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[MMO Week in Review: Is it over yet?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/mmo-week-in-review-is-it-over-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/mmo-week-in-review-is-it-over-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/mmo-week-in-review-is-it-over-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Week in Review - Copernicus screenshot
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

The MMO industry has had better weeks, and as much as we'd like to put all the layoffs, PR spin, and doom-and-gloom behind us, it wouldn't be much of a Week in Review if we did so.

The big news was, of course, the messy implosion of 38 Studios, which not only put a lot of developers out of work and tarnished Curt Schilling's reputation, but also led to the closure of 38's Big Huge Games subsidiary. Not to be outdone was BioWare, which laid off an undisclosed amount of its Star Wars: The Old Republic workforce and attempted to downplay the cuts as standard operating procedure.

Thankfully the rest of the week's news wasn't so dire. See for yourself after the break.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Is it over yet?

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Is it over yet? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 27 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Diablo III
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

We got you started in Diablo III this week with our best tips, a guide for MMO players, details on the starter edition, videos, warm fuzzies, and friendly rivalries. Hopefully, that gave you plenty to read during all of the downtime. Ouch!

Meanwhile, gamers everywhere looked on as the 38 Studios ship continued to founder. Early in the week, we learned that the studio might default on its state loan, leaving the debt to Rhode Island taxpayers. A few emergency meetings later, 38 Studios' employees' paychecks are going unpaid and the state governor is throwing out release dates for the seemingly doomed MMO Project Copernicus. But hey, flythrough video, right?

More of the week's top MMO stories are prepped for your eyes after the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Sanctuary originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 20 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Learn the basics of Diablo III gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/learn-the-basics-of-diablo-iii-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/learn-the-basics-of-diablo-iii-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/learn-the-basics-of-diablo-iii-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Diablo III
Massively's sister site WoW Insider brings us this special bonus article tonight on the basics of Diablo III for folks who normally play MMOs like World of Warcraft. Enjoy the rest of Joystiq's WoW team's Diablo coverage over on WoW Insider, and stay tuned for our own Diablo III launch roundups tomorrow morning!

Since Diablo II was released 12 years ago, it's safe to say that Diablo III will be the first Diablo title many people will have ever played. It's one of the most anticipated titles of the season and is attracting countless new players to the genre. We've received a number of questions asking how this game is even played -- and if it has anything in common with your favorite MMOs.

We have you covered.

The core of Diablo gameplay is the mouse click. You do everything from combat to looting to movement with your mouse, and your interactions with your keyboard are extremely minimal overall. On Twitter recently, many Diablo diehards have mentioned they were buying a new mouse specifically to use with Diablo III -- and that's not a bad idea. No, we're not talking a brand-new $80 Razer Naga; we're talking some $10 to $15 thing you can pick up off of a department store shelf. You want a mouse that you're not going to mourn when your buttons inevitably give out from the mountain of abuse you're about to unleash upon them. Grab something cheap and disposable so that when it dies, you will consider it a victory -- just another technological corpse for the bone pile.

Continue reading Learn the basics of Diablo III gameplay

MassivelyLearn the basics of Diablo III gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbarbarianbattlenetbattletagbattletagsblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopclassclassesd3demon-hunterdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicsgothic-fantasyguideguideshow-to-play-diablo-3how-to-play-diablo-iiimonkmultiplayernewbienewbie-guideonline-multiplayerroguelikerpgrunesrunestoneswitch-doctorwizardwow-insiderMon, 14 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: It's a conspiracy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/mmo-week-in-review-its-a-conspiracy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/mmo-week-in-review-its-a-conspiracy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/mmo-week-in-review-its-a-conspiracy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

TSW
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

The Secret World is becoming less secret by the week, which is good news for potential players (and the one million beta applicants) who are curious about Funcom's next big thing due out in just over a month. This week, on the eve of the game's first beta weekend, Massively's own conspiracy-debunkers got some hands-on time with the Templars and the Illuminati and logged a few hours trying on tinfoil hats in the character creator. (Tinfoil hats sold separately.)

