Filed under: Patches

Fallen Earth's developers talk patch 1.3

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 9th 2010 at 10:00AM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Events, in-game, Patches

Patch day is an exciting time to be playing an MMO, assuming you can look past the various instabilities, server crashes, and inevitable bugs that come with a major update. Even then, there's still the sense of doing something new and different in a familiar game, however touch-and-go the new content might be. Fallen Earth is not too far from their next major patch day, but if you can't wait for the patch to go live, there's a new developer diary and Q&A from Dev Team Lead Marie Croall and Live Team Lead Ian Lemke.

The patch's major focus was a thorough revamp of the area around the starter towns, and between those towns and the central cities. It might seem odd to add such a large patch to improve the first few levels of the game, but from the developer's point of view, it's those levels that really first get a player hooked on the game, so they wanted to make it as memorable as possible. There's also some information on Deadfall Point, a new encounter area in Sector Three, offering the higher-level players something new to experience. Be sure to take a look at both features to get a picture of what's coming in the near future for your clone in Fallen Earth.

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.

Back to the drawing board for Warhammer Online's scenarios

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 6th 2010 at 6:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, Warhammer Online

When Warhammer Online promised to greatly streamline its scenario structure and remove several of its less popular ones with the upcoming patch 1.3.4, the response wasn't altogether positive. There was a definite concern that the game was trying to mitigate its difficult times by removing one of the most fun aspects it had, which sounds like a bad idea all around. However, the developers have clearly been paying attention -- after collecting additional feedback from players and receiving plenty of input from the test server, Andy Belford announced that the team was going "back to the whiteboard" for their plans on streamlining and removing scenarios.

While Belford makes it clear that the ultimate goal is the same -- to remove the unused and disliked scenarios and move the lower-tier ones that are well-loved to greater accessibility -- he also says that the team was getting clear input that they'd gone too far in the wrong direction. No dates are set, but a revised scenario setup and mass stability test is planned to go live sometime next week, hopefully with a better lineup. Whether or not you're currently playing Warhammer Online, it's always good to see developers paying close attention to what the players want.

Dungeons and Dragons Online: a guide to the Risia Ice Games

by Rubi Bayer Feb 5th 2010 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Events, in-game, Patches, Free-to-play

Dungeons and Dragons Online released Update 3 Tuesday, sending players in all directions to check out the new content once the servers went back up.

One of those directions was up, in the form of a ski jump in the suddenly frostbitten area of Stormreach Market. Welcome to the Risia Ice Games, a winter festival handily timed to coordinate with the 2010 Winter Games. While Update 3 hit some snags (which, for the most part, were quickly taken care of by Turbine) the Ice Games went off without a hitch.

Well, mostly. For the first few hours, cries of "What are these ice tokens?", "How do I get ice skates?", and "Why am I falling directly into the water at the end of the ski jump?" echoed across General Chat as players struggled to figure out what was going on. As with anything new, time and patience were the keywords in working it all out.

If you're still stumped and can't figure out where this half-pipe is that you keep hearing about, Dungeons and Dragons Online has provided a handy rundown to all of the events here. You'll find a list of where events and NPCs are, as well as different ways to acquire ice tokens, and what you can do with them once you have them.

The Road to Mordor: Vol III, Book 1 test realm notes analyzed

by Dan O'Halloran Feb 5th 2010 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, The Road to Mordor

Every Friday, the Road to Mordor brings you the latest in Lord of the Rings Online news, guides and analysis.

Turbine's Lord of the Ring's Online has just announced the Volume III, Book 1: Oath of the Rangers free content expansion and the patch is already up on their test server, Bullroarer. And with a test patch, comes patch notes. I have to give the normal disclaimers about test notes changing before going live, but given that, let's dig in.

Two highlights are listed in the notes right off the bat with little explanation other than a promise of a dev diary to come at a future date. Those two new changes are:

Duo mode now available in Skirmishes
Extensive changes to the original Shadows of Angmar Volume I epic quest line

Players have been gimping the Small Fellowship (3-man) system by significantly dropping the level of the mobs when creating their Skirmish. That costs them Skirmish marks. Hopefully the new system will fix that.

The changes to the original epic quest line are probably to make it more solo friendly. It's very hard to complete it now that most players have leveled past it. If you are new to the game, you are probably begging higher level guild members to help you or skipping it altogether. Skipping it, though, is cheating yourself out of some of the best lore-based content in the game. I hope Turbine is changing it to make it more accessible for newer players who don't have access to groups at their level.

New level 64 player skills, Skirmish changes and new crafting after the jump!

Age of Conan releases 1.06 patch notes

by Rubi Bayer Feb 4th 2010 at 10:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Patches, News items

Funcom has been planning Age of Conan Patch 1.0.6 for a while now, and recently gave us a look into what they have planned for this patch and beyond.

The patch went live today, and the full patch notes were presented with links to full explanations of each major new feature, as well as the Thoth-Amon's Stronghold, the new Tier Three raid instance. The much-discussed Guild Renown system was added with this patch, as was the Assassin revamp, raid loot token system, and changes to the crowd control system.

Quite a few smaller changes and bug fixes were added, and most classes received a few changes. The Age of Conan team took a look at PvP as well, making a few minor changes to mechanics, particularly in minigames.

The patch notes can be seen on the official forums, and be sure to take a look at the links included in the notes for further explanation.

Turbine offers up a dev diary and screens for Oath of the Rangers

by Krystalle Voecks Feb 4th 2010 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, News items

We got the first details on the upcoming Lord of the Rings Online book, titled Oath of the Rangers, earlier this week. Now, to add to the excitement, Turbine has followed up on the initial information by releasing a handful of screens and an excellent developer's diary.

Flowing mightily from the keyboard of Jeff 'MadeOfLions' Libby, the diary gives Lord of the Rings Online fans much to discuss. Aside from the talk of storylines and a new skirmish, there's a really great behind-the-scenes portion about how precisely the LotRO team sets up something called "drama sequences." Essentially, these scripted sequences tailor NPC dialogue to you based on your own personal quest history -- bringing you info the story. There's also some information on ways the team is seeking to make travel a bit easier for the casual players, or more rewarding for those who take the long path.

If Middle-earth is the place you call home, then you'll definitely want to check out the new screens we've gathered up for you as well as the enlightening developer diary over on the LotRO site.

Gallery: LotRO Volume 3, Book 1 gallery

Runes of Magic releases new trailer with patch 2.1.6

by Rubi Bayer Feb 4th 2010 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Patches, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic

"The time has come to confront the Demon Lord." Frogster released the latest update for Runes of Magic earlier today, a patch that added Demon Stronghold to the game.

Demon Stronghold is a challenging new 12-man raid that reportedly brings some surprises to the table at its end, requiring players to think fast and fight even faster. We saw a nice array of screenshots recently, but if you'd like a better peek at the action before you head in, Frogster is happy to oblige.

They released a brand new trailer for Demon Stronghold today, giving nearly two minutes of in-game footage from beginning to end. It's a fast-paced, but extensive trailer, giving a nice look at the dungeon as well as an array of the baddies waiting to take you on. To top it all off, the video's finale gives us a preview of the Demon Lord himself.

This is one that you'll want to visit more than once in order to take in the surroundings -- but don't look around too long, Demon Lord Sirloth is waiting! Follow along after the jump for a look at the trailer.

Massively interviews PoxNora: Major updates and a website revamp

by Kyle Horner Feb 3rd 2010 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Patches, Free-to-play, Massively Interviews

It's been far too long since we first had the pleasure of introducing readers to PoxNora. So long, in fact, that we contacted SOE to see about speaking with the good people in Tucson, AZ about their strategy game that incorporates card collecting, online persistence and progression mechanics into a delightful cocktail of an online game.

There's a lot of changes coming to PoxNora, changes that for the first time will be revealed in this interview with SOE Community Manger Tony "RadarX" Jones. A new website, a new Rune Manager, a new Champions stat system, new maps and hints at the future of PoxNora are just a few of the topics covered beyond the break.

Did we mention all these updates are coming within the next few weeks? Oh, we've also got shiny imagery.

DDO Update 3 goes live, Turbine releases new screenshots

by Rubi Bayer Feb 3rd 2010 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

Dungeons and Dragons Online released Update 3 earlier today, something we at Massively have been anxiously awaiting since our tour last week. Fans of the game have been anxious too, reading through the patch notes and checking out the buzz on the Lamannia forums while they waited for update day to arrive.

Well, that day is here, and Stormreach Harbor is frozen over and crowded with players sliding and falling on the ice, while others farm Ice Tokens, check out casual mode, and gather groups for the new quests. If you haven't patched yet, Turbine has given us a little something to pass the time while you wait for your game to update: a series of new screenshots from the Delirium quest. Take a look at the gallery, and check out our developer tour for some insider hints while you wait.

Have fun, and have a drink at the Sleeping Spell in on us!

Gallery: Dungeons and Dragons Online Update 3

Warhammer Online brings 1.3.4 to test server

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 2nd 2010 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, PvP, Warhammer Online

A test server patch isn't quite as good as live, but it means that the patch is only a couple of weeks away, barring unusual circumstances. We recently heard a bit about the upcoming 1.3.4 patch for Warhammer Online, and true to forecasting, the patch is scheduled to hit the test realm right about... well, now. That means that we're that much closer to live weapons obtainable via RvR, a welcome change for the people who came for PvP to begin with.

Of course, patches on the test server invariably mean a set of patch notes, which helps to give more detail on what's en route for the game. As promised for buying weapons, there are new currencies awarded -- Emblems, which go in ascending ranks from Recruit to Officer. These can be traded for a variety of items and are rewarded for Scenario participation, which goes hand-in-hand with the extensive scenario restructuring also present.

The emblems can also convert up and down, so characters taking part in low-level content can hold on to their rewards if they so desire. Mixed with extensive balance tweaks and bug fixes, this looks to be a good patch for Warhammer Online players, so head on over to Warpstone and get in on the testing.

Star Trek Online head start patch now available

by Adam Holisky Jan 29th 2010 at 1:05AM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, News items, Star Trek Online

The last patch for Star Trek Online is now available to be downloaded and installed via the Cryptic Launcher. According to Cryptic Community Manager Stormshade, the patch will be the last one before the head start begins. The head start is for players who purchased a pre-order -- if you haven't purchased the STO pre-order and are interested in it, there is still time to do so. More information is available from Cryptic.

If you have been participating in the open/closed beta, your client just needs to be patched up to the latest version. There is no need to download and install an entirely new client. If you want to copy your game installation to another computer to run, just copy the folder across via normal means -- again, no need to download an entirely new client. This patch which you'll get is about 60 megs and is a quick download right now, although that is likely going to change once the masses get to it.

It's also worth reminding people that their beta character has been deleted, and you'll need to start anew.

The head start begins today at 10:00 a.m. PST.

Enter the Star Trek universe with Cryptic Studios' Star Trek Online. From hands on reviews of the early levels and space combat, through noob questions and developer interviews, we've got everything you need to know about the game trekkies are dying for. Check out Massively's Star Trek Online page for the latest!

Massively's tour through DDO Update 3

by Rubi Bayer Jan 28th 2010 at 6:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on

Recently, we posted information about the current release notes for Dungeons and Dragons Online Update 3, the latest in a series of updates from Turbine since Dungeons and Dragons Online went free-to-play last summer. The update is scheduled to go live on February 3rd, and is only the tip of the iceberg for Turbine's plans, including six content updates for 2010, with a new one added every two months.

For now though, Update 3 offers more than enough to keep players very busy exploring all of the new surprises that it brings. The team at Turbine was kind enough to take us on another extensive tour of the new content, and since we are kind as well, we decided to share it all with you! Follow along after the cut to see all that Turbine has in store for DDO.

Fallen Earth's State of the Game: Upcoming additions and more

by Seraphina Brennan Jan 28th 2010 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Horror, Fallen Earth, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items

When it comes to transparency regarding patches, Fallen Earth might have just won that category in spades. The latest State of the Game article on their site is more than just an overview of the direction they want to take the game in, it's a patch by patch listing of the features that the development team will be bringing to the table.

Patch 1.3 will be expanding the game with the introduction of Kaibab Forest and Deadfall Point, as players will run a brand new plotline to push back the radiation zone and find more secrets hidden in the wasteland. The new areas come with a brand new level added to the cap, so all of that experience gained from the new area won't go to waste.

Soul of the Ultimate Nation lays down plans for 2010

by Seraphina Brennan Jan 27th 2010 at 9:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Soul of the Ultimate Nation

The new year is a busy one for Soul of the Ultimate Nation players, as we'll be looking forward to not only a string of updates, but a brand new class to play with as well.

This year is the year of the Shadow, SUN's sorcerer/assassination combination character. Carrying a really cool sword that's reminiscent of Ivy Valentine's weapon from SoulCalibur, the Shadow is made for playing the game solo. So for all those of you out there who have been looking to get away from the groups and set out on your own, the Shadow is the character you've been looking for. Beyond the addition of the Shadow, Webzen is also rolling out mounts and the ability for your characters to transform for the international version.

For all of the information on the new additions as they roll out, keep an eye on the Soul of the Ultimate Nation website.