Virtual World News
'We hear you loud and clear': CCP clarifies third-party application licensing fees
June 22, 2011
Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Economy
Today, CCP has come out to address the second point and clarify its position. CCP Guard admits that the company didn't do the best job in explaining how third parties can charge a real-world money fee for their services apart from in-game currency, and he reposts an illuminating transcript of an interview with CCP Zulu regarding the licensing.
The problem came in the form of $99 licensing fees to use this new service, a charge that EVE players felt was extremely high. Apparently CCP agrees and will be looking into changing it to a "token charge" that will make the contract between CCP and the third party binding without it being a financial obstacle.
You can read the full explanation over at EVE Online, and while you're at it, you can snag yourself the expansion on Steam for $10.
'We hear you loud and clear': CCP clarifies third-party application licensing fees originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
One Shots: Shh, it's starting!
June 22, 2011
Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, One Shots, Final Fantasy XIV
This is from a fairly large roleplaying event that took place on the Besaid server in Final Fantasy XIV. The event was a large community sharing of stories, with each speaker getting up in turn and sharing a tale. It was a really nice event all around and a great chance to meet more people on the server.Keep your eyes on One Shots all week to see what the Massively staff loves playing and showing off. Next week's theme is all about gear. It'll be your chance to show off your most epic armor and weapons and tell us all about how you acquired them. The week after that is pet week, and we can't wait to see your awesome pet companions and hear all about them. Just send a screenshot to oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a paragraph or two telling us about what we're seeing!
One Shots: Shh, it's starting! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR
June 22, 2011
Filed under: Fantasy, Polls, Classes, Game mechanics, Warhammer Online, Opinion, Races, Choose My Adventure
I'm glad to see Warhammer Online as the selection, as it's long been a game and setting that I've found interesting even though it's never quite made it on my list of things to play next. The game has certainly seen its fair share of hardship over the past several years, so it's going to be interesting to take a look at the game as it exists now. So click on past the break to start me down the path that leads me into the game and check out my usual disconnected ramblings.
Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR
Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
City of Heroes producer's letter talks Freedom
June 22, 2011
Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Business models, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries
While some players no doubt see the onset of a freemium business model as an indication that a game's best days are behind it, Paragon's planned path forward for content creation seems to suggest otherwise.
What are some of these new content nuggets? "An all-new tutorial will introduce new players to Paragon City and the Rogue Isles like never before, and lets heroes and villains choose their archetype independently of their alignment," says the letter. Additionally, players can expect an Atlas Park makeover as well as new mission content in both Atlas Park and Mercy Island. New zones are in the works too, as are new costumes, powers, characters, and villains. In short, there's rarely been a better time to be a City of Heroes fan, so head to the official website to read all about it.
City of Heroes producer's letter talks Freedom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
RIFT launches patch 1.3, but don't bank on it
June 22, 2011
Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, RIFT
Yes, it looks like the patch was getting just a little too big for its britches -- guild banks were found to have a couple of lingering issues and thus have been held back from the release. There's no specific timetable on when the feature will be implemented, as the announcement states mostly that the team didn't want to hold back the entire update for one feature. RIFT players might be a little miffed at the loss, but there is a full patch to explore anyhow, for however much that helps ameliorate the temporary loss.
[Thanks to Paul for the tip!]
RIFT launches patch 1.3, but don't bank on it originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Champions Online's weekly comic series continues in Bad Dreams Are Made of This
June 22, 2011
Filed under: Super-hero, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online
In the last issue of Champions Online's weekly Aftershock comic series, A Long, Long Way From Home, our heroes found themselves in far deeper danger than they had expected. Operation Demonflame veteran and UNTIL soldier Sergeant Jim Collins had been manipulated by Despair Incarnate, a champion of the cosmic horrors known as the Kings of Edom. Though our heroes were able to contend with the Kings' champion, they were too late to prevent it from teleporting the entire fortress into the chaotic Qliphothic realm. Our heroes managed to save the few surviving UNTIL soldiers, but still they remain in this demented, dangerous dimension. Why were they brought here? Will they ever escape?
The story continues in this week's issue of Aftershock, titled Bad Dreams Are Made of This (someone at Cryptic is a Eurythmics fan), which sees our heroes taking shelter in a strange cave in the Qliphothic realm. But all is not well, as the recently rescued UNTIL troops have once again fallen captive to the eldritch Horrors of the dimension. Now our heroes must give chase through twisting caverns that descend ever-deeper into the Qliphothic realm in order to save the UNTIL soldiers and find a way back home.
The story continues in this week's issue of Aftershock, titled Bad Dreams Are Made of This (someone at Cryptic is a Eurythmics fan), which sees our heroes taking shelter in a strange cave in the Qliphothic realm. But all is not well, as the recently rescued UNTIL troops have once again fallen captive to the eldritch Horrors of the dimension. Now our heroes must give chase through twisting caverns that descend ever-deeper into the Qliphothic realm in order to save the UNTIL soldiers and find a way back home.
Champions Online's weekly comic series continues in Bad Dreams Are Made of This originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Free for All: What does action-based gaming mean for the future?
June 22, 2011
Filed under: Video, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Humor, Free for All, Vindictus, Dragon Nest
More and more games use this immediate-response style of play. Up-and-coming side-scrollers like Rusty Hearts or recent smashers like Dragon Nest are showing that action-based gaming is growing stronger all the time. I've even begun to feel slightly let down when I switch to a "classically controlled" MMO. Targeting a mob followed by pressing a series of number keys just does not satisfy like slamming your enemy through a bookcase. (Watch the video after the cut for some of my bookcase action!)
But what could all of this action mean for future design? And what about disabled players or players who have issues with wrist pain (like I do)? Click past the cut and let's discuss!
Continue reading Free for All: What does action-based gaming mean for the future?
Free for All: What does action-based gaming mean for the future? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Rumour: Leaked document shows CCP's microtransaction plans
June 22, 2011
Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, MMO industry, News items
The document dates back to May 2011 and discusses how microtransactions will be integrated into EVE Online, DUST 514 and World of Darkness. Most of the document is fairly harmless, but a few parts have stood out to players. According to the document, "Not all virtual purchases [in EVE Online] will focus on customization: some will simply be new items, ammunition, ships, etc. that can be purchased outright." Also mentioned is the possibility of buying faction standings. Both of these would be in complete contrast to earlier promises from CCP not to allow microtransactions that influence gameplay.
Authenticity of the document is still in question, but we can reveal that the leaked PDF has had several pages removed before being made public. A link to the full version was later leaked on twitter. Page 2 of the document, which was omitted in the originally leaked file, contains a disclaimer stating that the views presented are personal opinions and not company policies or decisions. This adds further confusion as players attempt to make sense of the file's contents. We reached out to CCP to ask about the document's authenticity and to request clarification on the discussions presented in it. We'll update this post with any response we get.
Rumour: Leaked document shows CCP's microtransaction plans originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The Chosen enters closed beta and prepares for release
June 22, 2011
Filed under: Betas, Historical, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Launches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play
To help kick off the beta, the team behind the game has released both a brand-new trailer for prospective players and a series of screenshots and concept art. While the historical period has become a popular setting, The Chosen is taking a looser approach to the setting and mixing in a greater dose of mythology, which might be just the thing to hook certain players.
Continue reading The Chosen enters closed beta and prepares for release
The Chosen enters closed beta and prepares for release originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The Daily Grind: What does your ideal gamespace look like?
June 21, 2011
Filed under: Real life, Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous
Today we're going just a bit meta and asking you what your ideal space for gaming would look like. Would it be large? Small? What sort of furniture would it contain? The hardware isn't necessarily important -- what is important is what you'd build for your play if you didn't have to worry about space or budget. Games like EverQuest II let us create the environment we want in a virtual space, but if you had that same sort of power in the real world, what would you do?
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: What does your ideal gamespace look like? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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