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Trion prepping bonuses for RIFT's second anniversary bash
February 22, 2013

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Trion prepping bonuses for RIFT's second anniversary bash
Can you believe that RIFT is almost two years old? It's true, and Trion is marking the occasion with another incarnation of the Carnival of the Ascended. This year's addition features Tier 3 planar attunement, the PvP Wheel of Fate warfront, and the usual collection and quest festivities along with their associated rewards.

If you're not currently subscribing, you can revisit RIFT for free from March 21st through March 25th. If you are a subscriber, you'll get bonus XP, guild XP, prestige, favor, dungeon currency, and more from March 21st through April 4th. Head to the official RIFT website for all the celebration details.

MassivelyTrion prepping bonuses for RIFT's second anniversary bash originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Puzzle Pirates sails into new frontier: Tablets
February 22, 2013

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Puzzle Pirates sails into new frontier tablets
Avast ye mateys! After 10 years of working together to sail ships and fight foes utilizing puzzles, players in Puzzle Pirates get to set off on a completely new adventure. Well OK, to be precise the adventures will actually remain the same, but how players can access them will change; the pirate-themed social game focusing on cooperation is heading to tablets.

Three Rings co-founder and CEO Daniel James explained that the company has been exploring the possibility of bringing the game to mobile devices since last year, and now it's reached the point where expanding platforms is feasible. Players will be able to switch between the PC and the tablet, playing the same game on the same account. Plans are also in the works to make the game accessible on other devices as well. James did note that with this change, anticipated upcoming features such as the Kraken will be delayed until after the launch of the game on tablets.

Want to learn more about Puzzle Pirates? Check out Massively's exclusive interview with James.

MassivelyPuzzle Pirates sails into new frontier: Tablets originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots needs your... shots
February 22, 2013

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Oh, SWG. We miss you. (My old smuggler's YT-1300, The Paper Tiger)
Do you love your printscreen key? Do you have a hankering for some weird or antique game that just doesn't get enough coverage? Do you possess a picture of your drunk BFF dancing naked on a mailbox?

If so, then we need you! One Shots, Massively's weekly feature dedicated to showing off your MMO screenies, is lacking in submissions to keep it going. A quick look at our inbox shows one Runes of Magic image, a vintage 2002-era Ultima Online pic, and approximately eighty billion Guild Wars 2 snaps. We're not too interested in turning One Shots into Guild Shots, honestly, and we don't want to retire the feature again and bring about #oneshotsgate2013.

So please, help us out, keep the feature going another year, and show off your gamer photography skills! Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. We especially love pics from rare/oddball games, older games, and even closed games (like the one above from Star Wars Galaxies) -- stuff that doesn't make the headlines very often anymore. Thanks guys!

MassivelyOne Shots needs your... shots originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    SOE G.I.R.L scholarship competition now accepting applications
    February 22, 2013

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    SOE GIRL scholarship competition now accepting applications
    Would $10,000 and a 10-week internship at SOE help you on your way to becoming a video game designer? If so, the sixth annual G.I.R.L. Game Design Competition may be just your ticket. This scholarship program, designed to encourage students toward career paths in the video gaming industry "with the ultimate goal of developing video games that are more interesting for women to play," is currently accepting applications.

    Interested applicants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program related to video games, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and not graduate before spring 2014. Entrants must also be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the U.S. If you meet all of the criteria, you must apply online before 2:59 a.m. EST on March 30, 2013; however, earlier is better as only the first 3,000 e-applications will be accepted. That date is also the cutoff for submitting all required artwork (of either PlanetSide 2 or EverQuest II), captions, and the 500-word essay.

    See the official rules for complete details on entering the contest.

    MassivelySOE G.I.R.L scholarship competition now accepting applications originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Exclusive interview with Hailan Rising's Adam Smith
    February 22, 2013

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    Exclusive interview with Hailan Rising's Adam Smith
    Hailan Rising, an up-and-coming PvP title from Reloaded Productions, is currently in the screaming throes of open beta. It's always a fun time, especially for the development team, which is Producer Adam Smith was up for talking about how the game's coming along in these final weeks.

    Reloaded Productions is trying desperately to (what else) "wreck" the server by giving out prizes to the first three players to crash the game. Since destruction and mayhem are Massively's watchwords, we think you should help them out.

    Check out our interview with Adam Smith after the jump!

    Continue reading Exclusive interview with Hailan Rising's Adam Smith

    MassivelyExclusive interview with Hailan Rising's Adam Smith originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      DCUO's producer recaps power retooling
      February 22, 2013

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      DCUO producer recaps power retooling
      It's tough enough to balance an MMO for a single platform, but DC Universe Online's team has the unenviable task of doing so for both the PC and PlayStation 3. Due to the latter's "strict limitations," Executive Producer Larry Liberty and his team had to prioritize performance and balance over visual oomph.

      In a new producer's letter, Liberty recaps the changes that the team has done to four of the game's powersets -- Mental, Gadgets, Fire, and Ice -- and explains why the devs did what they did. Sorcery and Nature powers are next on the retooling table, and he said that SOE will try to get feedback even earlier than before for these changes.

      "In short, we want to make sure that powers are balanced, defects are resolved, and ensure that things that cause slow-down or gameplay issues are remedied," said Liberty.

      MassivelyDCUO's producer recaps power retooling originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Age of Conan pillages Steam
      February 22, 2013

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      Age of Conan pillages Steam
      Age of Conan's become the latest title to join Steam's free-to-play library. To celebrate the game's release on the digital distribution platform, Steam is offering a special pack of goodies for 35% off.

      The Tortage Survival Pack is currently $6.49 (regularly $9.99) and includes a set of beginner weapons, items to teleport you to your origin city, a DPS-boosting ring, a 20-slot inventory bag, fireworks, 10 XP potions, and a blue snow mammoth mount.

      MassivelyAge of Conan pillages Steam originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Camelot Unchained dev diary details crafting
      February 22, 2013

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      Artwork -- Camelot UnchainedCamelot Unchained's series of dev diaries on the game's "foundational principles" continues today with a post on principle number seven: "Crafting should be fun, useful and not induce Carpal Tunnel Syndrome." Well, that does sound like a reasonable principle, but how is the team going to go about implementing that principle in practice?

      For starters, crafting will be "the only reliable way to get armor, weapons, and most items" within the game. The post emphasizes that there are no "rare drops" and that "the whole 'Oh look, I just killed a nightingale and it dropped a full suit of purple armor' is so last decade." Players will also be able to create a "'crafting-class' character with separate crafting-based... leveling tracks." The CU devs also hope to ensure that crafters are able to build a reputation on their servers through the "naming/signature (hopefully visual as well as textual) of items, rewards from their server's ruler, etc." The full piece goes into much more depth than we have the space for here, though, so if you want all the details on Camelot Unchained's crafting philosophy, head on over to the game's official site.

      MassivelyCamelot Unchained dev diary details crafting originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Guild Wars 2 is on sale until February 25th
      February 22, 2013

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      For the crowd who desperately wants to play the game but only has exactly $40 to pick it up.
      Hey, you. Yes, you, the person reading this post right now. You want some Guild Wars 2? You want to get in cheap? I know a guy who knows a guy who can get it for you really cheap, man. Specifically, the guy in question is the guy who runs the official store on the game's website, which is offering the game for about 30% until February 25th. So it may actually be multiple guys or girls, since one would imagine ArenaNet has several people working on the store page.

      Prospective players or current players who dearly want another copy of the game can buy the standard edition for $39.99 or the Digital Deluxe edition for $54.99. No word on exactly when the sale will end on the 25th, but we'd recommend just going ahead and picking up the game now if it's on your agenda. It's not going to be any cheaper tomorrow.

      MassivelyGuild Wars 2 is on sale until February 25th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      You have questions about The Elder Scrolls Online, the development team has answers
      February 22, 2013

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      They build very thick bridges for very small bodies of water in this region.
      Prospective players have a lot of questions about The Elder Scrolls Online. What will I need to do to be a tank? How will I heal other people? Will I be carrying around every wheel of goat cheese in the world for no reason? The development team has sat down and answered a variety of player questions in a new feature addressing several assorted topics.

      Players interested in tanking will be happy to know that while you will generally want to be in heavy armor, a properly designed character should be able to last for quite some time in light armor. Those who prefer playing a pure role will also be happy to note that while the developers have harped on hybridization a bit, being a "pure" role will be perfectly viable and possible. And lore fans will be happy to see a variety of lore questions answered, especially concerning organizations and races that are important in later games but aren't necessarily around in The Elder Scrolls Online. So odds are good that when you read through the answers, you'll be happy.

      MassivelyYou have questions about The Elder Scrolls Online, the development team has answers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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