

Sony Online Entertainment is pulling out all the stops when it comes to the courtship of EverQuest II's new free-to-play constituency. In a post on the game's official boards, producer Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson has announced that both free and silver-level players are now eligible for the fantasy title's extensive veteran rewards program.

Georgeson's post is short and to the point as he briefly outlines SOE's approach. "There are a lot more [payment] options available to folks, and it just doesn't make sense that a free or silver player shouldn't be able to accumulate veteran rewards," he explains. You can view both the announcement post and a feedback thread on the official EQII forums.

SOE makes EQII veteran rewards available to F2P players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Trek Online outlines the next several veteran rewards for players

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, Previews, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play

There's still no definite date on the conversion to free-to-play for Star Trek Online, but the game is quickly approaching its 700th day of operation -- which is important. The game's veteran awards are provided for players in 100-day increments, meaning that the point is fast approaching when the players will be owed a new reward. So it makes sense that the latest Path to F2P blog discusses the next four veteran rewards and explains another upgrade to the reward for 600 days.

The 600-day reward will change to a free token at level 51 (Vice Admiral) allowing players to pick a free ship, something that is currently the case but is being changed with the upcoming patch. This veteran reward means long-time players will still be eligible for a free ship, a benefit that should help assuage at least some of the issues seen with the payment model shift. The subsequent rewards range from new Android bridge officers to free respec tokens, all of which should make long-time players rather pleased.

Star Trek Online outlines the next several veteran rewards for players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fallen Earth launching free-to-play conversion with a last chance at veteran rewards

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Business models, Launches, Patches, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic

As of October 12th, Fallen Earth will be the latest title to join the hybrid free-to-play business model. This also means that Wednesday marks the end of the road for players who want to be subscribed before that transition in order to be eligible for special veteran rewards. Returning and existing players will find waiting for them upon login a Spiked Chopper, a vehicle that will allow them to get from place to place while still looking as stylish as possible. Existing subscribers will be eligible for the veteran rewards package, which include monthly gifts, wardrobe spots, and a discount on the top subscription tier.

But even if you're not subscribed when the change takes place, you can still benefit from the new world events being brought to the game with this update. Taking place randomly in any part of the wasteland, these spontaneous special quests will allow players to dynamically jump in and take part in the struggle to preserve the wasteland and society from the forces that threaten it. Special rewards are also available for players who take part, giving all the more reason for both free and paid players to jump back into the sandbox environment of the wasteland.

[Source: GamersFirst press release]

Fallen Earth launching free-to-play conversion with a last chance at veteran rewards originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Preparing for the apocalypse (again): GamersFirst on Fallen Earth's F2P shift

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Business models, Interviews, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic, Sandbox

Today was my last day in Fallen Earth. My subscription ran out, so I was cut off from everything: glorious crafting, expansive exploration, black humor, and gas mask fashionware. Fortunately, my adventures will resume on October 12th, when Fallen Earth officially makes its transition to a hybrid free-to-play/subscription model.

Like many current players and potential clones, we are understandably curious about the implications and (pardon the pun) fallout from such a fundamental shift in the business model. Will F2P be the savior of this niche game? What's being done to prepare for the change? To answer these questions and more, we talked to Joseph Willmon, an associate game director for GamersFirst.

Massively: How are you preparing your servers for the added influx of free-to-play tourists?

Joseph Willmon: We're still wrapping up some of the final stages of settling the Fallen Earth servers into their new homes at GamersFirst, so soon they'll be as optimized as we want them to be. We're lucky in that Fallen Earth was designed from the ground up to support lots of people playing -- we'd have to blow all estimates out of the water really quickly in order for population to be an issue, which wouldn't be such a bad problem to have!

Continue reading Preparing for the apocalypse (again): GamersFirst on Fallen Earth's F2P shift

Preparing for the apocalypse (again): GamersFirst on Fallen Earth's F2P shift originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Enter at Your Own Rift: Tidbits from 1.5

Karen Bryan — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, PvE, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

RIFT's Update 1.5 has been live for about a week now, and with it comes lots of changes. What always strikes me about the updates is the number of quiet changes that leave you saying, "Wait, what was that?" It's not a ninja nerf; it's more like the fine print of the patch notes -- things that you tend to skip over or not read closely because there's so much other stuff to chew on.

