Virtual World News
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, Patches, News items, Opinion, Free-to-play, Consoles, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III, Crowdfunding
League of Legends revealed its plans to finally update two-year-old champion Karma and release new champion Zac, who is literally a pile of green goop. Guardians of Middle-Earth published iconic character Saruman as a new piece of DLC, and SMITE added new god Aphrodite, who heals and supports her teammates with hugs and kisses.
In addition to fixing some major bugs, Diablo III's recent patch 1.07a was shown to have nerfed many popular Wizard builds, including critical mass Energy Twister and Meteor builds. Path of Exile's latest patch added a new Cyclone skill that's reminiscent of the Diablo II Whirlwind skill and introduced three fun new game types for this season's upcoming race events.
Continue reading Not So Massively: SimCity is not an MMO
Not So Massively: SimCity is not an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous
Perhaps it's the straight-forward presentation, the promise of "do this and get rewarded." Maybe it's still satisfying to vacuum up eight quests at once and check them off, one by one. And I think that great tales can still be told through such models.
But enough about what I think -- what's your opinion? Do you still (or ever) love the traditional questing model?
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 still love the traditional questing model? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Betas, Screenshots, Anarchy Online, One Shots, Miscellaneous, Neverwinter, Firefall
Reader Michelle kicks off this week's One Shots column with a screenshot of the first Neverwinter beta weekend. It's a shot of her character Nora overlooking the edge of aptly named Neverdeath Graveyard. We're guessing that the caretaker down there has his hands full.
Would you go into such a place if you saw it in real life? I guess that's why we have our avatars to be bold where we would flee! Let's take a look at a few other places where angels fear to tread.
Continue reading One Shots: Views from a beta
One Shots: Views from a beta originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Historical, Real life, Video, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, Opinion, War, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Livestream
I am getting ahead of myself, though. How about we talk about the gameplay and how it all feels? Then I'll allow myself to scheme about my possible glory.
Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Warstory: Europe in Flames
Rise and Shiny: Warstory: Europe in Flames originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Culture, Interviews, MMO industry, News items, Opinion, EVE Evolved, Sandbox
Though EON has had a much longer run than most official MMO print magazines (the World of Warcraft magazine lasted all of five issues), it's still disappointing to see it go. The closure has a special significance for me because it was at EON that I and many other players started out as writers and editors. It's thanks to the work of the mag's editor Richie "Zapatero" Shoemaker that I went on to get this job at Massively, where I've written the weekly EVE Evolved column for almost five years now. EON Magazine was a real gem that will be sorely missed by dedicated fans, but the biggest shame is that those who might support the mag didn't know it was having financial difficulties until it was too late.
In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at what made EON great, ask why it failed, and interview editor Richie Shoemaker on his thoughts behind the closure.
Continue reading EVE Evolved: End of an EON
EVE Evolved: End of an EON originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, Massively Meta, Week in Review
MMO gamers are used to studios applying the words "massively multiplayer online" to games that are barely online, only optionally multiplayer, and certainly not "massive" in any way, but this week, Maxis' Lucy Bradshaw took our acronym to new lows by suggesting that EA's beleaguered SimCity was effectively an MMO. Perhaps Bradshaw meant to frame her game's release fiasco as just another clownshoes MMO launch, but I think the MMO industry is perfectly capable of watering down its own terminology, thanks.
Read on for a roundup of the rest of our top MMO stories from the past week.
Continue reading MMO Week in Review: You keep using that word
MMO Week in Review: You keep using that word originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous
But that's not to diminish the fine people who elevate community management to an art form. Final Fantasy XIV has built a well-loved community team where none existed before, World of Warcraft's community managers are viewed with a genial fondness by players, and both Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 have always banked partly on the strength of their community involvement. So what game's community team is your personal favorite?
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 game has your favorite community team? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous
Oh, and I forgot to mention that the things you're supposed to avoid are almost indistinguishable from things that you can do at will. Have fun with the hyenas!
I will tell you that reading this week's installment of WRUP will not result in unpleasant hyena-related events. It'll just let you know what we on the Massively staff will be up to over the weekend. So go ahead and read that, and then let us know what you'll be up to down in the comments. Beware of potential hyena triggers.
Continue reading WRUP: Hyena jinx edition
WRUP: Hyena jinx edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Game mechanics, Patches, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor, Guides
As LotRO really does not go out of its way to explain virtues and particularly which deeds you'll need to pursue to rank each one up, you'll have to go out of the game and do some basic homework or else be left behind.
While I'm not an expert on all things virtue-related, I've certainly been around the block a few times and would like to share 10 strategies that help me to choose and acquire a good set of virtues over the long haul. And getting 16 ranks in five virtues is a long haul, make no mistake.
Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Ten virtues strategies for LotRO players
The Road to Mordor: Ten virtues strategies for LotRO players originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Culture, Events, in-game, Opinion, Free-to-play, Massively Interviews, The Tattered Notebook, Housing
Last year we shared with you the story of a young boy whose simple wish for a fun place to play in EQII brought the community together in an unparalleled way. In order to make an extra special place for Ribbitribbit, adventurers, raiders, and crafters left their guilds -- heck, even their servers -- to come aid in what became more than a simple island refuge. It became a multi-house playground that included a Tier 3 guild hall. The sheer volume of enthusiastic participation is enough to make any heart swell. Sadly, shortly thereafter Ribbitribbit lost his battle with cancer, and that same community mourned his passing. Now, one year later, the same organizer who uncorked that first outpouring of generosity has brought players together again to commemorate community, continue philanthropy, and remember those who have been lost.
Today's Tattered Notebook invites you to become a part of this community with a look at Ribbitribbit Day 2013.
Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: EQII's Ribbitribbit Day celebrates community
The Tattered Notebook: EQII's Ribbitribbit Day celebrates community originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.