Massively http://www.massively.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.massively.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://www.massively.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[The Mog Log: Who mourns for Eorzea?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/11/the-mog-log-who-mourns-for-eorzea/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/11/the-mog-log-who-mourns-for-eorzea/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/11/the-mog-log-who-mourns-for-eorzea/#comments The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann Final Fantasy XIV takes place in Eorzea, which is one of the continents of Hydaelyn. It's also the smallest continent, and it's generally sort of off in the middle of nowhere. The land is surrounded by tiny islands, it's filled with bickering city-states of varying influence, and it generally seems to be seen as a place that's both wild and not always particularly pleasant. And from the player's perspective... well, we don't even see all of the continent.

So every single player adventure has taken place on a small portion of the smallest continent in the world. And yet despite this, this tiny little land mass has apparently become massively important.

The Garlean Empire is preparing to sweep into the land with all its might, and the land has become a hotbed of activity as the various city-states try to stop stabbing one another long enough to mount a defense. But all of that prompts the question about what, precisely, makes Eorzea noteworthy. Why is this tiny little corner so important?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Who mourns for Eorzea?

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The Mog Log: Who mourns for Eorzea? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> backstorycolumncolumnseorzeafeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivloreopinionsquaresquare-enixthe-mog-log Eliot Lefebvre Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[WRUP: Larry will be staring at chest hair edition]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/11/wrup-larry-will-be-staring-at-chest-hair-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/11/wrup-larry-will-be-staring-at-chest-hair-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/11/wrup-larry-will-be-staring-at-chest-hair-edition/#comments Bears are known as excellent sources of chest hair. Also back hair, face hair, and paw hair. Massively columnist Larry Everett has informed me that despite having sent in a different response for this week's WRUP, he will spend this weekend staring at chest hair. Why will he be staring at chest hair? I don't know, exactly. Perhaps he's captured by the primal energy it offers, the sense of a fundamental connection with mankind's somewhat savage roots. Perhaps he just really doesn't feel like logging into a game. Whatever the reason, he dared me to share this with the world, and now I'm doing precisely that.

Where were we? Oh, right, WRUP. This week's edition is... well, like every other edition, with the Massively staffers letting you all know what they'll be up to over the weekend. We're also talking about the maximum fee we'd pay for a subscription to an MMO. So jump on past the break to check out our gaming plans, then let us know yours down in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: Larry will be staring at chest hair edition

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WRUP: Larry will be staring at chest hair edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrup Eliot Lefebvre Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[BioWare kicks off Star Wars: The Old Republic Q&A Fridays]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/bioware-kicks-off-star-wars-the-old-republic-qanda-fridays/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/bioware-kicks-off-star-wars-the-old-republic-qanda-fridays/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/bioware-kicks-off-star-wars-the-old-republic-qanda-fridays/#comments Perhaps Jedi can finally get this armor. And the chance to put hoods down. When BioWare first announced the addition of a regular community Q&A feature for Star Wars: The Old Republic, the team stated that each session would answer about 10 questions. However, the first installment has gone up with a grand total of 15 and answers more questions about the Legacy system. Patch 1.2 will bring in the first set of rewards, allowing players to combine races and classes in new ways, but the company promises there will be more enhancements and expansions for future patches.

In fact, the next major patch is will bring several requested features. A new same-faction Warzone, the Hue to Chest feature, Medium and Heavy social armor, and guild banks are all on the table for the update. For players more concerned with the immediate state of the game, there are also answers about the best ways to submit feedback and how the team prioritizes which bugs to fix. It's certainly a good place to kick off the series, and community members should find something to be pleased with in the answers.

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BioWare kicks off Star Wars: The Old Republic Q&A Fridays originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> biowarebioware-mythiccommunity-q-and-aea-biowarepatchpatchespreviewsq-and-aquestions-and-answersstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-patch-1.2the-old-republictorupdates Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Storyboard: Over, done, finished, finito]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/storyboard-over-done-finished-finito/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/storyboard-over-done-finished-finito/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/storyboard-over-done-finished-finito/#comments Yes, I know, there's no Mass Effect MMO. Not yet. The best stories have an ending. And if you want to tell a decent story in a roleplaying format, you're going to need some sort of an ending eventually. The problem is that most endings have a pretty strict sense of finality to them, and really ending your roleplaying kind of implies that your character is riding off into the sunset and possibly sipping martinis. (Depending on the game, they may be space martinis. Lots of things are possible.)

So you want to end the story without ending your character's story on a whole. That's a good approach and one that can be handled. But it's also one that's a bit easier said than done, hence my devoting an entire column to it. So let's talk about creating a satisfying ending that manages to wrap up a story without subsequently wrapping up every aspect of your character.

Continue reading Storyboard: Over, done, finished, finito

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Storyboard: Over, done, finished, finito originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> character-arcscharacter-developmentscolumnconclusionscultureendingfeaturedopinionroleplayersroleplayingrpstoryboard Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV previews its revamp to food and medicine]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/final-fantasy-xiv-previews-its-revamp-to-food-and-medicine/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/final-fantasy-xiv-previews-its-revamp-to-food-and-medicine/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/final-fantasy-xiv-previews-its-revamp-to-food-and-medicine/#comments Kicking it up approximately 14% of a notch. Final Fantasy XIV's foods and medicines have always been a major part of the game -- after all, both Culinarians and Alchemists focus on producing precisely those items. Unfortunately, the items have been awkward to make, unwieldy to use, and frequently unclear in their effects. That's why the game's next major patch is bringing along a major overhaul to the system, giving the two categories of item clear roles and more transparent effects.

While the full list of item changes is not unveiled in the preview, the general philosophy is laid out in detail. Food items provide long-term buffs (including a small experience gain) with lesser overall values and a very short cooldown between uses. Medicines, on the other hand, provide a short-term buff with a long cooldown, but the buff is significantly larger. These changes will also tie into a revamp of several recipes to account for ingredient locations and overall synthesis difficulty. It's something to look forward to in the game's next major patch, and it promises to make your character's eating habits much easier to manage.