This week in Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll take a look at a few of those "little" changes. And yes, we'll look at some of the larger ones too!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Tidbits from 1.5

Enter at Your Own Rift: Tidbits from 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Should veteran rewards be more substantial?

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Measuring your continuous time with an MMO in the old days was easy; you looked at how long you've been subbed, and that was it. But these days, many MMO gamers jump back and forth from game to game as the mood suits them. Veteran rewards have always been an excellent way to measure dedication to a game, but they're becoming harder to award as free-to-play games allow us to play without actually subscribing to anything.

So for this reason, I believe veteran rewards should be worth even more these days. No more extra health potions or cosmetic accessories that no one will ever see; we want real rewards for the dedication we put into the product.

But how do you feel? Do you think vet rewards are just another carrot-on-a-stick, or should our dedication be better rewarded?

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

The Daily Grind: Should veteran rewards be more substantial? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

This RIFT 1.5 update trailer is approved for all audiences

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Patches, RIFT

RIFT's 1.5 update is barreling down the road at us, and woe to the unprepared who will not leap but be squashed beneath its weight. Also, we think that a giant monkey is throwing it whilst guarding a captured princess.

In any event, RIFT's fifth major content update looks to be a game-changer in several ways, adding alternative advancement (planar attunement), master-level dungeons, and veteran rewards to the faithful. To celebrate this week's release of Ashes of History, Trion Worlds has put together an impressive trailer full of angels, demons, and the words "Trion Worlds presents" for our viewing pleasure.

One interesting detail to note is the apparent addition of a giant spider mount, which will undoubtedly play favorably in the arachnophobic market. You can view the two-minute trailer after the jump!

[Thanks to Ren54 for the tip!]

Continue reading This RIFT 1.5 update trailer is approved for all audiences

This RIFT 1.5 update trailer is approved for all audiences originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Enter at Your Own Rift: Hal Hanlin and Scott Hartsman on Update 1.5

Karen Bryan — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Interviews, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Chronicles, Planar Attunement, Veteran Rewards, a World Event, and a hint about a brand-new area coming soon are just the tip of the iceberg in RIFT's 1.5 update. Ashes of History is due to launch next week, and Design Producer Hal Hanlin and Executive Producer Scott Hartsman offered up lots of details during a conference call yesterday.

Whether you're an experienced veteran or a brand-new player, there's something for everyone in update 1.5. Read on for the full rundown of what's on the way, then take a look at our gallery for the newest Ashes of History screenshots.

Gallery: RIFT: Core Gallery

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Hal Hanlin and Scott Hartsman on Update 1.5

Enter at Your Own Rift: Hal Hanlin and Scott Hartsman on Update 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RIFT veteran rewards coming with 1.5 update

Jef Reahard — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, RIFT

It's somewhat wonky to think about veteran rewards for an MMORPG that's barely six months old, but nonetheless Trion is trotting out various incentives to keep players subscribing to RIFT and adventuring through the wilds of Telara with in-game shinies in tow.

Beginning with the game's 1.5 update, "being a veteran Ascended means honor, respect, and awesome rewards," according to the informational blurb on RIFT's website. We'll leave the honor and respect bit to your fertile imaginations, but the awesome rewards are quite tangible. They include full Guardian and Defiant uniforms, personal vendors, and on-the-go mailboxes. You can also buy your way to full veteran status (and unlock the high tier rewards immediately) by purchasing a multi-month subscription.

Look for more details in our upcoming interview with Trion.

[Thanks to Ren54 for the tip!]

RIFT veteran rewards coming with 1.5 update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Players bracing for EverQuest II's GU61 AA changes

Jef Reahard — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

Big changes are afoot in the world of Norrath, or at least the version of it on display in EverQuest II. Game Update 61 is just around the corner, and ZAM has a brief rundown on the major alternate advancement and tradeskill changes coming when the patch goes live.

While many players are cautiously optimistic, some are concerned over the fact that such sweeping changes will affect their playstyles. How sweeping, exactly? Well, every character is getting a free AA respec, so there's your first clue. Also of note are the new class, subclass, and tradeskill trees available at level 10. Of particular concern to some is the fact that the Shadows AA tree will now be off limits to characters under level 50, depriving them of some very useful health, power, and run-speed AAs and making life that much harder for dedicated crafting characters.

