Virtual World® is your one stop resource for all things virtual, in and around the MMO gaming and online 3D communities. In-depth virtual world and MMO game play reviews, discussion forums and the latest news from around the world. VirtualWorld.com

Virtual World News

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The crafts of heroes
February 13, 2013

Filed under: , , , ,

I need to be better with headers.
I want to give major props to Cryptic Studios for Champions Online at launch because the studio did something that most superhero MMOs don't even try to do: Crafting was in the game at launch, and while you can say that it was absolutely terrible, it wins respect for existing no matter what else happened afterward. I didn't play around with the crafting at launch, but I can still respect that it was there.

Of course, even if I had liked it, it clearly was disliked enough for the game to completely redo its crafting system later. And from what I saw, it was not well loved. But the crafting systems for DC Universe Online and City of Heroes are both not received with open arms either. Don't get me started on the half-hearted effort Marvel Heroes has for a crafting system, which makes The Secret World look downright deep. (Although that could be revamped for release.)

So what's the deal here? Superhero MMOs are often ahead of the curve in a lot of areas, so why can't we get a superhero game with a proper crafting system?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The crafts of heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The crafts of heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

    The Daily Grind: What quest has frustrated you more than any other?
    February 12, 2013

    Filed under: , , , ,

    In a console game, this is usually about the point when I start flinging controllers.
    I have a relatively acrimonious relationship with most of The Secret World's investigation missions for reasons too ornate to detail here. Hell and Bach, however, deserves special mention. It's not that it's one of the game's worse examples, but that the actual mechanics behind clearing the mission are very finnicky. You have to click a series of symbols in just the right way to spell out a phrase, but the symbols are close together, it's easy to miss a click, and to top it off it won't work if you have the reference guide open as you do so.

    For all-time frustration, that mission ramped up pretty highly, although I enjoyed it once I cleared it. But it's not about what frustrates me, it's about what frustrates you. So what quest has frustrated you more than any other? Was it unclear in its objectives, or were its clearly stated objectives just dizzyingly hard to actually accomplish? Or was it something even more mundane, like a Final Fantasy XI quest that irritated you because you could never find the other people to do it with?

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

    MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What quest has frustrated you more than any other? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

      Link your Darkfall and Unholy Wars accounts for discount, beta access
      February 12, 2013

      Filed under: , , , , , , ,

      Darkfall - Yssam
      Got questions about linking your old Darkfall account with your spiffy new Darkfall: Unholy Wars account? Aventurine's got answers, and you'll find them in a new customer support video published yesterday on the game's official website.

      Why would you want to link your accounts? Firstly you'll get the new UW client for half price ($14.95). You'll also get access to beta and the ability to reserve your character's name. You can view the video after the cut.

      Continue reading Link your Darkfall and Unholy Wars accounts for discount, beta access

      MassivelyLink your Darkfall and Unholy Wars accounts for discount, beta access originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

      Your first 15 minutes in Neverwinter
      February 12, 2013

      Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

      Neverwinter Video
      The first Neverwinter beta weekend is behind us, and while founders got a chance to hack their way through throngs of kobolds while exploring the Forgotten Realms, everyone else is no doubt still eager for more information. How does the combat feel? Do the powers follow the D&D rules closely? What kinds of attacks will I use as the various classes? How does the questing work?

      These are all valid questions for any gamer still on the fence about Cryptic's inbound MMO. Neverwinter will be free-to-play at launch, but the only way to guarantee access to the next two beta weekend events is to shell out $60 or $200 for one of the Founder's packs.

      In case you've missed our previous coverage, we've reported on the Cloak Tower dungeon, character creation (twice), and given our first impressions of the beta weekend. Today, we'll highlight the low-level powers and feats from all three available classes and the first 15 minutes of Neverwinter's gameplay. Hopefully, these videos will help you decide whether to wait for the game's launch or pony up some scratch to get into the next beta event.

      Continue reading Your first 15 minutes in Neverwinter

      MassivelyYour first 15 minutes in Neverwinter originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

        Massively Speaking Episode 236: Dueling previews
        February 12, 2013

        Filed under: , , , , ,

        Massively Speaking Episode 236 Duelling previews
        While dueling previews of two exciting upcoming MMOs is an event in and of itself, it's no match for the sheer thrill of listening to Bree and Justin break out the banjos for a no-holds-barred hoedown. Unfortunately, as both co-hosts have yet to learn the banjo, you're only going to get the former today. Try to contain your disappointment.

        Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

        Get the podcast:
        [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
        [MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
        [iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.
        [Stitcher] Follow the podcast on Stitcher Radio.
        Listen here on the page:



        Read below the cut for the full show notes.

        Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 236: Dueling previews

        MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 236: Dueling previews originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments

          Join Bungie's ARG and work toward possible Destiny reveal
          February 12, 2013

          Filed under: , , , ,

          Join Bungie's ARG and work towards possible Destiny reveal
          Not a lot of concrete information is floating around about Destiny, an upcoming game by Bungie. We do know more will be revealed at GDC next month, but a new ARG on the Halo creator's website hints that more may be revealed even sooner. How soon? Possibly next Monday: A row of numbers splayed across the top counts down from seven, and clicking on the next descending number each day changes the displayed weekday.

          After the first task, the ARG appears to require the efforts of multiple players to solve; the second puzzle spells out "alone will not be enough." So if you want to get in on unlocking the mysteries of the ARG, study the second puzzle's clue after the break and head over to Bungie to add your contributions to the mix.

          Continue reading Join Bungie's ARG and work toward possible Destiny reveal

          MassivelyJoin Bungie's ARG and work toward possible Destiny reveal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments

          Fifth live FFXIV producer letter to air next week
          February 12, 2013

          Filed under: , , , , , ,

          Fifth live FFXIV producer letter to air next week
          If you are fluent in Japanese and happen to be awake early on February 22nd, you can watch Naoki Yoshida answer fans' questions about Final Fantasy XIV in the the fifth live letter from the producer. The broadcast begins at 6:00 a.m. EST. For those who can't tune in (or who don't know the language), all questions and answers will be posted as they are addressed on the official Twitter account, and a full summary will also be posted on the forums afterward.

          Folks who want to ask Yoshida questions about the game's beta and official release can submit them either ahead of time on the official thread or during the livestream via Twitter using #XIVLive.

          MassivelyFifth live FFXIV producer letter to air next week originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments

          Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars features I wish had made it to Guild Wars 2
          February 12, 2013

          Filed under: , , , , ,

          Flameseeker Chronicles Guild Wars features I wish had made it to Guild Wars 2
          You may have noticed, but Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 are different games. I thought we'd clear that up to begin with. In fact, they're such different games that there are oodles of people who are fans of one but not the other (typically, most of these folks seem to be in favor of Guild Wars 2, but I know a fair few staunch supporters of the original). I happen to be a fan of both games, although I definitely find it a little disconcerting to switch between the two games. Most of that is because of things that the sequel does better, like casting on the move, a player auction house, and (in my opinion) the downed state. Some of it's because of things that aren't so much about quality as style, like the existence (or lack thereof) of Monks and heavy instancing. And then there are things that I really loved in the original that aren't around anymore.

          Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars features I wish had made it to Guild Wars 2

          MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars features I wish had made it to Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments

            The Soapbox: The stuff from the stuff
            February 12, 2013

            Filed under: , , ,

            The Soapbox The stuff from the stuff
            There was a great quote from the second season of the short-lived sitcom Sports Night when one of the characters chastises a friend who's overreacting by saying, "You've got to be able to separate the stuff from the stuff." Translated from Sorkinese, it means you need to stop lumping everything into one generic category to be upset about and instead sift through what's important and what is not.

            I think this is quite applicable to the MMO community, as I see countless examples of people who just can't separate the stuff from the stuff. Everything, for some people, is a matter of utmost importance and worthy of a spontaneous riot on the same level as everything else. There are no degrees of importance; a mild nerf to a player's class is equally demanding of a 10-paragraph rant as a studio going back on its word just to screw players.

            Not everything is life or death. A sign of maturity is learning to pick your battles and to mellow out the rest of the time. Let's see if we can take some steps together toward that goal.

            Continue reading The Soapbox: The stuff from the stuff

            MassivelyThe Soapbox: The stuff from the stuff originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

            Permalink | Email this | Comments

              Cryptic reveals Neverwinter's Mount Hotenow zone, new video
              February 12, 2013

              Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

              Cryptic reveals Neverwinter's Mount Hotenow zone, new video
              Cryptic has released a new zone preview for Neverwinter. This time around, the subject is Mount Hotenow, and it's intended for high-level adventurers and stuffed to the gills with iconic Forgotten Realms enemies.

              Fire giants abound, and there's also the ancient primordial who caused Mount Hotenow's eruption in the first place. Cryptic's new dev diary expands on that setup, as does the new preview video that we've embedded for you after the break.

              Continue reading Cryptic reveals Neverwinter's Mount Hotenow zone, new video

              MassivelyCryptic reveals Neverwinter's Mount Hotenow zone, new video originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

              Permalink | Email this | Comments