The rest of this week's top MMO stories are lurking just beyond the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: It's a conspiracy

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: It's a conspiracy originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 13 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Saluting Scott Andrews on five years of valuable guild advice]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/the-guild-counsel-saluting-scott-andrews-on-five-years-of-valua/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/the-guild-counsel-saluting-scott-andrews-on-five-years-of-valua/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/the-guild-counsel-saluting-scott-andrews-on-five-years-of-valua/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

guild leader's handbook
This past Monday marked the fifth anniversary of Scott Andrews' Officers' Quarters, a weekly column on WoW Insider that deals with guild issues in World of Warcraft. He's also the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, which is a must-read for any guild leader. It's a terrific accomplishment to keep a column going for so long, and week after week, he's provided valuable advice to reader questions on guild management.

Whether you've just heard of Officers' Quarters or you're a longtime fan, let's look at a few reasons Scott Andrews deserves a tip of the hat and a hearty salute.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Saluting Scott Andrews on five years of valuable guild advice

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Saluting Scott Andrews on five years of valuable guild advice originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionadviceblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasyfeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsleadershipofficers-quartersopinionscott-andrewsthe-guild-counselthe-guild-leaders-handbookwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderThu, 10 May 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Seen any elves?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/mmo-week-in-review-seen-any-elves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/mmo-week-in-review-seen-any-elves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/mmo-week-in-review-seen-any-elves/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Any excuse for an Oblivion screenshot!
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

This week, all those terrible/wonderful rumors about The Elder Scrolls Online were proved true, thanks to a series of leaks and an official trailer that promises the world of Tamriel will soon be headed to an MMO near you. Even if you're one of those fans whose immediate reaction was terror and dread, you still have to be thinking that the genre could use another three-faction PvP game. Personally, I just feel sorry for the dev who has to design terrains for the province of Morrowind. Hope you like brown, bro!

Follow on for the rest of the week's top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Seen any elves?

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Seen any elves? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 06 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Sold out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/mmo-week-in-review-sold-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/mmo-week-in-review-sold-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/mmo-week-in-review-sold-out/#commentsFiled under: , ,

GW2
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

Guild Wars 2's first prepurchase beta event ends in just a few short hours, bringing to a close what's probably the most hyped week in ArenaNet history. We were treated to new art, the Asuran starting experience, a tour of the offices, and details on world transfers. As if to taunt us about not-yet-public races, our own Lis Cardy delighted us with a look at the lore of the Sylvari, who swear they are trees and not elves.

Meanwhile, classic Guild Wars is celebrating its seventh year of operation with a big ol' party, which hopefully gave you something to do if you were one of the unlucky procrastinators whose beta dreams were partially dashed when ANet shut down GW2's digital prepurchase options temporarily on Thursday.

Enjoy the rest of our top MMO stories after the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Sold out

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Sold out originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 29 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: To the pain]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/mmo-week-in-review-to-the-pain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/mmo-week-in-review-to-the-pain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/mmo-week-in-review-to-the-pain/#commentsFiled under: , ,

TERA
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

To everyone but legal scholars and fanboys, the ongoing NCsoft/TERA copyright duel probably seems beyond bizarre, but the latest bout was conducted this week through En Masse's bellicose official statements in response to media and fan concern over recent South Korean court proceedings, which confirmed the convictions of former Lineage 3 developers accused of taking assets and trade secrets to Bluehole Studios. Nevertheless, seemingly unhindered for the moment, TERA's launch marches onward with an open beta weekend, launch trailer, and prologue cinematic.

Read on for this week's other top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: To the pain

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: To the pain originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 22 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: TORtanic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/mmo-week-in-review-tortanic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/mmo-week-in-review-tortanic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/mmo-week-in-review-tortanic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWTOR
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

BioWare ought to be basking in the accomplishment of sending the much-touted Legacy update off on its maiden voyage, but instead, Star Wars: The Old Republic has been hindered by obstacles far worse than Titanic jokes. The studio cut ranked PvP from the patch at the last minute, and then a maintenance patch blooper took the servers offline for the better part of Friday. To its credit, BioWare is compensating players for the downtime, and if you're really lucky, you won't even need to be level 50 or grind Legacy points to receive said compensation.

Sail on for an overview of the week's most popular MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: TORtanic

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: TORtanic originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 15 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/mmo-week-in-review-pax-on-pax-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/mmo-week-in-review-pax-on-pax-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/mmo-week-in-review-pax-on-pax-off/#commentsFiled under: , ,

PAX East 2012
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

This week, Massively sent four feisty writers to PAX East 2012 to bring back interviews and impressions of the games on offer, and boy did they ever deliver! We got hands-on time with The Secret World, World of Warplanes, SMITE, PlanetSide 2, TERA, Neverwinter, Firefall, Guns of Icarus and Dungeons and Dragons Online... and we're not finished yet!

Read on for a roundup of this week's other top MMO stories!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconventionexpofeaturedjoystiqmassively-metametapaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-exporounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 08 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Beta bits]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/mmo-week-in-review-beta-bits/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/mmo-week-in-review-beta-bits/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/mmo-week-in-review-beta-bits/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Guild Wars 2
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

This week, we reveled in Massively's latest round of Guild Wars 2 beta coverage! We looked at the game from the perspective of both a Guild Wars fan and a total newbie to the franchise; we showed off the game's stellar character creation system; we discussed glory and world vs. world PvP; we demonstrated how the player Charr storylines diverge; and we answered some of your best beta questions.

In between all that, we even covered some other MMO news, the best of which is summed up after the break!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Beta bits

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Beta bits originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Panda express]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/25/mmo-week-in-review-panda-express/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/25/mmo-week-in-review-panda-express/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/25/mmo-week-in-review-panda-express/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mists of Pandaria - Mist sold separately
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

When the embargo for World of Warcraft's Mists of Pandaria media event dropped last week, few of us had any idea that the expansion's beta itself was so near. In fact, an NDA-less beta launched on Thursday, complete with an exhaustive FAQ and access scandal. Our sister site WoW Insider attended the event and assembled a splendiferous guide to MoP, covering everything from pet battles and female Pandaren to dungeons and battlegrounds.

If pandas -- I mean, Pandaren -- aren't your thing, stop fretting: Blizzard is already working on MoP's successor. And if WoW itself isn't your thing, then enjoy Massively's other top MMO stories behind the break!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Panda express

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Panda express originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 25 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: TORsy and iconic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/mmo-week-in-review-torsy-and-iconic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/mmo-week-in-review-torsy-and-iconic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/mmo-week-in-review-torsy-and-iconic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWTOR
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

This week, Massively met the crowds clamoring for more Star Wars: The Old Republic info with a slew of articles just in time for the guild summit embargo drop. We explored the upcoming Update 1.2 in a lengthy hands-on, examined the game's re-tinkered legacy system, and chatted with James Ohlen on the future of the game (wru, dungeon finder!).

Were you one of the many gamers who took advantage of the free TOR pass over this past weekend? Sound off in the comments and enjoy the rest of this week's top MMO stories after the cut!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: TORsy and iconic

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: TORsy and iconic originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 18 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: GDC 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/mmo-week-in-review-gdc-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/mmo-week-in-review-gdc-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/mmo-week-in-review-gdc-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

GDC 2012
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

This week, Massively sent four MMO experts to the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, so our usual Week in Review consists of a bit more than just the usual Star Wars: The Old Republic and World of Warcraft shenanigans! (Don't worry; it has those too.) Join us for a roundup of our best GDC coverage as well as the top non-GDC posts of the week. Maybe you'll see something you missed!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: GDC 2012

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: GDC 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconferenceconventionfeaturedgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2012gdcgdc-2012joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 11 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Doom and gloom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/mmo-week-in-review-doom-and-gloom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/mmo-week-in-review-doom-and-gloom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/mmo-week-in-review-doom-and-gloom/#commentsFiled under: , ,

EQOA screenshot
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

Quit depressing us, MMOverse. This week has been pure pain for MMO developers, as we learned that Blizzard suffered layoffs, EverQuest Online Adventures and Lime Odyssey Korea are shutting down, Stellar Dawn and Dawntide are halting development, Black Prophecy is in trouble, gamigo was hacked, and CCP's North American president moved on.

