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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should new expansions include old expansions?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
When Cataclysm launched, a friend of mine who hadn't played since the days of Vanilla World of Warcraft wanted to join in the fun, but when he saw the cost of catching up -- nearly full box prices for The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King, on top of Cataclysm itself -- he balked and decided to stick with cheaper games. Blizzard's policy on charging for full expansions long after they were new always did seem weird to me, since I grew up on Ultima Online and EverQuest, whose earlier expansions usually came bundled for free along with the newest one. Why keep barriers to entry (or re-entry) unnecessarily high?

So I'm happy to see recent sales on WoW's earlier expansions and a free Cataclysm for returning players via the new scroll of resurrection deal, but I can't help but wonder whether it's too late. How many of you have skipped over a game because of the cost of "catching up"? Do you think new expansions should always include the previous ones gratis?

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: Should new expansions include old expansions? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcataclysmdaily-grindeqeverquestexpansionexpansionsfantasyopiniontbctdgthe-burning-crusadethe-daily-grindUltima-Onlineuovanilla-wowwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingMon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are heirloom items bad for MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/the-daily-grind-are-heirloom-items-bad-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/the-daily-grind-are-heirloom-items-bad-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/the-daily-grind-are-heirloom-items-bad-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I may have chosen this image because it provided me the opportunity to make a 'you have a dead bird on your head' joke in the alt text
In its Wrath of the Lich King expansion, World of Warcraft introduced a new class of items: the heirloom. Heirlooms can be transferred between all of the characters on your account, even your alts belonging to "enemy" factions. While a cloth-bedecked caster can't exactly wear the heavy platemail of his older Paladin brother, the hand-me-downs are pretty useful for twinking if you plan it out a bit.

The trouble is that heirlooms effectively level up with the player, so an alt who has a truckload of heirlooms has no need to take part in the player market. Why would he need to buy a crafted staff from a Weaponsmith? He's got one that he can use for 80 (85, now) levels. And in that case, why bother crafting as a lowbie Weaponsmith at all?

What do you think -- do the conveniences of heirloom items outweigh their negative impact on MMO economies?

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: Are heirloom items bad for MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltsbind-on-accountBlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcraftingdaily-grindeconomyheirloomheirloomsopinionplayer-economytdgthe-daily-grindtwinkWorld-of-WarcraftwotlkwowwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingMon, 20 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft is going down in Europe... in price, that is]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Of course, if you're playing WoW and don't have the expansions, something seriously weird is going on, but whatever.
Reports of the demise of World of Warcraft have been greatly exaggerated, but the price of the game is falling. This isn't entirely unexpected, but the game's two more recent expansions have just seen a significant drop in their EU prices, with Wrath of the Lich King dropping to €19.99 and Cataclysm dropping to €29.99. If you've been playing the game in Europe but have yet to pick up the later expansions, this might be your incentive.

While some retailers have instituted their own price cuts in the time since the release of these expansions, these latest price drops come from the upper management at the company rather than being a limited-time sale or a reduction of overstock. The price move seems to be a result of the newly free-to-play nature of the early game and the upcoming Mists of Pandaria. No word yet on whether or not a similar official price drop will be mirrored in the US.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft is going down in Europe... in price, that is originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsmists-of-pandariamopnewspriceprice-dropsprice-reductionpricesworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's holiday sale includes $10 sparkleponies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/world-of-warcrafts-holiday-sale-includes-10-sparkleponies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/world-of-warcrafts-holiday-sale-includes-10-sparkleponies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/world-of-warcrafts-holiday-sale-includes-10-sparkleponies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WoW Holiday Sale banner
The holidays are here, and you know what that means: holiday sales! Blizzard is joining the fun with a number of (rather good) deals. The World of Warcraft Battle Chest, which includes vanilla WoW and The Burning Crusade, is on sale for a measly $5 US. Wrath of the Lich King is on sale for $10, and Cataclysm's price has been reduced to $20.

And as if that's not enough, Blizzard is also providing discounts for two of its cash shop items. Players can get their hands on a sparklepony for $10 or a Pandaren Monk non-combat pet for $5. The sale lasts until December 19th, so act now. For the full details, check out the news on WoW's official site.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's holiday sale includes $10 sparkleponies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-chestblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcatacataclysmchristmasholidayholiday-saleholiday-salesholidayspandaren-monksparkles the fire safety dogSparklesTheFireSafetyDogtbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 07 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Year of the Dragon Who Perches On Stuff While Dripping Lava.
It's been a big year for World of Warcraft, especially considering that the MMO behemoth is currently hitting its seventh year of operation. Considering its nigh-ubiquitous nature in the MMO sphere, it's hard to imagine that there was a time without it. And this past year of the game almost perfectly synchronizes with the latest expansion, Cataclysm, an expansion that was bound and determined to head back to the old and re-work everything up to new standards.

So how did that work out? What's been happening with the game over the past year? Let's pick up in December because that's when the story really begins, a story that involves a dragon smashing huge chunks of both continents to pieces. The result was a complete revamp of the game's lower-level areas, the addition of several new high-level areas, and a redesign of the way the game handled progression. It kicked off a war against primal forces and Old Gods for players, and that's without even getting in to the mechanical shifts.

