Virtual World News
Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, MMO industry, News items, Crowdfunding
While the game is not explicitly tied to the Ultima franchise for copyright reasons, Garriott sees it as very much being in the spirit of the older games, since Ultima IX ended with the world more or less destroyed. He also discusses influences on the game world's design and how players can switch between single-player and online modes of operation without a problem. If you're looking forward to the game, you can get more details in the full interview.
Richard Garriott explains why Shroud of the Avatar is on Kickstarter originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Garriott interview
Filed under: Super-hero, Culture, Events, in-game, Endgame, Opinion, Free-to-play, Champions Online, A Mild-Mannered Reporter
Other times I'm told I don't understand an issue when I actually do, and the problem is that the issue under discussion is not the most relevant issue.
So let's talk a little bit more about Champions Online and the Lemurian Invasion. If you haven't been paying attention, this spawned a little bit of controversy among the playerbase and more when I said that the people raising a stink were wrong. They still are, even if they're also right about an unconnected issue I only brushed against before.
Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Champions Online, Lemurian events, and you
A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Champions Online, Lemurian events, and you originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Classes, Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Casual, MMORTS, Free for All
This time I thought it would be better to list some lessons on how I learned to love the MMO explorer lifestyle. It worked for me! (Cheesy theme music starts in the background.)
Continue reading Free for All: How to be OK with not knowing how to play
Free for All: How to be OK with not knowing how to play originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous
As players, all we can really do is keep playing and paying for the games we enjoy. But sometimes it feels like the game is in trouble and that's just not enough after all. So out of all games, both available and not, which one are you the most concerned about right now? Which title makes you worry that it might be facing its twilight even if the development team insists otherwise?
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: Which game are you most concerned about right now? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Free-to-play, Jukebox Heroes, Music
Other than doing a little double-take when I first found this out, I'm really cool with it. I love it when well-known movie composers dip into video games, such as when Harry Gregson-Williams branched out to do several of the Metal Gear Solid titles. Shore's works are really distinctive and give SUN a sound that's far more "professional" than many of the game's contemporaries.
That said, it's not the best score I've ever heard. It's quite noisy and pulls a little too much from the LotR films. Sometimes composers crib their own works (Harry Potter's music is John William's shameless ripoff of his own Home Alone soundtrack), and that's just how it goes. Let's take a look at an MMO scored by a Hollywood bigshot, shall we?
Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Soul of the Ultimate Nation's soundtrack
Jukebox Heroes: Soul of the Ultimate Nation's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, News items
The artwork, which includes a full-body shot and helmet closeups, was done by artist Rob McKinnon. Star Citizen's website says that more info on Roberts' panel appearances will be available later this week. In the meantime, you can click past the cut to see all the art.
Continue reading Cloud Imperium previews spiffy Star Citizen marine concept
Cloud Imperium previews spiffy Star Citizen marine concept originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Marine concept
Filed under: Podcasts, MMO industry, News items, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous
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Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 240: We ain't no scrubs
Massively Speaking Episode 240: We ain't no scrubs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business models
The post states that the team is creating an offline version of the game for those who prefer that style (or find it more convenient). While players won't be able to take their offline character into the online version, there may be the possibility of doing the reverse.
Other words of comfort include the promise that Shroud of the Avatar "will not use any form of DRM" for its offline mode and that the single-player version won't be littered with microtransactions.
[Thanks to Don for the tip!]
Shroud of the Avatar promises offline mode with no DRM originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Offline mode update
Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, Patches, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, PlanetSide 2
One of the most anticipated incoming features is the account-wide unlocks for items bought with StationCash. Of course, faction items will still be restricted to factions. Speaking of factions, each one will be getting its hands on a new rocket launcher; these weapons pay homage to the empire-specific ones from the original PlanetSide. On the vehicle side, the flash buggy will have a rumble seat, allowing a passenger to come along for the ride and shoot anything that gets in the way, as well as a cloaking ability for Infiltrators. And all folks who want to give weapons or vehicles a test drive can enter VR Training, a safe zone devoid of resource costs and cool-down timers.
The March roadmap video demonstrates some of these changes as well as platoon management window improvements and membership enhancements. Check out the details in the video after the break.
PlanetSide 2's GU04 introduces account unlocks, the two-man flash, and a new training zone originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: PC Gamer, GU04 preview
Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Sandbox, Age of Wushu
Many of the NPCs that you see milling about the game's cities and towns are in fact offline player characters going about their business. Your offline avatar can be a fire-breathing street performer, a cafe owner, a blacksmith, or one of several other professions depending on where you log out. There are both risks and rewards inherent in the the game's offline systems. The former include the ability to be kidnapped (and to subsequently log in to an unfamiliar location) while the latter allows you to collect money and items earned from various tasks.
Read all about it at the official Age of Wushu website.
Put your Age of Wushu avatar to work while you're offline originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Dev blog