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Final Fantasy XIV previews its revamp to food and medicine originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> buff-systemsbuffsconsumablesffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.21final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfoodmedicinepatchpatchesrevampsquaresquare-enixupdates Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[This Week in MMO: CCP has gone crazy edition]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/this-week-in-mmo-ccp-has-gone-crazy-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/this-week-in-mmo-ccp-has-gone-crazy-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/this-week-in-mmo-ccp-has-gone-crazy-edition/#comments Crazy. Crazy for feeling so lonely. I'm crazy for crying, crazy for trying, crazy for loving you. It's time for This Week in MMO once more, and this time around, the show kicks off with the rather daring statement that CCP Games has completely gone off the deep end. Well, maybe not that far, but the show does start off focusing on recent comments from the company about how DUST 514 could be one of the biggest shooters of the year... a statement that strikes the hosts as being just a wee bit pompous.

Aside from that, there's talk about Star Wars: The Old Republic's subscriber numbers and what those numbers mean in the long run as well as the latest trailer for TERA. If you'd like to get some roundtable discussion about the past week's biggest MMO stories, you don't need to go far. Just skip on past the break to watch the newest installment of This Week in MMO, which is quite possibly the best roundtable discussion about MMO news with a six-letter nickname in existence.

Continue reading This Week in MMO: CCP has gone crazy edition

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This Week in MMO: CCP has gone crazy edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ccp-gamesdust-514newsopinionstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorterathis-week-in-mmotwimmovideovideos Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Ask Massively: We do not play games for a living edition]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/ask-massively-we-do-not-play-games-for-a-living-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/ask-massively-we-do-not-play-games-for-a-living-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/ask-massively-we-do-not-play-games-for-a-living-edition/#comments Total paycheck for this bit of roleplaying: $0.00. One of the most persistent misconceptions about what we do here at Massively is this idea that we play games for a living. Allow me to be perfectly clear in this: What you're seeing right now? This article? The one I wrote? Writing this is what I do for a living. I write about games, and I enjoy games, but if I decided to not write any of my columns for a month and just play Star Wars: The Old Republic, I would be fired. That is not my job.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, it's time for another installment of Ask Massively, this time featuring questions about gambling and the latest City of Heroes cash shop offering. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, mail it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: We do not play games for a living edition

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Ask Massively: We do not play games for a living edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ask-massivelycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxfeaturedgamblinggambling-minigamesminigamesopinion Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[TERA brings more pre-order customers into the beta process]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/tera-trying-to-get-pre-order-customers-into-the-beta-process/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/tera-trying-to-get-pre-order-customers-into-the-beta-process/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/tera-trying-to-get-pre-order-customers-into-the-beta-process/#comments Test how swordproof that thing is! TERA has hit a few snags of late, including some woes with the whole system of getting pre-order beta access for appropriately pre-ordered customers. Luckily for some fans of the game, it looks like things are moving forward for players hoping to get into beta testing this weekend. An official announcement on the forums earlier today confirmed that GameStop has received valid beta codes and should be distributing said codes to customers via receipt or via phone.

Any players who preordered from Amazon or Best Buy and still haven't received a code are asked to send in a letter to the customer service staff before 9:00 a.m. PST on February 10th. Players are all warned that the game's download is currently clocking in at 17 GB, which means that you'll need plenty of time to get the client installed on your computer. A lengthy download is preferable to ambiguity as to whether or not you'll even get your beta access, though.

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TERA brings more pre-order customers into the beta process originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> amazonamazon.combest-buybetabeta-accessbeta-testen-masseen-masse-entertainmentgamestoppre-orderteratera-onlineweekend-beta Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[WildStar Wednesday talks about the game's narrative design]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/wildstar-wednesday-talks-about-the-games-narrative-design/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/wildstar-wednesday-talks-about-the-games-narrative-design/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/wildstar-wednesday-talks-about-the-games-narrative-design/#comments This is your captain speaking. We're having a little problem with our entry sequence, so we'll be experiencing some turbulence followed by... exploding. Unless you were at PAX Prime last year, about all you've seen of WildStar in action has been the game's cinematic trailer. While it didn't give much of an idea of how the game played, said video certainly had a lot of style. According to the latest WildStar Wednesday community blog post, that style was a big part of the game's narrative design, which is seen as one of the main points of development -- making a game that feels large, engrossing, and epic.

As lead designer Chad Moore explains it, the narrative design team is responsible for outlining the world of Nexus, which was in part created to serve as a perfect locus for a variety of different adventures. While this design team isn't particularly concerned with mechanics, it is concerned with ensuring that every part of the game has the same degree of personality as the first cinematic trailer. If you're one of the many people anticipating the game heavily, take a look behind the scenes to see how it produces its feel.

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WildStar Wednesday talks about the game's narrative design originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aestheticcarbinecarbine-studioschad-moorecommunity-blogdesignfeelgame-designgame-feellooksnarrativenarrative-designncsoftproductionwildstarwildstar-wednesday Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The obligations to the useless]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-obligations-to-the-useless/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-obligations-to-the-useless/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-obligations-to-the-useless/#comments A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann I'm going to let all of you in on a secret. Actually, it might not be a secret; everyone might have figured this out by now independent of any admission on my part. But here it is, just the same.

I'm not actually a very good City of Heroes player.

I mean, I'm "good" in the sense that I play the game, enjoy it, think about it, try to improve my character appropriately... but I'm not actually very skilled at the game. My rotations look awkward, my slotting is usually sub-optimal, and my ability to recall important data is pretty paltry. I understand the mechanics just fine, but when it comes time to log into the game, somehow I wind up as the guy who just subtly makes the entire team worse. I'm not terribly skilled. And for all that I'm going to be playing the game for some time to come, I don't think that I'm ever going to reach the point that I say I'm really any good.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The obligations to the useless

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The obligations to the useless originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncovcoxfeaturefeaturedhumorincarnate-systemncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosplayer-skillskill Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Craft it one piece at a time]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/choose-my-adventure-craft-it-one-piece-at-a-time/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/choose-my-adventure-craft-it-one-piece-at-a-time/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/choose-my-adventure-craft-it-one-piece-at-a-time/#comments Said Corlede in... well, not snow. Sometimes, a well-planned weekend turns into a complete mess. Case in point: This past weekend, which I fully meant to use to get more of a footing in Ryzom, wound up being almost entirely dominated by a mixture of other responsibilities and necessities. As a result, I didn't get nearly as much time playing the game as I would have liked. The plan is to spend more time crafting away over the course of the week, but this article needs to be written up earlier than that.

As you can imagine, this results in a little bit of a hole in the narrative. Fortunately, crafting is pretty deep as a system but fairly thin in terms of a core narrative, unless you find "and then I made another set of light sleeves" to be engrossing. So while I didn't get several hours of story, if you're not familiar with what the system offers, there's still plenty of ground to cover.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Craft it one piece at a time

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Choose My Adventure: Craft it one piece at a time originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> choose-my-adventurecmacolumncraftcraftingdesigndetailfeaturedmechanicsopinionpollpollsryzomthe-saga-of-ryzomwinch-gate Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Soapbox: Evolution of a class]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/07/the-soapbox-evolution-of-a-class/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/07/the-soapbox-evolution-of-a-class/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/07/the-soapbox-evolution-of-a-class/#comments Draenei make everything better. Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

In 1974, the first roleplaying game was published under the name Dungeons & Dragons. Being the first of its field, it still had certain rough parts, which later designers would consider fundamental failures. Modern tabletop design looks at things like classes and levels as being relics in many ways -- elements that made sense as a crutch when the design of RPGs was one step removed from tactical wargames.

Compare that to, well, pretty much every MMORPG on the market. While there are certainly games that don't follow the class/level model, they're outnumbered by games that embrace it wholeheartedly. As a result, it's easy to look at the way game development has gone and feel as if the design of online games has not only stagnated but actively slid backward, going from a more advanced system to a far less developed one.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Evolution of a class

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The Soapbox: Evolution of a class originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> advancementclass-designclass-level-systemclassesculturedesignfeaturedgame-mechanicsmechanicsopinionskill-systemskillssoapboxthe-soapbox Eliot Lefebvre Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[ChangYou reports record profits for the year]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/06/changyou-reports-record-profits-for-the-year/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/06/changyou-reports-record-profits-for-the-year/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/06/changyou-reports-record-profits-for-the-year/#comments Don't chang us, we'll chang you? If you live in China and play online, you know the name ChangYou. The company is a bit less well-known over in the US, but it's still made a name for itself with quirky titles like Zentia and Duke of Mount Deer. It's also apparently making a massive amount of money. According to the company's fourth quarter financial report, ChangYou wound up with a total gross revenue of $435.5 million, with profits surging to $248 million.

CEO Tao Wang says the company can thank a variety of games for its success -- the aforementioned Duke of Mount Deer, an expansion for Tian Long Ba Bu, and the browser-based DDTank. The success of the company in the online market is just part of the ever-expanding Chinese marketplace, which generated over $5 billion dollars last year alone. That's good news for ChangYou and its fans, since the company will enter the next year with plenty of money to generate more games.

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ChangYou reports record profits for the year originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> businessbusiness-informationchangyouddtankduke-of-mount-deerindustrymmo-industryprofitsrevenuetao-wangtian-long-ba-buzentia Eliot Lefebvre Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you think there's too much group mentality in MMO discussion?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-theres-too-much-group-mentality-i/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-theres-too-much-group-mentality-i/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-theres-too-much-group-mentality-i/#comments GOD SAVE THE QUEEN, IMMERSION IS DEAD, TRAMMEL WAS AN ABOMINATION, TALLY-HO AND ALL THAT! When it comes to MMO design, people tend toward certain viewpoints. Some players think that immersion requires an open world, open PvP, and open targets; others think it just requires an interesting story and a player willing to invest. There are people who think that cash shops are a short step toward buying your way through content, and there are those who think cash shops are a great way to get some more gumballs for a game you like. In the broadest terms, there's a sense of an old guard and a new guard, but there's a lot of overlap and a lot that depends on personal viewpoints.

In some ways, this can be helpful for discussion -- knowing that someone really prefers old sandbox games like Ultima Online means that you know right off said person won't enjoy DC Universe Online, for instance. But it also means that we're far more likely to ignore the opinions of others because they dislike certain mechanics, even if they raise valid points. So do you think there's too much of a focus on "old guard" vs. "new guard" when talking about design?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

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The Daily Grind: Do you think there's too much group mentality in MMO discussion? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> culturedesigndesign-pointsdiscussiondiscussion-topicsmeta-discussionnew-guardold-guardopiniontdgthe-daily-grind Eliot Lefebvre Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Mog Log: One year, two courses]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/#comments The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann Today does not quite mark the two-year anniversary of The Mog Log. That was back on January 24th, but I decided to run just a wee bit late with annual retrospectives. We're now close enough to the year mark for argument's sake, which gives me a chance to look back at how the past year of the column has shaken out, what's gone right, and what hasn't. That ties into the issue that one invariably finds when a single column covers two games: There's a split.

Whether or not you like Final Fantasy XIV, you can't argue that the past year has brought an onslaught of changes to the game. On the flip side, there's been less going on in Final Fantasy XI than in any of the game's previous years of operation. As a result, I've had a difficult dilemma to try to juggle: There's one game moving at high speed and one staying rather stagnant, but I don't want to give undue attention to one over the other.

Continue reading The Mog Log: One year, two courses

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The Mog Log: One year, two courses originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> columncolumnsfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmeanderingmeta-columnopinionretrospectivesquaresquare-enixthe-mog-log Eliot Lefebvre Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[WRUP: We'll miss you, Miss Rubi edition]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/04/wrup-well-miss-you-miss-rubi-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/04/wrup-well-miss-you-miss-rubi-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/04/wrup-well-miss-you-miss-rubi-edition/#comments Probably the last Ari shot we'll see for a while. It's official: After more than two years here at Massively, our beloved Community Manager Rubi Bayer is departing for, well, exactly the pastures we all expected. (It's nice to be able to actually discuss that, if you've been waiting to hear about that since Monday's column.) She's been a wonderful co-worker, a spectacular friend, and a sterling columnist through all of it. We are richer for having had her as long as we did, and we can only hope that she won't forget about us while knee-deep in community management for ArenaNet. She certainly deserves it.

