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Wings Over Atreia: The skinny on housing from NCsoft
April 23, 2012

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Wings Over Atreia
We spoke; NCsoft listened.

Don't look so surprised! Is it really so far-fetched to think that developers care about and want to keep an eye on the thoughts and reactions of their playerbase? Well, other than to just laugh at us of course. *wink* I kid, I kid.

In all seriousness, though, when I shared my first impressions of the long anticipated Aion: Ascension, I noted some letdowns amid the greater aspects. My opinions were formed from what information could be gleaned from actual in-game play during those first days after release. Of course, not all of Aion's new features could really be explored and enjoyed in that short span of time, so that, coupled with a lack of published information (shocking!), meant I wasn't even close to a comprehensive understanding. But my disappointments in the temporary aspects of some housing and other items as well as the high cost of housing struck a chord with others as well.

To our benefit, NCsoft was listening. Producer Adam Christensen and Associate Producer Sean Orlikowski quickly addressed some of the concerns noted, sending us more information to share. Along with clarification, we received an exclusive look at the housing release schedule for both the Asmodian and Elyos factions. If you know which real estate you want, check the schedule below to see when your spot hits the market. (And don't forget to save your kinah!)

Gallery: Aion housing

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: The skinny on housing from NCsoft

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: The skinny on housing from NCsoft originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Take a behind-the-scenes tour of ArenaNet's (totally awesome) offices
    April 23, 2012

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    I want to go to there.
    Guild Wars 2 fans are surely champing at the bit to get their hands on the game next week in the game's first public beta weekend, but you know what's cooler than taking part in GW2's beta weekends? Doing so at ArenaNet's offices in Seattle, which is exactly what the folks at Eurogamer got to do just recently.

    Not only did they get the opportunity to sit down and play the Guild Wars 2 beta with the team, but they also got the chance to chat with many of the key figures behind it all. Virtually every department of development is represented in the lengthy article, which includes interviews with head honcho Mike O'Brien, QA manager Mike Zadorojny, art director Daniel Dociu, lead content designer Colin Johansen, and many, many more. So if you're interested in a behind-the-scenes look at the studio behind what could be this year's biggest MMO, just head on over and check out the full piece.

    MassivelyTake a behind-the-scenes tour of ArenaNet's (totally awesome) offices originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    MapleStory proclaims Alliance Eternal this week
    April 23, 2012

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    MapleStory
    With this week's Alliance Eternal patch in MapleStory, Nexon has returned the balance of the classes to where it should be. The final update in the Alliance trilogy focuses on Cygnus Knights and Explorer classes, retuning them and bringing their power levels back up to par with the classes that received developer love with the previous updates.

    Alliance Eternal has a few other fun surprises for players. Level 120 characters can hop through a Dimensional Schism and take on the sinister-sounding Arkarium, while Cygnus Knights level 110 or above have new quest chains to investigate.

    Nexon's also looking forward to the coming months. MapleStory will hit its seven-year anniversary in May, and players should expect a big bash when that happens. The devs also teased a "big summer content release" on the horizon with two new characters including the Phantom hero.

    MassivelyMapleStory proclaims Alliance Eternal this week originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ChangYou plans to bring Shadowbane back in China
    April 23, 2012

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    Old MMOs never die, they just get farmed out. Well, except AC2. And TMO. And E&B. And SWG...
    MMOs die. It's a very sad reality, but a reality just the same. And more often than not, there's no chance for a revival. But every so often the stars align just right and fans get lucky, which is almost the case with Shadowbane. Nearly three years after the game's shutdown, it looks like it'll be getting a new lease on life... as the basis for a new title developed by ChangYou.

    There are no firm details on what the new game will look like, although it appears to have been in development for roughly a year at this time. Preliminarily titled World of Shadowbane, the game is still too far in the future for any sort of launch information, much less discussion of whether or not the game will see an American release. Still, it's closer to a chance at revival than the game has had in the past three years, and that's something.

    MassivelyChangYou plans to bring Shadowbane back in China originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Guild Wars 2 gets all social before the beta weekend
    April 23, 2012

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    Or you could just hang out by the punch bowl and not talk to anyone. That's also an option.
    There's no shortage of players waiting eagerly to jump into Guild Wars 2 beta testing this weekend, but that's still several days away. It's very possible that you really need a steady shot of Tyria a little earlier than that. Fortunately for you, there are options open as the community team pushes interaction in a big way. The game's Facebook page is the center of a rather art-centric promotion: As the page nears half a million Likes, the team is releasing a new piece of art for every 10,000 new fans.

    Not your cup of tea? That's all right, as the team has also set up a Pinterest page to show off the best game-related fan projects. There are also new boards set up in the official forums where you can show off screenshots of each race, whether you're opting for the diminutive Asura or the towering Norn. It's a good chance for everyone to get involved in the Guild Wars 2 community before the weekend gets underway, even if it won't make the test start any faster.

