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[TERA Tome database unleashes the mysteries of Arborea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/tera-tome-database-unleashes-the-mysteries-of-arborea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/tera-tome-database-unleashes-the-mysteries-of-arborea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/tera-tome-database-unleashes-the-mysteries-of-arborea/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- TERA
TERA players, have you been spending weeks trying to find that one perfect weapon? Or maybe you just want to know which mob drops the crafting mats you need to pimp out your gear. Either way, the ZAM Network is here to help. En Masse Entertainment has announced on the official TERA site that ZAM's TERA database, alliteratively named TERA Tome, is live and kickin'.

The current version of the site includes all of the nifty features that players have come to expect from ZAM's MMO databases, such as information on quests, items, and abilities as well as helpful forums and comments. Players trying to get a handle on their character's build should also find the site handy thanks to its useful glyph calculator that allows players to survey all currently available glyphs without the need to set foot in the game. Just head on over to the recently launched site to crack open the tome.

MassivelyTERA Tome database unleashes the mysteries of Arborea originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studiosdatabaseen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyglyphglyph-calculatorglyphsitem-databaseteratera-tomezamzam-networkMon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tencent grows its empire with SURA Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/tencent-grows-its-empire-with-sura-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/tencent-grows-its-empire-with-sura-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/tencent-grows-its-empire-with-sura-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

SURA Online - Bard shaman girl
If you haven't heard of SURA Online yet, well, consider yourself enlightened. The online action title is renowned for its fast-attack combat system inspired by martial arts cinema, and ThisIsGame reports that SURA has been picked up for worldwide distribution by Chinese mega-publisher Tencent.

SURA boasts three races and six classes, and TIG compares its fighting mechanics to the Tekken series (you can see an official gameplay trailer after the cut, below).

Tencent is a major player in the global MMO market; much of its revenue stems from the sale of virtual goods via its Q Coin currency. Interestingly enough, the company also acquired the ZAM Network in February.

Continue reading Tencent grows its empire with SURA Online

MassivelyTencent grows its empire with SURA Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgbusiness-modelsf2pfantasyfree-to-playmartial-artsmmo-industryq-coinssurasura-onlinetencenttencent-acquires-sura-onlinetencent-gamestencent-owns-zamzamWed, 21 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New contest celebrates the launch of Torhead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-contest-celebrates-the-launch-of-torhead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-contest-celebrates-the-launch-of-torhead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-contest-celebrates-the-launch-of-torhead/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Familiarity is not necessarily a bad thing.
If you've been following Star Wars: The Old Republic for long enough, you're probably tired of hearing it compared to World of Warcraft. Unfortunately, the launch of the beta version of Torhead isn't going to ameliorate those comparisons, as it's clearly meant to function in the same fashion as Wowhead (and is designed by the same team, no less). Even if you're not lucky enough to be in the beta yet, you can scour through the database and play with the skill calculators already.

To celebrate the launch, the site staff is kicking off a contest, and appropriately enough, the more helpful content you upload to the site, the more contest entries you get. The grand prize winner gets a new Razer Naga and an Astro A40 Gaming Headset, both of which should be quite useful once the game launches. But even if you're not in the beta, you can still browse and comment to enter, something that might help assuage the waiting.

MassivelyNew contest celebrates the launch of Torhead originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycommunity-databasecommunity-sitescontestdatabasestar-wars-the-old-republicswtortorheadwowheadzamWed, 23 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA["Solid one-two punch": Trion responds to account hacks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/solid-one-two-punch-trion-responds-to-account-hacks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/solid-one-two-punch-trion-responds-to-account-hacks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/solid-one-two-punch-trion-responds-to-account-hacks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The saga of RIFT's account security woes continues, as Trion World's Scott Hartsman responded to the hacker attempts, reassuring fans curious about what steps were being taken to secure their accounts.

Citing "constant attacks" since the launch of RIFT that have impacted 1% of accounts, Hartsman said that the team is blocking hackers and botnets as quickly as they are identified, but that this will also be an ongoing process.

"Both the login fix and the Coin Lock addition have been doing their part in signficantly reducing overall incidents over the last 18 hours," Hartsman wrote. "Neither one is a silver bullet, but so far it is looking to be a solid one-two punch for the weekend."

According to his post, Trion will be hiring additional staff to tackle the problem, and is working on a "two-factor authentication" process for the future.

Hartsman also praised the efforts of the player who brought a serious log-in vulnerability to the team's attention. ZAM tracked down the player for an interview, who himself had his account hacked in early March. The player is an "ethical hacker" who owns a security software company and realized that these hacks were not the fault of the player, but an exploit that had been discovered.

Massively"Solid one-two punch": Trion responds to account hacks originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-securityauthenticatorbotnetscoin-lockcompromised-accountsethical-hackerhackerhackingmanwitdaplanriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmansecuritytriontrion-worldstwo-factor-authenticationzamSat, 19 Mar 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ZAM opens up a full database for RIFT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/zam-opens-up-a-full-database-for-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/zam-opens-up-a-full-database-for-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/zam-opens-up-a-full-database-for-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Databases are a good thing for an MMO. When you have buckets of different items, quests, stats, enemies, bosses, and so forth, it's good to be able to reference a wide variety of different data on the fly. Wowhead is pretty much the gold standard for database services, giving World of Warcraft players the opportunity to use talent calculators, compare items, and browse a comprehensive quest database with ease. ZAM, the parent company of Wowhead, is porting that same all-encompassing database over to RIFT with today's launch of the appropriately named RIFT Database.

Although the system has just gone live, it already includes a robust listing of abilities, items, and quests for players to browse, as well as details on the various collections available in-game. Complete with a soul calculator, the new repository of knowledge should be welcome for any and all RIFT players looking for quick and easy reference. About the only thing it currently lacks is an option for integration into browser, but given time, it seems inevitable that the database will just keep improving.

MassivelyZAM opens up a full database for RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>datadatabasedatabase-functionsgameplay-datainformationonline-utilityriftrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsutilityzamMon, 14 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plan your perfect character with the RIFT soul calculator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/plan-your-perfect-character-with-the-rift-soul-calculator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/plan-your-perfect-character-with-the-rift-soul-calculator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/plan-your-perfect-character-with-the-rift-soul-calculator/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

One of the greatest strengths of any MMORPG is its community. Regardless of the size of a title's playerbase, it's practically a given that the demographics will include folks with the skills (and the goodwill) to make the experience better for everyone. Usually this happens free of charge in the form of web-based tools and analysis, and the latest case in point comes to us courtesy of ZAM and its new RIFT soul calculator.

The tool allows rifters to experiment with builds all the way up to the game's level 50 cap (even though RIFT's current beta phase doesn't allow for endgame play). ZAM's announcement post carries a beta qualifier of its own, as the soul calculator is still under development and may feature a lingering bug or two.

RIFT is a subscription-based fantasy MMO developed by Trion Worlds which launches on March 1st. You can learn more about the game and sign up for beta via the official website.

MassivelyPlan your perfect character with the RIFT soul calculator originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>build-calculatorbuildscommunityfantasyriftrift-planes-of-telarariftssoul-calculatorsoulstriontrion-world-networktrion-worldszamMon, 24 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT challenges unwritten rules of the genre in a new dev diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/rift-challenges-unwritten-rules-of-the-genre-in-a-new-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/rift-challenges-unwritten-rules-of-the-genre-in-a-new-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/rift-challenges-unwritten-rules-of-the-genre-in-a-new-dev-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"There are countless unwritten rules for creating an MMO world that successful designs in past games have impressed upon the entire industry. No monsters on the roads; never stop the player from questing or doing what he plans to do; group content should always be separate from solo content. While I will acknowledge that these sorts of rules of thumb are the guidelines that we designers live by, challenging them is where we have found a lot of success in RIFT."

Thus sayeth Will Cook, Trion Worlds' content designer for RIFT. In a new developer diary over at ZAM, Cook explains how challenging stale MMO conventions opened up a whole new world of possibilities for the dynamic content in the game. By allowing enemy invasions to use roads, bosses to conquer quest giver outposts and rifts to pop up unexpectedly, the team was able to make an "anything goes" atmosphere over top the traditional PvE treadmill.

One of Trion Worlds' biggest goals, Cook says, is to create "emergent experiences" that are never quite the same twice. Even though such content can be and often is disruptive to players running quests and working on other solo projects, it's proven to be exciting and interesting enough to draw these players in without complaint.

Cook thinks that if you give it a chance, you'll get hooked: "You can't help but get carried away in the fun of a living world where you can see the effect of action and inaction."

MassivelyRIFT challenges unwritten rules of the genre in a new dev diary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-designerdev-diarydeveloper-diarydynamic-contentemergent-experiencesinvasioninvasionsriftrift-planes-of-telarastay-off-the-roadstriontrion-worldsunwritten-ruleswill-cookzamFri, 07 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Critical feedback on the road to RIFT's launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/critical-feedback-on-the-road-to-rifts-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/critical-feedback-on-the-road-to-rifts-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/critical-feedback-on-the-road-to-rifts-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Criticism, even well-meaning constructive criticism, is never easy to take. "Dealing with constant, live feedback is not always easy. Sometimes it can be a morale hit when people are overly critical of a feature," Trion Worlds' Russ Brown admits. In a new dev diary over on ZAM, Brown explains just how important feedback is to the development process, and how Trion is handling it as the team fine-tunes RIFT for launch.

According to Brown, working on an MMO is different from working on a single-player title because one encounters -- and invites -- a lot more feedback on an ongoing basis. This turns out to be a double-edged sword: It can be disruptive to the team's schedule and require a lot of extra work in response to concerns and issues, but the feedback can also result in a much better product all around.

Ultimately, Brown feels as though the team is actually paying attention to the players: "There have been times when I've come into the office in the morning to find work done by an entire group of developers staying late the night before to fix an instance or invasion. Not because some stuffed shirt told them to, but because they care, and just like the players in our alpha/beta, they want to make the best damn product possible. The only way to do that is to listen to your customers and react."

MassivelyCritical feedback on the road to RIFT's launch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphabetabig-damn-productclosed-betaconstructive-criticismcriticismdev-diaryfeedbackriftrift-planes-of-telararuss-browntriontrion-worldszamFri, 17 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[En Masse's Brian Knox details the Slayer's evolution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/en-masses-brian-knox-details-the-slayers-evolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/en-masses-brian-knox-details-the-slayers-evolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/en-masses-brian-knox-details-the-slayers-evolution/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Is he a Rogue? Is he a Warrior? Is he an '80s thrash metal band? Whatever TERA's Slayer may be, En Masse hopes that you will find him bad to the bone.

En Masse's Brian Knox sat down for an interview with ZAM about how the class was evolving and changing during development. Originally, this Rogue/Warrior hybrid had heavy armor, but due to his extreme DPS output, the devs decided to concentrate more on movement and dexterity instead of damage absorption, and they downgraded his armor to reflect this.

When asked about the class' defining traits, Knox listed a combination of two skills -- Knockdown and Leaping Strike -- which, when used together, would both throw a foe off his balance and deal him significant damage. Knox spent time also talking up the Slayer's roguish abilities, such as being able to speedily dash up behind an enemy and backstab for big numbers.

Unlike most MMO rogues, TERA's Slayer is limited to using one (1) big honking sword, but En Masse doesn't think this will hurt the class' appeal in the slightest. You can read the full interview at ZAM, and don't miss our exclusive Slayer lore piece!

MassivelyEn Masse's Brian Knox details the Slayer's evolution originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-honking-swordbrian-knoxen-masseen-masse-entertainmenthybridinterviewknockdownleaping-strikeloreread-this-article-backwards-for-a-subliminal-messagerogueterawarriorzamFri, 15 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rift looking to be the social, outgoing type]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/rift-looking-to-be-the-social-outgoing-type/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/rift-looking-to-be-the-social-outgoing-type/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/rift-looking-to-be-the-social-outgoing-type/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It seems as though one of the holy grails of MMORPG development is to encourage players to be social and group up without forcing them to do so like back in the olden days of yore. Rift's creative director, Scott Hartsman, thinks the dev team's found the key to this problem: "We want our MMO to be a social experience and we've realized that it's not that people don't want to be social, it's just because they don't want to be inconvenienced."

In an interview with ZAM, Hartsman details how Rift: Planes of Telara is hoping to change the minds of players about teaming up for the game's signature instances. While a character can solo through them just fine, the more players that enter a rift equals greater amounts of experience and loot for everyone. Rifts will adjust both loot and difficulty based on the number of players involved, and Trion Worlds expects that this will go a long way to combating antisocial behavior that MMOs have encouraged.

Guilds are another facet of socialization on which Trion plans to focus. "One thing we haven't talked much about is people getting together to build their guild up and build a structure (in the metaphorical sense) that provides you and all of your friends benefits," Hartsman said. You can read the full interview, including details on PvP, at ZAM.

MassivelyRift looking to be the social, outgoing type originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>groupingguildsinterviewlootpvpriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmansocialtrion-worldsyore-is-a-funny-wordzamMon, 26 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Make love not war: STO's Craig Zinkievich shows off the Federation Diplomatic Corps]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/make-love-not-war-stos-craig-zinkievich-shows-off-the-federati/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/make-love-not-war-stos-craig-zinkievich-shows-off-the-federati/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/make-love-not-war-stos-craig-zinkievich-shows-off-the-federati/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As everyone knows in the television business, the second season of a show is usually tons better than the first (unless it's Heroes, for some reason). Considering how well Star Trek Online's Season One update was received across the community, the STO team has a lot of work to do to meet and exceed that standard with the upcoming Season Two. Cryptic plans to roll out one of these bigger updates every three months, which puts Season Two smack in the middle of July.

ZAM caught executive producer Craig Zinkievich on the way to his ready room for a chat about Season Two. The big discussion revolves around the launch of the Federation Diplomatic Corps, an effort to provide an additional emphasis on exploration, diplomacy and anthropology that STO's combat-centric gameplay has so far been lacking. Apparently, players will have to rise through the diplomatic ranks almost like a separate leveling system as they engage in first contacts and the like. We'll just have to wait and see if they introduce a "lengthy patronizing Picard-style speech" as one of the skills.

Zinkievich also pontificated on ship interiors and the new Dabo minigame, both of which are much-requested features to help Star Trek Online feel more, well, Trekky. You can get your captain on by reading the full interview over at ZAM.

MassivelyMake love not war: STO's Craig Zinkievich shows off the Federation Diplomatic Corps originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craig-zinkievichcryptiicdabofederation-diplomatic-corpsinterviewpicard-just-keeps-talking-and-talkingseason-oneseason-twoship-interiorsstar-trek-onlinestozamThu, 24 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA berserker interview, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/tera-berserker-interview-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/tera-berserker-interview-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/tera-berserker-interview-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


TERA, the upcoming action fantasy MMORPG from En Masse Entertainment and Bluehole Studio, is looking to put a fresh spin on both genre combat and the traditional healer/tank/damage dynamic. One way the designers are attempting to do this is through individual classes that play a bit differently from what you might expect. Take the berserker for instance. Rather than opting for your standard meat shield, Bluehole has given the class significant DPS capabilities as well.

En Masse's Brian Knox and and Scott James Magner recently chatted about the berserker's unique features in part two of a lengthy interview with ZAM.com. "You want to be a target as a Berserker, but you also want to be targeting. And that's not a word we use a lot for this game. We talk about action and the way we play, but you are a destination for damage, just as you are an output of damage going the other direction," Magner says.

Check out the new interview segment, as well as the previous installment, at ZAM.com.

MassivelyTERA berserker interview, part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionberserkerBlueHolebluehole-studiobrian-knoxdamagedpsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentinterviewscott-james-magnertankteratera-onlinezamThu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA invites the Berserker to visit for tea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/tera-invites-the-berserker-to-visit-for-tea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/tera-invites-the-berserker-to-visit-for-tea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/tera-invites-the-berserker-to-visit-for-tea/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When you heard that one of TERA's classes was to be called the "Berserker" and you either thought of either the 80's arcade cabinet classic or an obscure song from the movie Clerks, then we could be fast friends. In any case, TERA's Brian Knox and Scott James Magner sat down with ZAM to talk about this brutal class and why it might appeal to the barbarian in all of us.

TERA's Berserker is a two-handed axe wielder who has his weapon constantly in motion. The relatively short range of the class means that Berserkers have to get up close and personal with any foe they're fighting, but the increased risk of such moves are paid off with some of the highest DPS of the game. Because TERA uses both collision and positioning in its combat system, it's essential for the Berserker to hit with the blade and then duck away before getting slammed in return. Get too close, and you'll end up hitting with the hilt and wondering why the monster is laughing at you.

You can read the full interview at ZAM and check out a series of screenshots detailing one of the Berserker's key moves. The official TERA site also has an outline of the class, along with a video for your eyes only (it will self-destruct after viewing).

MassivelyTERA invites the Berserker to visit for tea originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>axeberserkberserkerbrian-knoxclassesclerkscollisionevil-otto-pwns-your-soulmeleepositioningscott-james-magnerteravideozamMon, 07 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon sold out; additional conventions cannot be launched]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/blizzcon-sold-out-additional-conventions-cannot-be-launched/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/blizzcon-sold-out-additional-conventions-cannot-be-launched/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/blizzcon-sold-out-additional-conventions-cannot-be-launched/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you had planned to spend the summer mowing lawns and scraping together enough dough to attend BlizzCon this fall, you're already too late. After going on sale this past Wednesday, all 20,000 tickets to the event were snatched up quickly. ZAM reports that the first batch of tickets on Wednesday were sold out in 23 minutes, and the second batch on Saturday in 28 minutes. The official Blizzard Store page simply notes now that "BlizzCon 2010 Tickets Currently Unavailable."

This is certainly no surprise considering that past BlizzCons proved to be one of the most popular conventions of the year, with ticket scalping at a premium. Currently, some desperate Blizzard fans are combing through eBay for scalped tickets, although high prices and Blizzard asking eBay to crack down on such sales make this a difficult alternative. Blizzard is also requiring photo ID this year to match tickets as a way to limit these transactions.

Fortunately, there is hope for Blizzard fans: they will once again offer virtual passes to the convention through DirecTV as a Pay Per View event available through satellite and multi-channel Internet stream. The virtual pass enables fans to watch all of the presentations and panels, as well as receive an exclusive in-game item, all for $39.95.

MassivelyBlizzCon sold out; additional conventions cannot be launched originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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En Masse Entertainment's Brian Knox answers some moderately tough questions about the studio's upcoming TERA action MMORPG. The interview, courtesy of ZAM.com, touches on a little bit of everything including what makes TERA a next-generation title, enemy challenge levels, and the difficulties in appealing to both hardcore and casual gamers.

"The good thing about action combat is that it lets the player's skill determine the complexity. We worked very hard to make the game intuitive for any gamer, and we believe players will really be able to stretch the system. For example, one person playing as a sorcerer might be more inclined to use area-of-effect skills and dodging, whereas another may choose to use direct damage skills and focus on healing. Each class has a lot of variables, and gamers are going to be able to play the game the way they want," Knox says.

You can check out the full interview at ZAM.com.

MassivelyZAM interviews TERA's Brian Knox originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatbrian-knoxcasualcombaten-masseen-masse-entertainmenthardcoreteratera-onlinezamWed, 02 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest Aion news offers contests and free game time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/21/latest-aion-news-offers-contests-and-free-game-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/21/latest-aion-news-offers-contests-and-free-game-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/21/latest-aion-news-offers-contests-and-free-game-time/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The latest news from the Aion team offers up lots of good things for people who love freebies. (You know, everyone.) To begin with, Aion is introducing a "Refer a Friend" program for veteran players. If you've had an account for 90 days, you should find a little "refer a friend' button on the Aion page of your NCsoft master account, which means you're eligible for the program. For every referred friend that subscribes to Aion, you'll receive a free month of game time.

The latest Eye on the Community had news on a few contests and giveaways as well. Zam.com is doing the Unidentified Flying Daevas Sweepstakes, and the big prize is an Alienware gaming rig. Quite a few copies of Aion are up for grabs as well, so be sure to check it out. Aion Source is also giving away copies of Aion -- Steelbook editions at that -- in a contest that will put your creative skills to the test, so be sure to check it out.

'Tis the season for gifts, so don't miss a shot at getting some from the Aion team and community!

MassivelyLatest Aion news offers contests and free game time originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-sourcecontestfree-game-timencsoftrefer-a-friendsweepstakesunidentified-flying-daevaszamMon, 21 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Prophecy Creative Director on state of the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/black-prophecy-creative-director-on-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/black-prophecy-creative-director-on-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/black-prophecy-creative-director-on-state-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's clear from the comments on our Black Prophecy posts that a number of Massively readers are looking forward to this latest sci-fi MMO from Reakktor Media. They've been releasing more info periodically but it seems Reakktor is still in stealth mode when it comes to any big reveals about the game, given they're in the process of finding a publisher. Still, they've been dropping more info about the title and the latest Black Prophecy interview we've come across is over at ZAM, with Creative Director Timo Krahl. The interview hits on some of what we've heard before about the game's lore written by Michael Marrak and the core game mechanics, but there's some new info there as well.

Specifically, the interview explains some of the technical efforts Reakktor has put into developing Black Prophecy. Timo comments to ZAM, "We are getting very close to our aspiration of providing a nearly cinematic game experience." If you're curious about what Reakktor hopes to deliver with that game experience, give the ZAM interview with Timo Krahl a read and check out the the new screenshots as well.

MassivelyBlack Prophecy Creative Director on state of the game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-prophecygame-mechanicsinterviewsnew-titlesreakktorreakktor-mediasci-fitimo-krahlzamTue, 13 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic community manager Jörg Koonen on game currencies and reducing gold spam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/runes-of-magic-community-manager-jorg-koonen-on-game-currencies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/runes-of-magic-community-manager-jorg-koonen-on-game-currencies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/runes-of-magic-community-manager-jorg-koonen-on-game-currencies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


With only two months of operation under its belt, fantasy game Runes of Magic already seems to be enjoying a great deal of popularity. Runes of Magic uses the free-to-play business model, which is discussed in an interview with community manager Jörg "Kerensky" Koonen. Sam "Azerian" Maxted from ZAM caught up with Koonen to discuss the game's launch and where the title is headed in future updates, but their talk quickly turned to some of the details of how the game's economy operates.

Koonen discusses how players have responded to Runes of Magic's microtransaction system through the in-game Item Shop, and that by design the Item Shop doesn't sell certain types of items. "We do not sell any weapons or armour or such," he says. "All of this has to be collected by the players through the game." However, Runes of Magic also uses non-microtransaction currencies and some players are concerned that their gold lacks real value in the game. Koonen says that the developers are looking into this. They're presently gathering feedback from the playerbase and are willing to introduce other measures, if necessary, to ensure that non-microtransaction currencies serve a purpose in RoM.

Continue reading Runes of Magic community manager Jörg Koonen on game currencies and reducing gold spam

MassivelyRunes of Magic community manager Jörg Koonen on game currencies and reducing gold spam originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azerianbusiness-modelseconomyf2pfantasyflesh-eating-locustsfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgoldgold-spaminterviewsjorg-koonenkerenskymicrotransactionsrunes-of-magicsam-maxtedtokensvirtual-currenciesvirtual-currencyzamSun, 31 May 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Neo Steam editor Jason Ruper on bringing steampunk to MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/neo-steam-editor-jason-ruper-on-bringing-steampunk-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/neo-steam-editor-jason-ruper-on-bringing-steampunk-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/neo-steam-editor-jason-ruper-on-bringing-steampunk-to-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


One of the upcoming free-to-play titles that Massively had a chance to see this month is Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent from Atlus. Our hands-on gallery feature is a good introduction to the look and feel of the game world, but now that Neo Steam is in open beta, we're expecting more info about the game to be forthcoming.

We came across a ZAM interview with Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent lead editor Jason Ruper, conducted by Andrew "Tamat" Beegle. Ruper gives some background on the game's setting and lore, saying, "The game has a lush, fantasy-steampunk setting, and everything -- from the machine wasteyards and polluted rivers to the rickety vehicles and the ancient ruins from before the shattering -- contributes to this setting and reminds you that your nation is in a state of reconstruction as well as in the middle of a cold war."

Continue reading Neo Steam editor Jason Ruper on bringing steampunk to MMOs

MassivelyNeo Steam editor Jason Ruper on bringing steampunk to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew-beegleatlusatlus-onlineatlus-usaclassesfree-to-playinterviewsjason-ruperneo-steamneo-steam-the-shattered-continentpvpsteampunktamatzamSat, 30 May 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jumpgate Evolution interview explains UI customization and emphasis on story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/jumpgate-evolution-interview-explains-ui-customization-and-empha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/jumpgate-evolution-interview-explains-ui-customization-and-empha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/jumpgate-evolution-interview-explains-ui-customization-and-empha/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Attendees of the LOGIN Conference last week had a chance to see NetDevil's demonstration of Jumpgate Evolution. The writers at ZAM were among the gaming press attendees and came away from the demo with some positive impressions, but some questions as well. They caught up with NetDevil president Scott Brown who discussed the inspiration for creating the original Jumpgate and how Jumpgate Evolution will live up to its name.

The interview specifically touches on how Jumpgate Evolution aims to engage players in ways the original wasn't able to. In that context of how the follow-up title compares to the original, Brown says, "We have a much stronger story now, with help from Keith Baker (the creator of Eberron for D&D) and we have significantly more focused PvP so players have even more reason to fight the other nations."

Continue reading Jumpgate Evolution interview explains UI customization and emphasis on story

MassivelyJumpgate Evolution interview explains UI customization and emphasis on story originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jumpgatejumpgate-evolutionkeith-bakerloginlogin-conferencenetdevilsci-fiscott-brownzamWed, 20 May 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New EQII site features live in-game data]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/24/new-eqii-site-features-live-in-game-data/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/24/new-eqii-site-features-live-in-game-data/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/24/new-eqii-site-features-live-in-game-data/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



With the help of SOE, Zam has launched their new EverQuest II site, which boasts an impressive set of features. The site draws a lot of its information directly from the game data itself now -- you really can't get much more accurate than that. It's pretty safe to say that we know where we'll be heading next time we're hunting down an elusive quest mob in EQII. Here's a list of some of what's on offer:

  • A live Broker feed that allows you to track sales, items, and their pricing data across all servers
  • Loc's and other detailed information on every mob
  • Drop information of every item, including drop tables with exact percentages
  • Quest data from the game
  • Complete recipe information
The site overhaul is being celebrated with a contest, offering daily giveaways and a grand prize of four tickets to the SOE Fan Faire. To enter, visitors must create an account and contribute to the wiki, the forums, or the various comment sections, with each contribution granting one entry into the draw. That sure sounds like a recipe for some spam-tastic action, but we don't doubt that the folks at Zam are ready and waiting with ban-hammers drawn.

MassivelyNew EQII site features live in-game data originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifan-fairein-game-datalive-in-game-datasoesoe-fan-fairesoe-fan-faire-2009sony-online-entertainmentzamFri, 24 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST