Filed under: Fantasy

Doll Festival returning to Final Fantasy XI

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 9th 2010 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Culture, Events, in-game, Lore

There are a lot of ways that Final Fantasy XI is unique, and one of the major ones is its holidays. Not that the usual suspects are absent, of course... but where else would you see something like the Doll Festival? More to the point, where else would you see a Doll Festival where even the most battle-hardened veterans are expected to eat magical cakes that turn you into little girls? Returning for its fifth year in the game, the Doll Festival is scheduled to begin on February 19th and end on March 3rd, celebrating the arrival of spring and... whatever else you would logically celebrate by turning into a little girl.

As has become de rigeur for the game's holidays, there's a short piece of fiction about the holiday, detailing the adventures of a young knight of San d'Oria and his time at two festivals. It's a cute piece, if a bit saccharine, and it sets the tone for the holiday very well. Take a look at last year's guide on FFXIclopedia for an idea of what the upcoming festival will play like, and keep enjoying the uniquely vibrant (and occasionally disturbing) world of Final Fantasy XI!

EverQuest II releases Battlegrounds video

by Rubi Bayer Feb 9th 2010 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events, in-game, PvP, News items

Battlegrounds have arrived on the EverQuest II Test and Test-Copy servers, and Sony Online Entertainment invited players to log in and give them a try.

The new Battlegrounds feature is set to arrive in game on February 16th, and Sony Online Entertainment released a new video today giving an overview for those who haven't checked it out for themselves yet. Cross-server play is available on the three different maps, with up to 48 players able to participate in a match, so finding a battle should not be a problem.

During testing, the SOE team is even getting in on the act: "several members of the SOE staff will be available for match-ups on Thursday, February 11th from 4 until 6pm PST." If you win, you'll receive a special in-game title. Players that win regular matches during testing will receive a battlegrounds cloak.

If you want a closer look before logging in, EverQuest II has released a brand new Battlegrounds video. Follow along after the jump to take a look, and good luck in battle!

The Tattered Notebook: Roleplaying advice for veterans and newbies alike

by Seraphina Brennan Feb 9th 2010 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Culture, Guides, Roleplaying, The Tattered Notebook

Hello there adventurers! Seccia has taken the week off to go visit the remainder of her family in Neriak so I'm stepping in to help out with her column!

This week in The Tattered Notebook, I thought it would be a good time to talk about roleplaying a character. Roleplaying isn't just jumping into a game world and talking in a funny accent. It's also not just making up a character and spamming a scene with emotes.

Good roleplaying skills take both time and practice to learn. And while I can't teach you everything in the space of a single column, I can give roleplayers, both veterans of the craft and newbies, a few tips to polish up your roleplaying skills and enhance the power of a scene.

EverQuest II unveils a new puzzle upon Norrath, and we've got some pieces of it

by Seraphina Brennan Feb 9th 2010 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Contests, Culture, Events, in-game

Once again, we've gotten another package from that strange community Dark Elf, Kiara. This time, however, instead of sending us a set of tablets, we've gotten sheets of paper containing some foreign language!

We're told that once the language is successfully deciphered, it should provide clues to a brand new questing opportunity to those who play EverQuest II. If you've been itching for more information on Sentinel's Fate, then look no further than these various scripts to provide you with information -- if you can crack them.

We've placed our four sections of writing in the article after the break, so be sure to click on the continue reading button to get a glimpse of the stuff you'll need to understand. We hear you'll need a big forehead to beat this one. *wink wink*

Allods Online set to enter open beta on February 16th

by Rubi Bayer Feb 9th 2010 at 3:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, News items, Allods Online

Allods Online surprised us last November, seeming to come out of nowhere and offering an extensive, polished game even in beta. The game has been cycling through several rounds of closed beta since then, adding more content with each round and allowing beta testers to further explore their world.

Fans of the game who didn't manage to score a closed beta key during that time have something to be happy about today: open beta for Allods Online in Europe and North America will begin next Tuesday, February 16th. Not only that, but all characters created during the open beta will not be deleted.

If you're curious about the game, check out our previous coverage and prepare yourself for the awesomeness the right way.

[Thanks Kane!]

