Virtual World News
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
Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Expansions, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Star Wars: The Old Republic
The devs opened with a few words about the upcoming Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion. Sadly, no date announced, but they did mention the bonus items coming with each pre-order. Folks who spring for the expansion early (which is $10 cheaper for subscribers) will get a holostatue, a pet, and an exclusive title. The devs also emphasized the new content coming with the expansion, including gear, abilities, and two storylines on the new planet -- one for the Republic and one for the Empire.
During the audience Q&A session, the devs also revealed that the cartel market update expected today will offer a cartel pack with almost entirely new items instead of repeats. All of the items can also be sold via auction. There are more tidbits to be had in this video, so pull up a chair and watch the final 22 minutes of the panel after the break.
[Thanks to Jose for the tip!]
Continue reading SWTOR panel at SXSW touches on Hutt expansion and other updates
SWTOR panel at SXSW touches on Hutt expansion and other updates originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: YouTube
Filed under: Video, Business models, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, Reviews, Opinion, Consoles, Casual, Massively Hands-on, First Impressions, MOBA, League of Legends
I'm not much of a console gamer (you can take my mouse and keyboard away when you pry them from my cold, dead hands), but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see how Guardians of Middle-Earth stacks up against its PC-based counterparts. Monolith Studios has done great things in adapting MOBA gameplay to a console control scheme and audience, and the core game really is a lot of fun to play. But in charging an initial purchase price for a game that relies on having a large community, publisher Warner Bros. may have accidentally consigned Guardians to the scrapheap.
In this hands-on opinion piece, I explore Guardians of Middle-Earth and ask why it's already a ghost town just three months after launch.
Continue reading Guardians of Middle-Earth: A fun game doomed by its business model
Guardians of Middle-Earth: A fun game doomed by its business model originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Interviews, Massively Interviews, WildStar, Jukebox Heroes, Music
I'm doubly excited for WildStar's score because it's being composed by Jeff Kurtenacker. Kurtenacker produced one of my all-time favorite MMO soundtracks, Pirates of the Burning Sea, which is a playful, exuberant romp through the nautical soundscape. And so far from what we've heard of WildStar's score, we can expect much of the same when we make planetfall on Nexus.
On one drizzly afternoon in a country that you've never heard of, Kurtenacker met with us in a small pub to talk about the joys of creating the music that will soon be infecting the brains of thousands (millions?) of gamers worldwide. Read on, space-man or space-woman, and be astounded!
Continue reading Music on the frontier: An interview with WildStar composer Jeff Kurtenacker
Music on the frontier: An interview with WildStar composer Jeff Kurtenacker originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Historical, MMO industry, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Tanks
Andrei Yarantsau, VP of Global Operations at Wargaming, calls this "an important and exciting milestone for the company," adding that, "if World of Tanks keeps growing at the rate it is, the game will soon top the current total and secure another world record."
[Source: Wargaming press release]
World of Tanks sets world record for most players concurrently online on a single server originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Video, Lore, MMOFPS, Humor, Defiance
So it's a trade-off.
Check out the latest episode of the Ark Hunter Chronicles after the jump. Then finish your lizard stew because you've got puking to do!
Continue reading Seeing what it takes to be a Defiance Ark Hunter
Seeing what it takes to be a Defiance Ark Hunter originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: YouTube
Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, Endgame, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles
Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: The eye of the storm in Guild Wars 2
Flameseeker Chronicles: The eye of the storm in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Super-hero, Events, in-game, Patches, Free-to-play, DC Universe Online
GU24 is more than just a touching reunion with Mister Mxyzptlk, however. The update creates a new alert from the Batcave inner sanctum raid, adds optional character outlines, improves the mail system, and allows for the purchase of more slot upgrades.
And while they might not be as sexy as the above bullet points, bug fixes and balance changes fill out a rather lengthy list on the patch notes page. Get cracking, superheroes, because those interdimensional beings aren't going to banish themselves!
DC Universe Online gets lucky with GU24 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: GU24 patch notes