Virtual World News
Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, MMORTS
The game differs from traditional real-time strategy titles because it doesn't have base-building, but what it does have is something called an armory. Trion tells us that players will "set their loadouts, create companies, modify units, customize skins, and more" inside the armory. The dev team has just revamped the armory mechanics, and you can get a good look at the armory window in the image after the cut (click on it to zoom in!).
Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Trion previews End of Nations' armory
Massively Exclusive: Trion previews End of Nations' armory originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Opinion, Massively Meta, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous
But you didn't click on through for me waxing poetic about my home region, I imagine. No, you came here for this week's installment of Ask Massively, which is all about how we schedule articles and why it seems like time occasionally passes us by. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, leave it down in the comments or mail it along to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.
Continue reading Ask Massively: The diversity of New England edition
Ask Massively: The diversity of New England edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries
Essentially, squads are ANet's answer to the problem of WvW communication. As Massey says, "team chat was too large because everyone in the entire map could talk in it, resulting in too much noise. On the other hand, parties [...] were too small."
The squad, then, is a "one-to-many" command structure with its own chat channel that only accepts chat from the leader. Squad leaders also get squad map markers, which function much as normal waypoints. Massey also says that while the squad mechanics were designed with PvP in mind, they'll be quite helpful for larger PvE events. Read all about it at the official ArenaNet blog.
[Update: ArenaNet has also clarified (sort of) whether GW2 will be region-bound. The full Facebook statement is after the break.]
Continue reading ArenaNet details Guild Wars 2's squad mechanics and region-locking [Updated]
ArenaNet details Guild Wars 2's squad mechanics and region-locking [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Squads explained
Filed under: Video, MMO industry, Humor, The MMO Report, Miscellaneous
Enjoy the full MMO Report after the cut!
Continue reading The MMO Report: Shut up about Mass Effect edition
The MMO Report: Shut up about Mass Effect edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: The MMO Report
Filed under: Sci-fi, Previews, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Community Q&A
Not everything comes down to a simple "not right now," however. The KDF, for instance, is slated to continue receiving new updates and additional features to bring the faction more in line with the Federation's content level. The development team is also hard at work trying to allow older ships to be retrofitted into higher-level content, letting players take classic designs into modern engagements. It's certainly not a question of whether the development team has a plan or not, just a matter of how soon all of these fabled upgrades will be implemented.
Newest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online takes a look at the road ahead originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Ask Cryptic
Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous
What would you like to achieve in MMOs before your game is over? Are there games you want play that you've never tried before? Do you always wish you could be part of a successful endgame raid, just once? Are you hanging in there until that MMO you've anticipated for years finally releases? Would you like to find true love among a million avatars?
Put it down on paper and then let us know: What's on your MMO bucket list?
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's on your MMO bucket list? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Previews, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Massively Event Coverage, MOBA
Players who visit booth 962 can check out a new preview release build of Tribes: Ascend before the game launches later this month. The demo contains a new game mode, Capture & Hold, which is a fast-paced experience that requires the mastery of vehicles and teamwork. Players will also get to see the return of a classic 1998 Tribes map revamped for modern times: Raindance.
Hi-Rez's other PAX East offering is its MOBA SMITE, which is in closed alpha testing. Here attendees can choose from one of 15 deities and head out on to 5v5 battleground maps for serious smackdown. New to the public are six of these playable deities and the first look at the Fire Giant mob.
[Source: Hi-Rez press release]
Hi-Rez Studios offering exclusive Tribes and SMITE demos at PAX East originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Entropia Universe, Business models, Economy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play
In a nutshell, the system allows players to amass weekly profits directly from the game after an initial investment of $100 for a single land deed. Investment opportunities are open to anyone with an Entropia avatar, and MinkArk also reports that the game features over one million registered accounts and over $400 million in annual user-to-user transactions.
[Source: MinkArk press release]
Entropia Universe player drops $2.5 million on virtual land deeds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Business models, Expansions, News items, Free-to-play
Starting today, players will be able to log into the new Kahrun server to create characters and reserve names; however, actual play will not be possible until the launch on April 11th. Catering to the Central Time Zone, all sieges, arena timers, and the like will be based on CST.
All accounts are also changing from subscriptions to the Truly Free model, eliminating all billing. Still have a month, three months, or even a year of time left? In compensation, NCsoft is crediting players by converting all remaining game time to NCoin at a ratio of 40 NCoin per remaining day. Don't panic if you don't see the credit immediately; it might take a couple days to process everything.
On top of all this, all inactive accounts in good standing are reactivating today to give Daevas a chance to prepare for 3.0. So dust off those wings and jump back in!
Aion opens a new server, eliminates subs, and reactivates accounts today originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Aion official news
Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic
BioWare lead interface artist Michael Voigt walks us through the particulars of TOR's HUD in a new video just posted to the game's official website. Players will be pleased to note that both the placement and size of each UI element can be adjusted, and accessing the layout mode is as easy as clicking the plus button on the top left of your hotbar.
BioWare has also included three pre-made layouts: the default mode, an extended quickbar setup, and a retro look that moves the target and map circle to the top of the screen (and the chat window to the bottom). Head past the break to watch the clip.
Continue reading BioWare shows off SWTOR's customizable UI in new video
BioWare shows off SWTOR's customizable UI in new video originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: UI video