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Champions Online devs reveal Mystic power sets: Sorcery and Supernatural

James Egan — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST

Over the past few weeks, the developers at Cryptic Studios have been walking readers through the various powers that will be available to Champions Online players, from Energy Projectors to Martial Arts, as well as Power Replacers. Now they're giving us a look at the game's Mystic power sets -- Sorcery and Supernatural -- for those players who want to dabble in the dark arts.

Do you know your Circles of Power from your Circles of Summoning? When should you use a Sigil instead of an Invocation? The Champions Online devs explain all matters arcane in this latest, and final, "All About Powers", and discuss their intent to create subsets of Mystic powers that better fit a given character's concept. Whether you're looking to create a Primal Shaman, a Necromancer, or a pure Arcane-type, you might enjoy this latest dev blog on the official Champions Online site.

Filed under: Super-hero, Game mechanics, New titles, Champions Online

Champions Online devs reveal Mystic power sets: Sorcery and Supernatural originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mandalorians smack down the Jedi in SWTOR's new timeline update

Kyle Horner — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST

One of the most common questions asked regarding Star Wars: The Old Republic and the easily accessible Jedi is, "Who's going to take on an army of Jedi?" We've long since had the answer tucked away here at Massively, but now BioWare has been kind enough to illustrate it for us in their latest timeline update, which features the fearsome Mandalorians.

The nomadic Mandalorians are strikingly unique and much like the Jedi and Sith in that sense they're not an actual species; yet war is their singular goal in life. Their mantra is that strength is not merely good, it is great, it brings honor through battle. Thus, it's no surprise that Mandalorians are generally opposed to the Jedi and get along better with the power hungry Sith. At this point, the Republic Trooper's coutnerpart is pretty obvious. That powerful Jedi army doesn't seem so intimidating against legions of Sith, Bounty Hunters and bred-for-war Mandies, now does it?

We highly recommend you check out the timeline video. It's not only informative, but quite entertaining if you've got even the slightest amount of interest in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Filed under: Lore, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Mandalorians smack down the Jedi in SWTOR's new timeline update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Being a WoW fan doesn't mean you're an MMO fan

Brooke Pilley — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

Syncaine posted an interesting article on his blog discussing why he thinks there hasn't been much uptake in the majority of MMOs released since World of Warcraft. Basically, he believes that just because you enjoy playing WoW, it doesn't mean you'll enjoy other MMOs.

The post goes on to say that there are many more non-MMO gamers than MMO gamers out there who simply can't fathom spending a monthly fee to repeatedly kill ten rats or grind out the perfect PvP character over several months time. They have much more accessible and engaging singleplayer RPGs or FPS games for that, right?

The main point he aims to make is that designers should stop chasing non-MMO gamers and focus on those who are already fans. On the other hand, hasn't our genre become a bit pigeon-holed as of late? Isn't the biggest and best part of an MMO the community aspect and not the DIKU-based über-grind? We hope so! Couldn't we maybe expand our acceptance of what MMOs are and challenge the boundaries of what they could be? Maybe that's a viable route toward making those who do not care actually care.

Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion

Being a WoW fan doesn't mean you're an MMO fan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE updates EverQuest lore for Underfoot expansion

James Egan — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST

It began as a rumor but was confirmed at SOE Fan Faire 2009 -- EverQuest's 16th expansion will be called Underfoot and is coming in November of this year. We've mentioned some of the features that Underfoot will bring to the game, like the expansion progress window and new zones, and Sony Online Entertainment is also updating the game's lore.

The lore update explains the subterranean Plane of Underfoot and some of its notable inhabitants, namely Brell Serilis, the Duke of Below. But mostly it provides EverQuest lore fans with a history of Underfoot, from the time it was shaped by the gods to the creation of Norrath's races. It's all part of the official EverQuest Underfoot announcement over at EverQuest Players.

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Expansions, Lore, Races

SOE updates EverQuest lore for Underfoot expansion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Playing with fire

Krystalle Voecks — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST

This weekend is going to be a time for many to get together and do some grilling out and partying! Meanwhile in Azeroth, the Midsummer Fire Festival is wrapping up, so we wanted to take a quick peek in and see how things are going there. Today's World of Warcraft One Shots finds us in the company of Hollyberry from the Bronze Dragonflight EU server. She writes in: Dizzy dizzy and even more so.... tripping the light fantastic in Duskwallow Marsh out side Theramore, is Hollyberry, Night Elf Druid - taking time out from her adventures to enjoy the festival...

We hope you all have a fun, relaxing, and safe weekend with friends, family, and fire - or fireworks! If you manage to catch some MMO time, why not grab a screenshot of your favorite MMO and send it in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a brief description. We'll show it off and give you credit for sending it in!

Gallery: One Shots

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

One Shots: Playing with fire originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively webcomic: Grinders - Gender Equality

Lemuel Pew — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

City of Heroes continues to fulfill items on the long list of player requests, next up being the option to change your height and gender, the only to pieces to the costume editor left static. While I think it's neat you'll finally be able to make that Mr. Hyde knockoff you've been waiting to build, Grinders today reflects other possible gameplay options.