No candy hearts in Warhammer Online

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 9th 2010 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Lore, Warhammer Online, News items

There will be no Ewok Love Festival in Warhammer Online, and not simply due to the lack of Ewoks. If you're feeling a little fed up with everyone taking this time of year to put down whatever sharp implements they're holding in the spirit of giving out gift baskets and looking bashful? That's what the Night of Murder is all about.

From February 9th to the 16th, the Night of Murder event will be taking place, wrapping the world in a haze of bloodlust and death, with the will of the elven god Kaela Mensha Khaine spurring on the fierce rage and love of battle on both sides of the conflict. Order and Chaos alike will be rewarded with the chance to mount the heads of their enemies on pikes, and certain players on both sides will periodically be marked for death as a part of the "festivities."

Warhammer Online has never shied away from the darker aspects of its setting, and this event seems to still walk in that direction. Whatever your opinion on recent news and developments regarding the game, this version of the holiday is certainly a nice change from futzing about to get a heart-shaped wand.

World of Warcraft in China remains hopelessly mired

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 8th 2010 at 8:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Legal

In much of the world, current complaints about World of Warcraft center around the resolution of the storyline of the latest expansion and whether or not it's had a negative effect on MMOs as a whole. In China, current complaints about World of Warcraft are more focused on the fact that the game is still mired knee-deep in government infighting to try and make it playable again. After the last salvo, it seemed as if an end was close in sight... but as it turns out, NetEase has been forced to suspend any new player registrations for a week.

The studio is re-applying for a license to host World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, with no mention being made of Wrath of the Lich King, which doesn't bode very well for the hopes of that expansion ever seeing release in China. Having been stuck in the middle of two squabbling agencies for quite some time, and with no clear resolution in sight, it seems like a stretch to assume that the expansion will be released in China before the next one is due to arrive stateside. Our condolences to Chinese players affected by the latest round of bickering, and we can only hope that this long struggle will soon come to a conclusion.

Myst Online is alive... again... for the, um, we lost count how many times it died

by Seraphina Brennan Feb 8th 2010 at 6:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Myst Online: URU Live, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

Myst fans, rejoice one more time.

The game that gives Lazarus a run for his money, Myst Online: URU Live, is kicking once more. Cyan Worlds has gotten enough money together again to start up a brand new Myst server as the first phase of making Myst Online an open source project. The cavern that's online now is mostly the same cavern that GameTap had right as the game went offline.

Best news of all? Myst Online is free. Yes, you heard us right -- free. Free as in no subscription, no paying for the client, no nothing. They're welcoming all cavern dwellers, new and old, back to the depths of D'ni. Their account creation page is getting hammered right now, as everyone wants to get back in ASAP, so if you can't create an account just give it some time.

While the game is free, servers and running a business are not. Cyan has opened up a donation page on PayPal for anyone who wants to donate towards the game's bills, so if you're feeling generous then by all means show Uru some support. The game has been through hell and back, and some help would be much appreciated around the Cyan offices. They've even said they're working on a little present for those who donate...

So, readers of Massively, can I get a shorah?

Free trials ahoy for Lineage II

by Seraphina Brennan Feb 8th 2010 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Lineage 2, MMO industry, News items

Has it been a while since you stepped into Aden? Or perhaps you were never formally introduced to the world of Lineage II but always wanted to give it a shot? Well thanks to NCsoft's newest trial program, you now have a chance.

Lineage II's new 14-day free trial program is welcoming both new users and returning players back to experience the newest free expansion to the game, Gracia Epilogue. While returning players won't be able to use their old accounts, they can use the trial keys to create a brand new account that will let them play up to level 40 with three characters for the 14 days.

So if you've been looking for a game to fill your need to spill blood and siege castles, this might be a good time to try out Lineage II to see if it's for you.

One Shots: Hanging with the boss

by Krystalle Voecks Feb 8th 2010 at 2:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Screenshots, One Shots

While our sister site, WoW.com, gets the lion's share of World of Warcraft screenshots for their daily Around Azeroth column, we do still get the occasional screenshot from a player -- albeit few and far between! Today's overlook screenshot comes to us from occasional contributor Deadend from the Exodar server, who writes in: Here is Mimiron's joint. Mimiron is, from a game play standpoint, probably one of my all time favorite bosses in WoW.

If you're one of the millions of players who have played World of Warcraft and would like to send in a screenshot, we'd welcome your contribution. All you need to do is email a screenshot to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, and a quick description of what's WoWing you in the screenshot. Please make sure your image is at least 1024 pixels wide and has as little visible UI as possible. Yours may be next!

Gallery: One Shots

Flameseeker Chronicles: Keeping an old game new

by Rubi Bayer Feb 8th 2010 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Opinion, Flameseeker Chronicles

"Guild Wars is an old game." As the game approaches its fifth birthday and Guild Wars 2 continues production, that's a phrase you'll hear more and more. While it's true that the game has been around for a while now, age doesn't necessarily equal stale or boring. On the contrary, it means you've got an established game with an experienced development team behind it, and they've had time to work out all those bugs, kinks, and emergency patches that are so common in new games. Even better, you've got a strong player base that knows their way around.

The largest factor in what makes a game fun for you is your attitude and outlook, so let's take a look at some ways to keep from falling into the trap of assuming there's nothing left for you to do in Guild Wars.

Only two days left for SOE's ConnectDING event!

by Seraphina Brennan Feb 8th 2010 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Culture, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Free Realms

Two words for you: cushy pillows. Yes, that's right, you heard me.

There are two days left for the Sony Online Entertainment ConnectDING event -- a marketing event designed to get you and your friends looking at the Facebook fan pages and Twitter accounts of EverQuest, EverQuest II, and Free Realms. Each one of the games has its own special reward once it hits so many fans, so why turn down free rewards for doing nothing more than clicking a button?

And that, my friends, is where we get to cushy pillows. EverQuest II is close to their goal -- only 2,000 fans shy! However, the event ends on February 10th! Oh teh noes, right? If EQII can get 2,000 more fans, everyone in the game will get 500 station cash for the in-game marketplace and awesome "Community Pillows" to add to their homes. The pillows not only look stylish and reduce the rent status of your property, but they also let avatars have pillow fights when activated!

So please, reach out and become a fan of EverQuest II today. Follow them on Facebook, on Twitter, or on both! Give these poor, orphaned pillows a home. (Plus the cash isn't too bad either.)

Free Realms reaches 8 million registered accounts, nominated in Game Developer's Choice Awards

by Seraphina Brennan Feb 8th 2010 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Free Realms

No matter which way you spin it, 8 million accounts is a ton of accounts. Free Realms has recently hit that magical milestone, celebrating a huge amount of fan interest in the game and a recent nomination for Best New Social/Online game in the Game Developer's Choice Awards. In fact, it's the only traditional MMO to be nominated for an award this year (outside of Nexon's Dungeon Fighter Online.)

As usual with our "account milestone" announcements, 8 million players is not the number of active players in the game. It's just the number of accounts that have been signed up on the Free Realms website. However, even if only 1% of those accounts were active, that's still 80,000 accounts playing the game -- a number you still should not scoff at.

So congratulations to SOE on your recent account milestone, and good luck in the Game Developer's Choice awards! Beat out Farmville for us!

Darkfall to offer new player protection

by Rubi Bayer Feb 8th 2010 at 10:00AM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Patches, PvP

Don't you love it when you began a brand new game and emerge fresh from character creation, only to get one-shotted by a high level player? No? The creators of Darkfall agree that it might not be the best introduction and have plans to help out with that very soon.

Darkfall will introduce New Player Protection very soon, an optional process that allows players to get their bearings in the game without fear of being used for target practice by any random Joe that happens by. It will be a short period of protection, lasting only a few hours, and is completely optional. (It's on by default when you begin the game, and can be turned off.) During that time, you can't harm or be harmed by other players -- you can only attack monsters.

This feature could be introduced as early as the next patch. Until then, you can read up on it here.

Aion releases first Eye on Community for February

by Rubi Bayer Feb 7th 2010 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, News items

Aion team member Tamat is back with the first Eye on Community for February, in which he answers player questions and talks a bit about what the developers have in store.

This week's player question was regarding the fort timer surveys from a while back, and Tamat revealed that they've finished looking over the surveys and will be changing the capture timer to an hour next week.

Eye on Community lived up to its name by providing a pretty extensive community roundup this time, directing players to a handy application to monitor server status, a guide to a couple of bosses (Kratia and Harpback -- if you're having trouble with them this is the place to go),a look a one players first month in Aion, and a new reason to keep one eye on the skies in PvP.

Head over to the official Aion site to read the full Eye on Community.