Beyond the bittersweet, this week's installment of WRUP is here, with the remaining Massively staffers discussing our plans over the weekend. We're also talking about whether or not we could make a great game with $30 million, albeit with the understanding that we're mostly working from speculation. Check out our weekend plans just after the break, and let us know what sort of trouble you'll be getting into down in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: We'll miss you, Miss Rubi edition

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WRUP: We'll miss you, Miss Rubi edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrup Eliot Lefebvre Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Perfect World International begins its Descent]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/perfect-world-international-begins-its-descent/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/perfect-world-international-begins-its-descent/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/perfect-world-international-begins-its-descent/#comments It's nice that Ms. Mutant Snake Lady here still has a bared midriff. The alternative would be too awful to contemplate. If you're an avid player of Perfect World International, February 15th will be the day that it all goes down. That's the launch date for the game's latest expansion, Descent, which brings along a variety of improvements and upgrades to the game. Despite the low implications of the name, the expansion will be focusing on high-level conflict, with a new zone open to players of level 95 and up to explore. Said zone includes new quest hubs, two new dungeons, and of course several new pieces of equipment.

Progress through the zone will also bring characters into contact with the three Orders, forcing players to choose between the Orders for special character perks and improvements. Even without membership, however, each class will be gaining some new and unique skills that should alter the current distribution of abilities rather than reinforce existing roles. If this sounds right up your alley, check out the full expansion trailer just past the cut, and mark your calendar in advance.

Continue reading Perfect World International begins its Descent

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Perfect World International begins its Descent originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> descentexpansionexpansionsf2pfree-to-playpatchesperfect-world-entertainmentperfect-world-internationalpwepwipwi-descenttrailertrailersupdatesvideovideos Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[BioWare bringing weekly blogs and video guides for Star Wars: The Old Republic]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/bioware-bringing-weekly-blogs-and-video-guides-for-star-wars-th/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/bioware-bringing-weekly-blogs-and-video-guides-for-star-wars-th/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/bioware-bringing-weekly-blogs-and-video-guides-for-star-wars-th/#comments Video guides to being a Sith mostly include a whole lot of pictures of puppies for you to scream at. Bringing someone new into the world of an MMORPG can be a difficult task. BioWare is trying to make it easy for MMO newcomers to get into Star Wars: The Old Republic, and to that end the team has launched the first of a series of video guides to playing the game. The first video, narrated by Social Media Coordinator Eric Musco, covers starting fresh in the game, creating a character, and taking part in your first conversations.

Of course, you might be an old hand at playing the game by now. (If not, the video is embedded just past the cut.) For those players not in need of a helping hand, BioWare has also announced the launch of two weekly features -- a blog post rounding up all developer posts to the forums over the prior week, and a Q&A session that will pull 10 questions from a community thread to be answered each week. So even if you don't need help getting into the game, you can have a little extra guidance about what's going on behind the scenes.

Continue reading BioWare bringing weekly blogs and video guides for Star Wars: The Old Republic

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BioWare bringing weekly blogs and video guides for Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> biowarebioware-mythiccommunitycommunity-blogdevelopmentdevelopment-questionseaea-biowareelectronic-artseric-muscoguidesq-and-astar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorvideovideo-guidevideos Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Storyboard: You guys must be the party]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/storyboard-you-guys-must-be-the-party/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/storyboard-you-guys-must-be-the-party/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/storyboard-you-guys-must-be-the-party/#comments I always wonder if people read more into these header images than they ought to. A couple of weeks back, I wrote an article about dealing with a major ongoing storyline in an MMO. For those of you who neither read the article nor can spare the time to click the link and read it now: It talked about the problems presented by having a storyline and offered a few different solutions for handling such inconsistencies. Of course, as I noted, very few of these problems apply to open-world sandbox games that have no sort of ongoing developer-run story for you to stumble around.

No, those games have issues entirely their own, starting with the very nature of player-run stories.

A completely player-driven story has the advantage of not having several issues that can crop up when dealing with an ongoing in-game story, but it also still has some serious problems. There are still issues that you're going to have to have answers for when you're in a game that lets you craft the world to match your whims, and unfortunately the methods for doing so aren't quite as straightforward as the methods for dealing with an in-game storyline.

Continue reading Storyboard: You guys must be the party

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Storyboard: You guys must be the party originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> culturefeaturedopen-worldopinionplayer-driven-storiesroleplayingrpsandboxstoriesstorystoryboard Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Ask Massively: Thieving on the fast track edition]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/02/ask-massively-thieving-on-the-fast-track-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/02/ask-massively-thieving-on-the-fast-track-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/02/ask-massively-thieving-on-the-fast-track-edition/#comments These are the markers used to cross our names off the credits. What? It's not the most tenuous connection I've used. One of our readers was kind enough to point us to two sites that, once again, were stealing our posts without crediting our authors or anything like that. (I don't mean "this post looks suspiciously similar"; I mean abusing copy and paste.) Unfortunately, while we're aware of these things, there's not a whole lot we can do other than request that the sites get taken down. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, but it's all we can do. I guess it's nice to be good enough that your work is worth stealing without credit? That's something.

This week's installment of Ask Massively isn't going to focus on that, however. Instead, we're going to focus on the recent spate of MMO litigation and the potential for a boxed RIFT expansion. If you have a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of Ask Massively, mail it along to ask@massively.com or leave a comment in the field below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Thieving on the fast track edition

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Ask Massively: Thieving on the fast track edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ask-massivelyBethesda-Softworksbottersboxed-expansioncolumncolumnsexpansionfalloutfallout-onlinefeaturedinterplayjagexlawsuitlawsuitslitigationmmo-industryopinionplagiarismriftscrapingsite-scrapingtriontrion-worlds Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Subscriber numbers lead to a new hope for Electronic Arts stock]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/02/subscriber-numbers-lead-to-a-new-hope-for-electronic-arts-stock/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/02/subscriber-numbers-lead-to-a-new-hope-for-electronic-arts-stock/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/02/subscriber-numbers-lead-to-a-new-hope-for-electronic-arts-stock/#comments Okay, it's more of a continuation of an existing hope. You can live with the play on words, Justin does them all the time. It's official: As of yesterday, Star Wars: The Old Republic has 1.7 million active subscribers and has sold 2 million copies. That's good news for fans of the game, but it's also good news for both BioWare and Electronic Arts. Apparently, it's seen as very good news for Electronic Arts, as the company's stock has gone up by 6.1% in the announcement's wake. The stock closed on Wednesday at $18.44 a share and closed today at $19.56, an appreciable gain for the company and a sign of good health.

This is sharp contrast to some of the early analyst responses before subscriber numbers were released, as well as some suspicions that the game was falling after a few first-patch fumbles. Whether the game will rise further or stabilize where it is remains to be seen, but it's certainly making a strong showing out of the gate, and the financial sector is taking note.

[Thanks to Robert for the tip!]

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Subscriber numbers lead to a new hope for Electronic Arts stock originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> biowarebioware-mythiceaea-biowareelectronic-artsfinanciallegalmmo-industrystar-wars-the-old-republicstock-marketstockssubscriber-numberssubscribersswtor Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[WildStar discusses the exotic and alien human race]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/wildstar-discusses-the-exotic-and-alien-human-race/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/wildstar-discusses-the-exotic-and-alien-human-race/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/wildstar-discusses-the-exotic-and-alien-human-race/#comments Try and read the entry out loud without trying to fit in the word 'shiny' or 'verse' a couple times. Humans are the standard basis for comparison in games that feature non-human races, almost as if said games were being made by humans for other humans. But there's still a distinct flavor to the human race depending on the setting. Case in point, the latest WildStar "interview" with one of the three lore characters from the cinematic trailer gives players a peek at a typical human, and he's a bit different than what you might have been expecting.

While the other major characters identify a specific world as "home," humans are portrayed as being a bit more free-forming, having roamed out in space for so long that they're really not bound to a location. The entry also discusses some of the lore behind being an Explorer and some of the perils associated with intentionally venturing into the unknown (it involves lots of things that try to eat you, if you need the short version). If you've been enjoying the flavor of the world Carbine Studios is slowly building, you'll probably enjoy this latest look as well.

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WildStar discusses the exotic and alien human race originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> backstorycarbine-studioshuman-beingshumanslorelore-charactersnewsnpcsplayer-racesraceswildstarwildstar-wednesdayws Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/#comments A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann It's been a little over two years now that I've been writing a regular column on City of Heroes, and in one sense that still feels very strange to me. I'm guessing that the novelty of doing this for a living is never going to entirely go away, for reasons that really have nothing to do with the topic of this column. But I'm not going to dwell on the more meta facts here; I'm going to focus instead on the past year of the column.

This year was a try for something slightly different in both the tone and approach that I'd been taking with these columns. I finished off one major project, started another one, and along the way, I found that I gathered a very different attitude over time. In relationship terms, the first year of A Mild-Mannered Reporter was apparently still the "gushing" phase of a new relationship. This year has been much more about the flaws that City of Heroes has, both in structure and in design choices.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxfeaturedfreedomncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveyear-in-review Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Pathfinder Online promises to let players stumble into adventure]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/pathfinder-online-promises-to-let-players-stumble-into-adventure/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/pathfinder-online-promises-to-let-players-stumble-into-adventure/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/pathfinder-online-promises-to-let-players-stumble-into-adventure/#comments I'm not sure where the judicial branch comes in, but I'm thinking it should be on here. Pathfinder Online is still too early in the development process to do much more than talk about principles, but said principles are certainly of interest to fans. The most recent development blog about the project discusses that game's PvE arm, which is meant to be an important part of the game without being the sole driving force. Instead of the game being driven by players going, gathering quests, and then going out to kill monsters, the development team hopes to create an environment where players go out to do something and then find themselves in the midst of a quest.

Four basic types of interconnection are outlined, ranging from wandering monsters to potential beasts attracted by overharvesting an area. (Cut down too much wood in an area and wood-dwelling creatures my start attacking lumberjacks... or some nasty flying monsters might decide the cleared area would make for an excellent nest.) It's certainly an interesting set of principles going into design, making the entry well worth a read for sandbox enthusiasts.

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Pathfinder Online promises to let players stumble into adventure originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> designdevelopmentdevelopment-bloggoblinworksmonster-encounterspaizopaizo-publishingpathfinderpathfinder-onlinepreviewpvepve-encountersquestssandboxsystems Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Atys refugee blues]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/choose-my-adventure-atys-refugee-blues/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/choose-my-adventure-atys-refugee-blues/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/01/choose-my-adventure-atys-refugee-blues/#comments Being able to animate your character during creation is a nice touch. Last week's polls were enough for me to get started in the world of Ryzom over the weekend, so I took my first steps back into the game that I haven't played for quite some time. I still remembered how some of it worked, thankfully, but there were a lot of elements that I'd almost completely forgotten. And while I'm still knee-deep in the starter area, I've played enough to at least get some starter impressions.

But let's make this a full narrative, yes? When we left off, the group verdict was that I would be starting out as a Zorai with the Magic starter package based off of a female Shakespearean tragic character. And thus, with only a little extra effort, Corlede was born into the world of Ryzom. The character creator offers a variety of features, allowing you to select your character's build in fine detail but offering a strange lack of certain other options. There are also some odd constraints on character types -- you find yourself always locked within a certain general band of height, for instance, so there are no really tall Trykers.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Atys refugee blues

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Choose My Adventure: Atys refugee blues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> choose-my-adventurecmacolumncolumnsculturedirectionfeaturedgame-mechanicshands-onlevelingopinionoverviewpollpollsreaders-choiceryzomstartingstarting-areathe-saga-of-ryzomvotevotingwinch-gatewinch-gate-productions-limited Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When do you alt?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/31/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-alt/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/31/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-alt/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/31/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-alt/#comments In some games, the correct answer is 'pretty much never' no matter what. We know that some of you love to roll alts and some of you just play one character until the end time. This question is not about that. No, today we want something that's much more fundamental but yet subtly more important -- when do you make those alts? When do you click back over to character creation and start fresh?

For some players, it's a matter of boredom. Some players make new characters based on roleplaying demands. Some just love to roll new characters on a regular basis whenever one character hits an important milestone. And for some of us, it's just a matter of whenever the whim strikes, whether or not that whim makes a lot of sense at the time.

If you don't make alts, of course, your answer is "almost never." But if you do, we ask you -- when do you make your new characters? What motivates you to start again from the bottom on a regular basis? When is it time to make another character?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

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The Daily Grind: When do you alt? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alternate-charactersalternatesaltscharacter-creationcultureexperimentationnew-charactersopinionrolling-altstdgthe-daily-grind Eliot Lefebvre Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Newest Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter talks patch 1.21 release]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/newest-final-fantasy-xiv-producers-letter-talks-patch-1-21-rele/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/newest-final-fantasy-xiv-producers-letter-talks-patch-1-21-rele/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/newest-final-fantasy-xiv-producers-letter-talks-patch-1-21-rele/#comments Of course, in real life, Yoshida is the one who can spit fire. It's been a little quiet on the Final Fantasy XIV front since the new year, but the team behind the game has been hard at work preparing the launch of patch 1.21. And it's going to be quite a massive patch, as outlined in Naoki Yoshida's most recent producer's letter for the fans. Not only does it contain the addition of the long-awaited Job system, but it also includes UI improvements, housing, two new instanced raids, a food and medicine overhaul, and a variety of smaller changes.

While the team had originally aimed for a launch in the second week of February, Yoshida notes that the patch will likely be delayed two weeks due to the sheer amount of content going in. He also discusses what he calls temporary server merges prior to the launch of 2.0 in November; as he puts it, the main concern is allowing players, especially from European regions, to have an ample playerbase to adventure with. It's a bit of unpleasant news for Final Fantasy XIV players, but it's packed in amidst many things to look forward to.

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Newest Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter talks patch 1.21 release originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> coming-patchesdevelopmentffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.21final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivnaoki-yoshidanewspatchesproducers-letterserver-mergesserverssquaresquare-enixupdates Eliot Lefebvre Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[DC Universe Online's upcoming game update is all about easier grouping]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/dc-universe-onlines-upcoming-game-update-is-all-about-easier-gr/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/dc-universe-onlines-upcoming-game-update-is-all-about-easier-gr/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/dc-universe-onlines-upcoming-game-update-is-all-about-easier-gr/#comments The proposal for Super Wimp Raids, where the enemies just stare at you menacingly, was summarily rejected. If you've been enjoying DC Universe Online ever since the game switched business models, odds are good you're looking toward the endgame by now. Game Update 9, which is coming soon, will make getting into that endgame even easier via the addition of Novice Raids. This new difficulty setting still allows players to experience all the storyline of Fortress of Solitude, Kahndaq, and the Batcave, but the difficulty will be notched down so that players can get a better feel for what they're doing.

Of course, if you're not into the endgame rush, you've still got something to look forward to with the new role-optional alerts system. In essence, players will now be able to queue for Alerts without needing to put together a balanced group; in the event that a role is missing, a team buff will be applied to ensure that the area can still be cleared. That means that even with nothing but Damage characters, you can still explore all of DC Universe Online's group content, something that should allow for some novel player approaches once the update goes live.

[Update: SOE has also issued a statement about plans for the game's PvP in 2012. The full quote is after the cut.]

Continue reading DC Universe Online's upcoming game update is all about easier grouping

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DC Universe Online's upcoming game update is all about easier grouping originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alertsdcdc-comicsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoendgamef2pfree-to-playgroup-contentgroupingnovice-raidspatch-previewspatchesraidsrole-optional-alertssoesony-online-entertainment Eliot Lefebvre Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[RIFT introducing some big PvP buffs in patch 1.7]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/rift-introducing-some-big-pvp-buffs-in-patch-1-7/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/rift-introducing-some-big-pvp-buffs-in-patch-1-7/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/rift-introducing-some-big-pvp-buffs-in-patch-1-7/#comments Sadly, being a mercenary does not allow you to switch sides if a boss battle is going poorly. Maybe you've been a fan of PvP in RIFT from day one. Or perhaps you eschewed it due to the slow rate of rewards and the awkwardness of needing PvP souls to make any real headway. The good news is that the game's upcoming patch 1.7 is taking aim at a variety of PvP issues, starting with a change to the Prestige Rank system. The new system will offer 40 ranks instead of the previous eight; while the time to reach the cap will remain identical, you'll gain new ranks and rewards more frequently, making the overall experience smoother.

PvP souls are being outright abolished, with the abilities rolling into the new Attunement Path of War that works just like other Planar Attunements. There's also the addition of the "mercenary" option for queueing, allowing players to fight with the other faction during PvP matches in order to ensure a balanced and full group. All of this combines with across-the-board item improvements to ensure that following the patch release, taking part in PvP should be quite a bit more fun.

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RIFT introducing some big PvP buffs in patch 1.7 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> game-mechanicsnew-systemspatchpatchespvppvp-abilitiespvp-balancepvp-progressionpvp-specsriftrift-patch-1.7rift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsupdates Eliot Lefebvre Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How often do you want new abilities?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/29/the-daily-grind-how-often-do-you-want-new-abilities/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/29/the-daily-grind-how-often-do-you-want-new-abilities/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/29/the-daily-grind-how-often-do-you-want-new-abilities/#comments This level, I learned to bend my wrist ninety degrees in any direction without breaking it! We're all very familiar with the term "ding." We're also familiar with the immediate follow-up to a ding -- namely, figuring out what new stuff you get following a new level. Of course, that varies a lot depending on the game. Guild Wars will give players new abilities all the time, whether or not you hit a new level, but Star Trek Online only offers up a new set of abilities every 10 levels or so (equipment notwithstanding).

