Virtual World News
Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Interviews, Previews, PvE, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Massively Event Coverage, PlanetSide 2
Hibgy sat down with us at PAX East to promote SOE's upcoming sci-fi shooter, saying that it scratches two itches with one bird (or some other mixed metaphor). "I'm a competitive player; I love shooters," he said, "but I'm also a very social player and love the progression aspect of MMOs."
It's not as if the MMOFPS field is going to remain wide-open for very long. Competitors are rushing to mine this largely untouched market. Still, SOE has an advantage above the rest: It launched one of the first of its kind and has years of experience managing such a game. While we anxiously wait for word on PlanetSide 2's beta, we listened to Higby tell us why this title will continue the company's reign over the genre.
Continue reading PAX East 2012: A talk with PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby
PAX East 2012: A talk with PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Business models, Events, real-world, News items, Free-to-play
Besides the expected pets, consumables, emotion cards, and appearance items, the marketplace also offers XP amulets and special boost packs including immunity from XP loss upon death, boosted AP, and boosted Empyrean Crucible points.
From now until 6:30 a.m EDT April 11th, Daevas will receive a bonus pre-order gift for purchasing a large C.U.B.E. -- a level-60 eternal-grade Tahabata weapon. After this time, only the appearance skins will be sold. The weapon type will be class-appropriate for the character the player chooses when first purchasing the C.U.B.E. Other than the restrictions that characters must be level 30 or above, players can buy as many large C.U.B.E.s as they wish during this time to obtain multiple weapons. Once purchased, the weapons will be delivered after server maintenance on the 11th and will be soul-bound.
To get your special deal or even just window shop, check out the BlackCloud Marketplace today.
Aion opens the BlackCloud Marketplace, adds eternal weapon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Announcement
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, MMO industry, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind, The Secret World, TERA
Personally I'm not a fan, as my weekend gaming time ranges from limited to non-existent, and if I'm hyped enough to play a marketing beta, I'd just as soon play it several hours a night. It's especially aggravating in the case of Guild Wars 2 and TERA, both of which can't even be bothered to turn on their testing servers every weekend!
What about you, morning crew? Do you like beta weekends?
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 like beta weekends? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, Screenshots, Events, real-world, Previews, PvE, Opinion, The Secret World, Massively Event Coverage, Dungeons
Remember the movie Constantine with Keanu Reeves? Remember what Hell looked like there, when he stared into the cat eyes and moved to that realm? Well, this version of Hell is just like that -- with you in the middle.
In The Secret World, Funcom brings us a stunning Hell, with burning winds that scorch the landscape, making things hard to see, silencing you completely when you're in the winds, and burning your precious skin to a crisp if you stand in it too long. You have to run from cover to cover to stop the damage you're taking and allow to use your abilities. But the cover is never safe; enemies are waiting for you.
Continue reading The Secret World reveals Hell
The Secret World reveals Hell originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Expansions, Interviews, Free-to-play, Massively Interviews, Wings Over Atreia
Welcome to the Massively Gold Rush. OK, so maybe a "rush" is a bit of an overstatement, but I have discovered a few golden nuggets about Aion's renovated cash shop and impending 3.0 expansion. I had the chance to catch up with Producer Adam Christensen and learn a bit more about what Daevas will find in the BlackCloud Marketplace as well as get some details about various new upcoming features like housing, mounts, and the level 60 Daevanion armor.
And with the BlackCloud Marketplace finally opening its doors, Daevas can check out the selection for themselves and pre-purchase items to be delivered at Ascension's Launch.
Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: An interview sheds light on the new BlackCloud
Wings Over Atreia: An interview sheds light on the new BlackCloud originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: World of Warcraft, City of Heroes, Dark Age of Camelot, Dungeons and Dragons Online, EverQuest II, Culture, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Star Wars Galaxies, Ultima Online, Guild Wars 2, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous
So while death and illness are depressing topics to dwell upon, I find the many MMO tributes that studios and even gamers have erected to be inspiring and a celebration of individual players' lives. With the help of my fellow Massively staffers, I researched 10 wonderful in-game tributes that serve to honor the lives of fellow gamers.
Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people
The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic
Like the previous events, there's no payment or credit card required, and you'll get full access to the game's first 15 levels, all eight character classes, all the origin worlds, and your factional capital.
Also as before, your previously canceled account (or your previous Weekend Pass Free Trial account) is not valid, since these events are designed specifically for new blood. More details are available on the official SWTOR website.
BioWare kicks off SWTOR's third weekend free trial originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Announcement
Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Miscellaneous
First of all it's hard science-fiction, and second of all, it has an ambitious feature list that boasts an advanced economy, space battles, seamless planetary landings, and "lots of engineering." It's also got a nifty ship system wherein players will need to manage a generator and wattage to power various onboard systems.
Finally, there's a fully functioning computer within the computer game. Notch says that the "emulated 16-bit CPU can be used to control your entire ship, or just to play games [...] while waiting for a large mining operation to finish." The only question left in our minds (other than when can we play it) is whether or not it's an MMO. The website hints at single- and multiplayer functionality "via the multiverse," and it also mentions a monthly fee.
Is Notch's 0x10c an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: OS News
Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Browser
That's not all, as Jagex has also told us that it is offering a free 14-day trial for new RuneScape adventurers. This includes "full access to the entire RuneScape world, hundreds of hours of members' quests, an additional nine powerful skills, 20 compelling mini-games, full-screen gaming and much, much more."
The new cinematic introduces some of the lore behind The Troll Warzone, so be sure and click past the cut to view it in full.
[Source: Jagex press release]
Continue reading RuneScape revamps starting experience, releases new trial and trailer
RuneScape revamps starting experience, releases new trial and trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, Humor, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous
Continue reading The Guild Counsel: The six most embarrassing things you can do in a guild
The Guild Counsel: The six most embarrassing things you can do in a guild originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.