In other EQII news, EQ2Wire offers a brief look at the veteran reward changes hinted at during last month's Fan Faire. While no release date is forthcoming, producer Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson says that "the design is outlined and we're committed to the concept."

Players bracing for EverQuest II's GU61 AA changes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fallen Earth subscriber appreciation gifts detailed

Jef Reahard — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic

If you're a Fallen Earth subscriber, you're about to get a few thank you gifts from Icarus and GamersFirst. A new blurb on the post-apocalyptic MMORPG's website outlines the goodies in store for loyal wastelanders that stay subbed from August through October.

Fancy white boots, hats, and jackets are the order of the day, so if you've ever had the urge to dress your clone like a pimp or an extra from the Matrix, now's the time. The devs are giving away some pretty cool pets as well, and you'll take home a skin dog, a chupacabra, and an old creeper if you stay subbed for all three months.

Subscribers "won't have to buy these or do anything out of the ordinary to get them; they will gravitate towards you like mosquitoes to freshly exposed skin," says the Fallen Earth website. It's also worth noting that these gifts are not part of the veteran rewards system which Icarus says will be taking effect when the free-to-play transition is complete.

Fallen Earth subscriber appreciation gifts detailed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

City of Heroes details new Paragon Rewards program

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST

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

Ever since the conversion was announced, City of Heroes players have been looking for new information on the Paragon Rewards program launching with City of Heroes Freedom. The update promises more rewards for players who have been with the game for a while, whether they've remained loyal subscribers or have taken advantage of the free-to-play model. Details have just been released, giving players a look at what can be expected when the new reward system goes live.

When the system launches, existing Veteran Rewards badges will be converted into Paragon Rewards tokens, along with an additional token for each 12 months of subscription time. Further tokens will be earned at a rate of one per month, with an additional token for every year subscribed and for every $15 spent in the Paragon Store. Rewards are unlocked in a tiered structure, with Tier 9 offering the best rewards to veteran VIP players and lower tiers offering account-wide unlocks such as access to Mission Architect. While the details of moving through the tiers haven't been elaborated upon, players should still have quite a bit to look forward to with the rewards unveiled so far.

City of Heroes details new Paragon Rewards program originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Trek Online reveals 500-day veteran rewards

Matt Daniel — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, News items, Star Trek Online

It seems every game in the genre today has to hand out some kind of veteran reward as a thank-you for players who decide to stick around, and Cryptic's Star Trek Online is no different. So far up to the 400-day mark, STO players have been granted a variety of nifty items: titles, respecs, ship slots, costume pieces, skill point boosts, and at 400 days, even a new vanity ship. Now the 500-day rewards have been unveiled. Players who manage to play the Cryptic sci-fi MMO for that long will receive 250 emblems to spend as they please, an extra ship slot, two costume pieces, and the title "Relentless."

If you want to join in on the discussion and argue about whether or not these are worthy rewards, head on over to the official STO forum thread. Otherwise, congratulations to everyone who has racked up 500 days of playtime in STO. Yes, I mean both of you.

Star Trek Online reveals 500-day veteran rewards originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RuneScape introduces sagas and more in May

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, RuneScape, Free-to-play

The team over at Jagex always has several irons in the fire when it comes to RuneScape's future. In a recent behind-the-scenes article, RuneScape's "Mod Mark" provides us with an advance look at some of the team's plans for the game this May.

Several new capes will be added to the game, including a five-year veteran cape and one for players who have tried out RuneScape Classic at some point. Each of the capes is not only stylish but comes with special emotes as well. Continuing with the fashion theme, the devs will also make available PvP "death hats" that change in appearance as you rack up the kills.

Several other quality-of-life improvements are on the table, such as the Dwarf Lava Flow Mine becoming an actual mine for players working on that particular skill. But by far the most exciting plan in the works is the introduction of a fresh type of content in the game: Fremennik Sagas. These are replayable stories by which you step into the shoes of famous characters to experience defining moments in their lives. There are three such Sagas being developed right now, including one in which you hunt for a bandit on the run.

You can peruse all of the proposed additions to the game over at RuneScape.

