Virtual World News
Play Runes of Magic in your browser (if you're in Europe)
April 24, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Runes of Magic
It usually takes about 30 seconds of streaming to reach RoM's main menu and character creation interface. Also of note is the fact that the browser version runs on the same servers as the client version, so you'll still have access to all of your friends and familiars.
The bad news is that the browser version is only available in Europe as of today. We'll update you as soon as we hear about Frogster's plans for additional markets.
[Source: Frogster press release]
Play Runes of Magic in your browser (if you're in Europe) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Massively Speaking Episode 198: Open beta madness!
April 24, 2012
Filed under: Betas, Podcasts, City of Heroes, MMO industry, News items, Star Trek Online, Guild Wars 2, Massively Meta, The Secret World, Massively Speaking, Star Wars: The Old Republic, TERA, Miscellaneous, Diablo III
Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!
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Read below the cut for the full show notes.
Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 198: Open beta madness!
Massively Speaking Episode 198: Open beta madness! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Dreaming of green knights
April 24, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Races, Flameseeker Chronicles
You know what won't be available in the beta? The Sylvari and the Asura, once again. ArenaNet's included Lion's Arch in this newest beta build, but that's about all that's new. I've gone on record as saying that I'm perfectly content to wait 'til launch for the Asura and Sylvari so that they're all pristine and new and ready to be explored, but I've got to say that that contentedness gets a little more strained each time we hear or see new stuff about the Sylvari. That's been true for months upon months, but it just keeps getting better.
Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Dreaming of green knights
Flameseeker Chronicles: Dreaming of green knights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
BioWare strikes back at reports that SWTOR's subs are declining
April 24, 2012
Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic
"Nothing is off the table when it comes to making sure our communities are strong and active on each server," Erickson said.
He told PC Gamer that BioWare is doing "anything and everything" to help its numbers. Creutz claimed that SWTOR subcribers reached a peak of 1.7 million in February, and he estimated that populations would drop to 1.25 million by March of 2013.
BioWare strikes back at reports that SWTOR's subs are declining originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The Soapbox: The grind is good
April 24, 2012
Filed under: Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous
Like many of you, I have fond memories of several important video games that carried me through my childhood and teenage years. Some were deep, some were obscure, some were landmark moments in the genre, and some were Chrono Trigger. It's weird, then, with all that variety, that I have strong fondness for a game that had so little going on in the story or progression department as to be a step away from playing marbles or jacks in the street.
It was a game that I'd sit down to night after night, not to go on any grand adventures or to raise my level 1 fighter up into the ranks of godhood but to just unwind. It was a game that required such a zen-like concentration that it pushed the thinking portion of my brain out and soothed me with its repetitive gameplay and simplistic motions.
That game was, of course, Tetris, a game that was grind personified. It was minimalistic puzzle-solving repeated over and over again, and some days that's all I needed. When my mind was wiped, or when I just wanted to sit back in my chair instead of forward in it, I turned to these silly blocks. When I needed it and wanted it, the grind was better for me than the most complex and innovative video games of the time.
The grind is good, especially when you have the option to do it or ignore it, and I feel that this has gotten such a bad reputation in MMOs that its positive aspects are overlooked. Time to remedy that!
Continue reading The Soapbox: The grind is good
The Soapbox: The grind is good originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Guild Wars celebrates its 7th anniversary
April 24, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, News items, Anniversary
From April 24th through May 8th, players will be able to enjoy the time-honored traditions of Guild Wars' birthday celebrations: Players can stroll down the Shing Jea Boardwalk for some festival games, race Rollerbeetles, unlock birthday hats, and collect some sweet, sweet treats. In addition, a new pet is being made available. The Hound of Balthazar can be unlocked for free by visiting Ceira, Sworn to Fire in Embark Beach and then traveling to the Zaishen Menagerie and tracking down the fiery beastie. After the anniversary has drawn to a close, the Hound will still be unlockable, but at the cost of 100,000 Balthazar Faction or 20 golden zaishen coins and 100 gold -- so maybe don't dawdle if you're interested in a shiny new pet. The updated page also promises "drops and activities never before seen in anniversary celebration," so join in the fun to find out what's new!
Guild Wars celebrates its 7th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: 7th Anniversary page
SWTOR increases Sniper damage, fixes bugs, and cures the Rakghoul plague
April 24, 2012
Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Patches, PvE, Star Wars: The Old Republic
Although Snipers and Gunslingers were the only classes to receive a bonus to damage, many other minor and why-is-this-an-issue bugs have been fixed with the introduction of this patch. For instance, each player can add other players to his friends list even if those other players are offline. And that persistent and annoying jet-engine sound heard on Carrick and Vaiken station has been fixed.
On a sad note, the Rakghoul plague has come to and end (or is that good news?). Either way, the announcements on the stations have stopped, and the crash site has been fully cleaned up, including the jawa vendor. But chin up, event-fans: Lead Designer Daniel Erickson mentioned on Mos Eisley Radio that although BioWare does not have plans to revive this specific event, there is a whole team specifically dedicated to creating future live events.
SWTOR increases Sniper damage, fixes bugs, and cures the Rakghoul plague originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
ArenaNet prepares fans for Guild Wars 2 beta weekend event
April 24, 2012
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, News items, Guild Wars 2
The event, which runs from Friday the 27th at 3:00pm EDT to 3:00am on Monday the 30th, will introduce players to the Charr, Human, and Norn early zones as well as allowing players to get into epic WvW battles and hotjoinable PvP. Lion's Arch, a huge city that's undergone massive changes since the original Guild Wars, will be explorable for the first time. Check out what Martin Kerstein and Mike Zadorojny have to say about it in the video after the cut.
Continue reading ArenaNet prepares fans for Guild Wars 2 beta weekend event
ArenaNet prepares fans for Guild Wars 2 beta weekend event originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Guild Wars 2 YouTube
Frogster responds to community uproar over European TERA changes
April 24, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, News items, TERA
European TERA fans have been up in arms lately due to decisions on behalf of the game's European publisher, Frogster, to remove a notable amount of the game's mature content in hopes of receiving a PEGI 12 rating. Today, the game's lead community manager, Raven, took to the forums to explain the logic behind some of these decisions and to elaborate on what players can expect moving forward.
The post begins with an apology for the lack of transparency in the matter of removing the blood effect slider from the game without mention; it goes on to promise that "the gore slider will be back with the original three different graduations and blood will still be spread on the ground during combat," though it's important to note that the feature will be patched back in shortly after launch. Raven also clarifies the reasons behind some of the changes made to the childlike Elin, stating that the changes were made "not to comply with a demand from any official board, but because those characters in particular could have attracted to the game a population of unsavoury users, and it is part of [Frogster's] responsibility to protect [TERA's] younger audiences from them."
As far as the changes made to other character models (such as the reduction of female breast size and some changes that made certain pieces of armor less revealing) are concerned, Raven points out that those changes are present in all versions of the game, including the Korean version, so it's not a case of the game's being censored purely for Western audiences. To get the full details and put forth your tuppence on the matter, just head on over to the official TERA EU forums.
The post begins with an apology for the lack of transparency in the matter of removing the blood effect slider from the game without mention; it goes on to promise that "the gore slider will be back with the original three different graduations and blood will still be spread on the ground during combat," though it's important to note that the feature will be patched back in shortly after launch. Raven also clarifies the reasons behind some of the changes made to the childlike Elin, stating that the changes were made "not to comply with a demand from any official board, but because those characters in particular could have attracted to the game a population of unsavoury users, and it is part of [Frogster's] responsibility to protect [TERA's] younger audiences from them."
As far as the changes made to other character models (such as the reduction of female breast size and some changes that made certain pieces of armor less revealing) are concerned, Raven points out that those changes are present in all versions of the game, including the Korean version, so it's not a case of the game's being censored purely for Western audiences. To get the full details and put forth your tuppence on the matter, just head on over to the official TERA EU forums.
Frogster responds to community uproar over European TERA changes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: European TERA forums
New preview available for Final Fantasy XIV's Garuda fight
April 24, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Previews, Endgame, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV
According to the lore, the Ixali revere Garuda as the Empress of Birds, a soaring deity who maintains an appetite for the flesh of land-dwelling creatures. She is the incarnate strength of the bird-men as well as a source of great terror. But just as with Ifrit, players who defeat her can expect to have a variety of fantastic weapons, as illustrated in the video just past the break. Just be careful -- if you aren't on the ball when you fight her, you could find yourself completely blown away.
[Thanks to Alex for the tip!]
Continue reading New preview available for Final Fantasy XIV's Garuda fight
New preview available for Final Fantasy XIV's Garuda fight originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Garuda preview
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