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

ArenaNet implementing mandatory password change for Guild Wars 2 players
January 31, 2013

Filed under: , ,

ArenaNet implementing mandatory password change for Guild Wars 2
If you've logged in to Guild Wars 2 lately and have seen a bright red banner at the top of your launcher suggesting that you change your password, your time is almost up. On February 7, 2013, all players who haven't changed their password since September 12, 2013 will need to choose a new password before playing the game.

Interestingly enough, ArenaNet has compiled a blacklist of passwords that have been exploited by hackers in the past, so you might be out of luck trying to use "12345" or "password" or even "massivelyisawesome."

Head on over to the account management site to change your password today.

MassivelyArenaNet implementing mandatory password change for Guild Wars 2 players originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Which unfinished MMO would you love to play?
January 30, 2013

Filed under: , , ,

The Daily Grind What unfinished MMO would you love to play
For every MMO that makes it to release, there's probably two that died a sad death along the way. Sometimes it's the decision of the studio or publisher to can it, sometimes it's the result of finances, and sometimes it's just plum bad fortune. Whatever the case, the history of MMOs is littered with half-finished games that will never see the light of day.

But what if? What if you had the power to magically resurrect, finish, and release just one of these games? Which one would it be?

Would it be the intriguing Ultima X: Odyssey, the original Middle-earth Online, or True Fantasy Live Online? What about Privateer Online, Imperator Online, or Project Copernicus? Or would it be a different game altogther?

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: Which unfinished MMO would you love to play? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

    TERA F2P starts February 5
    January 30, 2013

    Filed under: , , , , ,

    TERA F2P starts February 5
    En Masse has set a date for TERA's free-to-play conversion, and that date is February 5th. The company will also add new content to the fantasy title including a three-on-three PvP battleground and the Crucible of Flame dungeon.

    TERA's F2P offerings include three player tiers (standard, founder, and elite), all of which feature full access to the game's content. Founders receive additional character slots, bank tabs, and a special mount, while elite players get dungeon bonuses, additional quests, daily items, mounts, and store discounts.

    [Source: En Masse press release]

    MassivelyTERA F2P starts February 5 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

      A Mild-Mannered Reporter: DC Universe Online in review
      January 30, 2013

      Filed under: , , , , , ,

      In unrelated news, I apparently lost the stuff I had saved about how to do these headers properly, so now I have to try and recreate them from memory.
      One of the things I like about my job is the part where I have to play a lot of different games. This is not my default state -- I will happily latch on to games that I like and play them into the ground. The 100-plus hours I've clocked into every Mass Effect installment is proof enough of this. But playing a wider variety of games has given me several opportunities to see things in games, nod my head, and exclaim, "Yes! This is what people should be doing? Why do more games not do this?"

      DC Universe Online had me saying that about a lot of elements. And every time I figured I was good and done, I found another one.

      A month boomeranging back and forth between lower levels on both factions isn't enough time to get a sense for how the game shakes out over the long run, but it does provide a fairly good overview of the game as a whole. And there's a lot of elements in the game that I found astonishingly clever. It didn't offset the parts that I found somewhat tedious or broken, but it did make the game as a whole interesting on multiple levels.

      Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: DC Universe Online in review

      MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: DC Universe Online in review originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

        Trion to launch Defiance on April 2, full live-action trailer revealed
        January 30, 2013

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

        Defiance PvE boss battle
        Trion has announced that the MMO third-person shooter half of its two-headed Defiance monster is set to be released on April 2nd. The other half is of course the upcoming television show which ties in to the game via some sort of mysterious transmedia secret sauce.

        The company has also released a full five-minute live action trailer, the teaser for which debuted last week alongside a meaty pre-order FAQ.

        Defiance players take on the role of Ark Hunters adventuring through the alien-infested ruins of a post-apocalyptic San Francisco and surrounding environments. Defiance features co-op PvE and PvP, and it's coming to PC, PlayStation 3, and XBox 360 platforms. Trion has been working on the game and the IP for over five years. The Syfy television series is set to debut on April 15th.

        Click past the cut for a look at the live-action preview.

        [Source: Trion press release]

        Continue reading Trion to launch Defiance on April 2, full live-action trailer revealed

        MassivelyTrion to launch Defiance on April 2, full live-action trailer revealed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments

          The Art of Wushu: Gathering and crafting
          January 30, 2013

          Filed under: , , , , , , ,

          The Art of Wushu Gathering and crafting
          Life skills are the central point of Age of Wushu's player economy. All useful equipment, food, and most of the useful consumables are only available through crafting, and equipment requires lengthy production chains and an injection of tradable silver in order to make it effective. This process is fairly daunting to a new player, and even experienced players go for a long time without taking advantage of the many advantages present from trade and crafting.

          In Age of Wushu, life skills represent a character's day job. You'll go to work gathering materials to sell or to craft into goods to sell, and then use the money from those sales to purchase things other people make and food to sustain yourself. Because we have a limited amount of space, this column will focus on production skills and production chains so that you can make the best choice about which type of goods you want to craft.

          Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Gathering and crafting

          MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: Gathering and crafting originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments

            Free for All: The West: The most realistic fantasy MMO yet
            January 30, 2013

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

            The West screenshot
            There's something distinctly unfair about being an American fantasy fan. If you enjoy all of the movies or run around in all of the wonderful fantasy landscapes you'll quickly notice how un-American the inhabitants are. Sure, monsters or knights in a fantasy MMO don't really belong to any one nationality or time, but they are more likely to sound like they're from England rather than Long Island. It's not fair. What do Americans have in their past that is anything as cool as knights and swords?

            Actually, we've had some pretty cool stuff over here as well. And, if you think about it, a lot of it is pretty much like a more recent middle ages... sort of. The thought sunk in as I was looking at Salem, a hardcore free-for-all PvP MMO by Paradox Interactive. Then the thought really sunk in when I recently fell in love with The West by Innogames, a German publisher.

            America has a very primitive, and recent, past that had to feel a lot like a time of magic and wonder to those who were in it. Why aren't we seeing more Western MMOs or games set in the time of the founding of our country?

            Continue reading Free for All: The West: The most realistic fantasy MMO yet

            MassivelyFree for All: The West: The most realistic fantasy MMO yet originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

            Permalink | Email this | Comments

              Tech Career Expo Returns to Austin, March 8-9, for Annual Technology Recruiting Bonanza
              January 30, 2013

              World-Class Event to Again Connect Top Talent with Leading Technology Companies

              Event producer Engage Digital today announced that 36 companies with more than 2,600 open technology positions have signed up to participate in the second annual Austin Tech Career Expo taking place March 8-9, 2013 in Austin, TX. More are expected to join in the coming weeks. Free and open to the public, the event runs the first two days of the annual SXSW1 festival and is not affiliated with the festival this year.

              The Tech Career Expo provides employers the opportunity to [...]

              Cryptic releases STO anniversary trailer, hints at Romulan content
              January 30, 2013

              Filed under: , , , , , , ,

              Cryptic releases STO anniversary trailer, hints at Romulan content
              This is a big week for Star Trek Online's PR machine, and the latest salvo is a three-year anniversary trailer that's been published by PCGamer. The clip gives prospective players a glimpse at the game's various updates, its free-to-play transformation, and a new mission arc featuring The Next Generation alum Denise Crosby.

              There's also a brief tease for some sort of new Romulan content. Could it be a playable faction or a series of missions? It's anyone's guess at this point, and we'll find out for sure this May. In the meantime, you can view the trailer after the cut.

              Continue reading Cryptic releases STO anniversary trailer, hints at Romulan content

              MassivelyCryptic releases STO anniversary trailer, hints at Romulan content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

              Permalink | Email this | Comments

              Wizardry Online launch-day roundup
              January 30, 2013

              Filed under: , , , , , ,

              Wizardry Online launchday roundup
              If you've been waiting to get your fill of fantasy in the no-holds-barred setting of Wizardry Online (and then waited some more when the launch was pushed back), your patience is about to be rewarded. The time is finally at hand; the hardcore game sporting permadeath and friendly fire launches today.

              Curious about what lies ahead in the wilds of Wizardy Online? Get a glimpse of dungeons and death along with a taste of the adventures that await you through our hands-on experiences, gallery, videos, and news bytes after the break.

              Continue reading Wizardry Online launch-day roundup

              MassivelyWizardry Online launch-day roundup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

              Permalink | Email this | Comments