RuneScape introduces sagas and more in May originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

EverQuest II moves treasured veterans into a luxurious estate

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Free-to-play, Promotions

With the housing market in Norrath the way that it is these days, elves getting tossed out on their ears and all, it's a welcome sign when contractors are called in for big budget projects. For its latest anniversary present to loyal subscribers, SOE is giving EverQuest II seven-year vets an expansive mansion as a present: the Mistmoore Crag Estate.

Perched above the Timorous Moors -- and boasting a great view! -- the Mistmoore Crag Estate was the former home of the mayor of these here parts. Happily, he's long since moved out, and those swooping in to occupy the mansion should be pleased with their findings.

This luxurious five-room player house will hold up to 600 objects, and is available to any account that rolls past the seven-year mark. It will become available starting October 12th, and you can read more about this potential dwelling over at EverQuest II's veteran reward page.

EverQuest II moves treasured veterans into a luxurious estate originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wasteland Diaries: A year? Already?

Edward Marshall — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fallen Earth, Patches, MMOFPS, Wasteland Diaries, Post-Apocalyptic

Has it been a year already? I guess it has been. Fallen Earth launched on September 22nd, the same day as Aion. But by launch day I was already working my way to Sector 3. I pre-ordered and got to start playing on the 9th. My performance at work suffered that first week as I tried to keep up with the power-levelers. Ultimately, I couldn't. But on launch day I was nearly level 30 and still, to this day, I couldn't tell you why I was rushing. I made it to the level cap of 45 a couple of weeks after the official launch. My next three trips through the wastes would be more slow-paced and lackadaisical.

While Fallen Earth is still the same game, it has changed drastically since launch day. Drastic change can be good or bad, but in FE's case, it's all good. The game has gotten nothing but better. Sure, the developers have added some mediocre content, but overall the game has been improving by leaps and bounds. And there seems to be no end in sight for these improvements. Let's take a look back at Fallen Earth's transformation from buggy, beta-like MMO to a first-rate gaming experience. After the cut, I'll break it down by patches.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: A year? Already?

Wasteland Diaries: A year? Already? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

WAR celebrates second anniversary, offers vet rewards

Jef Reahard — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Warhammer Online, News items

Its hard to believe that Warhammer Online turns two this week, but at least Bioware-Mythic is rolling out the veteran rewards to ease the sting of getting older. While many things have changed in the course of the game's first two years (including Mythic's absorption by BioWare, the departure of head man Mark Jacobs, and the debut of the endless free trial), the WAAAGH! remains the same.

In addition to the constant strains of battle, dedicated 24-month players can now make use of the Double Aegis which gives an experience bonus to surrounding players, much like the one-year anniversary WAR Aegis. Vets also receive a regenerating firework launcher which, unlike the majority of fluff fireworks in other games, never exhausts itself and can be used indefinitely. Finally, a celebratory veteran cloak is also available. Check out the details at the Warhammer Herald.

WAR celebrates second anniversary, offers vet rewards originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: How important are loyalty programs to you?

Justin Olivetti — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

This past week, EverQuest joined the growing number of MMOs that include some sort of loyalty or veteran rewards program:

"For simply continuing to subscribe to our game you will gain 'crowns' every week that can be spent on items to improve your game play. There is no additional charge for the items you find on this vendor... The amount of crowns you gain increases for every month that you have a continued subscription to EverQuest. This increase in points per week caps out after 12 months."

The basic idea behind such programs is to provide additional incentive for players to stay subscribed. These incentives can be as trite as a new title or a badge only you can see, or as substantial as cash shop currency, special outfits or unique skills. While companies like NCsoft, Cryptic, Icarus and SOE have utilized loyalty programs as part of their subscriber strategy, plenty of other studios (Blizzard, Turbine, CCP) do not.

We'd like to know: How important are loyalty programs to you? Do they make a difference in choosing which game to play? Have you stayed subscribed to an MMO you're not even playing just for the rewards? Would you like to see your current MMO offer a veteran rewards program like this?

The Daily Grind: How important are loyalty programs to you? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fallen Earth's producer details upcoming patch

Jef Reahard — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, News items, Post-Apocalyptic

Fallen Earth producer Dave "Archangel" Haydysch popped up on the game's official forums yesterday to share his latest State of the Game post. In addition to touching on the Icarus team's experience at the recently concluded Pax Prime event in Seattle, Haydysch drops a few nuggets of exciting news regarding the 1.7 patch.

