Virtual World News
NCsoft explains NA and EU Collector's Edition price difference [Updated]
March 29, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, MMO industry, News items, Guild Wars 2
Many European Guild Wars 2 fans have been left scratching their heads over the pricing discrepancies between the U.S. and European Collectors' Editions of the title. As followers of the game are probably aware, the U.S. edition is being sold for $149.99 US while the European version is being sold for £129.99/€149.99.
The problem, of course, is that with the current exchange rates, £129.99 is closer to $206 US and €149.99 is just under $200 US, making the European versions of the game considerably pricier. NCsoft explained to PC Gamer today that the reason behind this discrepancy is that "currency fluctuations, distribution costs, taxes and market conditions in addition to the cost of goods are all contributing factors when setting pricing. These vary dramatically between NA and EU and our pricing is competitive and adjusted accordingly." As the article notes, this might make sense if we assume that the CE of the game is manufactured in the U.S., but even with the extra shipping costs, it's a pretty hefty addition to an already sizeable price tag.
[Update: NCsoft points out that the EU pricing includes VAT taxes (20%), while the North American pricing is pre-tax.]
The problem, of course, is that with the current exchange rates, £129.99 is closer to $206 US and €149.99 is just under $200 US, making the European versions of the game considerably pricier. NCsoft explained to PC Gamer today that the reason behind this discrepancy is that "currency fluctuations, distribution costs, taxes and market conditions in addition to the cost of goods are all contributing factors when setting pricing. These vary dramatically between NA and EU and our pricing is competitive and adjusted accordingly." As the article notes, this might make sense if we assume that the CE of the game is manufactured in the U.S., but even with the extra shipping costs, it's a pretty hefty addition to an already sizeable price tag.
[Update: NCsoft points out that the EU pricing includes VAT taxes (20%), while the North American pricing is pre-tax.]
NCsoft explains NA and EU Collector's Edition price difference [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: PC Gamer
Spirit Tales introduces the Lunar Fox and Maned Dragon tribes
March 29, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, News items, Free-to-play, Races
If you are allergic to stupefyingly adorable things, you may want to look away now. If you're not, you may be interested in KoramGame's upcoming free-to-play title Spirit Tales. Fans of fluffy wittle animal-people with eyes the size of some small galaxies will find themselves right at home with the two newly announced tribes, the Lunar Fox tribe and the Maned Dragon tribe.
Each tribe has its own unique classes available to it; the Maned Dragon tribe sticks to tradition with the mainstays of Warrior (which plays the role of defender) and Archer (which supplies ranged DPS), while the Lunar Fox tribe bring some magic and cunning (and lots of DPS) to the table with the Sorcerer and Assassin classes. The full details on each tribe and its respective classes can be found over at the official Spirit Tales forums.
Each tribe has its own unique classes available to it; the Maned Dragon tribe sticks to tradition with the mainstays of Warrior (which plays the role of defender) and Archer (which supplies ranged DPS), while the Lunar Fox tribe bring some magic and cunning (and lots of DPS) to the table with the Sorcerer and Assassin classes. The full details on each tribe and its respective classes can be found over at the official Spirit Tales forums.
Spirit Tales introduces the Lunar Fox and Maned Dragon tribes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Maned Dragon, Lunar Fox
RIFT developers answer a new round of community questions
March 29, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, RIFT, Community Q&A
That doesn't mean it's all bad news, however. The developers are looking into more ways to allow cross-faction interaction beyond the mercenary PvP system. There's also some talk about the next big raid and player feedback, which according to the answers is largely positive. There are also plans for more Souls in the future, which should provide RIFT players with even more options to custom-build a character.
RIFT developers answer a new round of community questions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Community Q&A
World of Tanks' patch 7.2 locks and loads tomorrow
March 29, 2012
Filed under: Patches, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Tanks
The World of Tanks is about to get just a bit bigger with the advent of the game's patch 7.2, which will hit the servers tomorrow morning. The update adds two new maps, 22 new crew skills and perks, and a number of new tanks (and some adjustments to existing ones).
But hey, why settle for words when you can have sweet, explosion-filled video? Wargaming.net has released a new trailer to get players excited about the new update. So while you (im)patiently await the patch's arrival on the live servers, why don't you grab yourself some popcorn and have a look?
[Thanks to Pharaoh for the tip!]
But hey, why settle for words when you can have sweet, explosion-filled video? Wargaming.net has released a new trailer to get players excited about the new update. So while you (im)patiently await the patch's arrival on the live servers, why don't you grab yourself some popcorn and have a look?
[Thanks to Pharaoh for the tip!]
Continue reading World of Tanks' patch 7.2 locks and loads tomorrow
World of Tanks' patch 7.2 locks and loads tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: World of Tanks patch 7.2
DC Universe Online makes Legendary members even more legendary
March 29, 2012
Filed under: Super-hero, Business models, News items, Free-to-play, Consoles, DC Universe Online, Promotions
So what will you get? PC players will receive a monthly stipend of 500 Station Cash, while PS3 players will see a similar influx of 500 Loyalty Points for use in a new in-game store. For both platforms, you'll get the ability to unlock rare lockboxes for free and a full set of Replay Badges every month. Replay Badges allow you to reset all of your instance lockouts, giving you a chance to play back through content more frequently -- and with 150 of them free each month, your exploits as a Legendary member will be the stuff of... well, you can guess.
DC Universe Online makes Legendary members even more legendary originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: New Legendary benefits
The MMO Report: Horsesteak edition
March 29, 2012
Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Humor, Miscellaneous
All this and some tips on Icelandic cuisine in the video beyond the cut!
Continue reading The MMO Report: Horsesteak edition
The MMO Report: Horsesteak edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: The MMO Report
The Daily Grind: How do you roleplay betas?
March 28, 2012
Filed under: Betas, Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Miscellaneous
What surprised me were the thoughtful and interesting responses I received. I had just assumed nobody actually bothered with RP in betas, but that's not the truth; on the contrary, many of my friends used the time to experiment with characters, to begin to fashion stories, or even play their character as an ancestor of their soon-to-come main.
So what about you? How do you -- or would you -- roleplay betas with their unstable, transitory worlds?
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: How do you roleplay betas? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Ngmoco exec: Free-to-play is not exploitative
March 28, 2012
Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Mobile, Massively Event Coverage
As most F2P players never spend money in such games and tend to play the most, Cousins thinks that the model works in favor of the gamer. He also stated that freemium games are not set up to trick people into paying, saying that it's "ineffective" if that was the case as a vast majority resists doing so.
Cousins addressed the news stories of people who dangerously splurge on in-game purchases as a rarity: "I've never come across a big spender on a free-to-play game who has maxed out their credit cards. The big spenders I've met generally know what they're doing. Even the $5,000 spenders are not being exploited, they are just people who have found their big hobby."
Ngmoco publishes freemium titles on the iOS and Android platforms, including games like We Rule and We City.
Ngmoco exec: Free-to-play is not exploitative originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Develop
Why I Play: EVE Online
March 28, 2012
Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Economy, Game mechanics, Opinion, Roleplaying, Sandbox, Dungeons, Crafting, Why I Play
For these reasons and others like them, CCP seems to have topped out somewhere around half a million active subs at the game's high point. EVE is seen as unfriendly in some ways, but in actuality it's the friendliest MMO around if you're an imaginative sort with the desire to direct your own in-game destiny.
Could the tutorials be better? Sure. Could PvE missions be more engaging? Absolutely. Does either of these failings, or numerous others, detract from what is the genre's premier emergent experience?
Nope.
Continue reading Why I Play: EVE Online
Why I Play: EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
RuneScape: Seventh anniversary retrospective
March 28, 2012
Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Browser
Understandably, most people will likely remember this year for one thing: This was the year that RuneScape beat the bots. Following the momentous Bot Nuking Day, players logged in to find a distinctly emptier world but one filled with real people. RuneFest 2011 was a success, with presentations from the game's developers and a special focus on breaking the bots. This year also saw the interesting story that the Dutch Supreme Court ruling that stealing RuneScape items is the same as theft of real life goods.
In this anniversary retrospective, I look back at some of RuneScape's top news stories and game additions of the year.
Continue reading RuneScape: Seventh anniversary retrospective
RuneScape: Seventh anniversary retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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