Granted, if a game gives you abilities infrequently, each one tends to be more vital to your overall play experience. Having a wider spread of abilities means more choices, but it also means that each individual skill doesn't matter as much. So which do you prefer? Would you like to be swimming in new abilities and new tricks at every new level? Or would you prefer a slow roll, with new skills coming infrequently but being special when they do come?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

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The Daily Grind: How often do you want new abilities? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> abilitiesabilitydesignlevelleveling-paceleveling-uplevelsnew-abilitiesnew-powersnew-skillsopinionpowersskillstdgthe-daily-grindtraits Eliot Lefebvre Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Mog Log: Weakness is strength]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/28/the-mog-log-weakness-is-strength/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/28/the-mog-log-weakness-is-strength/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/28/the-mog-log-weakness-is-strength/#comments The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann If you think about characters in the online Final Fantasy games compared to the console-based equivalents, you have to come to a kind of demoralizing conclusion: Your character online is pretty weak. In Final Fantasy XI, you can cap out your Black Mage and you'll still never learn Ultima. In Final Fantasy X, by the time you have your Black Mage using Ultima, you've still got most of the endgame ahead of you. Final Fantasy XIV might move the power scale upward, but at this point your character hasn't even actually mastered being a Paladin, much less summoning anything. Final Fantasy VII, by contrast, gave us three different versions of Bahamut to summon just to keep him relevant, and he was still nowhere near the best.

And you know what? It makes the games much more fun to have these barriers in place.

Players have been clamoring for high-end summons in Final Fantasy XI since forever ago, and the fact that it's not even on the visible horizon for Final Fantasy XIV is disheartening to some. But there's something to be said for a play environment where these touchstones of power remain out of reach, certainly for now and possibly forever.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Weakness is strength

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The Mog Log: Weakness is strength originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> abilitiesbackstorycolumncolumnsculturefeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicsloreopinionpower-levelspowersskillssquaresquare-enixsummonsthe-mog-log Eliot Lefebvre Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[WRUP: Apropos of nothing, Star Trek Online edition]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/28/wrup-apropos-of-nothing-star-trek-online-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/28/wrup-apropos-of-nothing-star-trek-online-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/28/wrup-apropos-of-nothing-star-trek-online-edition/#comments I do keep getting tempted back. The last several weeks have pretty much had at least one or two major stories about a certain game that launched recently. So, apropos of nothing, here's a picture of Star Trek Online, which is not the game in question. It recently went free-to-play, also, which is pretty noteworthy if you haven't tried it despite wanting to see what it's like. As for me, I'm not playing it right now, but I did enjoy it when I tried!

I know -- you'd expect random cute animals from me instead. I like to break expectations.

Apropos for the end of the week, it's time for another installment of WRUP, in which we, the Massively staff members, talk about our plans for the weekend. We're also talking about what games have been out the longest before we played them. So jump on past the cut to see what we're up to over the weekend, and let us know your plans in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: Apropos of nothing, Star Trek Online edition

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WRUP: Apropos of nothing, Star Trek Online edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrup Eliot Lefebvre Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Storyboard: Three guys walk into a bar]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/27/storyboard-three-guys-walk-into-a-bar/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/27/storyboard-three-guys-walk-into-a-bar/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/27/storyboard-three-guys-walk-into-a-bar/#comments Never underestimate the power of gold trim. My days of playing Magic: the Gathering are... well, they're not over, exactly, but I'm certainly not in my heyday any longer. Despite this, I've made no secret of the fact that I still avidly read Mark Rosewater's Making Magic column because the stuff he says in the column is applicable to game design in general. There are a lot of ideas that I've drawn out of there over the years, and one of the ones that's stuck with me is the Timmy-Johnny-Spike split that Rosewater's quite fond of explaining at length.

For those of you not interested in reading a decade's worth of columns just to understand what I'm talking about, the three names in questions are the so-called "psychographics" for Magic's audience, three psychological snapshots of why people play and enjoy the game. They're useful tools for understanding the reason certain cards resonate well with some players and not with others. And they're applicable to almost everything -- even roleplaying.

Continue reading Storyboard: Three guys walk into a bar

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Storyboard: Three guys walk into a bar originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appealcolumncolumnscreativityfeaturedinterestjohnnyopinionroleplayingrpspeculationspikestoryboardtimmy Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[WildStar invites players to meet the Aurin]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/26/wildstar-invites-players-to-meet-the-aurin/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/26/wildstar-invites-players-to-meet-the-aurin/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/26/wildstar-invites-players-to-meet-the-aurin/#comments Unfortunately, no bunny-men yet. Oh, well. There's a lot to be learned about the setting of WildStar before the game starts in on testing, but there are also a lot of prospective players eager to learn whatever they can. So they'll probably be happy to take a look at the latest entry on the official blog, a mock-interview with the Aurin character Liara from the game's original cinematic trailer. Aside from providing some character insights, it gives a look at the Aurin as a species beyond the obvious.

The Aurin come from the forested planet of Arboria, where large ears and long tails for balance have some decided evolutionary advantages. Unfortunately for the Aurin, the Dominion invaded the planet and began cutting everything down, leading to the displaced animal-people lending their knowledge to the Exiles. It's an interesting glimpse at the game's lore for both the Aurin and for Scientists, something that several eager WildStar fans will no doubt devour with vigor.

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WildStar invites players to meet the Aurin originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aurinbackstorycarbinecarbine-studiosdevelopmentlorencsoftpreviewssettingwildstar Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Allods Online shows off 2.0.9 improvements with a new trailer]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/26/allods-online-shows-off-2-0-9-improvements-with-a-new-trailer/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/26/allods-online-shows-off-2-0-9-improvements-with-a-new-trailer/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/26/allods-online-shows-off-2-0-9-improvements-with-a-new-trailer/#comments I support all games offering Rikku-style hair as seen to the left. Allods Online is gearing up for its Game of Gods expansion, but there are more improvements coming in the lead-up. The 2.0.9 patch is going to be part of the bridge, and it's bringing along a number of cosmetic improvements for players to enjoy. There are new pets, new interior customizations for astral ships, new mounts, and as the header image shows, new hairstyles in varying degrees of ridiculousness (or awesomeness, depending on your personal preference).

Of course, what better way to show off the coming patch improvements than via a small trailer? Embedded just past the cut, the trailer is short but features a bit of cute animation and a peek at what's just around the corner. There's still no exact date on the release of the game's expansion, but considering how quickly the team behind the game is ramping up, we suspect it may well be earlier in February rather than later.

Continue reading Allods Online shows off 2.0.9 improvements with a new trailer

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Allods Online shows off 2.0.9 improvements with a new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> allodsallods-onlineallods-patch-2.0.9astrum-nivalf2pfree-to-playgala-netgame-of-godsgpotatonewspatchespreviewstrailerupdatesvideovideos Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Ask Massively: On mourning a netbook edition]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/26/ask-massively-on-mourning-a-netbook-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/26/ask-massively-on-mourning-a-netbook-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/26/ask-massively-on-mourning-a-netbook-edition/#comments No, it's not a picture of River. I can't take a picture of her right now, she's wounded. It would be wrong. Well, I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. My stalwart little netbook, River, finally developed a serious problem: Her screen developed a pair of nasty cracks. I've had her for only a couple of years, but she's been a great portable machine and a real help at getting work done. Now if only it weren't such an enormous pain finding someplace where I could get her repaired, as I'd really prefer not to replace her. But it might come to that.

Even with an injured performer, however, the show must go on, and the show in question is Ask Massively. This week, we're fielding questions about ArcheAge and working in the gaming field, something that I'm sure is of interest to many of our readers. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, mail it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: On mourning a netbook edition

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Ask Massively: On mourning a netbook edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> archeageask-massivelycareerscolumncolumnsdevelopmentfeaturedgaming-industryjobslocalizationmmo-industryopinionwester-release Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Free Realms shows off a new player condo]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/free-realms-shows-off-a-new-player-condo/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/free-realms-shows-off-a-new-player-condo/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/free-realms-shows-off-a-new-player-condo/#comments Changing your exterior decoration to eye-searing orange is probably not recommended. Housing is one of those MMO features that's beloved by some, disliked by others, and sadly not nearly as common as it once was. Free Realms has had housing for quite some time, of course, but the development team apparently hasn't felt that player introductions to same have really been up to snuff. So that's why players new and old will be gifted with a new Wilds Condo in the near future, a slice of housing that should give a much better idea of how fun the system can be.

Hosted by development artist Misty Michelle, the preview video just past the cut gives players an idea of what's expanded with the new condo. Players will get a lawn, more options to decorate, and more vertical space in the front yard to build a truly impressive dwelling. If that sounds like your sort of thing, take a look at the full trailer to see some of what you can do with your improved starter home right from the start in Free Realms.

Continue reading Free Realms shows off a new player condo

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Free Realms shows off a new player condo originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> condodecorationf2pfrfreefree-realmsfree-to-playhousinghousing-decorationhousing-mechanicsmisty-michelleplayer-housingpreviewssoesony-online-entertainmentupcoming-additionsvideovideoswilds-condo Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Issue 22 is all juiced out]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-issue-22-is-all-juiced-out/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-issue-22-is-all-juiced-out/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-issue-22-is-all-juiced-out/#comments A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann On Christmas, Ms. Lady and I received a power juicer.

This wasn't a bad present by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a present that left us momentarily baffled. We hadn't asked for a power juicer, we didn't feel a great need for a power juicer, and we weren't even sure exactly what to do with a power juicer. (Make juice, obviously, but beyond that?) It was a great present but one that struck us as so far out of left field that we really weren't quite sure how to use it at first, much less what it would offer us.

Issue 22 of City of Heroes strikes me in much the same way. It's not that the update is bad or unwanted or unnecessary; it's that the entire thing is essentially aimed in a direction away from my own playstyle. I imagine a lot of free players are going to run into the same issue because even though it's being touted as the game's newest free update, there's precious little in there that's actually changed on the free side.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Issue 22 is all juiced out

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Issue 22 is all juiced out originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxdesignf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomincarnateincarnate-systemissue-22ncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospatchespowerspowersetsupdateszones Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[EVE Online prepares the schedule for the next Council of Stellar Management]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/eve-online-prepares-the-schedule-for-the-next-council-of-stellar/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/eve-online-prepares-the-schedule-for-the-next-council-of-stellar/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/eve-online-prepares-the-schedule-for-the-next-council-of-stellar/#comments Demonstrating EVE's political mechanics. Which aren't coded into the game. EVE Online's Council of Stellar Management is about to change seats once again. On April 4th, the current council's term will expire, meaning that it's time for a new council to be formed among the game's players. CCP Games is starting the process for election early, posting a full timetable of the upcoming election as well as the requirements for candidacy. Applications for candidacy will be open from February 8th through the 22nd, followed by nominations until the 29th, with the election proper running between March 7th and March 21st.

Thinking about throwing your hat into the ring? Eligible players must be 21 years old or older by April 4th, able to travel to CCP's headquarters in Iceland, and have an EVE Online account older than 30 days. Anyone eligible will also be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, since the Council of Stellar Management frequently receives information not yet available to the general playerbase. Even if you're not interested in running yourself, it's going to be interesting for EVE players to take part in the election once again.

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EVE Online prepares the schedule for the next Council of Stellar Management originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ccpccp-gamescommunitycouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmcsm-electionelectioneveeve-communityeve-onlinegeneral-electionplayer-communityplayer-organizations Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: I fell into a burning ring of Ryzom]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/choose-my-adventure-i-fell-into-a-burning-ring-of-ryzom/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/choose-my-adventure-i-fell-into-a-burning-ring-of-ryzom/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/choose-my-adventure-i-fell-into-a-burning-ring-of-ryzom/#comments Yes, I'm trying to spruce up the header a bit. Mixed results. After an intensely close vote, the winner for my destination in this round of Choose My Adventure is Ryzom! And I do mean intensely close; up until the polls closed, it looked very possible that the vote would end in the favor of Lord of the Rings Online or even a straight-up tie. But the readers have spoken, and my destination is set to the world of Atys and its inhabitants. Meanwhile, Johnny Cash handily won the bonus poll, so it's time to spin up song songs by the Man in Black while I write this.

For those of you who don't know what in the world Ryzom is, you can sort of be forgiven. It's one of those games that seems to be uniquely brilliant while managing to fall off the radar altogether, which is a real shame. So this week I'm going to discuss the game in an overarching sense, outline what I'm looking forward to, and of course give everyone a chance to vote on the character that I'll be making for the next six weeks of exploration.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: I fell into a burning ring of Ryzom

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Choose My Adventure: I fell into a burning ring of Ryzom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> choose-my-adventurecolumnculturedevelopmentf2pfeaturedfree-to-playopen-sourceopinionpollpollsryzomthe-saga-of-ryzomwinch-gatewinch-gate-property-limited Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST Massively