Faction control points will add another PvP option to the wasteland, and will feature flags that players may capture throughout the world. Once in the player's possession, members of the conquering faction will have access to guards, buffs, and new harvesting nodes for as long as they maintain control and fight off would-be challengers. Speaking of fighting, combat is being rebalanced, and 1.7 will kick things off with mitigation and damage adjustments (as well as a free respec to help players cope with the changes). New encounter areas are also coming, and will be found near Old Kingman, Blaine, Gaia, and Deadfall. Following on from vehicle color customization in an earlier patch, social clothing updates are also included in 1.7, in the form of paint and dye kits that can be applied to jackets, pants, hats, and shirts.

As if all that wasn't enough, Icarus is also phasing in a customer rewards program that will accrue Veteran Reward Points with each subscribed month. Points may be spent at in-game vendors for unique items and will also be retroactively added to current subscriber accounts.

Fallen Earth's producer details upcoming patch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively's Community Detective, Issue #7: Star Wars Galaxies

Jef Reahard — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Community Detective

Community Detective is back after a week off and looking forward to bringing you news you can use when evaluating MMORPG communities and customer service. This week, I take a look at our third Sony Online Entertainment title, the venerable sci-fi sandbox known as Star Wars Galaxies.

While SOE gets a lot of hate in the gamer community (much of it, ironically, for the same SWG that we're going to examine today), several of its titles provide some of the best customer service in the business, and SWG is no exception. Similarly, the game's community features an unusually high number of helpful people, particularly on the Starsider server.

Follow along after the cut to see what we found.

Continue reading Massively's Community Detective, Issue #7: Star Wars Galaxies

Massively's Community Detective, Issue #7: Star Wars Galaxies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Places to go, questions to answer

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Game mechanics, Opinion, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

It's hard to believe that in just two weeks, all of the debates about whether or not Going Rogue will revitalize City of Heroes will be out of the land of theory and into the realm of practice. And while we've still got another week in the land of theory, right now we're taking a trip... well, still into the land of theory, but into the land of theories you asked for. Which is different, in a way! I have a hard time writing these introductions.

Haggs asked:
"...now that you're getting new lower-level content, why would you want to go through it as fast as you're going through the old content?"

It's not always a question of "want." Levels 1-20 in City of Heroes are not nearly as slow as the later levels -- they don't start to really feel long until you reach the 30s, but it's much faster to go from 1-20 than from 20-30 even if you're just playing casually. The flow of leveling appears to be tuned so that players will be able to hit a level of moderate competence fairly quickly, spend a bit of time fleshing out their powers, and then spend quite some time filing off any rough edges via the 40+ powers.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Places to go, questions to answer

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Places to go, questions to answer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Trek Online offering veteran rewards and free trials

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, News items, Star Trek Online

Star Trek Online players and former players got a little surprise in their inbox this morning -- the promise of rewards if you were still playing, and the chance to get back in if you stopped. Quite apart from the recent update to the game's first large content patch, Cryptic is rolling out three new features to players: Veteran Rewards, a demo, and an upcoming free trial weekend.

The demo, not quite available yet but promised in the very near future, will work along the lines of the Champions Online demo: unlimited time, but gameplay itself limited to the first few missions and areas. For lapsed players or new players who prefer limited time and unlimited content, there's a free weekend coming up starting on May 7th. Again much like its sister game, there are no limitations on gameplay, just time: May 7th at 10 AM PST until May 10th 10 AM PST.

Of course, if you're an extant player none of these options are terribly engaging to you -- but the newly-added veteran rewards most likely are. Rolling in each 100 days, the rewards allow another free respec each interval, special costume pieces, and a small skill point buff on low-level characters. Take a look at the full page for all the rewards, which are the latest in a large dose of good news for Star Trek Online fans.

Star Trek Online offering veteran rewards and free trials originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Should newbie rewards match veteran rewards?

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Star Trek Online fans got a little testy when it looked like new players would get the game for less with twice the free time. And you can't exactly blame them -- after all, it's hard enough being an early adopter for a new MMO, and you expect to suffer through a few bugs with the knowledge that you're in on the ground floor. MMOcrunch went so far as to call it a pre-order penalty, arguing that for every reward that new players get, veteran players should get something in exchange.

