Virtual World News
TERA patch opens up GvG on PvE servers and improves daily quests
June 12, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, PvP, News items, Roleplaying, TERA
Not up for the PvP road? That's all right -- there are a lot of other little additions in this patch. Daily quests for Hands of Velika have undergone some revisions, with slightly higher numbers required to clear but a greater individual reward. High-end BAMs now also drop Tier 13 crafting materials, with named monsters having a higher chance at drops. The patch also adds the ability to type custom emotes and several bug fixes, both of which should improve the quality of play in TERA.
TERA patch opens up GvG on PvE servers and improves daily quests originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Patch notes
Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Cathar
June 12, 2012
Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Lore, Opinion, Races, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon
Personally, I have yet to create a Jedi Knight character (yeah, I know, call me what you will), so I think the Cathar look to be a good species for that class. However, given the history and overall disposition of the Cathar species, I think it could easily fall into any class story. Maybe that is why it was chosen as the next species over the aforementioned Nautolans and Togrutas. As with any species I play, I like to learn as much about it as I can. Thankfully, the Cathar are a pretty easy species for gathering this information, not that Wookieepedia is a great source on the topic.
So what are Cathar all about? Where do they come from? We'll find out in this week's Holocron Files.
Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Cathar
Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Cathar originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Diablo III pulls trigger on NA real-money auction house
June 12, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Economy, Diablo III
Unlike the traditional in-game auction house, the real-money variant deals in actual currency (such as USD). Players can sell their hard-won goods for cash, which can then be either spent on the auction house, sent to their own personal PayPal accounts, or converted to Battle.net Balance credit.
The real-money auction house requires additional setup if the players have not attached a PayPal or authenticator to the account. Blizzard does take its cut, and business must be good: There are reports of items going for over $200 already.
Diablo III pulls trigger on NA real-money auction house originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: DIII Twitter, Diablo III forums, Neoseeker
- Via: Joystiq
The Daily Grind: Should games bother innovating guild systems?
June 11, 2012
Filed under: Game mechanics, Guilds, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous
But the genre didn't iterate on Asheron's Call's invention, instead preferring to bolster in-game guilds with perks like guild vaults and achievements -- cool stuff, but layered over a static, military style of guild structure with generic ranks. Most MMOs don't allow you to join multiple groups, either (Guild Wars 2 being a notable exception).
So today I'm wondering whether you think there's room for innovation in MMO guild mechanics. Should studios design unique and flexible guild systems, or should they just get out of the way and let players decide how to organize themselves like we had to Back In The Day?
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: Should games bother innovating guild systems? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
MV Guide: June 11 - 17, 2012
June 11, 2012
Filed under: Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide
Every week, the Massively Stream Team logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises each week, so you'll find a variety of titles to watch. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, or simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)
Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule, and let us know if there's a specific game you'd like to see streamed next week!
Continue reading MV Guide: June 11 - 17, 2012
MV Guide: June 11 - 17, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Massively's E3 2012 awards and impressions
June 11, 2012
Filed under: Galleries, Screenshots, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Opinion, Massively Meta, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage
And the people, oh-em-gee, don't get me started. The snippets of color you catch at a show like this are among the week-long highlights.
"I love sushi," for example.
This one exploded above the normal hum of conversation, it was heavily accented, and it drew hearty guffaws for minutes thereafter. Plenty of other noteworthies found their way onto my scribble pad, though tragically, none of these gems is printable. Oh, and next year, remind me to pack an extension cord, thanks. Anyhow, you're probably here to see Massively's Best of E3 2012 awards, yeah? Go on ahead past the cut; I've got to find a charging station.
Continue reading Massively's E3 2012 awards and impressions
Massively's E3 2012 awards and impressions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online adds new missions, units
June 11, 2012
Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play
OGPlanet says this is merely the latest salvo in a barrage of content released since the game's launch. Updates have included new arenas, Gundam units, items, and extensive changes to the title's website. If any of that piques your interest, you can head over to the site to learn more about the game and sign up for a free OGPlanet account.
[Source: OG Planet press release]
SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online adds new missions, units originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Crafting in The Repopulation unveiled as a viable playstyle
June 11, 2012
Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Sandbox, Crafting
First and foremost, crafting will be a primary game type; crafters can succeed in their trade without combat. The system will also be very in-depth, involving tools and commanding players' attention in order to succeed.
One of the more unique features is the crafting board: Instead of crafters tossing their wares into an auction house, customers post their order, including specifications and price, for crafters to fill. Also, due to the grade system, recipes gathered on the first day will still be valuable years later. Although not unique, harvesting is another interesting feature as necessary ingredients can be gained by manually gathering nodes, placing a structure, or extracting from kills.
For more information, check out the full announcement.
[Source: Above and Beyond Technologies press release]
Crafting in The Repopulation unveiled as a viable playstyle originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Wings Over Atreia: Support the war effort and reap the spoils in Aion
June 11, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Events, in-game, Opinion, Free-to-play, Wings Over Atreia, Guides
I am so glad you are the understanding sort! You'll forgive me, right? I know that I'd said that this week's Wings Over Atreia would be covering a guide to all the daily quests in Aion, but that was before NCsoft surprised us with a new event mid-week. And since said event ends on the 20th, I thought waiting until the 18th to fill you in would be downright cruel! Besides, the daily quests aren't going anywhere; we'll catch them next week. You might even thank me later for giving you seven more days of freedom.
So what's this event that has preempted the (spectacular, informative, and well-worth-the-wait!) already-penned article? It's called The Spoils of War, though technically it is actually two events bundled together: Provisioning the Front Lines and Besh Temple Blitz. Daevas of any level can participate in the first, whereas only those level 55 and up can do the latter.
The next question is why participate? Because of the spoils, of course!
Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Support the war effort and reap the spoils in Aion
Wings Over Atreia: Support the war effort and reap the spoils in Aion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The Secret World's third beta weekend beginning June 15th
June 11, 2012
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, News items, The Secret World
While The Secret World's conspiracy theorists have their hands full with the game's latest ARG hook, fans who just want to get their hands on the game again won't have to wait much longer. Funcom has announced that TSW's third beta weekend, subtitled Hell Raised (after the dungeon of the same name), will begin on June 15th.
This time around, players will be cut loose from the confines of Kingsmouth to run wild in the appropriately named Savage Coast, where the gates of Hell have been flung open to allow all sorts of nasty beasties to make their way into our world. Players will have the opportunity to delve into the mystery of the infernal invasion by taking on the newly added Hell Raised instance. According to Funcom, The Secret World "has received significant enhancements since the last beta weekend, with improved content, gameplay mechanics, and performance." To top it all off, this beta weekend will mark players' first look at the updated combat system. If you haven't already received a beta key and want to get into the beta weekend, all you have to do is throw down a pre-order on TSW and you'll be guaranteed entry. So remember: June 15th. Savage Coast. Be there.
This time around, players will be cut loose from the confines of Kingsmouth to run wild in the appropriately named Savage Coast, where the gates of Hell have been flung open to allow all sorts of nasty beasties to make their way into our world. Players will have the opportunity to delve into the mystery of the infernal invasion by taking on the newly added Hell Raised instance. According to Funcom, The Secret World "has received significant enhancements since the last beta weekend, with improved content, gameplay mechanics, and performance." To top it all off, this beta weekend will mark players' first look at the updated combat system. If you haven't already received a beta key and want to get into the beta weekend, all you have to do is throw down a pre-order on TSW and you'll be guaranteed entry. So remember: June 15th. Savage Coast. Be there.
The Secret World's third beta weekend beginning June 15th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: The Secret World beta weekend #3
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