Continue reading A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft

MassivelyA look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanniversaryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsfeaturedmists-of-pandariamopopinionretrospectivetbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwow-cataclysmwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingWed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: How raiding turns you into a horrible person]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/the-soapbox-how-raiding-turns-you-into-a-horrible-person/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/the-soapbox-how-raiding-turns-you-into-a-horrible-person/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/the-soapbox-how-raiding-turns-you-into-a-horrible-person/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Most of the armor was bought with tokens. The shoulders were bought with a ten-minute argument between myself and a hunter about whether or not I rolled fairly.
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I remember raiding at the start of Wrath of the Lich King very well. My Shaman was one of the first people in my guild geared up to run Naxxramas, and the oft-mentioned Ms. Lady was herself one of the first tanks to be ready to last through the boss fights. We were a casual guild, sure, but even in a casual grouping you have stars, and we were stars. We were experts on the content, we destroyed the fights, we marched around dripping in epics. I was the highest DPS in the guild, she was the tank there for nearly every session, and we were known and respected.

It was absolutely awful.

Of course, it didn't start like that. But there was a very good reason we finally decided that this was not only unfun but actively harmful to our relationship. We left and didn't look back, and we never moved back into raiding in a real way -- nor did we want to. Our time at the top made it very clear how raiding changes you and how you move from not caring about a stupid pretend sword to being absolutely livid when someone else wins a roll for that pretend sword. It's not a case of taking the game too seriously or not having a grip on reality -- it's the way that endgame raiding is structured that drives you, inexorably, to that point.

Continue reading The Soapbox: How raiding turns you into a horrible person

MassivelyThe Soapbox: How raiding turns you into a horrible person originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncultureendgameendgame-designfeaturedopinionraidingsoapboxthe-soapboxwotlkwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 20 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Why The Raid is worth seeing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/the-guild-counsel-why-the-raid-is-worth-seeing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/the-guild-counsel-why-the-raid-is-worth-seeing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/the-guild-counsel-why-the-raid-is-worth-seeing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Raid's Double Dragons
Over the weekend, Gary Gannon from Gamebreaker.TV hosted a unique event in the world of MMOs: a film premiere, complete with fancy suits and ties and even an afterparty (albeit in the form of a chat room). The film is The Raid, which followed the World of Warcraft guild Double Dragons as it worked through the raid content from Wrath of the Lich King. There has been a lot of feedback from those who saw the premiere, but it's been decidedly mixed so far. Furthermore, viewers had such strong reactions to certain parts of the documentary that director Kevin Michael Johnson made a post on the site to try to address some of the criticism.

But is the mixed review simply the cynical gamer at his best, or is it legit? In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a closer look at The Raid, and I'll explain why I think it's definitely worth seeing.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Why The Raid is worth seeing

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Why The Raid is worth seeing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbonnie-nardidouble-dragonsedward-castronovafeaturedgamebreakergamebreaker.tvgary-gannonguildguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-warsguildsjesse-schellkaren-bryankevin-johnsonlich-kingloremonths-behindraidingraidsthe-raidWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-movieswotlkwowWrath-of-the-Lich-KingThu, 11 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NetEase starts road back to operating World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/netease-starts-road-back-to-operating-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/netease-starts-road-back-to-operating-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/netease-starts-road-back-to-operating-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's time for World of Warcraft players in mainland China to break out the party hats and streamers, because things are finally... well, they're not entirely back on track, but they're at least a blessed sight closer to being back on track. Digital East Asia is reporting that NetEase has finally obtained the license to operate World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade in China after a struggle spanning an insane amount of time.

On the down side, yes, that does appear to be the last expansion, rather than the present one. On the up side, it means that the seemingly interminable bickering between government agencies has finally been sorted out, and players can finally get back to the business of enjoying the game. No word, however, on what this may or may not mean for Wrath of the Lich King, which has allegedly run afoul of Chinese censors.

The entire fiasco may be clearing, but it may have far-reaching consequences even beyond the MMO arena. A recent Chinese fan video has been making the rounds and getting mentions in the Wall Street Journal for its summary and satire of the entire mess, with some rather sharp critiques of censorship and the government's actions in the affair. This post contains background and links to subtitled versions of the video on YouTube, which might prove interesting to those who've been following the madness since the beginning.

MassivelyNetEase starts road back to operating World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardcensorscensorshipchinachinese-censorsgappneteasetbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwow-chinawrath-of-the-lich-kingyoutubeThu, 18 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft in China remains hopelessly mired]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In much of the world, current complaints about World of Warcraft center around the resolution of the storyline of the latest expansion and whether or not it's had a negative effect on MMOs as a whole. In China, current complaints about World of Warcraft are more focused on the fact that the game is still mired knee-deep in government infighting to try and make it playable again. After the last salvo, it seemed as if an end was close in sight... but as it turns out, NetEase has been forced to suspend any new player registrations for a week.

