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

WRUP: This is kind of a silly demo edition
February 18, 2012

Filed under: ,

I spent all of ME2 waiting to shoot Cerberus agents. I can wait a little longer.
I haven't played it yet, but the Mass Effect 3 demo strikes me as silly. For me, and I suspect pretty everyone else who played the first two games, this is not a game that had to do much to sell itself. BioWare could have just announced the title and done nothing else, and I would still have been getting out my wallet. All that playing the demo does is make you more anxious for a thing that's a while away and have probably already preordered.

I'm not saying I can resist it, mind. But it seems a bit silly.

In other news, it's time for this week's installment of WRUP, where the Massively staff members talk about what they plan to do over the weekend. This week, we're also discussing whether or not we'd fund an MMO project via Kickstarter. So storm on past the cut for our weekend plans, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: This is kind of a silly demo edition

MassivelyWRUP: This is kind of a silly demo edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Champions Online puts out Alerts for heroes
    February 18, 2012

    Filed under: , , , , ,

    Champions Online
    Executive Producer Rob Overmeyer is beating the drums about the "big goals" for Champions Online's next update. Possibly one of the biggest of these goals is the addition of the Grab Alerts system, and in a new dev diary, Overmeyer outlines how these will work.

    Grab Alerts are small team instances designed to allow players to get into exciting scenarios without a lot of waiting. Each Alert centers around a super-villain who's up to no good -- such as a heist or kidnapping -- and challenges players to thwart the evil-doer's efforts. Overmeyer promises that it will take just "two clicks" to get into an Alert, as the system will team up like-minded heroes automatically and then toss them into the instance.

    Alerts will be shuffled around on a regular basis as to keep things fresh, so players will need to check the Alert Rotator to see which ones are available. If a player is looking for a specific reward that's tied to a certain Alert, the Rotator will help him or her find it. Overmeyer promises a wide range of rewards including costumes, gear, and bonuses.

    MassivelyChampions Online puts out Alerts for heroes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

    The Road to Mordor: Ten things to do in East Bree-land before you die
    February 18, 2012

    Filed under: , , , , ,

    LotRO
    It's been a long, long time since I've been able to work on this series, going through each Lord of the Rings Online zone quest by quest and pulling the top 10 locations, points of interest, or missions for the aspiring adventurer to check out. There are many reasons I've been tardy in continuing it, but no excuses today! Today we dine in the Prancing Pony, for tomorrow we die!

    I decided to divide Bree-land into two separate articles, with this one covering the eastern portion and Bree proper, and the upcoming one tackling the western and northern areas. This is not just because Bree-land is a pretty dang big zone but because it's pulling double-duty: East Bree-land and Bree serves as the 1-15 leveling area for Men, while the west invites all four races to continue the journey to level 20.

    While it may seem like a generic fantasy zone on the surface, Bree-land is actually teeming with interesting details, stories, and activities. I've never regretted leveling in the area (it's a darn sight better than Ered Luin), and it was pretty tough to limit myself to just 10 activities for this list. So what should you do in East Bree-land before you die? Let's take a look!

    Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Ten things to do in East Bree-land before you die

    MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Ten things to do in East Bree-land before you die originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

      The Mog Log: Get together
      February 18, 2012

      Filed under: , , , , , , ,

      The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
      Grouping with other players is inconvenient. It can also be a lot of fun, but it takes more work to get a half-dozen people running in the same direction compared to just operating on your lonesome. But you're a lot more likely to stick with a game if you can find other people to play with, and thus both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV have offered different approaches to grouping and encouraging parties.

      When I started playing MMOs back when Final Fantasy XI launched, I wound up being soured by the game's insistence on grouping for a long while. These days, I can take a much more objective view of both sides because for all the hiccups that the system brings, Final Fantasy XIV's much more open environment has its own pitfalls -- some a result of basic game design, some a result of the less demanding approach. But why just look at this from the top down?

      Continue reading The Mog Log: Get together

      MassivelyThe Mog Log: Get together originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

        The Tattered Notebook: The insider's guide to Erollisi Day
        February 18, 2012

        Filed under: , , , , ,

        Steven and Douglas EQII
        As EverQuest II gracefully ages, it's become a game that's rich with content. That's especially true of the in-game holidays, like the current live event, Erollisi Day. And now that Erollisi herself has returned, the holiday is cause for celebration rather than remembrance.

        The event is winding down, but there are still a few days left to participate. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll highlight some of the many things to do during Erollisi Day, including something old, something new, something borrowed, and something.... Gnome!

        Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: The insider's guide to Erollisi Day

        MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: The insider's guide to Erollisi Day originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments

          The Daily Grind: What MMO do you regret leaving?
          February 17, 2012

          Filed under: , , , , ,

          Fallen Earth - mutt following a chopper
          I've played more MMOs than I can remember over the years, and nearly all of them have failed to capture my long-term interest. Most of the games in my also-ran box got a first look because of some quirky feature. Most of them didn't get a second look because -- aside from said feature -- they sucked.

          Every once in a while I'll regret leaving an MMO, though, and none moreso than Fallen Earth. Though I played extensively at launch and for a month or so after, I inexplicably forsook the wastelands for the world of Atreia. Upon returning to the game a few weeks ago and reconnecting with some old friends, I had to stop and take a moment to wonder what the heck I was thinking back in 2009. What about you, Massively crew? Have you had any similar head-scratching moments after rediscovering a previous title, and do you regret leaving it?

          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 MMO do you regret leaving? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments

            The Firing Line: Derek Smart on Line of Defense
            February 17, 2012

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

            Welcome to a special interview edition of The Firing Line, folks. True MMOFPS titles are few and far between these days, though 2012 is shaping up to be a banner year for the genre thanks to games like PlanetSide 2, DUST 514, and possibly even Firefall. There's another massive FPS on its way, too, and even though it hasn't had quite as much press coverage as the aforementioned titles, 3000AD's Line of Defense project is worth a look.

            Join me after the break for a conversation with lead designer Derek Smart as he talks about what makes the game massive as well as what sets it apart from its competitors.

            Continue reading The Firing Line: Derek Smart on Line of Defense

            MassivelyThe Firing Line: Derek Smart on Line of Defense originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

            Permalink | Email this | Comments

              Turbine releases new DDO Web of Chaos images
              February 17, 2012

              Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

              Dungeons and Dragons Online - Lolth
              Dungeons and Dragons Online's new Forgotten Realms-themed expansion is on its way, but before it arrives on your desktop, Turbine will be upgrading the game via a prequel patch called Web of Chaos. Update 13 includes three new quests (the Lords of Dust, Servants of the Overlord, and Spinner of Shadows), as well as new veteran status that allows players to start their characters at level seven.

              The update features new items too, and we've got a preview of the patch in our DDO gallery below. Check it out for the latest screenshots featuring Lolth and the Drow.

              [Source: Turbine press release]

              MassivelyTurbine releases new DDO Web of Chaos images originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

              Permalink | Email this | Comments

                CCP revisiting EVE's new player experience
                February 17, 2012

                Filed under: , , , , , ,

                EVE Online is hard, or so goes the conventional wisdom. CCP's sci-fi sandbox has seen a lot of players roll up a spaceship avatar since 2003, and it's also seen quite a few of those players quit on account of the considerable learning curve.

                A new dev blog by CCP Legion outlines a broad-stroke plan to mitigate these difficulties, and Legion says that "we want to give the players a chance to experience the coolness of EVE even in the beginning and make them understand all the potential within the game. In short, we want to make the first days, weeks and months in EVE enjoyable and not just something you have to plow through in order to get to the good stuff."

                How is CCP going to do that without dumbing it down? That's still up in the air, but Legion says that the changes will focus more on teachable mechanics than step-by-step guides.

                In other New Eden news, CCP has released a new video called The Awakening, and it presents the first moments of a new pod pilot as he is born into his new life. View it in full after the break.

                Continue reading CCP revisiting EVE's new player experience

                MassivelyCCP revisiting EVE's new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                Permalink | Email this | Comments

                MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part three
                February 17, 2012

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

                Worgolt title
                Last week we continued our discussion about how to make a mobile game, and the Massively readers offered up some great input. I wish I had the space to write up every single comment, but instead I will pick some of my favorites and we can discuss it from there. Unfortunately, real life has pushed development on the game back just a bit. Dave Toulouse, my indie developer partner-in-crime in this series, not only has two games of his own to run, Star Corsairs and Golemizer, but is now dealing with my silly emails. So while last week's column got some great ideas in the comments section, we were really only able to switch out the artwork, name the game, and add a tad bit of lore.

                Fear not, fair readers! I will break down the development that is still planned on being pushed into the game over the last week, and it's important to note that Dave and I plan on coming back to the experiment over time. I'd like to update the game and continue discussion since it has been so interesting so far! In the meanwhile, click here to go to the official game page!

                Continue reading MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part three

                MassivelyMMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part three originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                Permalink | Email this | Comments