Virtual World News
Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log, Anniversary
You'll note that last year's column was mostly about what happened as a result of the game's launch. That wasn't by accident. Launch led to a massive restructuring of the game's design team, and not too long after the one-year mark, the team announced that it was basically remaking the game from the ground up. That fact has dominated the past year, and it's impossible to overstate the importance that announcement has had for the Final Fantasy XIV community. Everything circles around the promise of 2.0 these days.
What has that meant for the actual years of the game's operation? Sadly, nothing good. The game has made huge strides, but we as players have been stuck in a nasty little loop.
Continue reading The Mog Log: Two years of spinning wheels in Final Fantasy XIV
The Mog Log: Two years of spinning wheels in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Events, real-world, Expansions, Game mechanics, Launches, Previews, PvP, News items, PvE, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage, Sandbox
We sat down with Jon Lander and Kristoffer Touborg, EVE's executive producer and lead designer respectively, to get a first-hand look at some of Retribution's key features as well as the enormous pile of tweaks, updates, and adjustments players might expect with any CCP-helmed update. One thing is certain: After Retribution, the world of internet spaceships will never again be the same.
Continue reading CCP unveils EVE Online: Retribution, coming this winter
CCP unveils EVE Online: Retribution, coming this winter originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Tattered Notebook
In a recent post to the official forums, EQII Producer Holly "Windstalker" Longdale posted the following:
Howdy Norrathians! The team has been brainstorming ideas that would ease the re-entry back into the game and soften the learning curve for returning players as well as creative options for a Refer-a-Friend program. What would float your boat if you are, or were, a returning player at some point? Creative suggestions? And do you have ideas that would make you excited to not just refer a friend, but play with them too?In past columns, we've looked at a few ways to attract new and returning players, but in this week's Tattered Notebook, it's worth looking at the topic again. What would get you to come back to EQII (or try it for the first time)?
Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: What would tempt you to play EQII?
The Tattered Notebook: What would tempt you to play EQII? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Humor, City of Steam
You see, aside from just talking about the game approaching its closed beta testing phase, this particular developer journal contains an old gem from early internal testing: a minigame built specifically to allow the team to test barrel destruction effects. And wouldn't you know that you can now play with that same tool yourself in your browser? Go ahead and read for updates on development, but stay to wipe out a room full of barrels with an exploding barrel.
City of Steam offers players barrels of fun before beta originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Barrel's Folly
Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Expansions, MMO industry, News items
This is a significant drop from the 3.3 million unit sales of Cataclysm, World of Warcraft's last expansion which shipped in December of 2010. One important caveat is that Lazard doesn't take digital sales into account, but VentureBeat reports that the firm believes "digital sales won't make up for [MoP's] poor retail performance.
Analysts: Mists of Pandaria sales disappointing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 23:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: VentureBeat
Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous
It's nice to have a familiar world in which to play, as games like World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, and Star Wars Galaxies have shown us. But fresh-from-scratch worlds are usually just as enticing. Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 seem to be doing pretty well for themselves.
So which do you prefer? Does a familiar world matter to you, or do you reward originality?
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: How important is intellectual property to your MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Classes, Patches, Previews, Free-to-play, Blade & Soul
As one might infer from the title, Lyn Blade Masters are quite skilled in slicing and dicing. Players using the class can employ stuns, flying swords, and AoE attacks. The Lyn Blade Master has use as a tank too, with strong grabbing skills to keep the enemy rooted and focused on him or her.
October's update to Blade & Soul has a slew of changes and tweaks. NCsoft is revamping the Summoner class, creating a new endgame dungeon from an old one, adding a solo dungeon called the Tower of Mushin, implementing a cross-server party matching system, throwing in a tournament system, and more.
Check out the Lyn Blade Master reveal video after the jump and let us know if you'll be playing one!
Continue reading Blade & Soul introduces the Lyn Blade Master
Blade & Soul introduces the Lyn Blade Master originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Steparu.com
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Sandbox
Players can gain access to the November closed beta by purchasing the limited-time Elite pre-sale package for $9.99 USD. The package includes a full version of the game as well as exclusive in-game items. After the November beta closes on the 25th, players can purchase one of three Age of Wushu gift sets -- filled with in-game and real world items -- to get access to the next beta starting December 20th. The gift sets have the additional perk of allowing players into an exclusive access period starting February 1st, giving them 90 days of play before the official launch.
[Source: Snail Games press release]
Age of Wushu beta and launch announced originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Legal, Miscellaneous
Currently listed in the assets are XBox 360 Development Kits, which Microsoft is requesting be removed since they are the property of Microsoft and not 38 Studios.
38 Studios assets to be auctioned off in October originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: GamesIndustry International
Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Sandbox
Players interested in returning to the game or checking it out for the first time can do so at a discounted sub fee during Darkfall's Ultimate Promotion. The promotion, which also includes increased drop rates and skill gains, ends when Unholy Wars launches.
[Aventurine press release]
New Darkfall Unholy Wars screenshots released originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.