On a side note, I wonder what this'll do to the character gender debate. Now in CoH, your character doesn't need to have a gender, just a costume slot does. You could make a character that is in fact five distinct characters. Food for thought.

Have a funny story of your own? Submit your tale complete with a screenshot to lemuel@massively.com. The best will also probably involve boobies in some form or another. Or just put in the comic.

Gallery: Grinders Webcomic

Lemuel Pew is a webcomic artist and MMO player with the attention span of a guppy. Between sketching gamers in cartoon form and making glib social commentary, he draws an online comic called Blank It. Feel free to watch his Twitter at your own risk.

Filed under: Super-hero, Comics, Humor, Grinders

Massively webcomic: Grinders - Gender Equality originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Betawatch: June 26th - July 3rd, 2009

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

Welcome to Betawatch, Massively's weekly report on the state of MMO betas. In each installment, we'll report everything from the latest open betas, closed betas and even alphas in one convenient place. Plus, we'll make sure to include as much info on each game's current status, including projected release dates (if known) and links to the sign-up forms to get yourself into that beta you've been seeking.

This week saw some major announcements in the realm of MMO betas. First, Champions Online has announced its open beta to begin in August, and Global Agenda should be dropping the closed-beta bomb sometime this month. Ys Online and Red War: Edem's Curse have also announced their own open betas while Ether Saga Online has graduated off the list to 'launched' status. Runes of Magic has also entered closed beta for their French and Spanish versions, continuing their plan of complete world domination. Keep reading after the jump for the complete list of MMOs in their various beta stages.

Continue reading Betawatch: June 26th - July 3rd, 2009

Filed under: Betas, Massively meta, Betawatch

Betawatch: June 26th - July 3rd, 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest's 51/50 server "Mayong" is live

William Dobson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

Earlier in the week, EverQuest's new 51/50 server "Mayong" went live. Pretty much anyone that played EQ around launch will recognize the name as that of the infamous vampire Mayong Mistmoore, a character that was sometimes played by GMs and devs for live events way back in the day. For those not familiar with the special rules of this server type, it's fairly simple: 51 is your starting level, and 50 is the number of AAs you automatically receive upon making a character.

To get people in the mood to begin the inevitable leveling races, and also to celebrate Independence Day, there is a 51% experience boost for players on all servers until Monday morning -- that's right, fifty-one percent. See what they did there?

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Launches, Leveling

EverQuest's 51/50 server "Mayong" is live originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars Dragon Festival offers a roaring good time

Krystalle Voecks — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST

If you're one of the many Guild Wars players out there, you're probably well aware of the festival that occurs right around this time each year. If, like some others, you have Guild Wars - probably even installed on your machine, but haven't logged in for a little while - then now is the time to head back in-game! Why? Because it's time for the Shing Jea Boardwalk to reappear, heralding the opening of the annual Dragon Festival.

Compared to the demon mask being offered as a turn-in for 250 Victory Tokens last year, the team at Arenanet have really outdone themselves with this year's wicked-looking Imperial Dragon Mask, seen above. Players who want one of these shiny, limited-time holiday masks will have to bring their best skills to the mini-games on the boardwalk like Dragon Arena and the Rollerbeetle Races. The event runs through Sunday, July 5th for those wanting to get in on the party and score some wicked limited-time Guild Wars goodies.

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Events, in-game, News items

Guild Wars Dragon Festival offers a roaring good time originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Celebrating real holidays virtually

Lesley Smith — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

My American sources tell me this is a long weekend for you folks across the pond. Something about independence from Blighty a few hundred years ago. Essentially an excuse to let off fireworks, have BBQs, enjoy the fine weather and skive off work. Good on you. It seems like lots of MMOs are using it as an excuse to take the real celebrations in-game. For example, World of Warcraft has the Midsummer Fire Festival which concludes tomorrow with a bunch of snoozing goblin guards and a whopping fireworks display. Likewise, Lord of the Rings Online has one festival with four different names.

Given the fact the games are created by humans, it's no surprise the in-game festivals of all our favourite MMOs share a little in common with actual celebrations in real life. However they can also be handy for people too far away to meet up this 4th of July, most often troops on active duty or family members and friends separated by thousands of miles or even continents. So are any of you out there planning to eschew real celebrations in favour of meeting up with your guildies in-game? Are you going to travel around to see the fireworks or, if you play, WoW raid an enemy city. Do you prefer celebrating such events in-game? Do you mark them on your calendar and anticipate them as much as their real world counterparts? Do you wish the developers would expand world festivals to take account of more important holidays?

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, The Daily Grind

The Daily Grind: Celebrating real holidays virtually originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Futurist Ray Kurzweil to deliver SLCC 2009 keynote

Tateru Nino — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST

Some consider him a kook or an eccentric, while others think of him as a technological visionary. Either way, the accomplished Raymond Kurzweil will be taking the stage to keynote the Second Life Community Convention in San Francisco next month, a spot traditionally afforded to a Linden Lab executive.

Kurzweil, a famous futurist, author and inventor, is notable for his many inventions (from the first CCD-based flat-bed scanner to reading machines for the blind), his notions about transhumanism and technological singularities and a significant number of awards and honorary degrees. He has strong opinions on virtual environments, and it will be interesting to hear what he has to say.

The Second Life Community Convention 2009 will happen in San Francisco, on August 13th - 16th, 2009 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. Registration for the event is open and attendees can register at the convention's Web-site.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, News items, Second Life, Virtual worlds

Futurist Ray Kurzweil to deliver SLCC 2009 keynote originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raph Koster speaks on Metaplace's new functionality and the state of virtual worlds

Colin Brennan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

Metaplace introduced the world to a brand new technology two days ago -- the ability to embed a fully functional virtual world into any website or forum, anything that can handle HTML.

This upgrade allows Metaplace to act like a more enhanced version of Google's old Lively service. All you need to do is make a world, take the embeddable HTML code from it, drop it into your website, and you now have a full virtual world running in flash right inside of your blog post or forum thread. The world can be edited to your whims through the Metaplace builder, letting you create whatever you want to create inside of your space. Think of it like Second Life Lite.

We had more than a few questions for Raph Koster, the founder and creator of Metaplace, about this new upgrade for his virtual platform, so we caught up with him to pick his mind on Metaplace and virtual worlds at large.

Continue reading Raph Koster speaks on Metaplace's new functionality and the state of virtual worlds

Filed under: MMO industry, MetaPlace, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Virtual worlds, Massively Interviews

Raph Koster speaks on Metaplace's new functionality and the state of virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ether Saga Online launches, increases level cap

William Dobson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST

Ether Saga Online is now officially live, and as we found out last month at E3 from the game's developers Perfect World, this event has gone hand in hand with a large update. We already knew about the introduction of an "Easy" setting for instances, a new world boss, and the reduction of "kill X number of monsters" quests, but there was also an increase to the level cap. In this patch the maximum level has gone from 90 to 105, and getting through these levels will grant the player lots of brand new class skills.

The launched ESO is a free-to-play title, and the client can be found here. Check after the break for the full launch patch information.

Continue reading Ether Saga Online launches, increases level cap

Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Ether Saga Online

Ether Saga Online launches, increases level cap originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Largest Wizard101 expansion launches today, introduces crafting system

James Egan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST

The kid-centric MMO Wizard101 from KingsIsle Entertainment seems to be doing quite well for itself, having already gained millions of unique users since its launch last September. Wizard101 has gotten a steady stream of updates as well. In fact, today marks the game's largest expansion release to date, adding a new land called Grizzleheim with a Norse theme, and a Bazaar in Olde Town where players can buy and sell their wares.

Perhaps the biggest addition to Wizard101 with today's expansion is a crafting system which will bring new gear into the game that spans the various schools of magic. Wizard101 players will be able to craft hundreds of items ranging from clothing to Treasure Cards. In addition to using crafting tables in their houses and dorm rooms, players can progress through five tiers of crafting advancement.

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Crafting, Kids, Wizard101

Largest Wizard101 expansion launches today, introduces crafting system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WoW.com posts coming to Massively

Elizabeth Harper — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

You may have noticed that Massively doesn't talk very much about World of Warcraft. Even though it's the biggest MMO on the block, our friends at WoW.com cover it so comprehensively that it seems silly for us to duplicate their efforts. But WoW is an MMO too, and it only makes sense to talk about it when there's news. So, from here on out, we'll be co-opting WoW.com's coverage when appropriate. When you see a post on Massively that says "WoW.com" in the upper left (as in the image above) with an unfamiliar writer's name -- that means you're seeing a post directly from our WoW-centric sister site! It should look and feel the same to you, dear reader, but if you head off to comment, be advised that you'll be leaving Massively for WoW.com, where the WoW fans outnumber the rest of us. You'll be able to comment with your existing Massively account, but tread with caution!

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Massively meta

WoW.com posts coming to Massively originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Global Agenda gameplay vids show off customization and PvP

James Egan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST

As the shooter-MMO hybrid Global Agenda enters closed beta this month, the team at Hi-Rez Studios has begun to release more videos showing off gameplay footage. John Walker over at Rock, Paper, Shotgun hunted down and rounded up the new videos from Gametrailers, which give us a good look at how the game is shaping up. The first video shows off the character creation process, with a cut scene explaining your introduction to the world, trapped and floating in a cloning tank monitored by machines, then rescued by armored human allies. That's followed up by footage of other character creation options in Global Agenda, from the look of your agent's body to armor customization, as well as showing how large and open the game's social hubs will be.

Even better, there are two more videos that show off Global Agenda's combat, demonstrating both co-op gameplay and PvP. We've got video embeds of the combat footage after the jump:

Continue reading New Global Agenda gameplay vids show off customization and PvP

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, New titles, PvP, Global Agenda

New Global Agenda gameplay vids show off customization and PvP originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: A face only a mother could love

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST

Believe it or not, not every Warhammer Online image we get has a glitch in it. It just seems like more people snap screenshots of funny glitches than normal life. We figure they're too busy trying to kill each other for that. That's why even if this guy's face is scary-looking, we're glad to see it today on One Shots - and glitch-free! Without further ado, here's today's contributor: This is my Warrior Priest, Serathor, from the Phoenix Throne server of Warhammer Online. As I [was] waiting for me and my warband to finish defending a battlefield objective in the Shadowlands, I turned around to capture an amazing lightning strike hitting one of the spires.

When you're out and about in your favorite MMO, why not snap some screenshots and send them our way? It's always appreciated as we love to have lots of different worlds to show off. Just email them to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and the game the image is from. Be sure to add in your name, the name the game is from and a brief description so we can credit you properly.

Gallery: One Shots

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Warhammer Online, One Shots

One Shots: A face only a mother could love originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redefining MMOs: Terminology

Brendan Drain — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

As we look back at the past several years of the MMO scene, we see a genre that has gone through significant evolutionary leaps. With those pioneering days of text MUDs and blocky graphics behind us, today we enjoy professionally developed games with impressive development teams and massive budgets behind them. The genre's depths have been thoroughly explored and we've even categorised the features we've come to love and expect from our favourite online retreats. Every part of the genre, from the types of gameplay available to the terminology we use, has been routinely evolving and redefining itself over time.

With professional MMO development soaring and a whole new generation of promising titles on the way, we stand on the cusp of what could be the next big evolutionary leap for online gaming. In the coming weeks and months, Massively will be examining how the MMO genre has been redefined during the current generation of games and where it's headed in the next. If you have something important to say on the topic, feel free to post a comment on page 2 or even write your own "Redefining MMOs" blog post and leave a comment with the URL.

In this introductory article, I ask why we use the terminology we do when talking about MMOs and if perhaps it's starting to change.

Continue reading Redefining MMOs: Terminology

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, Culture, MMO industry, Academic, Virtual worlds, MMOFPS, MMORTS, Redefining MMOs

Redefining MMOs: Terminology originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement

James Egan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST

EVE Online is a deep sandbox game with the most complex player-driven economy found in any massively multiplayer title. There's enough depth, in fact, that players can establish their own financial ventures in-game, in the forms of bonds and IPOs, and even institutions like banks. However, EVE Online is a game where some players create while others undermine or outright destroy. Trust is a valuable and rare commodity in EVE's setting of New Eden; there are always risks of deception and betrayal. But those willing to take risks are generally the ones who are most successful. Of the player-run banks presently operating in the game, EBANK has billed itself as "the largest financial entity ever seen in EVE."

The secrets of its success? A solid Board of Directors and knowledgeable staff, various safeguards preventing any one individual from accessing all bank assets and, yes, some of that rare commodity called trust.That trust was damaged recently though, when EBANK's (now-former) CEO Ricdic, well-known to the game's playerbase, embezzled the virtual funds he was entrusted with. Although this is permissible by EVE's developers CCP Games, selling in-game currency for real-world cash is not. Ricdic has been banned from the game but his actions triggered a run on the virtual bank, and have shaken the faith many players have in EBANK.

Massively spoke about the incident with LaVista Vista, a former member of the game's Council of Stellar Management who sits on the Board of Directors of this virtual bank in EVE; he also provides commentary and analysis of virtual worlds and EVE on the Eveconomics blog. LaVista told us about the parallels that can be drawn between a banking crisis in the virtual galaxy of New Eden and that of the real world, and how what happens in a game can impact real lives.

Continue reading New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Economy, Events, in-game, Massively Interviews

New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Fallen Earth trailer is mean, lean and low on steam

Kyle Horner — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

"Sick of ogres, elves and pixies? So are we. Lose the tights. Bury your crystals. Quit playing with your wand. Come get the real deal. This ain't daddy's MMO. Fallen Earth." These words fill the newest Fallen Earth trailer, which is accompanied by lots of fast camera zooms and punctuated with extreme hard rock. To be fair, we're sure there are many of you out there who're definitely tired of at least some of these things. However, this trailer is low on reality and high on, well, something.

It's almost like the marketing team wasn't aware of the videos and information released to this point, which showed a slower, more laid back MMO. Sure, you shoot things and there's lots of mature, post-apocalyptic content, but it seems like this trailer is aimed at creating a false assumption with players wanting a fast, twitchy run-and-gun, simple MMO that Fallen Earth just isn't.

We think the game could definitely find its audience, which is why this trailer seems incredibly counter-productive. Being genuine is supremely important. Players who figure out you aren't will resent it, and those who don't will become embittered after purchasing something with false expectations. Catch the full -- yet short -- video after the break.

Continue reading New Fallen Earth trailer is mean, lean and low on steam

Filed under: Trailers, Fallen Earth, New titles, News items

New Fallen Earth trailer is mean, lean and low on steam originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twitter added to Champions Online, social butterflies rejoice

Kyle Horner — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

The first July 2009 State of the Game for Champions Online is out and it sure came with an interesting surprise. Namely, the addition of Twitter to the in-game feature set. Now we're sure some of you will scoff at this idea, but sit there for a moment while we paint you a mental picture.

You're inside a rather challenging instance, only moments away from the big fight. Your party is getting ready, resting up, etc and so you take a moment to hammer out a short message to your friends on Twitter. "Oh man, about to take on my Nemesis, Big Bad Boss Man, wish us luck!" you say, netting you a few encouraging replies. Then you engage and the ensuing carnage is nigh legendary. The party just takes a serious beating and is torn limb from heroic limb by your Nemesis. You decide to share this with the world, only to see your buddies instantly share their empathetic thoughts on your embarrassing defeat.

We think it's got some substantially fun possibilities. Plus, if Cryptic can work in Twitter support to their games, what else could they do? Facebook seems like the next step, but there's also Pandora and Last.FM support to consider, too.

Filed under: Super-hero, New titles, News items, Champions Online

Twitter added to Champions Online, social butterflies rejoice originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion launch party contest details revealed

Kyle Horner — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST

Do you plan on participating in the Aion beta this weekend? If not, you may want to reconsider, because NCsoft is offering a pretty amazing contest for those of you who decide to play. Here's the rub: North American players who log into the Aion closed beta this weekend (July 2nd to July 6th) and obtain level 3 are entered to win a trip to Seattle for themselves and a friend. This trip culminates at the Aion launch party at the Seattle Space Needle, where they'll also get to attend the PAX 2009 expo.

Pretty cool, right? We're sure that many of you would kill to get a chance to play Aion at all, let alone be entered into this contest. So make sure you get to at least level 3 if you're playing this weekend. You may as well if you're already going to play at all, right? And if you really want that beta key now -- but haven't had the luck to nab one -- preorder customers are given access to every beta event. You can find the page for preordering yourself a copy right here.

Filed under: Betas, Aion, Contests, New titles, News items

Aion launch party contest details revealed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Is "Cataclysm" the name of Blizzard's next MMO?

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Yesterday, the news first broke that Blizzard had applied for a trademark on the name "Cataclysm", in the fields of computer games, paper-based products, and online entertainment services, according to an article at WoW.com. Speculation has spread across the blog-o-sphere as to what this new trademark could be. Could it be the next WoW expansion? More likely it's the name of their next-gen MMO they're said to be working on.

But what if it's not? As the WoW.com article points out, StarCraft: Ghost was also trademarked, and it never actually materialized. Is this Blizzard trying to throw us a curve ball, or is it really a solid lead into what could be Blizzard's second go at a successful MMO? Of course it's all speculation at this point, but from the information presented, do you think Cataclysm is the next Blizzard MMO?

Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Rumors

The Daily Grind: Is "Cataclysm" the name of Blizzard's next MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Linden Lab addresses Second Life group chat problems

Tateru Nino — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST

Since the rollout of Second Life server 1.26 the already unreliable Second Life group-chat system showed an almost crippling drop in reliability, compared to the previous 1.25 release. Linden Lab have estimated an overall 60% drop in the number of group-chat messages successfully delivered, and the problem skews towards the larger groups, prompting many group owners to completely disable their group's chat functions to avoid online members from being spammed with error messages.

Linden Lab is reporting that server version 1.27, currently in quality assurance, represents a 300% improvement in group chat reliability over version 1.25 (or almost 1000% more reliable than what is currently operating on the Second Life grid today). As yet, no deployment date has been announced, but for many, the update cannot come soon enough.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

Filed under: Bugs, News items, Second Life, Virtual worlds

Linden Lab addresses Second Life group chat problems originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What audiences should Mythic have targeted with Warhammer Online?

Brooke Pilley — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

This is an original opinion piece written by someone who has been following Warhammer Online since November 2007. Comments are open on page three.

Many people claim WAR is a total fail-whale of an MMO. I can see sides of their argument, but I don't believe it's completely true. The "fail" perception mostly comes down to the expectations that were set by Mythic and EA and then never fully delivered upon. It's no secret they were aiming for 500k+ subs and then missed the mark (by about 200k), but it got me wondering... Who is/was WAR's target audience? Was their potential audience actually big enough to support their aspirations?

Let's go back. Waaaaaaaaaaay back. Let's pretend we were a fly on the wall in a Mythic/EA/Games Workshop boardroom as they were discussing the original vision and design direction for WAR. One of the first steps you take before developing any product is to define your target audience or demographic. Knowing your audience gives you better direction and allows you to focus your efforts and design decisions more clearly.

Continue reading What audiences should Mythic have targeted with Warhammer Online?

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Warhammer Online, Opinion

What audiences should Mythic have targeted with Warhammer Online? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runes of Magic opens closed beta for French and Spanish users

Colin Brennan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST

Runas de Magica y el pollo es muy delicioso para la cena! Ok, so our Spanish is a little rusty, we're missing some accent marks, and we probably just said that Runes of Magic tastes good with chicken, but what we mean to say is that the closed beta for Runes of Magic in Spain and France has begun.

Now anyone from those two countries, or anyone who wants to have their client in French or Spanish, can enjoy Runes of Magic in those languages. With the closed beta comes the launch of the French and Spanish Runes of Magic websites as well, so feel free to scurry on over and register.

The final date for launch for these two countries hasn't been confirmed yet, but the game will be shipping out with The Elven Prophecy, giving their launches a timeframe of either launching with the new expansion or shortly thereafter.

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Culture, Launches, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic

Runes of Magic opens closed beta for French and Spanish users originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Gaikai demo shows WoW and EVE played via browser

James Egan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST

Gaikai is a new game streaming service that's currently in development, which was first announced at GDC 2009 (and later was apparently previewed by game publishers at E3 2009.) We've since mentioned Gaikai a few times at Massively, and how the service could bring MMOs (and other games) to devices like netbooks that don't have adequate graphics capabilities to run these titles. Gaikai will use "Streaming Worlds" technology to do all the graphics crunching on remote servers and then stream games to your computer via a web browser. In effect, you're playing the game as a video stream. No client install required, no patching needed.

Given the reactions we've seen from gamers in our own comments and elsewhere on the web, skepticism abounds. Perhaps seeing is believing though, as Gaikai's David Perry has put out a video demo of the service today, explaining Gaikai to viewers as he plays several games, namely World of Warcraft and EVE Online. No doubt there will still be skepticism, but it's good to get a first look at the service. Perry makes a few details about the demo and the service itself clear on his blog: the data travel distance in the demo is 800 miles; this is a (non-fiber) home cable connection; it works over wi-fi and with netbooks lacking 3D graphics cards; any clicking sounds heard are only from Perry's wireless headset mic.

We've got a video embed of the Gaikai technology demo for you below, where you can see World of Warcraft and EVE Online played via a browser:

Continue reading First Gaikai demo shows WoW and EVE played via browser

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Video, EVE Online, MMO industry, News items, Browser

First Gaikai demo shows WoW and EVE played via browser originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose my Adventure: Reaching the Crystal Desert

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

Join me as I brave my way through lands unknown in an adventure dictated entirely by you, the Massively readers! Vote for everything from game played to character creation to ultimate goal and watch it unfold in a series of journals and galleries here on the site. Then, as the ultimate goal is reached, we'll do it all over again in a new game!

When last we saw our Guild Wars heroine, she had just finished exploring every city in Kryta and was off to do the same in the Maguuma Jungle. According to your votes, Moira Zonk the Necromancer headed off to unlock each of the eight cities in the Jungle and ultimately reach the Amnoon Oasis in the Crystal Desert.

Now that she sits at the Oasis, recovering from her travels, she's ready to head off in whatever direction you'd like. Keep reading below for more on her travels and the newest poll where you can vote on where she ventures next.

Continue reading Choose my Adventure: Reaching the Crystal Desert

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Guild Wars, Culture, Events, in-game, Lore, Quests, Massively meta, Roleplaying, Choose my Adventure

Choose my Adventure: Reaching the Crystal Desert originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get your keys for the third Aion beta weekend, before they're gone

Colin Brennan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST

It's going to be another weekend of angels flying around the world, except this weekend you're going to get to choose which side you want to support! Yes, that's right, it's the third weekend for the Aion beta test.

This weekend's testing focus will be on both the Elyos and Asmodian sides and testers will be able to progress all the way up to level 20. No more getting capped at 10 just after you grab your wings! The test's doors open tomorrow, July 2nd, at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET.

If you haven't gotten your key for the beta yet, run on over to Fileplanet and grab one! Sadly, at the time of this post, there are no more keys left for standard users, but Fileplanet subscribers still have the opportunity to grab an entrance into the beta. Oh, one more thing -- these keys are for North American users only.

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion

Get your keys for the third Aion beta weekend, before they're gone originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: A starry night, kupo

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST

We're glad to see that players are taking us up on our invitation to show off worlds we don't often get to see here on One Shots. Yesterday we were treated to the bizarre fashion stylings of a flying ninja, and today we're given a look at nighttime in Final Fantasy XI. This star-filled screenshot comes to us from Focant, who writes in to tell us a bit more about this scene: Nighttime in Jugner Forest during the calm between Orc attacks on the outpost held by San d'Oria. The sky in the most recent expansion Wings of the Goddess is by far the most vibrant in the game to date. Rarely will you journey into the past and not be in awe at the beautiful land that also happens to host the bloody and horrendous Crystal War.

If you've spotted a screenshot here that showed off one of the cool aspects of a zone, but somehow missed another part you think is pretty cool too, why not send your own viewpoint in? We're always on the lookout for more screenshots - especially of games we don't see as often as we'd like. Just email them to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and what game the image is from. We'll do the rest, and you'll get the credit!

Gallery: One Shots

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Final Fantasy XI, One Shots

One Shots: A starry night, kupo originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Which version of Aion will be available at launch?

James Egan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

NCsoft is hoping that the pairing of flight and fantasy in Aion will prove to be a hit in both North America and Europe. Gamers who were accepted into the betas have been asking the Aion team about which version of the title the Western markets will see at launch. NCsoft has announced: "Aion is planned to release with version 1.5, the third major game update, bringing the content as up to date as possible. The Aion team strives to keep the game content consistent between territories, and releasing with this game version brings us one step closer to this goal."

Our own Lesley Smith has been writing about her experiences with the game through Aion's various beta test phases, particularly the experience of becoming a Daeva as an Elyos or as an Asmodian; we recommend reading her hands-on series if you're interested in this title. Massively will continue to cover Aion leading right up to the game's September launch.

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Launches

Which version of Aion will be available at launch? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Speaking Episode 59

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST

Massively Speaking Episode 59 returns this week with regulars Colin Brennan and Kyle Horner as they join Shawn in discussing the current MMO events. There's talk of China's new anti-gold-farming legislation, SOE's community address at Fan Faire, Runes of Magic expansions, Mark Jacobs leaving Mythic and more!

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot us an email to podcast AT massively DOT com. Maybe we'll read your letter on the air!

Get the podcast:
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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 59

Filed under: Betas, Podcasts, Culture, Expansions, Opinion, Massively Speaking

Massively Speaking Episode 59 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five action packed Champions Online screens

Kyle Horner — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

Dual-wielding guns at pointblank, screen distorting spells and clawed uppercuts are all in supply this week in Champions Online land. Either Cryptic put someone new in charge of grabbing screens, or these powers were just finally ready for their Hollywood closeup -- either way, we're happy to have them.

If you're curious about all of these powers, Cryptic's been doing quite a few mini-guides discussing each of the groups like energy or martial powers. Something tells us that these screens are only making those of you not in beta all the more impatient, but since open beta is literally two months away now, at least you won't have to wait much longer.

Gallery: Champions Online Main Gallery

Filed under: Screenshots, New titles, News items, Champions Online

Five action packed Champions Online screens originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Guild Wars trilogy novel titled and given unofficial release date

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

You may remember back during our coverage of PAX 08 last year when we reported on ArenaNet's announcement of a Guild Wars book trilogy, set up to explain the lore between Guild Wars 1 and Guild Wars 2. Recently, Ravious at Kill Ten Rats wrote a great post compiling the information we have now, combined with some brand new info on what looks to be the first novel in that trilogy.

Guild Wars: Fall of Ascalon by Matt Forbeck is set to release on or around February 23, 2010. What's even more interesting is some speculation from a GW fan concerning what may be the second book, possibly being penned by J. Robert King, also for release in 2010. Of course this begs the question of timeline. Are these three books all being written at the same time, to be released around the same time, or will they be written and released well into 2011? As far as we know, Guild Wars 2 won't come out until these books have all been released, so with the first book coming out in February of next year, we probably won't hear anything new about Guild Wars 2 until then, at least.

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, New titles, Guild Wars 2, Rumors

First Guild Wars trilogy novel titled and given unofficial release date originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ys Online heads into open beta

William Dobson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST

Ys Online has entered its open beta phase of testing, but for now, the game is still only available to European countries (The full list can be found here. Countries not found on the list are IP blocked). This open beta is a little different to most in that there won't be a character wipe when testing comes to a close, meaning that characters will carry over to the game's launch. Those interested in playing just need to create a Key to Play account, download the client, and log in -- no special key necessary, despite any confusion caused by the name of the game's portal.

According to the Ys Online forums, Key to Play is working on opening up access for more countries to play. Perhaps another publisher will come to the rescue and bring the game to the rest of the Ys-starved world?

Filed under: Betas, New titles, News items, Ys Online

Ys Online heads into open beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Is there a difference between item malls and gold farmers?

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

With the recent news of China banning the exchange of virtual currency for real world currency, it brings up the future of gold farming in that country, and possibly the world. While China is certainly not the only country which employs MMO gold farmers, it's often labeled as the biggest offender. There is certainly a difference between trading real world money for virtual money and trading virtual money for real world money, but this new China legislation shows that the legalities of both practices are becoming real issues to lawmakers.

So we're curious to know how you feel about the whole process of trading in either direction. It was once a stigma among gamers, but many companies are adopting this practice in a legal way, conducted by item stores and in-game currency exchange. Besides the fact that these item malls are supported by the game studios, do you see a difference? If so, what are they? Discuss!

Filed under: Business models, Culture, MMO industry, Making money, The Daily Grind

The Daily Grind: Is there a difference between item malls and gold farmers? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive Interview: MindFuse's Isa Anne Stamos on Gatheryn

Krystalle Voecks — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST

With the oversaturation of fantasy in the MMO genre, we've been patiently waiting to get our hands on the steampunk victorian coolness of Gatheryn. An indie title currently under development by Mindfuse, Gatheryn seems to be part virtual world and part mini-game laden MMO, much like Free Realms. Considering how wildly popular Free Realms has become in a short period, many eyes are now turning to Gatheryn to see if the combination of casual minigames in a fun, unique MMO/VW setting can strike gold again. Massively's very own Managing Editor, Shawn Schuster sat down recently with Isa Anne Stamos, Game Studio Director for MindFuse, to find out some more about the future of this retro-feel title.

Massively: We first took a look at Gatheryn at GDC earlier this year, and liked what we saw so far. Can you describe some of the major feature changes or updates to the game since then?

Isa Anne Stamos, MindFuse: Generally, we've been focusing on building out the early stages of the Gatheryn experience - adjusting the layout of the city, adding variations to character customization, and creating a deep casual gaming experience that players can enjoy the minute they enter Gatheryn. Specifically, we just added a Player Health feature that measures your avatar's fatigue and gives us some creative options for healing items and quests. We're also filling in a lot of the quests and minigames - we've probably added a few since you saw us at GDC. We're also working hard to build up the community tools because we rely heavily on them to communicate with our beta users - they're crucial to getting player feedback in these early stages of development.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive Interview: MindFuse's Isa Anne Stamos on Gatheryn

Filed under: Betas, Historical, Sci-fi, Interviews, Free-to-play, Massively Interviews, Gatheryn

Massively Exclusive Interview: MindFuse's Isa Anne Stamos on Gatheryn originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DC Universe Online team will present at GDC Austin 2009

James Egan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST

Some of the key members of the DC Universe Online team will speak at Game Developers Conference (GDC) Austin 2009, in a session titled "Why We Need Heroes and Villains in Games". The DC Universe Online team members on hand will include Jim Lee (executive creative director); Marv Wolfman (writer); Christopher Cao (studio creative director); and Jens Andersen (creative director).

The 'takeaway' from the session intro reads: "This philosophical lecture will give attendees insight into the challenges and issues game designers and writers face when making characters good and evil. More importantly, attendees will leave with a better understanding of why this tension between good and evil is so critical -- not only for telling a good story, but for making a video game."

This sounds interesting, and hopefully it's a sign of the emphasis they're putting on storytelling in DC Universe Online. GDC Austin will run from September 15-18, and we're hoping to bring you news from the event.

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

Filed under: Super-hero, Events, real-world, Lore, MMO industry, News items, DC Universe Online

DC Universe Online team will present at GDC Austin 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CCP Games reveals next major Apocrypha update for EVE Online

James Egan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST

EVE Online senior producer CCP t0rfifrans just published a dev blog about the next major update to the game, Apocrypha 1.5. This is not a completely new expansion, just a significant update they will release in August before EVE's (as-yet-unnamed) winter expansion. While CCP hasn't released the complete rundown of Apocrypha 1.5's features and changes, they have announced a few highlights:

Perhaps the biggest changes in 1.5 will be factional warfare improvements. Beyond responding to the lag issues many players have been reporting with factional warfare, CCP is going to introduce Loyalty Points (LP) for kills and captures, and each militia will have its own LP store where militia players can cash in for items unique to that faction.

Several Level 4 epic mission arcs will be introduced, tied to specific races in New Eden. CCP t0rfifrans writes: "These captivating stories deal with moral ambiguity, intrigue, honor, and some people's lack of it. This should come as no surprise to those who know EVE and what we are about. As before with the epic arc that was released with Apocrypha, they provide a deep, interesting story, where your choices influence the outcome."

One of the long awaited buffs for Black Ops battleships will arrive: specialized cargo holds. The first use of this system will be to give Black Ops ships fuel bays, but this feature paves the way for similar additions to other ship classes in the future. For instance, some ships may one day be given ammo bays, freeing up valuable cargo space.

Rigs will be offered in different sizes, with frigate and cruiser sized rigs introduced to the game. These new small and medium rigs will be cheaper to buy or manufacture, and thus provide a lower cost way for players to trick out their ships.

CCP t0rfifrans also dropped a few hints about the forthcoming winter expansion, which will *not* be Walking in Stations. He writes: "All I can say, is that it is focused on sovereignty and you will not be able to walk in it."

We'll keep our eyes open for more about Apocrypha 1.5 as information becomes available.

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, Patches, PvP, News items

CCP Games reveals next major Apocrypha update for EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How do you support players that don't trust your support?

Colin Brennan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST

Let's face facts -- people don't like admitting that they don't know something or need help. They'd rather hammer at the problem until they solve it themselves, or they'd rather ask a trusted friend for help. Kids are super guilty of this, as they'd rather not tell an adult when they can't do something themselves.

So how do you work with kids when you're the support staff of their favorite game?

Steve Wilson, customer service manager of FusionFall, decided to do some digging with support groups to find what they could do better in their customer support. What did he find out? Simplicity is key -- something that goes way beyond just the 8 to 13-year-old demographic.

Customers don't want to be railroaded through a knowledgebase, nor sent to be put on hold with phone support. They'd rather perform a quick in-game chat to have their problems solved.

He also found out that players would rather consult with other players than a member of a support team, which is why why FusionFall puts such a strong emphasis on their community forums and the support section. Players can ask questions of their fellow players while a support agent can chime into the threads when necessary. It maximizes the agent's time, and it allows the player to feel comfortable. A win-win all around!

[Via Parature]

Filed under: Business models, Culture, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, FusionFall

How do you support players that don't trust your support? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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