Virtual World News
Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game mechanics, News items, Final Fantasy XIV, Crafting
You'll begin, as most crafters do, by gathering materials. As you run through the world, you'll have skills to triangulate gathering nodes. Upon approaching a node, you'll get to choose from a list of things you can try to gather from it -- a tree, for example, might be a place where you could find a log, or a feather, or maybe some sap. Once you've got materials, it's time to head to your crafting bench, pick a recipe, and start working. You'll have construction skills that focus on the quality and progress of your crafting.
Skip below the cut to see all the fast-paced, high-octane gathering and crafting action.
Continue reading Get a sneak peek at FFXIV's crafting
Get a sneak peek at FFXIV's crafting originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: MMO Culture
Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Free Realms
When checking the in-game store today, EverQuest II players will find the cloak of the North Star and the heroic salesman's crate. Free Realms fans will get to choose a swirly-railed gazebo or a happy heart T-shirt. In EverQuest, hammer users will have a new skin they can slap on their weapon.
Although this first wave of Player Studio items is not very extensive for any of the games, SOE has over 60 other trinkets spread across the three games ready to go, and more stuff will be introduced each week. Be sure to check the Tattered Notebook this Saturday for even more details and an interview with Rick Reynolds, SOE's Senior Manager of E-Commerce and Joe Shoopack, Director of Artistic Development!
SOE launching first Player Studio items for EQ, EQ II, Free Realms originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Defiance
Acknowledging that new content can't be released on a weekly basis, Hill explained the plan for keeping things fresh in-game. He highlights that besides the competitive multiplayer system, players can continually redo encounters and net new rewards.
Hill also elaborated on the game's EGO system, describing it as an implanted AI device that grants players the ability to survive the harsh environments and also gives special abilities like cloaking and super speed. The in-game HUD is actually a manifestation of the EGO, giving players information and updating as missions progress.
Regarding cross-platform interaction, Hill said that although it is possible (the dev team is currently playing together from different platforms), the public will not be able to in the commercial game. He stated, "Sony and Microsoft aren't too keen on us doing that, so no. We're not allowed to." Although the payment model has not been 100% decided, Hill also noted that the development team is leaning toward players buying the box then choosing if they want to buy piecemeal or subscribe to get the downloadable content free.
Defiance producer discusses EGO, payment models, and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Defiance interview
Filed under: Real life, Business models, MMO industry, News items
The intelligent folks over at Newzoo have compiled a relatively brief infographic about the state of the MMO market, from the fact that there are 400,000,000 MMO players world-wide (of whom about 180,000,000 are strictly free-to-play patrons) to the fact that 30% of Australia's paying players are female. Last year, the market was split nearly 50/50 between free-to-play and pay-to-play games, but has since switched to a 53% to 47% advantage for free-to-play.
Check out the full infographic after the break to feast your eyes and your brain, or head over to an interview with Newzoo's CEO to absorb knowledge the old-fashioned way.
Continue reading Learn all about the MMO market with this nifty infographic
Learn all about the MMO market with this nifty infographic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Newzoo, Newzoo on the state of MMOs
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play
In a press release issued today, Sherman Tan, Chairman of Aisiasoft Online, expressed gratitude for the response and thanked all of the participating testers who contributed to improving the game. He stated, "The Ragnarok Online 2 [beta] launch has been one of our biggest successes and we are very humbled and encouraged by the overwhelming response from players who filled our game servers during the CBT period."
To get in the open beta, visit the official site to download the free client.
[Source: Asiasoft Online press release]
Ragnarok Online 2 closed beta ended today, switches to open December 27th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Opinion, Miscellaneous, The Think Tank
With the closure of popular MMOs like Star Wars Galaxies, City of Heroes and more, some players are a bit irritated at the genre as a whole. Not too many other time-investment hobbies can completely go away as quickly as an MMO.
So what does the Massively staff think is the solution? Do we turn to F2P publishers to throw some cash shop Band-Aids on the game and nudge it back into the wild? Do we bypass legal avenues and look at emulators? Is there even such thing as a solution?
Continue reading The Think Tank: What's your solution to save closing MMOs?
The Think Tank: What's your solution to save closing MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, MOBA, League of Legends, The Summoner's Guidebook
However, one woman fights against the tide. She wears her conservative armor proudly and fights in a rather unladylike manner. She doesn't utter seductive remarks while she runs around the map in high heels. Everything about her is direct, practical, and in-your-face. She's Poppy, and she's my favorite character in League of Legends.
Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: One lady fights for equality in the League of Legends
The Summoner's Guidebook: One lady fights for equality in the League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, Free-to-play, Wizardry Online
Wizardry Online is the latest in the long-running Wizardry series and features many mechanics not typically seen in modern MMOs, such as the aforementioned permadeath and friendly fire. Massively previewed the title at SOE Live and more recently got to take it for a more extensive test drive.
SOE will be talking about Wizardry Online's release date and other launch details in its webcast at 7:00 p.m. EST this evening. You can catch the webcast on Twitch.tv.
[Source: SOE press release]
Wizardry Online launching January 16th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Events, in-game, Patches, Free-to-play, Mobile
The new classes aren't the only things being added today. The update has a new level 76 red dragon to defeat, additional dungeons, a heroic instance, a 3v3 capture-the-flag map, more options for existing classes' skills, and the game's Winterfest holiday event.
[Source: Spacetime Studios press release]
Pocket Legends adds Paladin and Ranger classes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Sandbox
How it will work is that any and everyone who wants to get a taste of the game will have 10 hours of unrestricted access when the next CBT starts on December 20th. After exhausting those 10 trial hours, players who have not purchased the deluxe edition will be capped at one hour of play per day throughout the rest of the beta test, which closes in early 2013.
Folks who own the deluxe edition will get more perks besides just unlimited playtime throughout the entire closed beta period. All customization, progression, and skills of all characters will be saved when this beta closes and will be available when the next play period opens. Players who already own Elite, E3, or New York Comic Con editions of the game will have the same unrestricted access as the deluxe owners.
Age of Wushu opens next closed beta to all originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.