The studio is re-applying for a license to host World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, with no mention being made of Wrath of the Lich King, which doesn't bode very well for the hopes of that expansion ever seeing release in China. Having been stuck in the middle of two squabbling agencies for quite some time, and with no clear resolution in sight, it seems like a stretch to assume that the expansion will be released in China before the next one is due to arrive stateside. Our condolences to Chinese players affected by the latest round of bickering, and we can only hope that this long struggle will soon come to a conclusion.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft in China remains hopelessly mired originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinagapplegal-issuesneteaserelease-issuestbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-chinawotlkwowwow-chinawrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 08 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: In pursuit of immersion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/the-digital-continuum-in-pursuit-of-immersion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/the-digital-continuum-in-pursuit-of-immersion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/the-digital-continuum-in-pursuit-of-immersion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Some folks feel that immersion should trump game mechanics in a way that other find uncomfortable. Should we parley mechanics for the 'greater good' of some mystical all encompassing concept of improved immersion? Good question, and perfect for today's The Digital Continuum.

Immersion vs. mechanics, it's a theme that grabs you by the shirt collar and smacks you around a little bit -- or a lot, depending on how serious you take the discussion.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: In pursuit of immersion

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: In pursuit of immersion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionblizzardfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xincsoftopinionsquare-enixthe-digital-continuumworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowMon, 12 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Land of the Dead negatively impacting RvR? Mythic responds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/is-land-of-the-dead-negatively-impacting-rvr-mythic-responds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/is-land-of-the-dead-negatively-impacting-rvr-mythic-responds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/is-land-of-the-dead-negatively-impacting-rvr-mythic-responds/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Warhammer Online's Call to Arms live expansion wrapped up at the end of June with the release of the highly anticipated Land of the Dead. Many players perceived this new RvR mega-zone as the game's defining "make-or-break" moment.

A successful launch could do amazing things for WAR. A not-so-successful launch could push some players over the edge.

The Land of the Dead expansion was green-lit shortly after WAR's launch in September 2008 when everything (and everyone) was on a high. The game became the fastest selling MMO of all time and quickly reached 750,000 registered users.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long before cracks started showing, the economy fell out, and perhaps most importantly, Wrath of the Lich King launched.

Continue reading Is Land of the Dead negatively impacting RvR? Mythic responds

MassivelyIs Land of the Dead negatively impacting RvR? Mythic responds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitydaocdark-age-of-camelotmythic-entertainmentpollstrials-of-atlantiswarwarhammer-alliancewarhammer-onlinewarhammer-vaultwotlkThu, 30 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redefining MMOs: More than lore, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/redefining-mmos-more-than-lore-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/redefining-mmos-more-than-lore-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/redefining-mmos-more-than-lore-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Continue reading Redefining MMOs: More than lore, part 2

MassivelyRedefining MMOs: More than lore, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbasherons-callbiowareblizzardeaelectronic-artseqeverquestffxifinal-fantasy-xifree-realmsrealtime-worldssoesquare-enixstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorturbineworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowThu, 09 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard gives preview of the Isle of Conquest battleground]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/13/blizzard-gives-preview-of-the-isle-of-conquest-battleground/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/13/blizzard-gives-preview-of-the-isle-of-conquest-battleground/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/13/blizzard-gives-preview-of-the-isle-of-conquest-battleground/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Blizzard community manager Nethaera has announced some more details of the new battleground coming to World of Warcraft with Patch 3.2, Call of the Crusade.The "Isle of Conquest" will be a new place for Horde and Alliance to face off in forty-vs.-forty PvP across different locations offering their own unique challenges and rewards.

Blizzard has put together a preview site for the Isle of Conquest explaining about the battleground and its objectives and resources that the Horde and Alliance will struggle over. Each location will have a certain advantage, ranging from Glaive Throwers and Catapults to an airship that allows players to parachute into the enemy keep. Have a look at the Isle of Conquest preview site for more on what to expect from Call of the Crusade's battleground.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyBlizzard gives preview of the Isle of Conquest battleground originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airshipalliancebattlegroundscall-of-the-crusadecatapultcommunity-managerfantasyglaive-throwerhordeisle-of-conquestkeepsnethaerapatchespreviewpreviewspvpresourcesworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingSat, 13 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Next World of Warcraft patch announced: Call of the Crusade]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/next-world-of-warcraft-patch-announced-call-of-the-crusade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/next-world-of-warcraft-patch-announced-call-of-the-crusade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/next-world-of-warcraft-patch-announced-call-of-the-crusade/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Blizzard has announced that the next major content patch in the works for World of Warcraft is Patch 3.2: Call of the Crusade. Patch 3.2 will expand upon the features of Wrath of the Lich King, and Blizzard lists a few highlights:

  • The Argent Tournament expands: With the help of Azeroth's heroes, the Argent Crusade will finish the Argent Coliseum just in time to call for all brave citizens to prepare for battle with the Lich King. New dailies, rewards, and more will be available at the Argent Tournament grounds to lure adventurers into the coliseum.
  • Crusader's Coliseum: In order to prepare for a siege on Icecrown Citadel, players will be called by the Argent Crusade to test their mettle in the Coliseum. 5-player, 10-player, and 25-player challenges await inside.
  • New Battleground: Isle of Conquest, a new large-scale siege Battleground, will be open. The Horde and Alliance will battle head-to-head for control of strategic resources to lay siege to the keeps of their opponents.
  • New Arena Season: Season 7 will officially start, paving the way for all-new items and challenges.

