Virtual World News
Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Xsyon, Post-Apocalyptic, Sandbox
In that time, Notorious Games has been hard at work, and the company has just published a partial listing of all the improvements made to the post-apocalyptic sandbox (as well as a few new screenshots). Tweaks include new twitch-based combat, an enhanced creature system, an expanded construction system that allows for buildings and towns, and various UI improvements.
Xyson: Prelude is now available for a $39.99 client fee (which includes one month of free game time) and a $14.99 monthly sub. Have a look at some of the player-created content in our gallery below.
[Source: Notorious Games press release]
Xsyon tweaks combat, releases new screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic
The irony of launching a game in tiers, only to have a forced bottleneck at this point isn't lost on us, but BioWare reassures its players that relief is coming soon: "Due to the high volume of new game codes being redeemed on SWTOR.com, some users may currently be seeing a waiting page. We are intentionally controlling the flow of traffic and letting as many people through as possible."
So if you can't play the game because you can't access your account (or read the forums for updates and more info...), you're not alone. As annoying as this may be to players, it's a good problem for BioWare to have.
[Update: BioWare set up more info on their Facebook page, since their main site is down.]
Even SWTOR's website has a queue! [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2
Higby provides voiceover commentary for the game's three factions, and the dialog plays against various rotating schematic-type images of armor, equipment, and gear from the game's three factions.
Unfortunately there's no new information here at all, and SOE has basically summarized the past several months worth of faction-related text updates in a two-minute video clip. That said, it's better than nothing, and you can check it out after the break.
[Source: SOE press release]
Continue reading SOE releases new PlanetSide 2 faction video
SOE releases new PlanetSide 2 faction video originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Final Fantasy XIV
Flowery language aside, the update does seem rather substantial given that it features a refined party search mechanic as well as the ability to purchase items directly from the market ward's item search. There's a new achievement system too, and it's stuffed with upwards of 300 tasks to complete, many of which lead to exclusive gear and items.
Last but certainly not least, there's an extensive amount of class reform contained in the patch, and you can read the finer details on that at the official FFXIV forums.
[Source: Square-Enix email blast]
Final Fantasy's 1.20 patch brings class changes, achievements, and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Historical, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, War
At any rate, there is some cool stuff to see if you're into World War II-era aviation. First up is a fan-made (and developer-endorsed) video that we've embedded for after the break. Then there is the new screenshot gallery on the official WoP website. Lastly there are a couple of noteworthy forum threads including a beginner's guide and the second interview in a series focusing on alpha testers who are real-world pilots.
[Source: Gaijin press release]
Continue reading World of Planes updates include screenshots, fan video, and interviews
World of Planes updates include screenshots, fan video, and interviews originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox
Taking over for Zulu is Jon "CCP Unifex" Lander, who has been playing EVE since 2005 and heading up CCP's Carbon technology team since 2009. Lander spends his introductory post outlining the challenges in the offing for CCP's sci-fi sandbox, and he also mentions that the dev team currently numbers close to 200 people. In a nutshell, it looks like EVE is heading back to basics, as Lander says that the team "will be concentrating on those features we already have in the game after eight years of development."
Finally, all capsuleers who have an active subscription on December 31st will have their character names and images launched into space aboard a high-altitude balloon (yes, really). Head to the official website for more.
EVE Online senior producer stepping down originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Dev blog
Filed under: Sci-fi, Guilds, Launches, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Guild Counsel
If you're interested in some first impressions from a guild perspective, or if you're wondering how to make a guild now that the game has launched, read on for a look at guild life in SWTOR.
Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Guild life in SWTOR
The Guild Counsel: Guild life in SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, Star Wars Galaxies, Giveaways
And this isn't a brief "So long and thanks for all the fish" pamphlet, either. The memory book is a whopping 253 pages of information and screenshots documenting the title's eight-year run. Former players and MMO historians can expect to read up on the game's timeline, planet, species, professions, space, ships, housing, cities, the Galactic Senate, the trading card game, the Galactic Civil War, and "The End."
The book immortalizes the near-total Rebel victory in the game with these parting words:
The explosions marking the Empire's end could be seen across the galaxy in the skies above the planets, and the celebrations that followed were unmatched. Peace reigned as Star Destroyers and dark lords became memories of another era, of a time long past, of galaxies long gone.You can view or download the entire PDF on the official site.
Gone, but not forgotten.
Star Wars Galaxies bequeaths a memory book to fans originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: SWG memory book
Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, EverQuest II, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Sandbox, Dungeons
Sony Online Entertainment has managed to fit quite a few diverse gameplay options into the usual box, though, and the latest example is the new Dungeon Maker toolset. The Dungeon Maker was included in this month's Age of Discovery expansion, and it basically allows players to build their own instanced content and publish it for everyone to enjoy. There are over a dozen pre-set layouts that can be populated with obstacles and NPCs, the latter of which can be set to patrol and otherwise interact with adventurers.
Players can explore player-made labyrinths with custom pre-set adventuring characters, and soon, with their own avatars. Since EQII is a progression game at heart, SOE has of course included a dungeon currency system wherein players collect marks for completing custom content and then spend said marks to acquire the building blocks for making additional dungeons. Check out the new Dungeon Maker video after the break for a few more details.
Continue reading SOE shows off EQII Dungeon Maker video
SOE shows off EQII Dungeon Maker video originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Producer's letter
Filed under: Super-hero, Classes, Free-to-play, Champions Online
As its name suggests, the Squall is a weather-based superhero who takes on the role of an avenger. By wrapping the awesome forces of nature around his little pinky, the Squall can whip up hurricanes, slap down tornadoes, and throw a big ball o' wind at enemies that are really irking him. The archetype primarily focuses on mid- and long-range attacks to repel and disorient enemies, but he suffers when bad guys get up close and personal.
The Squall archetype can be unlocked across an entire player's account for 920 Cryptic Points.
The Squall breezes into Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Champions Online store