Let's aim for a rosier news roundup next week as we head to GDC 2012, shall we? In the meantime, the rest of this week's top MMO stories await you behind the break.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Doom and gloom

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Doom and gloom originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 04 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: One million served]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/mmo-week-in-review-one-million-served/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/mmo-week-in-review-one-million-served/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/mmo-week-in-review-one-million-served/#commentsFiled under: , ,

GW2 screenie
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

One million eager players signed up to test Guild Wars 2 during ArenaNet's two-day closed beta blitz this week. Whether those one million will be invited to the actual test is still unknown, but while you wait, there are plenty of GW2 snacks to nibble. Why not check out our closed beta impressions, the latest Flameseeker Chronicles, our video guide to crafting, and the latest on the game's anti-queue overflow servers?

This week's other top MMO stories are just behind the cut!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: One million served

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: One million served originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 26 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Necronews]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/mmo-week-in-review-necronews/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/mmo-week-in-review-necronews/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/mmo-week-in-review-necronews/#commentsFiled under: , ,

GW2
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

This week, we learned that ArenaNet is (still) working on a console version of Guild Wars 2, which is either old news or not news at all or possibly the worst news ever, depending on whom you ask. We also got a peek at the game's world-vs.-world PvP, and our newest columnist investigated the final leg of Guild Wars' Winds of Change content.

The remainder of this week's top MMO stories lies just behind the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Necronews

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Necronews originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 19 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Rolling in piles of money]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/mmo-week-in-review-rolling-in-piles-of-money/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/mmo-week-in-review-rolling-in-piles-of-money/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/mmo-week-in-review-rolling-in-piles-of-money/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WoW Trading Card Game Art by Philip Tan
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

Haters jeered this week as seven-year-old World of Warcraft dropped another 1% of its playerbase, but Blizzard had the last laugh, as the game is still the largest subscription game in the West and the company is still making money hand over fist, something that will likely only continue once Battle.net Balance is thriving and Diablo III has launched this spring.

Haha, just kidding -- we all know Diablo III is never coming out.

Enjoy the rest of the week's top MMO stories past the break!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Rolling in piles of money

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Rolling in piles of money originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW loses another 100,000 subscribers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/wow-loses-another-100-000-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/wow-loses-another-100-000-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/wow-loses-another-100-000-subscribers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft
Thanks to our sister blog WoW Insider, we've got the scoop on today's Activision-Blizzard investor call. The results? Turns out World of Warcraft isn't dying, but it's certainly seen better days in its record-breaking run. Blizzard's flagship MMO now boasts "only" 10.2 million subscribers worldwide (10.3 million were reported during the call in November). The company believes the success of the 4.3 patch contributed to subscriber retention, as did the success of the annual pass; in fact, a million players took Blizzard up on a deal to purchase a year's worth of WoW in return for a free copy of Diablo III.

Blizzard also confirmed plans to launch at least two titles this year, including Diablo III in Q2. Mists of Pandaria, WoW's much-maligned upcoming expansion, might be the other, though Titan, Blizzard DOTA, and a new StarCraft II campaign are also in the works. The company's expected revenue for 2012 is $4.5 billion US.

MassivelyWoW loses another 100,000 subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasyinvestor-callsubscriberswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderThu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Don't call it F2P]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/mmo-week-in-review-dont-call-it-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/mmo-week-in-review-dont-call-it-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/mmo-week-in-review-dont-call-it-f2p/#commentsFiled under: , ,

RIFT
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient column. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week?, you've come to the right post.

This week, classic EverQuest announced it will soon go fully free-to-play; meanwhile, RIFT boldly announced a lite version that will see its first 20 levels free as well.

In more meta news, Massively bids a fond farewell to Community Manager Rubi Bayer as she migrates to a job with ArenaNet. Think you're the perfect person to take over her role as our Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 columnist? We're accepting applications for this paid position through Monday.

Enjoy the rest of the week's top MMO stories after the break.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Don't call it F2P

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Don't call it F2P originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 05 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Popcorn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/mmo-week-in-review-popcorn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/mmo-week-in-review-popcorn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/mmo-week-in-review-popcorn/#commentsFiled under: , ,

GW2 screenshot
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

NCsoft made headlines this week twiceover. First, the company confirmed that Guild Wars 2 will indeed be launching in 2012 and will see several periods of public (but not open) betas, though Amazon.de's June 30th launch date seems premature.

Second, NCsoft has lodged yet another lawsuit against En Masse Entertainment and Bluehole Studios, alleging that former employees now working for En Masse repurposed Lineage III assets for use in TERA, due out this May. En Masse has vowed to fight the suit. We have stocked up on popcorn.

The rest of this week's top MMO stories are tucked just behind the cut!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Popcorn

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Popcorn originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 29 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Analyst, shmanalyst]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/mmo-week-in-review-analyst-shmanalyst/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/mmo-week-in-review-analyst-shmanalyst/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/mmo-week-in-review-analyst-shmanalyst/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Week in Review - TOR screenshot
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

Star Wars: The Old Republic continued to dominate Massively's headlines this week. We were kept on the edge of our seats at the latest zombie-related patch drama, PR videos, cosmetic pets, ability delay tweaks, and subscription bugs, nevermind the prophecies of analysts whose predictions and estimations of TOR's costs sent EA's stock on a rollercoaster ride over the week. And to those of you visiting a galaxy far, far away from Azeroth, we presented our definitive guide to SWTOR for World of Warcraft players.

Enjoy the rest of this week's top MMO stories past the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Analyst, shmanalyst

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Analyst, shmanalyst originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 22 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Space zombies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/mmo-week-in-review-space-zombies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/mmo-week-in-review-space-zombies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/mmo-week-in-review-space-zombies/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I bet they're discussing how much they hate sand. (TOR screenshot)
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

There's never a dull moment with Star Wars: The Old Republic around. This week, those crazy kids at BioWare kept us busy as they defended TOR's "innovation," debated visual quality and performance, and promised gray Jedi. We also snagged an amazing preview of the game's upcoming 1.1 patch, discussed cheating in TOR, and demanded love for the game's underpowered guild system.

Check out the rest of this week's best MMO posts!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Space zombies

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Space zombies originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 15 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: No power in the 'verse]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/mmo-week-in-review-no-power-in-the-verse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/mmo-week-in-review-no-power-in-the-verse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/mmo-week-in-review-no-power-in-the-verse/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What a piece of junk! Wait, wrong IP.
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

Browncoat gamers have been pining for a Firefly MMO almost since the day the TV show was canceled, and Multiverse was supposed to make that happen... right up until the project was shut down for lack of funds, taking the sky from both the Firefly and Buffy games, as we reported this week. But no power in the 'verse can stop Firefly fans; almost immediately, a successor group formed up to take over the source code and keep the project flying.

Check out the rest of Massively's top MMO stories past the break!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: No power in the 'verse

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: No power in the 'verse originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 08 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Hello, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/01/mmo-week-in-review-hello-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/01/mmo-week-in-review-hello-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/01/mmo-week-in-review-hello-2012/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WoW screenie courtesy of WoW Insider
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

The turn of a new year is a time for reflection, and this week we did just that in our Best of 2011 Awards and The Perfect Ten, in which we took a stroll back through 2011's most exciting MMO stories and plucked out our favorite games of the last 365 days. After all, it's been a gigantic year for the MMO industry -- RIFT and Star Wars: The Old Republic launched, Star Wars Galaxies closed, World of Warcraft announced Mists of Pandaria, CCP Games ticked a whole bunch of people off, and at least a zillion games went free-to-play.

The new year is also a time to look into the future, so naturally we furbished up our crystal balls and made predictions (some more serious than others) about how the genre will fare in the coming year. Will Pandaria sink WoW? Will browser-based and mobile MMOs continue their rise to prominence? Will TOR crash and burn? Will The Secret World be a hit? Bring it on, 2012!