    MassivelyGuild Wars 2 gets all social before the beta weekend originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online lead writer Christine Thompson, part one
    April 23, 2012

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    Image
    Today Captain's Log continues with the first of two installments of my interview with Christine Thompson, Star Trek Online's lead writer at Cryptic Studios!

    I began the discussion by asking Thompson about her background as a writer and journalist before she began working for Cryptic. She stated that she had held positions as a reporter, editor, page designer, and wire editor for 13 years, after which she found herself in a position of "either having to move up into management or having to find something else to do."

    Yet she spent a lot of her personal time playing MMOs, reading comic books and fantasy novels, and watching Star Trek. Since she had to find a new career anyway, she thought, "Why not find a career I actually enjoy?" That's when she began to look for writing positions in the gaming industry.

    Continue reading Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online lead writer Christine Thompson, part one

    MassivelyCaptain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online lead writer Christine Thompson, part one originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Not So Massively: Diablo III open beta weekend edition
      April 23, 2012

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      Not So Massively title image
      Diablo III's open beta weekend was a huge success, giving developers the chance to stress test the servers that will be used when the game goes live in just over three weeks. Torchlight II teased fans this week with the release of its official opening trailer, which picks up the story from the end of the first game. Web series Extra Credits ran a special episode this week discussing Firefall's plan to let players work together to push back the map boundaries and unlock new content.

      Rise of Immortals rolled out a new guild system in this week's patch and released its new area-effect tank immortal, Shard. Dota 2 added classic hero Brewmaster to the beta roster, and Bloodline Champions began preparing patch 2.4 with its new healer bloodline, Dryad. Wrath of Heroes released a hero spotlight video on melee fighter Bax Dreadtoof, and League of Legends highlighted some awesome fan-made art.

      Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III open beta weekend edition

      MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III open beta weekend edition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Guild Wars 2 gets all social before the beta weekend [Updated]
        April 23, 2012

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        Or you could just hang out by the punch bowl and not talk to anyone. That's also an option.
        There's no shortage of players waiting eagerly to jump into Guild Wars 2 beta testing this weekend, but that's still several days away. It's very possible that you really need a steady shot of Tyria a little earlier than that. Fortunately for you, there are options open as the community team pushes interaction in a big way. The game's Facebook page is the center of a rather art-centric promotion: As the page nears half a million Likes, the team is releasing a new piece of art for every 10,000 new fans.

        Not your cup of tea? That's all right, as the team has also set up a Pinterest page to show off the best game-related fan projects. There are also boards set up on the same page where you can show off screenshots of each race, whether you're opting for the diminutive Asura or the towering Norn. It's a good chance for everyone to get involved in the Guild Wars 2 community before the weekend gets underway, even if it won't make the test start any faster.

        [Updated with clarification regarding the picture forums.]

        MassivelyGuild Wars 2 gets all social before the beta weekend [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: What in-game project made you the happiest to complete?
        April 22, 2012

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        Reading Marmaduke doesn't qualify as a project, FYI.
        MMOs give players a lot of freedom and a lot of different potential projects. That means players get to pick a goal and get to it, whether or not it's the "intended" play pattern for the game. Sure, you might have a clear progression from low levels to endgame, but you can just as easily decide that you want to see all of the task forces in City of Heroes or clear all of the World of Warcraft dungeons on-level or level in Final Fantasy XIV with only store-bought equipment.

        That's not to imply that game-provided projects like clearing all endgame content are somehow easier or less relevant. So out of all the game projects you've experienced in MMOs, which project was the one that gave you the best feeling after clearing it. Was it something you were "supposed" to do or just a challenge that seemed interesting at the time? Has it shaped your play subsequently, or was it fun then and never again?

        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 in-game project made you the happiest to complete? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Previously on MV TV: The week of April 14th
          April 22, 2012

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          Previously On logo
          So you accidentally missed your favorite MassivelyTV livestream featuring your favorite Massively personality or writer? Don't worry; we'll forgive you as long as you promise to bookmark our MassivelyTV guide and check back on this weekly recap. That way you are sure not to miss another stream, and you wouldn't need to come back to us, begging for a link. You could also follow Massively on Twitter, one of the best ways to be alerted to new things.

          This week we featured a Tboo Thursday, one of our most popular livestreams, which stars resident APB: Reloaded expert Taryn. We also had some more World of Warcraft Mists of Pandaria action from Richie, a bit of newbie content in EverQuest II with MJ at the helm, a quick introduction to skybox building in Second Life hosted by me, Mike's return to EVE Online in his shiny new Drake, and Adventure Mike's leap back into Final Fantasy XIV. Pretty exciting stuff if you're into giant rats, explosions, beautiful sunsets, and piles of bullets.

          Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of April 14th

          MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of April 14th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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