The full details of Call of the Crusade, as they stand right now, can be found in the public test realm patch notes. We'll keep you informed when more details of World of Warcraft's Patch 3.2 are released.

[Via VG247]
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyNext World of Warcraft patch announced: Call of the Crusade originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcall-of-the-crusadefantasypatch-3.2patchesworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingSun, 24 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Yesterday, we reported the rumor that it looked like Chinese World of Warcraft operator The9 might be losing the licensing rights to a competitor, and today we can confirm that rumor to be 100% true. Rival company NetEase has purchased the rights to operate World of Warcraft in China, starting once The9's current contract is up with Blizzard on June 8th.

NetEase is already the operator of Battle.net in China, supporting Warcraft III and the to-be-released Starcraft II. They have been operating with Blizzard since last August, when they acquired all of the rights to the other Blizzard games. This acquisition only brings NetEase and Blizzard closer together in their business arrangement.

What is still up in the air, however, is the fate of Wrath of the Lich King. DoNews, a Chinese news site, has reported that Wrath has been licensed by NetEase, although no formal announcement has yet been made.

[Via JLM Pacific Epoch]

MassivelyThe9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzardlegallicensingneteasepatch-3.0rightsstarcraft-2starcraft-iithe9transitionwarcraft-3warcraft-iiiworld-of-warcraftwotlkwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingThu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard nominated for 6 awards at MI6 Conference]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/blizzard-nominated-for-6-awards-at-mi6-conference/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/blizzard-nominated-for-6-awards-at-mi6-conference/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/blizzard-nominated-for-6-awards-at-mi6-conference/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Massively's sister site WoW Insider pointed out some news regarding Blizzard today. WoW Insider's Mike Schramm writes that Blizzard Entertainment seems to have made a big impact on the MI6 Conference, which is focused on the marketing and monetization of games. Blizzard is a nominee in six award categories for the 2009 MI6 Awards, most of them for World of Warcraft:

OUTSTANDING TV OR THEATRICAL AD
Ozzy Osborne - "Prince of Darkness"

OUTSTANDING TV OR THEATRICAL CAMPAIGN
World of Warcraft 2008 "What's your Game?" TV Campaign

BEST WRAPPING - PRODUCT PACKAGING
Wrath of the Lich King Standard Edition

OUTSTANDING OVERALL MARKETING CAMPAIGN
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Launch Campaign

SHARPEST PEN AWARD - BEST COPYWRITING/TV OR THEATRICAL
Ozzy Osborne - "Prince of Darkness"

BEST PRODUCT LOGO DESIGN
Diablo 3 Animated Logo

The MI6 Conference will be held on April 8th in San Francisco.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyBlizzard nominated for 6 awards at MI6 Conference originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As we've reported on earlier, Wrath of the Lich King isn't heading towards a speedy approval for Chinese audiences, leading to problems for The9 if they can't get Wrath approved by the government. However, unlike The9, Blizzard is downplaying the issues Wrath may be facing.

Blizzard has told GamesIndustry.biz that "World of Warcraft continues to operate as normal in mainland China, and we're continuing to work with our local partner, The9, toward the launch of Wrath of the Lich King there. An official announcement will be made once it's ready to go."

It seems that everything is on track for Wrath's launch in China according to the company, but only time will ultimately tell when Wrath will be able to get away from the new stringent regulations holding it back.

MassivelyBlizzard downplays Wrath's issues in China originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardchinadisapprovalgamesindustry.bizregulationsskeletonsthe9world-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingzombiesSun, 22 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China's The9 faces bankruptcy if Wrath expansion not approved by government]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/chinas-the9-faces-bankruptcy-if-wrath-expansion-not-approved-by/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/chinas-the9-faces-bankruptcy-if-wrath-expansion-not-approved-by/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/chinas-the9-faces-bankruptcy-if-wrath-expansion-not-approved-by/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We reported the other day on the issues that The9 is having with getting the Wrath of the Lich King expansion released in China. The government is unwilling to approve the World of Warcraft expansion, citing 'health' and decency concerns about the game's content. The9 is the licensed operator of World of Warcraft in China, and the company paid a significant amount in licensing fees to Blizzard Entertainment in April of 2008 to secure the rights to operate Wrath, according to Shanghai-based JLM Pacific Epoch.

Although the Chinese regulatory body, the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), is chiefly concerned with removing "unhealthy" content from the game, their stance could prove disastrous for The9. If GAPP doesn't green light the Wrath of the Lich King expansion in China, The9 will not be able to recoup their losses and may face bankruptcy.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!


MassivelyChina's The9 faces bankruptcy if Wrath expansion not approved by government originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiabusiness-modelscensorshipchinaexpansionsfantasygappjlm-pacific-epochlicensed-operatormmo-industryoperatorregulationregulatory-bodyshanghaithe9world-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 13 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Lich King stein for getting your drink on]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/new-lich-king-stein-for-getting-your-drink-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/new-lich-king-stein-for-getting-your-drink-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/new-lich-king-stein-for-getting-your-drink-on/#commentsFiled under: , ,


When the weekend comes, there's nothing better than kicking back, gathering up some friends (online or in meatspace) and getting your game on. Well, if you're the World of Warcraft player who already has just about everything there is to have, there's a new item on the market. Blizzard and 3 Point Entertainment are offering a brand new Wrath of the Lich King themed stein for your frosty weekend beverage enjoyment - or for just sitting on a shelf. Your choice.

The previous two steins for the Alliance and the Horde, with artwork designed by Glenn Rane and Samwise Didier, sold like wildfire at BlizzCon last year. Considering that, it's likely the base $90 model will do well among the devoted Blizz fans who absolutely love to collect game memorabilia. Of course, If that's not cool (read: expensive) enough for you, there's also a $175 limited-edition model which is signed by Alex Horley, the artist who designed this new bit of functional collector's kipple. If you're into decorative steins and can afford it, be sure to get your order in soon; they ship them in late April/early May. This mere mortal will stick with her beloved (read: cheap) coffee cup.

MassivelyNew Lich King stein for getting your drink on originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-horleyarthasbeer-steinceramicglenn-ranereally-expensivesamwise-didiersteinworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingSun, 01 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jeff Kaplan leaving World of Warcraft for next-gen Blizzard MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/jeff-kaplan-leaving-world-of-warcraft-for-next-gen-blizzard-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/jeff-kaplan-leaving-world-of-warcraft-for-next-gen-blizzard-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/jeff-kaplan-leaving-world-of-warcraft-for-next-gen-blizzard-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Big news is coming out of Blizzard today as Jeffrey Kaplan, lead designer on World of Warcraft, is moving onto the company's next-gen MMO full-time. His announcement was made via a personal post on the official forums, and included a promise to both play and stay involved with WoW while leaving the day-to-day responsibilities to Tom Chilton and J. Allen Brack.

Kaplan has definitely been involved with the project before now, but we can't stop from wondering whether this is a sign of development ramping up in a big way for Blizzard's sophomore MMO effort, because you don't move over the main dude working on your biggest property unless it's time to kick it up several notches.

And what does this mean for the next expansion in terms of direction and overall design philosophy? Well, knowing Blizzard we won't see a drop in quality, but with a changing of the guard there's always a chance for new directions to be taken.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyJeff Kaplan leaving World of Warcraft for next-gen Blizzard MMO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sometimes, there's just nothing as relaxing as taking a ride around the countryside in your favorite game. Unless, of course, you're a Shaman or Death Knight in World of Warcraft, in which case you're not limited to just countryside! Today's One Shots is of Massively's very own Kyle Horner, who just loves to run around on water. He thinks it's fun to taunt Shamans with the fact that they're not alone in being able to do this for themselves now. (He'd better hope his guild doesn't have mainly Resto Shaman healers in it or he's going to be hurting for heals on raids.)

If you're in the mood to take silly screenshots, we're in the mood to show them off! Just email them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and the game the image is from. We'll post it out here and give you credit for sending it in. (We also may make up something completely untrue about the image, just for the hell of it - there again, we may not.)

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Just out for a ride originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddeath-knightkyle-hornernorthrendone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingThu, 12 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Lich King's casual decree: No geek left behind?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/27/lich-kings-casual-decree-no-geek-left-behind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/27/lich-kings-casual-decree-no-geek-left-behind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/27/lich-kings-casual-decree-no-geek-left-behind/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Image courtesy of WoWWiki
Most MMORPG subscribers fall into one of two camps: casual and hardcore. A big reason why World of Warcraft has experienced such monumental success is that it has constantly delivered a rich adventure experience for both player-types. Heck, even Jimmy Fallon is playing WoW these days. This design balancing act is extremely tricky and while many MMORPGs attempt it, very few succeed. According to an editorial piece at The Escapist, Blizzard has tipped the scales in favor of the casual crowd with its latest expansion (Wrath of the Lich King) and it may have produced unintended consequences for both casual and hardcore gamers alike.

Sean "Gamers with Jobs" Sands, a self-described casual gamer, claims that he and 10 million or so other casual gamers have achieved what competing MMORPGs have so far been unable to; they ruined World of Warcraft. He believes that Blizzard has adopted a "No Geek Left Behind" policy with WotLK, making WoW so easy that it has diminished any real sense of risk, reward, or adventure. The casuals are left without any sense of awe inspired by the unattainable and the hardcores will burn through the content so quickly Blizzard may find it difficult to keep up with them.

MassivelyThe Lich King's casual decree: No geek left behind? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The dust has had time to settle over Azeroth since the launch of World of Warcraft's latest expansion Wrath of the Lich King, and most semi-active players who stick to a main character will probably have hit the new level cap of 80. That's the lazy way to summarize the expansion-leveling situation, but for a bit (well, a heck of a lot) more depth, it's worth checking out gamerDNA's study of how their users went once WotLK's starter pistol fired. To fit the nature of the study, the sample of 3000 users was limited to people who had a level 70 character at the expansion's launch, had picked up the expansion within 10 days of launch, and did not take on the new Death Knight class as their main.

The picture above shows one of the resulting pie charts from gamerDNA's study. From the sample, the biggest group (44%) took between 16 and 30 days to reach level 80, but quite a large percentage (18%) managed to finish up their leveling in just 5 to 15 days. Only a very small group from the sample (2%) took longer than 60 days. Interestingly, further pie charts show that there wasn't one particular class that was favored in the race to 80 -- in fact, in the quickest group, where you'd expect class to matter more, the class make-up was probably at its most even across the board.

If these sorts of facts and figures get your pulse racing, perhaps you could help us do a quick poll of our own: in which group would you fit on the above chart?

MassivelyThe race to 80 in Wrath of the Lich King analyzed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesgamerdnalevelingstudysurveyworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 26 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Patch 3.0.8 lands on World of Warcraft servers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/patch-3-0-8-lands-on-world-of-warcraft-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/patch-3-0-8-lands-on-world-of-warcraft-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/patch-3-0-8-lands-on-world-of-warcraft-servers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's finally here, the first post-Wrath patch-of-important-things for World of Warcraft. And by "important things" we mean changes like allowing players to create a Death Knight on any server, so long as they have a level 55+ character on at least one server. There are also a bevy of class changes, as well as a pretty nifty launcher update that's added plenty of utility plus style. Overall, the 3.0.8 patch was quite beefy -- now we just have to sit tight for the eventual Icecrown patch to slam onto our harddrives.

If you really want to get the low-down on all changes both big and small, WoW Insider's got you covered. And if you're an Arcane Mage, then count yourself lucky as Blizzard saw fit to give out candies this go-around.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyPatch 3.0.8 lands on World of Warcraft servers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Tis the season for giving awards, and the readers of MMORPG.com have bestowed two honors upon Lord of the Rings Online and one upon Turbine itself, putting LotRO and Turbine over CCP, Blizzard, and Mythic Entertainment.

LotRO was named MMO of the year, while The Mines of Moria were awarded the best expansion of the year award, beating out Wrath of the Lich King for the top spot. Also, the readers named Turbine as their favorite MMO studio of the year -- all high praise indeed.

The final results in the voting for best expansion and favorite studio weren't even close -- giving Turbine a landslide victory over Blizzard in both cases. In the best expansion category Moria won with 48% of the vote over Wrath's 25%, and for the favorite studio category Turbine achieved 46% of the vote compared to Blizzard's 14%.

Turbine has released a press statement which thanks the many fans and players of LotRO, as well as the readers of MMORPG.com. For the full release, check it out at the LotRO main website.

MassivelyMMORPG readers choose Lord of the Rings Online as best MMO of 2008 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been a while since Warhammer Online was released and in that time we've seen a lot of crazy stuff happen. Namely, Wrath of the Lich King launched, became the fastest selling PC game of all time and rocketed World of Warcraft into an even high number of subscriptions. And with everyone spending the last couple of months in Azeroth -- myself included, admittedly -- I felt it was about time to hang up my Death Knight armor, grab a halberd and run around as a crazed Dark Elf wearing way too many spikes and blades for his own good.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Checking in with Warhammer Online

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Checking in with Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Class balance is always a touchy subject, depending on the class a person plays. But WoWRIOT has put together an impressive look a class balance in a post-WotLK World of Warcraft. After looking through much of the post, we're pretty impressed with its accuracy and overall take on current class balance, especially as it pertains to arena and PvP.

Normally, those who actually play the game are much more interested in these kinds of balance overviews. However, the article contains an extensive look at Death Knights and everything about where their place in the game is right now. So for anybody who's been curious as to what's going on with the first new class in World of Warcraft, we'd say the article is definitely worth a look. For everyone who does play the game, it's probably a good idea to at least check out your class (or classes) if only to see why you should or shouldn't be upset with Blizzard.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyClass balance in a post-WotLK World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenablizzardclass-balancedeath-knightpvptankingworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwowriotwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 06 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft tops most played list of 2008]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/world-of-warcraft-tops-most-played-list-of-2008/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/world-of-warcraft-tops-most-played-list-of-2008/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/world-of-warcraft-tops-most-played-list-of-2008/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nielsen Research has published its January through October numbers about the top 10 PC games and top 10 consoles by amount of time played. Once again World of Warcraft tops the charts. In fact, WoW has more time played than the other nine titles listed - combined.

Coming in at position 6 is Runescape, the browser-based game that could. It had just slightly less share than The Sims 2. Numbers for only October are available on the Nielsen website and show a different makeup for numbers 2-10, with WoW still in first. We can only imagine what this data will look like for November 2008 with the added game time of those who bought Wrath of the Lich King.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft tops most played list of 2008 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>most-playednielsenrunescapesims-2the-sims-2world-of-warcraftwotlkwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 02 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Looking back while moving foward]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/the-digital-continuum-looking-back-while-moving-foward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/the-digital-continuum-looking-back-while-moving-foward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/the-digital-continuum-looking-back-while-moving-foward/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


This last year has seen a lot of things happen in our beloved MMO-world. Things like the launch of Pirates of the Burning Sea and Age of Conan delays seem long lost in the fog of summer and winter. It was all buried underneath the revelations of DC Universe Online and Star Wars: The Old Republic. And the noise created by the build up to Warhammer Online's launch seemed squelched by the silent wall that was the Wrath of the Lich King launch. It was all a gust of insanity that blew through our brains, creating ebbs and tides in our attention and interest faster than any of us probably thought possible. And just when we all thought it was over, Atari bought Cryptic.

But it seems safe to leave our homes and wonder about the great precipice of 2009. At least until the next massive storm rolls in and knocks an oak tree into our recently mended skulls.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Looking back while moving foward

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Looking back while moving foward originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20082009age-of-conanaocatariblizzardchampions-onlinecrypticeverquest-2featuredfree-realmsfuncomjgejoystiqfeaturesjumpgate-evolutionlego-universencsoftnetdevilpirates-of-the-burning-seapotbssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicthe-agencythe-digital-continuumworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingSat, 20 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wrath of the Lich King ranks in Edge's top games for 2008]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/wrath-of-the-lich-king-ranks-in-edges-top-games-for-2008/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/wrath-of-the-lich-king-ranks-in-edges-top-games-for-2008/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/wrath-of-the-lich-king-ranks-in-edges-top-games-for-2008/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It's been a good year for the second expansion to World of Warcraft, but things just got even better. Edge Magazine has tossed up it's top 30 of 2008 and Wrath of the Lick King placed at number sixteen. The expansion is the only MMO on the list, which is saying a lot in a year when Warhammer Online and Mines of Moria came out, impressing many players.

The placement is attributed to Blizzard's re-imagining of what's possible in Azeroth through new quests and zones, as well as the addition of the Death Knight class. We've got to agree with them there, which is why Massively awarded Wrath with the best expansion of 2008.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyWrath of the Lich King ranks in Edge's top games for 2008 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardazerothblizzarddeath-knightedgewotlkwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 17 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Microtransaction stigma]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/the-digital-continuum-microtransaction-stigma/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/the-digital-continuum-microtransaction-stigma/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/the-digital-continuum-microtransaction-stigma/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There's been a lot of news about microtransactions this week, and because of that I felt it was as good a time as any to discuss the topic. Are they good or bad, useful or useless and are they really the future of the MMO industry? The subject of business models is certainly a hot issue, with some players abhorring the idea of microtransactions while others refuse to pay a standard monthly subscription for any sort of game. All of this amounts to a good deal to discuss, so let's get started.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Microtransaction stigma

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Microtransaction stigma originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today's One Shots shows off an area of Northrend that's been causing a lot of interest from World of Warcraft players. It's an area called The Engine of the Makers, which Vasius from the Darrowmere server took this really cool screenshot of. Vasius writes in: [This is] me on my flying carpet in the zone of Storm Peaks in Northrend. The Engine of the Makers is actually labeled on the map in game. You can fly inside it - there are mobs in there - but I have yet to get any quests to go there. Maybe its for Alliance quests only or something. There is indeed a quest to go there for Alliance, and a pretty awesome mount attainable for all factions nearby. However, I'm not going to spoil it for those who haven't been to this picturesque locale as yet.

Find an interesting spot in your favorite game recently? If so, we'd love to see screenshots of it. Just send those to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and the game it's from. Descriptions are always welcomed, but not needed. We'll post it here and give you the credit for it!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Magic Carpet ride originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Death Knight is a pretty fun class, but anyone who's been playing one since launch knows it's a bit lacking in the tanking department at times. And for a class that wears only plate armor and has talent builds that focus on either giving damage or taking damage, it's kind of important to be able to take a few hits. So when the new Death Knight changes hit the public test realms, WoW Insider was all over it.

Overall it looks like each of the three talent trees have been tweaked to fall in line with what they're supposed to offer a player. Blood gives good singular-target damage, while healing the Death Knight, Frost is all about tanking and taunting and Unholy is a blend of support and area of effect damage spells. So, in other words, it looks as though Blizzard is making mostly positive changes here. We'll be curious to see if anything is changed as it's tested out by players, because well, that is the point of testing out an upcoming patch after all.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyAnalyzing the upcoming changes to Death Knights in World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There has been a flood of co-op games this year, and they've been really popular. People love to play with one another. Everything from Red Alert 3 to LittleBigPlanet shipped with some form of online co-op, people are eating up the co-op experience. And why shouldn't they? It's a whole heaping ton of fun. But of course, the biggest selling co-op experience this year has likely been Wrath of the Lich King.

Let's face it, our beloved MMOs are pretty much the thesis of co-op gaming. Granted, you can solo in World of Warcraft if you like, but the core experience of that game is playing with other people -- be they friend, family or complete stranger.

Traditional games and MMOs share a lot in common, but they ultimately sit and different ends of the co-op experience spectrum. There is almost certainly a sweet spot somewhere in the middle and I posit that Blizzard has been able to come the closest to it, but there's more ground to be made. In fact, there's one game in particular that could push the itself further towards co-op than any MMO before it: Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Blurring the line between co-op and MMO

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Blurring the line between co-op and MMO originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer Online is out, Wrath of the Lich King is out and Mines of Moria has also been released into the wild. Each of these games cover a wide range of features and fantasy settings, and World of Warcraft pretty much has the fantasy MMO archetype covered mostly on its own. So until someone figures out "WoW 2.0" -- something that's got all the good parts, but much less of the bad -- should any new fantasy game bother at this point?

We think Guild Wars 2 is probably safe because it'll be without a monthly subscription, which is usually a big barrier to entry for a lot of possible players. Beyond that though, have Blizzard, Turbine and Mythic completely monetized the fantasy genre to its fullest potential for the time being or is there room for another title in the next year or two?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Has the fantasy genre been addressed? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Standing in the tiny store, I found myself at a crossroads. I'd put a lot of thought into this, but now that the decision was starting back at me, it seemed much more daunting. The question kept repeating in my head, "Do I buy Wrath, or Moria?" The financially devoid part of my brain enthusiastically yelled, "Both!" while the logical part reminded me that my time was already stretched fairly thin and that trying to dive into two new expansions would probably not be a wise move.

Decisions, decisions.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath?

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The guys 'n gals over at WoW Insider have been kind enough to put together a handy guide to all the Wrath of the Lich King 5-man instances in gallery-form. So, for those of you who've already filled up on turkey or some form of meat substitute (tofurky, anyone?) and are already looking to delve into Wrath, this may be the perfect thing to help you along the way! If not, well then we're happy you've already hit 80 -- just don't brag about it to us, because we're sensitive about our addictive-resiliant personalities.

Actually, we're just sensitive to our need to subscribe to -- and play -- three or more MMOs at a time, which is why we're loving this efficiency-boosting guide.

Gallery: Wrath of the Lich King Dungeons

Dungeons of WrathUtgarde KeepThe NexusAzjol-NerubAhn'kahet: The Old Kingdom
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyWoW Insider's handy-dandy Wrath of the Lich King instance guide originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Bartle, co-creator of the first multi-user dungeon MUD, has expressed his displeasure with Blizzard over a Wrath of the Lich King quest -- titled, "The Art of Persuasion" -- that involves the torture of a character for information. "I'm not at all happy with this. I was expecting for there to be some way to tell the guy who gave you the quest that no, actually I don't want to torture a prisoner, but there didn't seem to be any way to do that." said Bartle on his feelings about the quest. He also said that a player must complete this quest in order to proceed into an instance called Nexus, but those we've spoken to have told us the quest is merely part of a chain that can be completed in the instance.

We mostly feel disappointed in Blizzard, because they've missed an opportunity to make something thought provoking. Players are simply given one option with no real consequence instead of pointing out the cruelty of torture or letting a player decide whether or not to do it and find another way to complete the quest. Beyond even that, this quest does kind of break the lore aspect of being a good guy (Alliance) or a misunderstood good guy (Horde) when you're doing exceptionally evil things.

[via IncGamers]
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyBartle calls Blizzard out on torture quest in Wrath of the Lich King originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everybody has worries, even Turbine's executive producer Jefferey Steefel. While we don't know what worries him, we do know what doesn't: World of Warcraft. In an interview with MTV Multiplayer, Steefel revealed that Lord of the Rings Online didn't see much of a dent from Age of Conan or Warhammer Online's launch. In fact, much like World of Warcraft, Steefel says most players who left eventually came back. This definitely explains why he's not worried about Wrath of the Lich King and it's launch a week prior to Mines of Moria -- he's got numbers to back it up.

So what's the big secret? Is Turbine employing the power of the one ring? Well, according to Steefel there's a couple of reasons, "Somebody who's really looking for that heavy [Player vs. Player] or [Realm vs. Realm] experience, they're going to go play 'Warhammer.' But if they're looking for the best [Player vs. Environment] game, it's clearly 'LotRO.' Period. Plus, it's 'Lord of the Rings!'" Seems like a solid argument, although none of it would matter if Lord of the Rings Online wasn't an incredibly well-made game.

Steefel even points to this fact when asked why games like Tabula Rasa fail while others succeed, saying, "Consumers aren't so forgiving anymore, and I think that's why [MMOs] are starting to have difficulty." Blizzard certainly played a role in that, although it was bound to happen with time, anyhow.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online producer 'not worried about World of Warcraft' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virtual economies are a fascination for us, and EVE Online isn't the only game with people who spend much of their time playing the markets, of course -- World of Warcraft is rife with opportunities for rampant capitalism. Case in point: gold-making advice blog The WoW Economist reports that some materials used by the Enchanting profession are selling for outrageously high prices at the auction house post-Wrath of the Lich King launch -- an excellent time for money-minded players to cash in.

Writer John Murphy points out that Infinite Dust and Greater Cosmic Essences are selling for 150g and 250g per stack, respectively, and that he made 2,300g in one Sunday afternoon taking advantage of the situation. The recommendation: disenchant, sell now! Level up Enchanting later! There are always these oddly destabilizing surges after expansions in these games, so it's good to know how to exploit them to the max. Go forth and become filthy rich, guys and gals!

MassivelyWoW Enchanting mats are selling high, opportunists -- to the auction house! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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