Virtual World News
Filed under: Super-hero, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Consoles, MMOFPS, Free Realms, DC Universe Online, PlanetSide 2
When asked directly about the possibility of the new sci-fi MMOFPS showing up on a console, SOE president John Smedley offered an artful deflection. "What I'd say is -- SOE has proven that we can bring our games to the PS3, and it's fair to say that we've got some other stuff out there cooking. I can't tell you what platforms it's for, but we're really excited about it."
[Update]: SOE has contacted Massively to correct the 70% figure originally published. The percentage refers to DCUO's revenue and not SOE revenue as a whole.
70% of DCUO's revenue on PlayStation 3, Smedley mum on PlanetSide 2 console port [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Official PS Mag
- Via: MCV
Filed under: Sci-fi, Expansions, Free-to-play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Community Q&A
Senior Community Coordinator Allison Berryman addressed some of the most common questions, such as the viability of current endgame gear (answer: very viable) and how big this new planet will be. "To give you all a better idea of Makeb's scope," she said, "it's a planet of equal size to our larger planets and it contains a variety of areas -- sprawling mesas, underground caverns, garden estates, and more."
Berryman also says that character development is a big part of the expansion agenda: "As part of the new content, every skill tree will be expanding and you can expect significant updates. Players will earn a new skill point with each level, and new skills will be available in each skill tree. Additionally, a new active ability will be introduced for each advanced class."
SWTOR dev talks expansion skills, planet, and gear originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Forum #1, Forum #2
- Via: Darth Hater
Filed under: Sci-fi, Polls, Opinion, Free-to-play, Roleplaying, Massively Hands-on, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Choose My Adventure
Xel'es is an opportunist. His career as an agent for the Empire has proven rewarding, but a relocation assignment on Hutta is where he plans to shine for his superiors and prove himself as more than just a simple field agent.
I've reached level 11 on Xel'es, and I'm ready to start choosing his advanced class and crafting profession (if you decide he craft). Read on past the jump to read his story and help choose where he goes from here. And be warned, there are plenty of spoilers for the Imperial Agent storyline if that's a thing that bothers you.
Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Of Hutts and men
Choose My Adventure: Of Hutts and men originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Super-hero, Game mechanics, Lore, Opinion, A Mild-Mannered Reporter
I do think there's something to be discussed when it comes to the game's central conceit, however: the fact that you're playing as the iconic characters instead of alongside them. I'm not a fan of the approach in general, but considering the panoply of superhero properties out there, it's worth considering. Could you actually make a functional game in which you play as just the official characters rather than original creations? What sort of things do you need to do to make this work? How would a superhero MMORPG with only the official characters work in practice?
Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Playing as icons in superheroic MMORPGs
A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Playing as icons in superheroic MMORPGs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic
New features include the planet Makeb, a level-cap bump to 55, new story content with fully-voiced cinematics, and new gear, skill points, and abilities. BioWare is also gifting pre-order customers with five days of early access to all of the new stuff provided you place your order by January 7th. The company promises further details in the coming days.
SWTOR's Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion set for Spring 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Announcement
Filed under: Culture, Events, in-game, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous
Little unique features like this are common in games, but Guild Wars is the only one that does anything for the birthday of the character or the player to the best of my knowledge. And it's such a little thing that it seems almost strange that more games haven't copied the idea. Of course, it requires tracking date of creation for every single character and it can lead to some issue (some of the birthday presents in GW wound up with exorbitant prices on the secondary market).
So what do you think? Would you like to see more games marking your character birthdays? Or do you think it's a cute idea that doesn't need to be revisited?
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!The Daily Grind: Would you like games to remember your character's birthday? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Contests, Events, real-world, Expansions, Free-to-play
Previously, NCsoft gave players the chance to make their mark in Aion by designing a unique weapon for the Gunner class in the upcoming 4.0 update; now, it's the Bard's turn. So instead of guns, get those creative juices flowing for musically themed creations.
Like the previous run, players should note that it is not actually a contest -- no prizes will be awarded either inside game or out. However, if your submission is chosen, you will not only get official recognition that your artwork will be incorporated in game, but you will also be able to participate in the naming process of your weapon.
The non-contest is open to everyone and runs from now until January 3, 2013. To participate, designers need to submit an original work, either hand-drawn or computer-generated, along with an explanation of the concept and intent behind the design. For full details, read the official rules.
Design a weapon for Aion's new Bard class originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Design-a-weapon announcement
Filed under: Fantasy, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Elder Scrolls Online
If you've a taste for anthropomorphic bugs with faces that only a Predator could love, you'll probably enjoy the latest Elder Scrolls Online update. ZeniMax has posted a new entry on its website detailing the creation of the game's dreugh (emphasis on ugh) that features a bit of lore and a brief video clip of the creatures in action."Dreugh are primarily found in the eastern areas of Tamriel," ZeniMax explains, "but can likely also be found anywhere coastal. Land dreugh can be found as far inland as Cyrodiil." If you've played Morrowind and Oblivion you've likely encountered earlier versions of the dreugh, and if not, well, what are you waiting for? Head past the cut for the clip and then to the official site to learn more.
[Thanks to Paul for the tip!]
Continue reading Elder Scrolls Online's dreugh is one ugly mutha... shut yo mouth!
Elder Scrolls Online's dreugh is one ugly mutha... shut yo mouth! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: The dreugh
Filed under: Podcasts, Age of Conan, Darkfall, MMO industry, Massively Meta, The Secret World, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous
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:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:
Read below the cut for the full show notes.
Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 229: SexyTime
Massively Speaking Episode 229: SexyTime originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Horror, Real life, Events, in-game, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Comics, The Secret World, Dev Diaries
When Funcom announced that The Secret World was abolishing subscriptions and converting to a "pay once, play forever" model, the studio also noted that Issue #5 would be included free for everyone who had the game by the end of December. So now that the free-to-play question is answered, inquiring minds want to know what the next monthly update includes!Well, folks, we'll have to wait a bit longer on the full answer to that, but we do have a hint of the upcoming story; the cover art lets us know it deals with The Vanishing of Tyler Freeborn. We also have a special comic to start the story off after the break.
Of course, the world is supposed to be ending, so what does that mean for TSW? Senior designer Tanya Short has jumped on the end-of-days bandwagon. In the latest dev blog, she details the special events that will be going on as the countdown to the end continues, including special dynamic events and limited-time currency to spend on potions, unique weapon skins, and even a pet. As expected in any horror apocalypse, zombie attacks escalate everywhere and three giant nigh-invulnerable Harbingers will be roaming the lands. Will players find the single weakness of each that will bring down the behemoths before the world crashes? There is also a contest for the top player throughout the apocalypse with a title and pet reward, so hop on in and play a part in the end!
Continue reading The Secret World releases issue #5 teaser, announces End of Days events
The Secret World releases issue #5 teaser, announces End of Days events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: End of Days dev blog, Issue #5