Virtual World News
Filed under: Sci-Fi, PlanetSide, Business Models, News Items, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2, Anniversaries
We did a mass grant of anyone who has ever played ps1 or ps2 with free time in ps1. We weren't ready to announce it yet because the database grant is still ongoing and won't be done till tmw morning. So please if you didn't get flagged chill. We are trying to do something cool for everyone and we were going to tell people when it's done. But people saw it and others broadcast the info. Please don't complain :) we aren't raising your taxes we are making a game free. This also gives us more time to make it f2p. So enjoy starting tmw late morning.This news comes just as PlanetSide 1 is celebrating its 10th birthday. Smedley's tweet refers to a new SOE promotion that will grant PlanetSide 2 players six free months of PS1 play.
PlanetSide 1 appears to be going free-to-play... eventually originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 00:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Smed's Twitters
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dragon's Prophet
Players can also expect to hear more about the game; as of today, SOE has lifted the closed beta NDA. Current testers can now begin sharing tales of their adventures with family, friends, and random strangers in line at the supermarket. You can also watch some of those adventures this week on Massively TV, with a two-hour show today at 10 a.m. EDT and one featuring a special dev guest on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. EDT. And check out the video after the cut!
[Source: SOE press release]
Continue reading Dragon's Prophet blasts beta doors open on May 30th
Dragon's Prophet blasts beta doors open on May 30th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Video, MMO Industry, MOBA
A new video exclusive at Machinima (also embedded below) shows off a bit of a behind-the-scenes explanation of what Dawngate offers to MOBA fans. Members of the Waystone Games team explain the game's rich lore, unique mechanics such as regenerating towers, resource gathering, RTS-style strategies, and more.
Beta testing starts this Friday, and you can head on over to the game's official site to sign up.
Continue reading Dawngate beta starts this Friday
Dawngate beta starts this Friday originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Eurogamer
Filed under: Business Models, MMO Industry, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Daily Grind
Hartsman also hinted at his views on current industry trends, saying that "this model of gamemaking is so fundamentally broken." Given the limitations of Twitter and fact that Hartsman didn't elaborate, it's hard to know exactly what he meant, though we can extrapolate based on his prior positions on F2P and the context surrounding the Trion situation.
What about you, Massively readers? Do you agree with Hartsman? Is this model of MMO gamemaking fundamentally broken?
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: Do you think MMO gamemaking is fundamentally broken? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Economy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Endgame, PvE, Opinion, Hands-On, The Soapbox, Diablo III, Buy-to-Play
Diablo II was consistently popular for over a decade thanks to its immense replayability. At its core, D2 was a game about building new characters and gearing them up by any means necessary. Every enemy in the game was a loot pinata just waiting to be popped, and players farmed endlessly for a few sought-after unique items. You almost never found an item that was ideal for your particular class and build, but you could usually trade for what you needed via trade channels and forums.
Blizzard claimed that the auction house was intended just to streamline this process, but when Diablo III launched, it was clear that the entire game had been designed to make the auction house almost necessary for progress. The fault here lies not just with the concept of an auction house but with the game designers.
That's right: I'm here to argue not only that Jay Wilson was right about the auction house ruining Diablo III but also that it was his own damn fault.
Continue reading The Soapbox: Diablo III's auction house ruined the game
The Soapbox: Diablo III's auction house ruined the game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, Economy, News Items, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play
Content releases in Guild Wars 2 continue apace. Since launch, we've seen a handful of special events alongside one-time content, persistent content, and added features. On the other hand, NCsoft recently reported lower sales for this quarter than the previous one, citing "the reduction in Guild Wars 2 package sales" as part of the cause.
We're scheduled for a chat with ArenaNet's Colin Johanson later today; we'll be sure to update you with more information as soon as we can.
[Source: ArenaNet press release]
ArenaNet permanently lowers Guild Wars 2's price point originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO Industry, Neverwinter, Buy-to-Play
For all characters created before 5 a.m. PDT (8 a.m. EDT) on Sunday, May 19, this pack is waiting in their in-game mailbox. In it, each character will find a Stone of Health, a Dwarven Facemask, 5 teleport scrolls to the Protector's Enclave, 2 Adventurer's XP boosters, and a Cape of Catastrophe. Hey, at least they have a sense of humor about it.
Neverwinter team offers token of peace for beta mess originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Beta pack announcement
Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, New Titles
For fans of IMC Games following along at home, this looks to be what was previously known as Project G2, not to be confused with Project R1, which is an entirely different game being worked on by the same studio.
Check out the gallery below and let us know what you think in the comments. Like I even have to tell you that part!
WolfKnights Online debuts from Kim Hakkyu originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Steparu
Filed under: Sci-Fi, Expansions, Launches, News Items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play, Races
If, however, you're stuck in spacedock and unable to head out yet, you can check out the changes awaiting you in the guides, videos, news briefs, and galleries below.
Continue reading Star Trek Online Legacy of Romulus launch-day roundup
Star Trek Online Legacy of Romulus launch-day roundup originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Historical, Patches, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, World of Tanks
Update 8.6 will push the SPG armor line to tier X by promoting current tier 8's up to the top and then adding new SPGs to the middle tiers. The American, Soviet, French, and German tech lines will all receive new artillery units and the British line gets a new premium tank, the A33 Excelsior. A new Korean-based map will also be introduced.
[Source: Wargaming.net press release]
Patch 8.6 brings more balance to World of Tanks, ups SPGs to tier X originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.