Join us past the break for a look at this week's top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Hello, 2012

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Hello, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 01 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Merry SWTOR!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/25/mmo-week-in-review-merry-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/25/mmo-week-in-review-merry-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/25/mmo-week-in-review-merry-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWTOR
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

This week, the Massively staff has been utterly preoccupied with Star Wars: The Old Republic, but hey, an MMO launch this big (one million and counting!) doesn't happen often. Enjoy it! Savor it! Swing a glowstick! We've been scoping out SWTOR's queues, hype, more queues, forums, security, guilds, still more queues, launch secrets, and freeze mobs (what?).

If you're sick of SWTOR, just imagine: BioWare could have made A Game of Thrones Online instead, and you'd be sick of that.

Enjoy the rest of this week's top MMO stories beyond the break.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Merry SWTOR!

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Merry SWTOR! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 25 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Into the sunset]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/mmo-week-in-review-into-the-sunset/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/mmo-week-in-review-into-the-sunset/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/mmo-week-in-review-into-the-sunset/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Farewell SWG
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

MMO closures don't happen all that often, and those that die tend to do so in a fireball of bankruptcy and layoffs not long after launch rather than through peaceful contact negotiations after almost a decade of successful operation, but Star Wars Galaxies joined the latter group this week, sunsetting its servers on Thursday night. If you missed the finale, you can catch up with our recorded livestream of the last hour of the game and our sandbox column's touching eulogy. And there's always that other Star Wars game...

Join us past the break for a glimpse of this week's other top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Into the sunset

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Into the sunset originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametaroundupstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 18 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Almost... there...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/mmo-week-in-review-almost-there/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/mmo-week-in-review-almost-there/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/mmo-week-in-review-almost-there/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWTOR screenshot taken by Larry Everett
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

Oh, George Lucas. Did you know in 1977 that a game based on your silly space opera napkin-scratch was going to take over our blog so handily in the here and now?

Consider our end of beta impressions, the pre-load anticipation, the two-million served number, the Inquisitor vid, the Walmart fiasco, and some cheerful rivalry -- your pageviews and comments tell us just how huge Star Wars: The Old Republic is going to be.

Check out this week's other top MMO stories behind the break. Yes, there are other games!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Almost... there...

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Almost... there... originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 11 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Hour of Twilight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/04/mmo-week-in-review-hour-of-twilight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/04/mmo-week-in-review-hour-of-twilight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/04/mmo-week-in-review-hour-of-twilight/#commentsFiled under: , ,

World of Warcraft image from WoW Insider
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

World of Warcraft never lets another MMO launch without delivering a competing update to tempt back wayward sons, and as such, Blizzard launched patch 4.3, dubbed Hour of Twilight, to the servers on Tuesday, just a few short weeks before Star Wars: The Old Republic's headstart begins. The patch notably includes a transmogrification system, which allows players to customize the appearance of their gear -- you know, like you've been able to do in games like Lord of the Rings Online and Star Wars Galaxies for years. So glad you could join us, WoW!

Our sister site WoW Insider has the full scoop on 4.3's new content for the curious, and beyond the break, you'll find the rest of this week's top MMO stories!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Hour of Twilight

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Hour of Twilight originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 04 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft strikes the Hour of Twilight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/world-of-warcraft-strikes-the-hour-of-twilight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/world-of-warcraft-strikes-the-hour-of-twilight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/world-of-warcraft-strikes-the-hour-of-twilight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
It's patch day for all you World of Warcraftizens out there, and this one promises to be a doozy! Players everywhere are applying body paint, creating massive "BLIZZARD 3:16" signs, and waving about giant foam hands in anticipation of the updatey goodness.

Patch 4.3 will go live later today with a wealth of updates to the game, the biggest of which have to be a trio of heroic dungeons and a new raid, Dragon Soul. The patch also introduces legendary daggers for rogues, a transmogrification system to allow players to change the look of their gear, a raid finder, a rework of the Darkmoon Faire, and special Void Storage to free up more bank and inventory space.