It's a nice philosophy, and one that games like City of Heroes have adopted in earnest with a reward program for veterans, plus new bundle packs of the game for new players. On the other hand, World of Warcraft offers nothing much to veteran players while the cover price of the game keeps going down, and that hasn't particularly impacted its sales. What do you think? Should there be an even distribution of rewards for the newcomers and the old standbys? Or is it more important to entice new players, and the old players should enjoy the extra time they've spent in the game thus far?

The Daily Grind: Should newbie rewards match veteran rewards? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Tattered Notebook: No one is left behind

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Guides, Leveling, Tips and tricks, Opinion, The Tattered Notebook

'Allo again, lovelies. Last week has been a week of danger and intrigue as I battled through Nektulos Forest and worked on getting my unique Shadowknight armor. During all of this, though, I thought to myself -- how can I apply any of these experiences to my notebook entry for this coming week?

Then of course, it hit me. Why not just explain what I've been doing to get through the areas in a short amount of time? A few tips and tricks for playing the level game? Sure, I've been up and down with grouping and preparations for Sentinel's Fate, but many players are always intimidated when entering a game and "being behind."

Well, don't worry about being behind. You're not entering the game late at all when it comes to EverQuest II, especially thanks to the recent additions to the game in Sentinel's Fate. Interested in catching up and experiencing some great content? Then click on through after the break!

Also, I'm still looking for questions anyone has on EverQuest II, so I can answer them in an upcoming Tattered Notebook. Ask me anything, from EverQuest II questions, guild leadership and raiding questions, and even questions on my Dark Elven heritage. Send them over to seraphina@massively.com, and she'll be sure to forward them on through the Norrathian Express mail to me.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: No one is left behind

The Tattered Notebook: No one is left behind originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fallen Earth's State of the Game: Upcoming additions and more

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Fallen Earth, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items

When it comes to transparency regarding patches, Fallen Earth might have just won that category in spades. The latest State of the Game article on their site is more than just an overview of the direction they want to take the game in, it's a patch by patch listing of the features that the development team will be bringing to the table.

Patch 1.3 will be expanding the game with the introduction of Kaibab Forest and Deadfall Point, as players will run a brand new plotline to push back the radiation zone and find more secrets hidden in the wasteland. The new areas come with a brand new level added to the cap, so all of that experience gained from the new area won't go to waste.

Continue reading Fallen Earth's State of the Game: Upcoming additions and more

Fallen Earth's State of the Game: Upcoming additions and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sixth-year Veteran Rewards announced for EQII

William Dobson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Culture, Patches, News items

If you've faithfully stayed with EverQuest II since launch, then you've got a handful of new Veteran Rewards to look forward to just around the corner. The sixth-year rewards have been announced on EQ2Players, and one of the bonus items in particular has the community cheering. Beginning with that most celebrated item, the rewards are:

Call of the Veteran: A charm-slot item that can be used to teleport to a group-member, or summon them to your own location. This functionality was confirmed by EverQuest II lead programmer Rothgar on the forums; the EQ2Players page only mentions teleporting to someone else but leaves out the summoning part. It has a reuse time of 60 minutes.
Hammer of Adept Hands: A charm-slot item that can be clicked to completely refill your tradeskill vitality. Its reuse time is 7 days.
Destiny Accessory Bag, containing the Hood of Fate and Shroud of Fate: A hood and cloak to let those around you know that you're part of the six-year club.

Rothgar also stated in another thread that up until some time this year, eligibility for veteran rewards was not being tallied correctly, with credit being given even while accounts were inactive. Going forward, an account must be actively subscribed to keep adding time towards veteran rewards. The rewards will be available when the Will of a Tyrant patch goes live on December 9th.

Sixth-year Veteran Rewards announced for EQII originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Details for Aion's new Veteran Rewards Program

Brooke Pilley — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, News items

We probably don't need to point out the glaring congruity that each month you play Aion will soon be rewarded with four XP boost amulets; but we will. NCsoft just spilled the beans on their new Veteran Rewards Program. This seems slightly ironic because the game has only been out for a month. We suppose it's probably a good strategy to entice players to stick around; especially after an MMO's first month, which is arguably the rockiest.

Players will now receive special items for each month they remain subscribed to Aion. Months one to six award four Lodas Amulets (20% bonus XP for one hour) and four Revival Stones (self/player resurrection). Additionally, month one gives a cube expansion ticket (+1 free row) and a special Michael Jackson dance emote. Month three grants an extra title (Adept of Aion ) and another Forbidden Dance emote. Month six gives players special level 40 Black Cloud wings.

The disclaimer states that NCsoft can expand, revise, or end the Veteran Rewards Program at any time. With the first six months plotted out, it seems likely they will continue as the game soars ahead. Check out the official description page for full details on how to qualify.

Continue reading Details for Aion's new Veteran Rewards Program

Details for Aion's new Veteran Rewards Program originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Age of Conan's patch plans laid out

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Age of Conan, MMO industry, Patches, News items

Timelines are always subject to change, but it's still nice to know them, right? Age of Conan's patching timeline was just laid out by community manager Oliver "Tarib" Kunz in an informal manner on the forums.

Patch 1.05.6 is currently on the test server, and it will be staying there for about another 2 weeks before it makes its way to the live servers, barring any unforseen testing mishaps, of course. That's the patch that has the new Iron Tower instance and the veteran rewards system.

Once 1.05.6 is out on the live servers, patch 1.06 will be pushed onto the test server. Patch 1.06 is the big one, featuring new tier three dungeons, the House of Crom "social dungeon" where multiple teams of players will work to overcome unknown obstacles, guild renown, and tower PvP. 1.06 will be added slowly to the patch server, however, focusing on the bigger updates like guild renown and tier three dungeons before moving on to the other features of the patch.

Age of Conan's patch plans laid out originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Age of Conan director's letter unveils veteran rewards and level 80 instance

Seraphina Brennan — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Age of Conan, Game mechanics, Patches, Endgame, News items

The September edition of the Age of Conan director's letter is offering some exciting developments for dedicated players in the form of a new level 80 dungeon, the Iron Tower, and the implementation of a veteran rewards program.

The veteran rewards program works a bit differently than most other programs, utilizing the new currency of "veteran points" instead of a reward per-month interval system. Each month players will be rewarded X amount of points that they can either save or spend in a new veteran reward shop, which contains items of convenience. The points rewarded will increase after each six month interval passes, giving the players more options the longer they play.

Continue reading Age of Conan director's letter unveils veteran rewards and level 80 instance

Age of Conan director's letter unveils veteran rewards and level 80 instance originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tabula Rasa's 12-month vet rewards announced

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Tabula Rasa

Can you believe Tabula Rasa's one-year anniversary is soon approaching? While it's still a bit less than 2 months away, NCsoft decided to reveal the rewards for those veteran players who have stuck around for the entire year since the beginning.

First, we have the Resupply Beacon which teleports an AFS Resupply Bot to your character's location, allowing you and your entire squad to buy ammo, consumables and repair your equipment. Then there's a Dropship Extraction Beacon which acts as a portable dropship waypoint, allowing one-way access to the local dropship network for you and your squad. They've also added a new emote called Logos Greeting. This allows players to greet each other in the language of the Eloh with the /logosgreet emote. Finally, there's the new title "Special Forces" to help other players recognize you as a dedicated member of the veteran AFS special forces.

Check out the complete Feedback Friday for more information on what's in store on the Public Test Server and more!

Tabula Rasa's 12-month vet rewards announced originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Are you owed any EQ Veteran Rewards?

William Dobson — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Guides

With many players returning to EverQuest after SOE's Living Legacy promotion, there are probably a lot of people out there who are owed Veteran Rewards that are sitting unclaimed. A new guide has been posted at the EverQuest Players website which not only explains exactly what the rewards are and how they are earned, but more importantly, goes over all of the reward tiers and their effects. Be careful before you go "/claim"-happy though -- once a particular reward is claimed on one character, no amount of GM bribing can ever allow it to be moved.

The EverQuest Veteran Rewards offer some pretty neat effects, from experience and stat buffs, to a Bristlebane puppet, right up to a summonable robot merchant (if you've been around for 10 years!). Have a look at the guide to see what your loyalty will be rewarded with in the coming years.

Are you owed any EQ Veteran Rewards? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New City of Heroes veteran rewards announced

Adrian Bott — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains

The City of Heroes crew have finally announced the Veteran Rewards for players who've been subscribed for 51 and 54 months. Those who've been around for 51 months get the Tried and True badge, along with all the City of Villains pre-order helms: Red Wolfspider, Wolfspider, Mu Mystic, and Crab Spider.

At 54 months, along with the Allegiant badge, players can pick one of the permanent temporary powers they haven't already chosen: Sands of Mu, Ghost Slaying Axe, Nemesis Staff or Blackwand. The latter two of these can give a bonus dependent on your origin, so long as the appropriate one is chosen.

More rewards are always good, but we can't help but notice the reuse of content here. CoX already recycles quite a lot of former content as well as keeping the new stuff coming, so there will be those who roll their eyes at this news. Still, Natural origin characters will be happy, since they're the one origin that can get a bonus from both the Blackwand and the Nemesis Staff. Two hefty ranged attacks from Level 1 onwards is nothing to sneer at.

New City of Heroes veteran rewards announced originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

6 month veteran rewards unveiled for Tabula Rasa

Michael Zenke — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Tabula Rasa

The Tabula Rasa weekend wrap-up offers the usual community news and Friday Night Fights review. But this was a special weekend for the men and women of the AFS: it's been just about six months since the game launched. (Hey, that means Massively is about half a year old too.) A new monthly milestone for an NCsoft game can mean only one thing: new veteran rewards! The six-month vet rewards are ladled atop the three-month Kirin mask, and the hilarious 1-month /jumpforjoy emote.

These newest rewards are downright goofy. Dedicated players will be getting access to three dance emotes (YMCA, breakdancing, and ballet), as well as a handful of costume props. These props include a green beret, a pair of brass Knuckles and (no, we're not kidding) a General British mask. Those Destination Games folks sure love their fictional military leader.

6 month veteran rewards unveiled for Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

CoX 48-month vet reward goes live today

Chris Chester — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Culture, Events, in-game, Game mechanics

Time sure does fly when you play MMOs. The City of Heroes community team has officially unveiled the 48-month veteran rewards (yes, you read that right, that's four years!) for players who have been around since the beginning. In addition to a "Battle Hardened Badge," long-time players will get their choice of a summoned pet power. They can pick from a Light Fairy, Dark Fairy, Blue Wisp, Red Wisp, Shield Oscillator, Power Oscillator, Shield Drone, or Power Drone. Each kind of pet gives a specific bonus to the player and his team, so be extra careful which one you pick.

The existence of these pets was leaked last week (they're already up on the ParagonWiki, for instance), but it was widely believed that they were a hoax. According to players on the test server, the buffs they give can be substantial, and if you get a group of vets together, the group buffs stack. Granted, the pets have awful resistances and barely a drop of HP, but their buffs are strong enough that they seem to be getting the kind of proper reception you would hope to see for a four year veteran reward. The rewards should take effect after the live update this morning.

CoX 48-month vet reward goes live today originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vanguard Game Update 4 preview shows new flying mounts

William Dobson — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, Patches, Raiding, PvE, Vanguard

The next Vanguard content patch, Game Update 4, has now had it's features listed. Headlining the preview over at VGPlayers is the addition of flying mounts, and we get to see what they look like (that spiffy griffon pictured above, if you didn't guess). Also mention in the preview is the introduction of visible helmets -- while it's nice to see them in the game at last, it's hard to be too thrilled with visible helmets being a big feature in a patch for a game that's been out this long. GU4 will bring Veteran Rewards for older accounts to Vanguard as well, similar to what we have already in EverQuest II.

Over at the forums, there is an extensive list of the other things that GU4 will bring. Notable among these is a new overland raid target, Fengrot Foulbreath (designed for 18 well-geared high level players) and updates to the Druid, Necromancer, Shaman and Dread Knight classes. If you want to try out all the updates, the whole lot is already in place on the Test Server, so you can take to the skies with your fancy new helmet right now. We have the full list of changes for the patch posted after the break for your perusing.

Continue reading Vanguard Game Update 4 preview shows new flying mounts

Vanguard Game Update 4 preview shows new flying mounts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments