warhammer-online posts

The Daily Grind: When did a bad game have a good idea?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 10th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Game mechanics, Tips and tricks, Opinion, The Daily Grind

In a recent post, Syp of Bio Break was observing neat ideas that other games really ought to steal. One of them was the trophy system in Warhammer Online, and while he personally feels that it was implemented poorly, it's still a neat idea. As he puts it, just because you feel a game is lackluster or even bad doesn't mean its ideas were also bad.

Even if said ideas aren't very well put together, taken as pieces, it's sometimes easy to see something in a game you dislike as an aggregate that seems like a fine idea when isolated. After all, pen and paper games have historically cannibalized from games of any caliber -- why shouldn't MMOs do the same?

So today,we're asking you to think of a game that hit you as lukewarm at best and find something in there that seems like a worthy idea. Whether it's a system that's in a game focused toward a genre you don't care for or just a game that struck you as lackluster, if you played it, odds are there was still something worth porting to other games. What would you suggest?

Tags: bio-break, game-ideas, game-mechanics, idea-stealing, pen-and-paper, tdg, the-daily-grind, war, warhammer-online

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.

Tags: ea-games, ea-mythic, ea-warhammer, ea-warhammer-online, electronic-arts, kaela-mensha-khaine, mythic, mythic-ea, mythic-entertainment, night-of-murder, war, war-ea, warhammer, warhammer-ea, warhammer-online, warhammer-online-ea

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.

Tags: andy-belford, ea-games, ea-mythic, ea-warhammer, ea-warhammer-online, electronic-arts, mythic, mythic-ea, mythic-entertainment, revisions, scenario-revision, scenarios, war, war-ea, war-patch-1.3.4, warhammer, warhammer-ea, warhammer-online, warhammer-online-ea, warhammer-online-patch-1.3.4

The Daily Grind: What IP do you want to see as an MMO?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 6th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

There are certainly a lot of intellectual properties out there that would make for an excellent MMO. Running down the list of major games currently running shows no shortage of games based on popular franchises -- Star Trek Online, Warhammer Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Age of Conan, Champions Online -- and the trend shows no sign of slowing. But there are other franchises that could conceivably make a number of people happy -- Transformers, The Dark Tower, Doctor Who, Mass Effect, Babylon 5, and so on ad infinitum.

Of course, there are licenses that are unlikely to ever be adapted for MMOs, either because their heyday of popularity has passed or because they're just not in quite the right market. Still, we can dream, and in our heads we might have an idea for the world's best MMO based off of Macross. What intellectual property would you love to have a chance to play as an MMO? Do you think there's a chance it might happen, or are you fairly certain that it's just going to remain an idle fantasy?

Tags: age-of-conan, aoc, babylon-5, champions-online, co, doctor-who, intellectual-property, licensed-games, licensed-properties, mass-effect, star-trek-online, star-wars-galaxies, sto, swg, the-dark-tower, transformers, war, warhammer-online

One Shots: Let me stand next to your fire

by Krystalle Voecks Feb 5th 2010 at 2:00PM

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

When it comes to the Bright Wizards in Warhammer Online, they must travel to the storied city of Altdorf if they intend to learn the crafting of fire. As you can imagine, this is a crazy place to go to school, as one never knows when the entire school might erupt into flames due to a student letting their spell get the better of them. Thankfully, we don't have to brave the danger since our occasional One Shots contributor, Yavvy, decided to send this great image of Warhammer Online's towering Bright Wizard's College along to us. All the fun, none of the singed eyebrows!

When you're running around in your MMO of choice, why not grab a screenshot and send it along to us? We love to see what you're all up to -- and it's easy to do. Just email your image to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll share it with the world and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots

Tags: altdorf, bright-wizard, college, ea, mythic, mythic-entertainment, one-shots, screenshot, screenshots, war, warhammer-online, yavvy

The Daily Grind: What would you like streamlined?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 4th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind

It's not a secret that several bloggers around these parts are enjoying some quality time with Mass Effect 2, a game that's made a few ripples for massively streamlining the entire RPG experience. Superfluous elements like inventory management and sprawling urban areas are excised in favor of a clean yet satisfying sequence of events. On paper it almost sounds as if the game has been gutted, but in play it feels just as full as the last course.

On the flipside, Warhammer Online's streamlining of processes has more than a few people up in arms at the perceived depletion of the game's most interesting content. While we're all familiar (or hopefully familiar) with the basic design guideline of KISS, the argument is being made is that Warhammer Online is simplifying to the point where the fun parts of the game are obliterated.

Needless to say, there's a happy medium to be found, and we can all think of at least one aspect of a game that received some much-needed simplification. What part of your preferred game could do with a solid sweep to get rid of unnecessary complexity? Similarly, what complicated part of the game should remain like it is rather than be slimmed down?

Tags: keep-it-simple-stupid, mass-effect-2, me2, simplify, streamline, streamlining, tdg, the-daily-grind, war, warhammer-online

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.

Tags: currencies, ea-games, ea-mythic, ea-warhammer, ea-warhammer-online, electronic-arts, emblems, mythic, mythic-ea, mythic-entertainment, pvp, rvr, scenarios, war, war-ea, war-patch-1.3.4, warhammer, warhammer-ea, warhammer-online, warhammer-online-ea, warhammer-patch-1.3.4, warpstone

The Daily Grind: Which titles should try F2P?

by Krystalle Voecks Jan 30th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Let's face it. In these harder economic times, there are a lot of people cutting back on subscriptions. Folks that may have carried multiple MMOs are now choosing more carefully. Those who probably wouldn't have taken a look at a free-to-play game before are now at least reading up on them in case anything they might like shows up. Companies like Turbine, EA/Mythic and others are starting to look towards models that turn the old "14-days to try it, then either buy it or sod off" on their ears.

Our question this morning is what game (or games) do you think need a F2P overhaul? Would you use something like what Turbine has done with Dungeons & Dragons Online, offering free play and an item mall that sells adventure packs? Do you think the Warhammer Online unlimited trial/velvet-rope model is better? Grab your morning caffeine and let your thoughts flow in the comments below!

Tags: ddo, dungeons-and-dragons-online, ea, f2p, free-to-play, item-mall, microtransactions, mythic, opinion, tdg, the-daily-grind, turbine, velvet-rope, warhammer-online

One Shots: A moment to admire the view

by Krystalle Voecks Jan 25th 2010 at 2:00PM

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

While we're zipping through starter areas learning the controls of an MMO, many probably won't take a moment to step back and enjoy the view. Thankfully, we have some great One Shots contributors who capture just such moments and share them with us! Today's example comes from Warhammer Online and was sent in to us by regular Massively reader, Pedro. He writes: Most of the times we are all just too worried about leveling up to stop and just admire the art behind every MMO.

Would you like to show off your mad screenshot "photographic" eye? We'd love to see the areas you think are best. Just email your images in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com. Be sure to add in your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots

Tags: ea, mythic, mythic-entertainment, nordland, one-shots, pedro, screenshot, screenshots, warhammer-online

Warhammer Online reveals tidbits about 1.3.4

by Eliot Lefebvre Jan 25th 2010 at 12:00PM

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

After the storm of updates, changes, and news over the holidays, Warhammer Online has been pretty quiet lately. Under the circumstances, that might be a little more unsettling for the game's players. But the silence has at long last been broken, as community manager Andy Belford recently shared some information with the community about what can be expected when patch 1.3.4 arrives. And at least one of the announced features is something that should make a large number of players quite thankful -- the promise of weapons available via RvR gameplay instead of PvE.

Belford stresses that the weapons will be purchased via a currency system that works with the game's scenarios, rather than any existing medallions or crests. As a connected point, he mentioned that scenarios were due for some more evaluation, with the promise of re-evaluating or removing several of the less popular options. There are also changes planned in the way that the game handles capturing cities, clearly designed to make defending captured areas more of a tactical decision for players. The patch is intended to go live on the test server by the second week of February at the absolute latest, which should be good news for all Warhammer Online fans.

Tags: andy-belford, community-manager, ea, electronic-arts, mythic, mythic-entertainment, patch-preview, rvr, war, war-patch-1.3.4, warhammer, warhammer-online, weapons

One Shots: A quiet moment to reflect

by Krystalle Voecks Jan 5th 2010 at 2:00PM

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

In the tides of war, there are always those left behind. When it comes to MMOs, though, it's nice to know that things don't have to be that final. Warhammer Online is working hard to gather more players between making the first part of the game free for everyone to try out, adding in graphical improvements, and more game refinements. Today's reflective One Shots comes to us from Khreebis who sent this in a little while back. He explains what we're seeing here: [this is] a giant sitting next to the rubble of a dwarf statue in the middle of nowhere.

If you'd like to send in an image, it's very easy to do. Just email it to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots

Tags: ea, khreebis, mythic, mythic-entertainment, one-shots, screenshot, screenshots, war, warhammer-online

Looking behind the scenes at Warhammer Online

by Rubi Bayer Jan 2nd 2010 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Warhammer Online, News items

When you are playing your favorite MMO, how much do you think about what goes on behind the scenes? If your interest goes beyond general gameplay and lies within the actual nuts and bolts of how it all works, Gamasutra has a feature that will fascinate you.

"Restless Entities Never Sleep" is a feature that takes a close look behind the scenes of Warhammer Online, exploring the multiple complicated processes that keep the game up and running. The feature explores the basics of how the servers keep the game up and running and what exactly they do, and continues with excerpts from a previous interview with Online Technical Director Andrew Mann. They also cover the challenges of trying to maintain the servers and minimize downtime, as well as improvements planned (or hoped for) down the road.

As a few readers noted, it's an Intel-sponsored feature and it shows a bit, but that doesn't make it any less interesting to the tech-minded out there. The full feature can be found here.

Tags: andrew-mann, Gamasutra, mythic, Mythic-Entertainment, war, Warhammer-Online

One Shots: And he went wherever I did go

by Krystalle Voecks Dec 26th 2009 at 2:00PM

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

When it comes to holidays, Warhammer Online believes in celebrating with something very appropriate -- a huge amount of alcohol! While this isn't the most festive shot we've ever seen out of Mythic's PvP-centric MMO, it does remind us of stumbling home drunk through city alleyways after one drink too many. Today's One Shots contributor, Pedro D., writes in to tell us about this image: On the spirit of Keg's End (The news year event of Warhammer Online) I'm sending a picture of me and my personal dwarf assistant. He carries my beer around for me on these festive times. Happy New Year! Just be careful that you don't get too drunk. That assistant looks like he's just waiting for an opportunity to bash you upside the head with the keg and make off with your lunchbox.

If you're taking part in a holiday celebration, we'd love to see pictures of it! Just email those to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game its from, and a description. We'll post them out here in all their glory and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots

Tags: ea, mythic-entertainment, one-shots, screenshot, screenshots, war, warhammer-online

The Daily Grind: Are unlimited trials more tempting?

by Eliot Lefebvre Dec 23rd 2009 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Business models, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Academic

Free trials can be... stressful. We recently even had a piece about trying to make the most of the limited time in them, if the point must be stressed. That's no doubt the reason why several companies have begun moving away from unlimited access for a brief time, and started to spread their trials out for as long as the player wishes. Warhammer Online, Champions Online, Free Realms, and Alganon all allow players a chance to try a limited portion of the game for as long as they want. And for someone without a lot of time, it's a perfect way to expand your window of playtime.

Of course, if you've got plenty of time to devote to the trial, it's a bit obnoxious to hit a hard limit before having really gotten to explore the meat of the game at all. For some players, the fact that they're giving away the starting area or first few levels tends to imply they're not good enough to pay for in the first place. Do you find unlimited free trials more tempting or less than the traditional model? Or do you see it as a sign that the game is in trouble or otherwise undesirable?

Tags: alganon, appeal, champions-online, co, fr, free-realms, free-trial, tdg, the-daily-grind, timed-trial, unlimited-trial, war, warhammer-online

Making the most of the free trial period

by Eliot Lefebvre Dec 21st 2009 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Previews, Tips and tricks, Opinion, Academic

The whole point of a free trial is to get you to buy the game. This is a fact of the genre, and we all know it. Correspondingly, we don't usually sign up for the free trial unless we're relatively certain we'd like to try the game in the first place. But all too often, we try the game for one session, and then we miss the rest of the free trial period and never really form a cohesive opinion about the game. So the company doesn't get your money, you don't get to try the game, and your characters languish forever in the waiting room.

Needless to say, this isn't ideal for anyone. You want to make the absolute most out of your free time in the game, whether you signed up for a free 12-hour trial or you've got a game with an endless free trial a la Warhammer Online. Doing so is something that takes a little extra work, before and after playing, but the upshot is that you get to more completely enjoy the game you're playing and decide if you really want to spend money on it every month. Read on for how to keep yourself in the game, engaged, and aware of whether or not the game deserves your subscription.

Tags: city-of-heroes, city-of-villains, coh, cov, cox, featured, ffxi, final-fantasy-xi, free-trial, time-management, trial-tips, trying-new-games, war, warhammer-online, world-of-warcraft, wow