Our sister site WoW Insider has been covering all of the Patch 4.3 madness with aplomb, so catch up on all the goodies coming to the game over there!

Continue reading World of Warcraft strikes the Hour of Twilight

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft strikes the Hour of Twilight originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4.3blizzardblizzard-316blizzard-entertainmentdragon-soulhour-of-twilighti-think-hes-confusing-mmos-with-footballpatch-4.3raid-findertrailertransmogrificationvideovoid-storageworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderTue, 29 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: They've got a secret]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/mmo-week-in-review-theyve-got-a-secret/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/mmo-week-in-review-theyve-got-a-secret/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/mmo-week-in-review-theyve-got-a-secret/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Secret World
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

This week, readers clamored for our hands-on with Funcom's The Secret World straight from Montreal. Meanwhile, the final beta weekend for Star Wars: The Old Republic has occupied gamers who aren't otherwise debating the merits of spending a thousand buckaroos on a single item in an MMO transaction shop. And here we thought monoclegate was insanity!

Join us past the break for a peek at this week's other top MMO stories!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: They've got a secret

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: They've got a secret originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 27 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Deleted from life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/mmo-week-in-review-deleted-from-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/mmo-week-in-review-deleted-from-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/mmo-week-in-review-deleted-from-life/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Earthrise -- Also going F2P soon
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

This week, Korean MMO publisher Hangame forgot what everyone who's ever written a last-minute research paper in Microsoft Word knows very, very well: Always make a back-up! Hangame managed to bungle a server issue and delete an entire MMO and its databases -- from life. Ouch!

Hopefully, refugees from Hangame's lost MMO will find a home in Star Wars: The Old Republic, for which we doled out beta keys just before the official NDA lifted.

In still other news, Massively is hiring again! This time we're looking for a maestro of all things livestream- and video-related. Apps are due in by December 2nd, so bring it on! Unlike Hangame, we expect you to press the save button. Repeatedly.

Hit the jump for a run-down of all this week's other top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Deleted from life

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Deleted from life originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 20 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Free-to-play for real]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/mmo-week-in-review-free-to-play-for-real/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/mmo-week-in-review-free-to-play-for-real/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/mmo-week-in-review-free-to-play-for-real/#commentsFiled under: , ,

EverQuest II
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

This week, Sony Online Entertainment surprised the MMO industry by announcing that EverQuest II will be going free-to-play... again. For real this time. We also learned that Bigpoint will be producing a Game of Thrones-flavored MMO, which may or may not be a good thing, and that while Blizzard's layoff rumors proved to be false, World of Warcraft did nevertheless suffer another massive subscriber loss. A cool million of you have quit WoW since May (assuming "you" are players in Asia, which is where most losses occurred).

Hit the jump for a peek at the rest of this week's top MMO stories!

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Free-to-play for real

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Free-to-play for real originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 13 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Don't call them robots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/mmo-week-in-review-dont-call-them-robots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/mmo-week-in-review-dont-call-them-robots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/mmo-week-in-review-dont-call-them-robots/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MechWarrior Online
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

This week, Mech fans went nuts for the news that a MechWarrior MMO will finally make its way to our screens in the form of Piranha Games' F2P MechWarrior Online.

It's also been another sad week for MMO studios; we learned that both LEGO Universe and Troy Online have been doomed to an early sunset and that Gameforge has laid off 100 employees and canceled two games of its own.

Lumber on past the cut for a peek at this week's other top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Don't call them robots

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Don't call them robots originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 06 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Pink slips]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/mmo-week-in-review-pink-slips/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/mmo-week-in-review-pink-slips/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/mmo-week-in-review-pink-slips/#commentsFiled under: , ,

APB: Reloaded screenshot
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

It's a dark time for MMO studios. Not a week after CCP Games' downsizing, both NCsoft and GamersFirst laid off employees this week, and though GamersFirst assured us that it remains committed to its games and has distracted players with the Occupy Free2Play promotion, gamers are still understandably concerned.

Trick-or-treat your way past the cut for a peek at this week's other top stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Pink slips

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Pink slips originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 30 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: BlizzCon 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/mmo-week-in-review-blizzcon-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/mmo-week-in-review-blizzcon-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/mmo-week-in-review-blizzcon-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WoW art. Woot pandas! Ahem... sorry.
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

BlizzCon owned the week with details of World of Warcraft's upcoming expansion Mists of Pandaria, Diablo III teasers, and the re-reveal of Blizzard DOTA (with which we even got a hands-on). We know Massively's often a haven for people who want to play something other than WoW, but some of us can't help but be excited anyway. Pandaren! New character models! Monks! Pandaren! New zones and dungeons! Pet battles! Pandaren! Scenarios! New talent systems (again)! Pandaren! Now all Blizzard has to do is release it before we're old and grey.

Check out the best stuff from the con along with this week's other top stories just past the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: BlizzCon 2011

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: BlizzCon 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2011joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 23 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: GDC Online 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/mmo-week-in-review-gdc-online-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/mmo-week-in-review-gdc-online-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/mmo-week-in-review-gdc-online-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

GDC Online
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

This week, Massively's own Beau Hindman and Karen Bryan attended GDC Online 2011 in Austin, Texas. GDC may not have the splash and hoopla of some of the other conventions, but it makes up for that by leaving the marketing department at the door and asking the brains behind the games to discuss the latest MMO trends and revolutions. We covered panels from BioWare, Trion, CCP and the rest on surviving in an ever-changing industry, balancing players' needs against the limits of the technology, and playing with numbers for fun and profit.

Hit the break for a roundup of our GDC Online coverage as well as a look at this week's other top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: GDC Online 2011

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: GDC Online 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc-online-2011joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 16 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: The beta that shall not be named]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/mmo-week-in-review-the-beta-that-shall-not-be-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/mmo-week-in-review-the-beta-that-shall-not-be-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/mmo-week-in-review-the-beta-that-shall-not-be-named/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWTOR
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, BioWare continued grinding the Star Wars: The Old Republic hype machine this week, starting with a massive ramp-up of beta invitations to players in the U.S. and across the pond. We also got a refreshed look at companions and a new Jedi vs. Bounty Hunter video, and BioWare's dynamic doctor duo reiterated its independence from Electronic Arts.

Check out this week's other top MMO stories behind the break.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: The beta that shall not be named

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: The beta that shall not be named originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 09 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: BioWare blunder]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/02/mmo-week-in-review-bioware-blunder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/02/mmo-week-in-review-bioware-blunder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/02/mmo-week-in-review-bioware-blunder/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWTOR Screenshot
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

There's no question that this week's highlight was BioWare's accidental mass-email to potential Star Wars: The Old Republic testers, whose hopes were quickly deflated. But SWTOR delivered more than a giant oops this week: BioWare announced that the game will launch with achievements, released a nifty 3-D map of the Star Wars galaxy, and promised an "aggressive" post-launch plan. And for those of you lost in a sea of SWTOR lore, our own Larry Everett posted a timeline of the era's history.

Check out the rest of this week's top MMO stories behind the break.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: BioWare blunder

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: BioWare blunder originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 02 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Superhero season]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/25/mmo-week-in-review-superhero-season/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/25/mmo-week-in-review-superhero-season/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/25/mmo-week-in-review-superhero-season/#commentsFiled under: , ,

DCUO screenshot
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

This week, Sony Online Entertainment's John Smedley announced that DC Universe Online will soon make the transition to a hybrid freemium payment model. That makes it the last of the "AAA" superhero titles to go free-to-play -- in fact, City of Heroes flipped a similar switch this very weekend, inviting former players back to preview the F2P conversion Freedom before it launches officially.

(Oh and there might have been an announcement about an obscure little indie MMO that's coming out on December 20th, but we're sure you don't want to hear about that.)

Don your capes and fly past the break for a look at this week's other top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Superhero season

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Superhero season originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 25 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST