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 Daily Grind: Where does gaming fall on your priority list?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/the-daily-grind-where-does-gaming-fall-on-your-priority-list/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/the-daily-grind-where-does-gaming-fall-on-your-priority-list/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/10/the-daily-grind-where-does-gaming-fall-on-your-priority-list/#comments Priorities Shmiorities Back before I had a family, it wasn't unusual for me to play a video game for eight-hour stretches at a time every day. But now that I'm a father of three, I don't even want to think about playing a game unless I'm playing with my family or it's after their bedtime. On the other side of that coin, there are plenty of people who put gaming before just about everything else in their lives. When you're "too busy" to work or spend time with your family, but not too busy to raid every night, that's a problem in my opinion.

This might sound odd coming from a guy who has made gaming his career, but I respect balance and moderation. I could go on and on about how so many people are losing their perspective on having fun by being "hardcore," but I'll save that for a Soapbox article one day. In the meantime, I want to know how you feel about gaming on your priority list. Is it numero uno, towards the end, or somewhere in between?

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: Where does gaming fall on your priority list? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> familygame-discussiongamer-discussionhardcoremmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopinionprioritiestdgthe-daily-grind Shawn Schuster Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Earthrise shutting down today]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/earthrise-shutting-down-today/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/earthrise-shutting-down-today/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/09/earthrise-shutting-down-today/#comments Bye bye Earthrise Bulgarian developer Masthead Studios has announced that it's shutting down the servers for its post-apocalyptic sandbox MMO, Earthrise. Said Atanas Atanasov, Director of Masthead Studios:
"One year after the launch of the game, we have decided to stop the Earthrise servers. Earthrise was released too early and did not meet the expectations of its fans. We did our best to revive the game in 2011, but the time was not enough to keep up with the user requirements. There is a huge interest in high quality open world sandbox MMORPGs, unfortunately the big publishers do not show any interest in the genre. It is unfortunate that low budget companies like ours are trying to bring innovativeness in the already saturated MMO market. I hope that one day an independent studio will be able to release the long anticipated open world sandbox MMO, which everyone is talking about, but no one is making. We tried, but did not succeed. We would like to apologize to those who were disappointed from Earthrise and to thank everyone who supported us during the years."
The studio does mention that the planned free-to-play version for this year may still launch if any investor interest is shown, but there has been no word on this yet.

[Source: Masthead Studios press release]

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Earthrise shutting down today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Atanas-Atanasovbreakingnewsbye-byeclosingclosureearthrisemastehead-studiospost-apocalypticsandboxserver-closesunset Shawn Schuster Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Grab yourself a Seven Souls Online beta key from Massively!]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/win-a-seven-souls-online-beta-key-from-massively/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/win-a-seven-souls-online-beta-key-from-massively/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/win-a-seven-souls-online-beta-key-from-massively/#comments Seven Souls Online is a new fantasy MMO from NEOWIZ that focuses on the concept of controlling the seven most destructive and powerful forces of humankind. These seven souls have essentially leaked out, and it's up to you to seal them back up. Sound like a fun Friday night? Good, because the devs want you to help test it out!

The beta will begin on February 15th (so it won't be available until then!), but we have some keys to get you ready for the event. Simply head on over to our giveaway page, click "Claim Your Key" at the bottom, and go to this link to redeem your code. You'll need to register for an account on their site and click on "Apply for Beta" to complete the process, but after that, you'll be all set for the February 15th beta.

GET YOUR KEY

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Grab yourself a Seven Souls Online beta key from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 7-souls7-souls-onlinebetabeta-keysbeta-testbetasclosed-betagiveawayneowizseven-souls-online Shawn Schuster Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you currently on hiatus from MMOs?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/the-daily-grind-are-you-currently-on-hiatus-from-mmos/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/the-daily-grind-are-you-currently-on-hiatus-from-mmos/ http://www.massively.com/2012/02/03/the-daily-grind-are-you-currently-on-hiatus-from-mmos/#comments National Lampoon's Vacation Something fascinates me about many of the more vocal commenters on Massively. No matter what game is launching, re-launching, closing, expanding, or going free-to-play, someone usually has to make it known that he doesn't play MMOs at all anymore. The fact that he's still reading about MMOs on Massively is a compliment to us, but I'm always curious about what drove him away from actually playing.

So if you're a former MMO player and you still like to keep up with the news, let us know why. What drove you away? What makes you still read about it? Are you holding out for the next big MMO, or is it something more?

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: Are you currently on hiatus from MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> burnoutgame-discussiongamer-discussionhiatusmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopiniontdgthe-daily-grind Shawn Schuster Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 184]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/31/massively-speaking-episode-184/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/31/massively-speaking-episode-184/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/31/massively-speaking-episode-184/#comments Second Life Massively Speaking Episode 184 returns this week with Justin and Rubi being joined by Senior Editor Bree Royce to discuss the week's news. Topics include NCsoft's newest lawsuit with En Masse, RuneScape's sub fee increase, no BlizzCon this year, and much more. Plus, this is Rubi's last time on the show, so wish her a fond farewell!

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 184

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Massively Speaking Episode 184 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinionpodcastingpodcasts Shawn Schuster Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 184 Massively.com Staff 01:04:21 podcasts <![CDATA[Want to be Massively's next Guild Wars columnist?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/want-to-be-massivelys-next-guild-wars-columnist/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/want-to-be-massivelys-next-guild-wars-columnist/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/want-to-be-massivelys-next-guild-wars-columnist/#comments Rubi waving bye ArenaNet's Guild Wars is a fascinating MMO. The original released almost seven years ago, with the sequel set to release later this year. There's no doubt that Guild Wars 2 tops the list of the most anticipated MMO for 2012, which makes writing about it all the more fun and exciting.

That's where you come in. After learning that our own Rubi Bayer will be whisked away by an as-yet unnamable job offer, we're in desperate need of someone to fill her weekly Guild Wars/Guild Wars 2 columnist spot on the site*.

Follow along after the jump for the full details!

*Keeping us in line and making "that's what she said" jokes optional.

Continue reading Want to be Massively's next Guild Wars columnist?

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Want to be Massively's next Guild Wars columnist? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> applicationarenanetcolumnistguild-warsguild-wars-2lfmnooooooooonow-hiringrubi-bayer Shawn Schuster Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your preferred night to raid?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/27/the-daily-grind-whats-your-preferred-night-to-raid/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/27/the-daily-grind-whats-your-preferred-night-to-raid/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/27/the-daily-grind-whats-your-preferred-night-to-raid/#comments LotRO Raid We all have our own schedules with our own reasons for gaming when we can. For those with a static group of friends, a dedicated night or two to raid is usually the preferred method of playing an MMO. Whether you play to relax after work or play when you have the day off, it's a safe bet that most of us tend to organize our most involved raiding nights around a set time.

So what night do you prefer? Even if it's every night of the week, or just one, let us know in the comments below.

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: What's your preferred night to raid? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> organizedraidraid-nightsschedulestatic-grouptdgthe-daily-grind Shawn Schuster Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Newest version of GTA mod brings us one step closer to a GTA MMO]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/newest-version-of-gta-mod-bring-us-one-step-closer-to-a-gta-mmo/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/newest-version-of-gta-mod-bring-us-one-step-closer-to-a-gta-mmo/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/25/newest-version-of-gta-mod-bring-us-one-step-closer-to-a-gta-mmo/#comments 3563456765 car pile-up If you're a fan of the classic Grand Theft Auto games (the popular ones, not the older ones that nobody played), then we may have some good news for you as an MMO player. A new update has been released for the Multi Theft Auto mod (v1.3) that introduces voice chat, bringing us that much closer to a true GTA MMO.

The wildly popular mod for GTA: San Andreas adds multiplayer functionality to the original Rockstar game, which was released just over seven years ago. It also includes a full map editor, dedicated Windows server package, and everything else you need to rat-a-tat-tat your friends in a simulated Dr. Dre album setting.

Sound like a good time? Check out a video sample after the jump, and head over to the official website for more info.

Continue reading Newest version of GTA mod brings us one step closer to a GTA MMO

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Newest version of GTA mod brings us one step closer to a GTA MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> grand-theft-autogtamodmulti-theft-autonot-quite-an-mmo-but-almostrealer-than-real-deal-holyfieldsan-andreas Shawn Schuster Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 183: Squeeing Rubi edition]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/24/massively-speaking-episode-183-squeeing-rubi-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/24/massively-speaking-episode-183-squeeing-rubi-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/24/massively-speaking-episode-183-squeeing-rubi-edition/#comments What could it mean?!?! Massively Speaking Episode 183 returns this week with hosts Justin and Rubi discussing the week in MMO news, including Guild Wars 2's recent beta and launch news, Dungeons & Dragons Online's big update news, RIFT's financial success, and Pathfinder Online's death mechanic. Also, email!

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 183: Squeeing Rubi edition

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Massively Speaking Episode 183: Squeeing Rubi edition originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinion Shawn Schuster Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 183 Massively.com Staff 01:15:43 podcasts <![CDATA[Minecraft guild creates massive world to help educate children]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/20/minecraft-guild-creates-massive-world-to-help-educate-children/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/20/minecraft-guild-creates-massive-world-to-help-educate-children/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/20/minecraft-guild-creates-massive-world-to-help-educate-children/#comments Massively Minecraft Miner's Guild Yes, I know that Minecraft isn't technically an MMO, but with multiplayer servers, you can have up to 999 players connected simultaneously in the same space, which is ironically more than many MMOs. But I digress!

Massively Minecraft (no relation) is a community of Minecraft players dedicated to the education of children on a massive scale through the popular indie sandbox. Created by virtual world vet Jokaydia, Massively Minecraft is "a Guild based learning community for kids aged 4-16 who are interested in developing digital media skills, exploring their creativity and developing online social skills." Of course, in an environment like that, there's an application process to get onto the multiplayer server's whitelist, so safety is a priority.

You can learn more about how the Massively Minecraft community operates by visiting its website.

[Thanks Tateru for the tip!]

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Minecraft guild creates massive world to help educate children originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> communityeducationfor-the-childrenjokaydiamassively-minecraftminecraftmojangMojang-Specifications Shawn Schuster Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How political should game companies be?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/19/the-daily-grind-how-political-should-game-companies-be/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/19/the-daily-grind-how-political-should-game-companies-be/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/19/the-daily-grind-how-political-should-game-companies-be/#comments Stop SOPA. And Seagulls. Wait, no. So, who here has heard about this SOPA thing? PIPA? Anyone? I would venture a guess that most of you out there have not only heard about it, but you're violently opposed to it, as are Massively, Joystiq, and our parent company AOL. To think we're not is silly because the internet is our livelihood. But politics and videos games don't usually mix, so this is new ground for us.

When you read about game companies boycotting SOPA/PIPA, the reaction is mixed among players. Some respect the fact that these companies are rising up against this piece of legislation while others think these studios should just concentrate on making (or fixing) their games. But the entertainment industry is far from a stranger to politics. From Neil Young to Dave Mustaine to Kanye West, politics are a staple of music, and movies usually do their part in portraying every opinion on major political issues. So why should games and game companies be any different?

Let us know what you think of the mix of politics and gaming in the comments below!

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 political should game companies be? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> game-industrymmo-industryopinionpipapoliticalpoliticssopatdgthe-daily-grind Shawn Schuster Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 182: Pigeons with hacksaws]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/17/massively-speaking-episode-182-pigeons-with-hacksaws/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/17/massively-speaking-episode-182-pigeons-with-hacksaws/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/17/massively-speaking-episode-182-pigeons-with-hacksaws/#comments It's a pigeon. WIth a Hacksaw. Yeah, I dunno either. Massively Speaking Episode 182 returns this week with regulars Justin and Rubi being joined by irregulars Eliot Lefebvre and Matt Daniel, both of whom have last names that Justin can't pronounce. Topics include the new City of Heroes Issue 22 content, LotRO's stat gear sales, TERA's beta sign-ups, the end to the Bethesda/Interplay battle over the Fallout MMO, and much more.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
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Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 182: Pigeons with hacksaws

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Massively Speaking Episode 182: Pigeons with hacksaws originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinionpodcastingpodcasts Shawn Schuster Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 182 Massively.com Staff 01:04:58 podcasts <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How early should guild creation be allowed?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/13/the-daily-grind-how-early-should-guild-creation-be-allowed/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/13/the-daily-grind-how-early-should-guild-creation-be-allowed/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/13/the-daily-grind-how-early-should-guild-creation-be-allowed/#comments Merkin the Lion's Arch guild dude Creating a guild is usually one of the largest parts of any major MMO. The guild is the place where you'll connect and coordinate with new and old friends alike. Guilds make an MMO what it is, and without them, we'd all be lost in a sea of PUGs.

But the topic of guild creation has varying schools of thought. Most MMOs let you create a guild in the early stages of the game, as long as you have the required resources. Others gate guild creation by level, rare materials, geographical location, or more. I can see how this would be beneficial, as it would allow characters to learn how to work with random strangers before establishing a familiar group. Many times, once players are in a good guild, they don't venture outside of that comfort zone, almost nullifying the "massively" part of the term "MMO."

So now we want to know your thoughts on the subject. Should guild creation be immediate (or even before the game launches, as with SWTOR), or should it be something to work up to?

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 early should guild creation be allowed? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> guild-creationguildsopinionstarting-a-guildtdgthe-daily-grind Shawn Schuster Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[MMO Community Spotlight: Gamebreaker's Gary Gannon]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/11/mmo-community-spotlight-gamebreakers-gary-gannon/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/11/mmo-community-spotlight-gamebreakers-gary-gannon/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/11/mmo-community-spotlight-gamebreakers-gary-gannon/#comments Gamebreaker What would an MMO be without its community? Development is only a fraction of what makes an MMO successful; the passion of its players is what really makes or breaks any massively online game. So we're excited to spotlight those members of the MMO community who we think are particularly passionate about our favorite hobby.

If you don't know the name Gary Gannon, you will soon enough. Gary has created or helped create everything from a successful MMO podcast to a social media site for gamers, but he's now looking to boost his Gamebreaker media network into the "CNN or ESPN of gaming" in the near future.

Sound like a pipe dream from yet another in the sea of overly enthusiastic game-journalist wannabes? Not if that person has spent his entire adult career actually working for some of the largest news organizations in the U.S.

We caught up with Gary to talk about his gaming roots, his passion for the community, and the future of his Gamebreaker network.

Continue reading MMO Community Spotlight: Gamebreaker's Gary Gannon

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MMO Community Spotlight: Gamebreaker's Gary Gannon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgamebreakergamebreaker-tvgary-gannongax-onlineinterviewinterviewsmassively-online-gamermog Shawn Schuster Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 181]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/10/massively-speaking-episode-181/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/10/massively-speaking-episode-181/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/10/massively-speaking-episode-181/#comments The Secret World Massively Speaking Episode 181 is back this week with special guest Shawn Schuster! He's so handsome and charming. Anyway, Shawn joins Rubi and Justin this week to discuss the week in MMO news. Topics include Star Trek Online's move to free-to-play a little earlier for former subscribers, Star Wars: The Old Republic's patch 1.1, the new Elementalist update in Guild Wars, the Dominus bounty hunter system, and more!

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
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Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 181

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Massively Speaking Episode 181 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinion Shawn Schuster Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 181 Massively.com Staff 01:05:35 podcasts <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your most embarrassing mistell?]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/06/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-embarrassing-mistell/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/06/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-embarrassing-mistell/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/06/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-embarrassing-mistell/#comments TMI Whether you accidentally complain about a fellow teammate in team chat, reveal your current bowel ailment to the entire planet, or something worse, we've probably all made the mistake of entering an embarrassing string of text in the wrong chat tab.

But laughing at our mistakes is usually what makes it all worth it. You'll probably double- and triple-check which tab you're typing in next time, and the whole thing results in a fun story for the grandkids one day.

So what's your most embarrassing mistell? Let us know in the comments below!

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: What's your most embarrassing mistell? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> diarrheaembarrassmentgeneral-chatmistellmtoopsopiniontdgteam-chatthe-daily-grind Shawn Schuster Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 180]]> http://www.massively.com/2012/01/03/massively-speaking-episode-180/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/03/massively-speaking-episode-180/ http://www.massively.com/2012/01/03/massively-speaking-episode-180/#comments SWTOR Massively Speaking Episode 180 is back with the witty commentary and charming insight you love so much from your hosts Rubi and Justin. This week's topics include Silkroad's rebirth, the new RIFT smartphone app, Mabinogi's possible end, and a discussion of our 2011 MMO awards.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 180

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Massively Speaking Episode 180 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinionpodcastingpodcasts Shawn Schuster Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 180 Massively.com Staff 01:24:59 podcasts <![CDATA[Massively's Best of 2011 Awards]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/31/massivelys-best-of-2011-awards/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/31/massivelys-best-of-2011-awards/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/31/massivelys-best-of-2011-awards/#comments 2011 Awards Header 2011 was an interesting year for MMOs. Some of the most anticipated games were launched, one of the strongest MMO communities was left in the cold, and a seemingly untouchable indie developer quickly realized that it needs to listen to its players more than anything else.

As is often tradition this time of the year, we, the Massively staff, have compiled our top picks in nine different categories to celebrate what 2011 was for us. Every MMO on this list was either launched, re-launched (as free-to-play), or had some game-changing event affect it in 2011. Read along after the cut for our choices and feel free to let us know in the comments what you'd have picked for each category.

Continue reading Massively's Best of 2011 Awards

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Massively's Best of 2011 Awards originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 20112012awardsbest-bang-for-the-buckbest-expansionbest-launchbest-news-storybest-of-2011biggest-surprisedearly-departedgame-of-the-yearmost-anticipatedopinion Shawn Schuster Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are your 2012 MMO resolutions?]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/30/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-2012-mmo-resolutions/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/30/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-2012-mmo-resolutions/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/30/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-2012-mmo-resolutions/#comments Times Square ball drop Here we are at the end of yet another year and our list of promising MMOs just keeps growing. We try to play them all, but it's just impossible to keep up sometimes. After months of trying to juggle as many as we can, we usually enter some sort of plea bargain with ourselves to cut back or concentrate on only one or two at a time. But this never seems to work out. Curse you, BioWare!

Ahem. So now we're curious about your own resolutions for the new year. Have you promised yourself (or your family) that you'll cut back on MMOs? Are you looking forward to returning to an old favorite to spite the new shinies? Let us know what your MMO plans are for 2012, and as an extra bonus, let us know if you kept 2011's resolutions!

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: What are your 2012 MMO resolutions? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 2012massively-metanews-years-resolutionsopinionresolutionstdgthe-daily-grind Shawn Schuster Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively's MMO predictions for 2012: Shawn Schuster]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/27/massivelys-mmo-predictions-for-2012-shawn-schuster/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/27/massivelys-mmo-predictions-for-2012-shawn-schuster/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/27/massivelys-mmo-predictions-for-2012-shawn-schuster/#comments Shawn SchusterGuild Wars 2 will launch on the 7th anniversary of Guild Wars 1 (April 28th, 2012) with just under one million players. Everyone will then claim that he's always been a huge fan of the original Guild Wars, and major gaming news sites that now ignore the fantasy title will change their tune when they see how wildly successful Guild Wars 2 has become.

Casual gaming will continue to rise in popularity, but not through Facebook. Mobile gaming will dominate 2012 as the acceptance of "old school" graphics used by the likes of Minecraft and Terraria prove that we don't need ultra-realism or expensive video cards to have fun. Going hand in hand with this, Richard Garriott's Ultimate RPG plans will hopefully have more to do with bringing Ultima Online to mobile devices and less to do with making another FarmVille. That's not a prediction, just a dream.

MOBAs will continue to come out of nowhere and they'll continue to be successful, but by 2013, people will be bored of them.

RIFT will regret its public proclamations against F2P and fall behind the curve as a result.

Star Wars: The Old Republic will plateau in 2012 but maintain a healthy playerbase for many years. It will soon replace World of Warcraft as the game that everyone goes back to after trying new games for a month. That's not to say it will ever be the "WoW-killer," but it will become a security blanket over the years.

Every remaining SOE subscription game will go free-to-play, and PlanetSide 2 will knock our socks off... possibly not until 2013, but I have my fingers crossed for 2012.

World of Warcraft's Mists of Pandaria will mark the last straw for die-hard WoW fans who will turn away from the game in droves.

The heavy hitters of the year will be Guild Wars 2, The Secret World, PlanetSide 2, and continued success for SWTOR. We will see several game closures, including Warhammer Online, Anarchy Online, and a few we just plain forgot about until we hear of their closure. As much as its end is predicted by many, I don't think SOE will shut down Vanguard so soon after Star Wars Galaxies' demise. But I do think it will go free-to-play in 2012.

Want more staff predictions for 2012? Pick a writer below:

Massively's MMO predictions for 2012: Shawn Schuster originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Shawn Schuster Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively's MMO predictions for 2012]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/27/massivelys-mmo-predictions-for-2012/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/27/massivelys-mmo-predictions-for-2012/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/27/massivelys-mmo-predictions-for-2012/#comments The fuuuuuture 2010 will be the year to change it all! No wait, I mean 2011 will be the year to change it all! Darnit. OK, 2012, help us! You're our only hope.

While picking stocks or guessing baseball playoff scores is probably more lucrative, in our little corner of the world, we enjoy nothing more than predicting the rocky future for our favorite hobby.

But between studio closures, surprise indie hits, and million-dollar investments, nothing is certain in entertainment trends, which is why we have so much fun throwing out educated guesses. Which game will topple World of Warcraft? Which studio will be shunned and ridiculed for a stupid decision?

So this year, a few members of the Massively team got together to make their predictions for 2012. Follow along below for more on what each writer thinks 2012 will bring to the MMO space.

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Massively's MMO predictions for 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 2012massively-metamassively-predictions-for-2012opinionpredictions Shawn Schuster Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is a tiered launch the way to go?]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/23/the-daily-grind-is-a-tiered-launch-the-way-to-go/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/23/the-daily-grind-is-a-tiered-launch-the-way-to-go/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/23/the-daily-grind-is-a-tiered-launch-the-way-to-go/#comments We're just waiting to play SWTOR, don't mind us I'm sure you know where I'm going with this one. Star Wars: The Old Republic launched earlier this week, and if you pre-ordered the game, you were allowed to play during an early access period before retail launch. This meant that early adopters were rewarded for their loyalty, but not all at once. Early access was granted according to pre-order date... for the most part.

We can only imagine BioWare decided to do this to prevent the massive server queues that have recently plagued triple-A MMO launches like RIFT's. While it may have toned down the intensity a bit, server queues are still a problem. After all, those who got in early didn't mysteriously stop playing on retail launch day. The traffic seems to be consistent, but it's the players' locations in the game world that seem to have benefited the most from the tiered launch.

So we want to know what you think. Did BioWare set a new standard for MMO launches, or was this whole experiment a flop?

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: Is a tiered launch the way to go? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> launchlaunchesopinionqueuestar-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgthe-daily-grindtiertiered-launch Shawn Schuster Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Closed beta sign-ups begin for DUST 514]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/23/closed-beta-sign-ups-begin-for-dust-514/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/23/closed-beta-sign-ups-begin-for-dust-514/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/23/closed-beta-sign-ups-begin-for-dust-514/#comments DUST 514's Gunnlogi HAV The time has come! CCP has announced earlier today that sign-ups are now open for DUST 514's closed beta.

Dubbed Mordu's Private Trials, this closed beta test is currently only open to active EVE Online subscribers, and is only available on the Playstation 3, as the game will be exclusive to that platform.

If you're an active EVE Online subscriber and you'd like to sign up, head on over to the sign-up page for your chance.

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Closed beta sign-ups begin for DUST 514 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> betaBreakingNewsccpclosed-betadust-514playstation-3ps3sci-fisign-ups Shawn Schuster Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Even SWTOR's website has a queue! [Updated]]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/22/even-swtors-website-has-a-queue/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/22/even-swtors-website-has-a-queue/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/22/even-swtors-website-has-a-queue/#comments This waiting room won't give you the flu If you've tried to log in to your Star Wars: The Old Republic account today, you may find yourself faced with an unpleasant note stating: "There is currently no active subscription on this account." This is followed by, "Activate your account here," which would all be fine and dandy except SWTOR's website itself is currently offline due to the high volume of traffic.

The irony of launching a game in tiers only to have a forced bottleneck at this point isn't lost on us, but BioWare reassures its players that relief is coming soon: "Due to the high volume of new game codes being redeemed on SWTOR.com, some users may currently be seeing a waiting page. We are intentionally controlling the flow of traffic and letting as many people through as possible."

So if you can't play the game because you can't access your account (or read the forums for updates and more info...), you're not alone. As annoying as this may be to players, it's a good problem for BioWare to have.

[Update: BioWare set up more info on its Facebook page since their main site is down.]

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Even SWTOR's website has a queue! [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> biowareironylaunch-queuesplease-waitqueuesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorwaiting-room Shawn Schuster Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Yes, someone made a SWTOR hip-hop song already]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/20/yes-someone-made-a-swtor-hip-hop-song-already/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/20/yes-someone-made-a-swtor-hip-hop-song-already/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/20/yes-someone-made-a-swtor-hip-hop-song-already/#comments Richie Branson So you have the Star Wars: The Old Republic Collector's Edition, the lunchbox, the action figures, the pajamas, and the bedsheets*. The game launched 12 hours ago and you have two level 50s. What else would you possibly need to make your life complete? How about a hip-hop song based on your new obsession?

Yep, there's now a hip-hop song all about SWTOR entitled Cold Republic, created by the already-established hip-hop artist Richie Branson. It seems Richie enjoys playing his Empire character Kazen on the Ven Zallow RP-PVP so much that he stopped playing just long enough to write and record a song about it.

According to his website, he plans to create more SWTOR-related songs, using samples from the game itself.

*Most of these items are not real.

[Thanks Matt for the tip!]

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Yes, someone made a SWTOR hip-hop song already originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> biowarehip-hoprichie-bransonsongstar-wars-the-old-republicswtor Shawn Schuster Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 179: Mesmeriffic]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/20/massively-speaking-episode-179-mesmeriffic/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/20/massively-speaking-episode-179-mesmeriffic/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/20/massively-speaking-episode-179-mesmeriffic/#comments Guild Wars 2 Mesmer Massively Speaking Episode 179 returns this week with hosts Justin and Rubi discussing the week's MMO news, including Aion's move to F2P in Europe, Guild Wars 2's Mesmer reveal and closed beta date, SWTOR's grace period and launch, and Jef's ode to Star Wars Galaxies on its last day.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 179: Mesmeriffic

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Massively Speaking Episode 179: Mesmeriffic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aionguild-wars-2humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinionpodcastingpodcastsstar-wars-galaxiesswtor Shawn Schuster Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 179 Massively.com Staff 01:06:18 podcasts <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Now that all Guild Wars 2 professions are revealed, which will you play?]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/16/the-daily-grind-now-that-all-guild-wars-2-professions-are-revea/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/16/the-daily-grind-now-that-all-guild-wars-2-professions-are-revea/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/16/the-daily-grind-now-that-all-guild-wars-2-professions-are-revea/#comments Sylvari Mesmer in Guild Wars 2 Earlier this week, the internet exploded with a leaked reveal of Guild Wars 2's eighth profession: the Mesmer. The official reveal soon followed, with some of the most amazing skill videos and game mechanics to ever hit an MMO class. OK, so I'm a Mesmer fanboi. Sue me.

But now that we can flip through the entire array of Guild Wars 2 professions, we're left with the question about what class to play... or play first.

Will you be burning stuff with the Elementalist, bashing stuff with the Warrior, or shooting stuff with the Ranger? Perhaps you'd like to pander to your inner kleptomaniac by playing a Thief or dance with the dead as a Necromancer. Throw in the Guardian, Engineer, and Mesmer, and it's fairly impossible to pick just one.

So which will you play first? Let us know your profession plans for Guild Wars 2 in the comments below.

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: Now that all Guild Wars 2 professions are revealed, which will you play? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> anetarenanetclasseselementalistengineerguardianguild-wars-2mesmerncsoftnecromanceromg-i-want-to-play-them-allopinionprofessionsrangertdgthe-daily-grindthiefwarrior Shawn Schuster Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[EA denies Richard Garriott's claims of Ultima Online discussions]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/15/ea-denies-richard-garriotts-claims-of-ultima-online-discussions/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/15/ea-denies-richard-garriotts-claims-of-ultima-online-discussions/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/15/ea-denies-richard-garriotts-claims-of-ultima-online-discussions/#comments Thumbs up from Astronaut British What would a recent day in MMO news be without a mention of Richard Garriott? Today's entry is especially interesting in a he-said-they-said kinda way.

A few days ago, Richard Garriott spoke up on the possibility of a reincarnation of the Ultima franchise through talks "at very high levels with Electronic Arts about access to the property." But EA is now denying this claim.

EA's Jeff Brown recently told IndustryGamers in a candid interview that he's not sure what Lord British is talking about. "No one at EA is discussing partnership or licensing opportunities related to the Ultima Online franchise."

Sorry Ultima Online fans, it seem that either the talks were supposed to be confidential, or they simply didn't happen at all.

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EA denies Richard Garriott's claims of Ultima Online discussions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> de-niedeaelectronic-artsgeneral-britishindustry-gamerslord-britishRichard-GarriottUltima-Onlineuo Shawn Schuster Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 178]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/13/massively-speaking-episode-178/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/13/massively-speaking-episode-178/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/13/massively-speaking-episode-178/#comments Massively Speaking Episode 178 returns this week with hosts Justin and Rubi discussing the week's MMO news, including Warhammer Online's continued server merges, World of Tanks and their shiny new Guinness World Record, Final Fantasy XIV finally charging for their game, EverQuest II's expansion launch, and some things about a Star Wars game that's supposed to launch sometime soon, I forget when.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
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Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 178

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Massively Speaking Episode 178 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinionpodcastingpodcasts Shawn Schuster Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 178 Massively.com Staff 58:40 podcasts <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should characters always be wiped from beta to launch?]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/09/the-daily-grind-should-characters-always-be-wiped-from-beta-to/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/09/the-daily-grind-should-characters-always-be-wiped-from-beta-to/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/09/the-daily-grind-should-characters-always-be-wiped-from-beta-to/#comments Marty! We have no time! Who doesn't love a good beta? Right? Well, actually, lots of people don't like betas for several reasons, one of the biggest ones being the fact that your character's progression will usually be wiped clean before the game goes into launch mode.

As you can imagine, this is a necessary evil. After all, betas are for testing, not for getting a head start on your leveling. But more recently, some studios have been allowing characters to stay from open beta to launch, essentially establishing that beta period as a headstart of its own -- often before the official pre-order headstart.

This might just be another sign of that evolution of betas from a testing period to a marketing strategy, but we want to know how you feel about the character wipes themselves. Do you feel that erasing your character from beta to launch will stop you from playing in the beta, or do you see it as a fair part of the process?

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: Should characters always be wiped from beta to launch? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> betascharacter-wipeclosed-betaheadstartlaunchopen-betaopiniontdgthe-daily-grind Shawn Schuster Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[First Impressions: A second look at APB on launch day]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/06/first-impressions-a-second-look-at-apb-on-launch-day/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/06/first-impressions-a-second-look-at-apb-on-launch-day/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/06/first-impressions-a-second-look-at-apb-on-launch-day/#comments APB Relaunch day On June 29th, 2010, Realtime Worlds launched All Points Bulletin, an MMO that was highly anticipated for its character customization options, open-world "gang warfare" PvP, and similarity to the wildy popular Grand Theft Auto series of video games. In fact, the original APB's lead designer was David Jones, creator of such classics as Lemmings and the original Grand Theft Auto.

But six weeks later, Realtime Worlds entered administration, which essentially means that the company was having financial troubles but was allowed to continue running while looking for a new owner. That new owner didn't materialize quickly enough, forcing the company to announce the game's closure during what may be the shortest MMO lifespan of all time.

But who should come to save the day on November 11, 2010? None other than K2 Network, parent company of free-to-play publisher GamersFirst, which swooped in to rescue the game under the new title APB: Reloaded.

Today marks the official re-launch of the crime MMO on Steam, and I've been spending entirely too much time with the game, rediscovering why I both loved and hated the original version. Follow along after the cut for our second look at a First Impressions of APB.

Continue reading First Impressions: A second look at APB on launch day

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First Impressions: A second look at APB on launch day originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedapbapb-reloadedapbrcrimef2pfirst-impressionsfree-to-playg1gamersfirsthands-onk2-networkrealtime-worldsrelaunchsecond-chance Shawn Schuster Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:30:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 177: Wonton hussy]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/12/06/massively-speaking-episode-177-wonton-hussy/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/06/massively-speaking-episode-177-wonton-hussy/ http://www.massively.com/2011/12/06/massively-speaking-episode-177-wonton-hussy/#comments Wonton Hussy by Elixabeth Massively Speaking Episode 177 returns this week with hosts Justin and Rubi discussing the week's MMO news, including Glitch's unlaunching, Lineage II's move to F2P, EVE Online's Crucible update, Justin's love for Bobby Kotick, and much more.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 177: Wonton hussy

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Massively Speaking Episode 177: Wonton hussy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinionpodcastingpodcasts Shawn Schuster Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 177 Massively.com Staff 52:35 podcasts <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you buy from a vendor?]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/11/25/the-daily-grind-do-you-buy-from-a-vendor/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/25/the-daily-grind-do-you-buy-from-a-vendor/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/25/the-daily-grind-do-you-buy-from-a-vendor/#comments Fallen Earth food merchant In your average, run-of-the-mill themepark MMO, you'll encounter waves of NPC merchants tucked away in their own little market districts, offering everything from consumable potions to crafting materials to weapons, armor, and more. But often times, what they have to sell is nothing compared to the rewards you get from quest-givers.

With the exception of a few necessary crafting components, I think it's safe to say that NPC vendors can be ignored, as long as you complete the area's quests successfully, which brings it down to a question of playstyle. You can ignore the quests, not craft a thing, and buy everything from a vendor... if you can somehow raise the money without doing quests. That's up to you.

So our question for you on this Black Friday is this: Do you buy your wardrobe and arsenal from the NPC merchants, or if given the chance, would you rather make the items yourself, buy from other players, or earn your keep through quests?

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 buy from a vendor? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> economymarketmerchantsnpcopinionquest-giversqueststdgthe-daily-grindvendors Shawn Schuster Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 175]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/11/21/massively-speaking-episode-175/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/21/massively-speaking-episode-175/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/21/massively-speaking-episode-175/#comments Imperial droid in SWTOR Massively Speaking Episode 175 is back this week on its new day as hosts Justin and Rubi discuss the week in MMO news. Topics include RIFT's Patch 1.6, Lord of the Rings Online's Update 5, League of Legends' impressive player stats, and Star Wars: The Old Republic's beta NDA lift. They also discuss the new One-Shots-esque community screenshot thread on our Enjin forums, so take a peek and add your pics!

If you'd like to give our new livestreaming position a shot, check out our call-out post.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
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Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Massively Speaking is the official podcast of Massively.com. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Shawn Schuster and Community Manager Rubi Bayer, Massively Speaking takes on the week's biggest news and dev interviews with plenty of opinion, rants, and laughs thrown in for good measure. Join us every Wednesday afternoon to listen in and see what we'll say next!

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 175

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Massively Speaking Episode 175 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinionpodcastingpodcasts Shawn Schuster Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 175 Massively.com Staff 46:52 podcasts <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you think leaks are publicity stunts?]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/11/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-leaks-are-publicity-stunts/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-leaks-are-publicity-stunts/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-leaks-are-publicity-stunts/#comments No, not leeks! Recent information leaks from game studios are becoming more and more frequent these days. That likely mean that either security isn't tight and leaks occur behind the backs of game publishers, or they're intentionally enticing the public under the guise of a super secret "leak."

Either way, these leaks do get our attention. When we're under the impression that information isn't meant to be seen by us, we want to see it even more. Recent examples include CCP's internal memo leak, Diablo III's beta leak, and just about anything to do with World of Warcraft's upcoming content.

So my question to you this morning is this: Are you suspicious of info leaks on upcoming games? Do you see leaks as genuinely secret information, or does your Spidey sense tell you that it's all to build hype for the game? Let us know your opinion below.

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 leaks are publicity stunts? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hypeleaksleekspinopinionpublicitypublicity-stuntsrumorstdgthe-daily-grind Shawn Schuster Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Are you the next Massive(ly) Star? Our team is looking for video personalities!]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/11/17/are-you-the-next-massive-ly-star-our-team-is-looking-for-video/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/17/are-you-the-next-massive-ly-star-our-team-is-looking-for-video/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/17/are-you-the-next-massive-ly-star-our-team-is-looking-for-video/#comments Look, Paula's drunk again Do you consider yourself a ham in front of the camera? Do you have a personality made for entertaining, without dropping f-bombs every 30 seconds? Then we want you!

Our experiments with livestreaming have been successful and popular so far, but there's just so much more we'd like to do with it. That's where you come in.

If you're good in front of a camera, know your way around basic video software, can follow directions, and want to be rich become famous play games live on video in front of millions thousands a few Massively fans, we want to hear from you. Follow along after the cut for a complete description of what we want and how to apply.

Continue reading Are you the next Massive(ly) Star? Our team is looking for video personalities!

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Are you the next Massive(ly) Star? Our team is looking for video personalities! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hiringjobsjustintvlfmlivestreamlivestreamingmassively-metanow-hiringprofessionalismstreamstreamingtwitchtwitchtvvideoxsplit Shawn Schuster Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 174]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/11/16/massively-speaking-episode-174/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/16/massively-speaking-episode-174/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/16/massively-speaking-episode-174/#comments Young Garriott Massively Speaking Episode 174 marks a very special first episode for the team of Justin Olivetti and Rubi Bayer as they explore this week's MMO news without Shawn. They talk over free-to-play changes and successes, accidentally deleted MMOs (well, one), Star Wars: The Old Republic's upcoming beta testing weekend, Richard Garriott's Facebook manifesto, and more.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Massively Speaking is the official podcast of Massively.com. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Shawn Schuster and Community Manager Rubi Bayer, Massively Speaking takes on the week's biggest news and dev interviews with plenty of opinion, rants, and laughs thrown in for good measure. Join us every Wednesday afternoon to listen in and see what we'll say next!

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 174

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Massively Speaking Episode 174 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinionpodcastingpodcasts Shawn Schuster Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 174 Massively.com Staff 01:03:09 podcasts <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you prefer pre-made class characters?]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/11/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-pre-made-class-characters/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-pre-made-class-characters/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-pre-made-class-characters/#comments Vindictus Although it's not a new trend, the practice of making pre-made playable characters to represent each class in an MMO is becoming more and more popular.

In games like Rusty Hearts, Vindictus, Diablo, Torchlight, Aika and a few others, you pick from an assortment of pre-made characters to play the game. Customization is non-existent or minimal, but you're not really playing those types of games for a deeply customizable character. Without worrying about getting your hair and eye color just right, you can grab a character and just start playing.

So is this a feature you prefer over heavy customization? Do you accept it for certain games, based on their style, or is it a complete turn-off for you across the board? Let us know in the comments below!

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 prefer pre-made class characters? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> charactercustomizationopinionpre-madepre-madestdgthe-daily-grind Shawn Schuster Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Perfect World announces successful War of the Immortals closed beta launch]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/11/10/perfect-world-announces-successful-war-of-the-immortals-closed-b/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/10/perfect-world-announces-successful-war-of-the-immortals-closed-b/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/10/perfect-world-announces-successful-war-of-the-immortals-closed-b/#comments War of the Immortals Perfect World? More like OMG-How-Can-They-Release-A-New-MMO-Every-Month World, amirite?

Regardless, Perfect World Entertainment has announced that its action MMO War of the Immortals has successfully entered closed beta status, and the team wants you to play. I imagine PWE wants you to play all of its games -- like Rusty Hearts, Battle of the Immortals, Jade Dynasty, Forsaken World... oh! And then it bought Cryptic, so there's Star Trek Online and Champions Online -- but right now we're focusing on War of the Immortals. Yes.

So if you want to jump in and try the game yourself, head on over to the registration page to sign up. Everyone who logs in to the game from now until November 13 at 11:59 p.m. PST will be entered into a drawing for their chance to win a prize pack consisting of Logitech gaming gear and a limited edition War of the Immortals mousepad valued at $210.

Also, be sure to head past the cut below for PWE's CBT launch trailer.

Continue reading Perfect World announces successful War of the Immortals closed beta launch

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Perfect World announces successful War of the Immortals closed beta launch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> betaclosed-betaf2pfree-to-playperfect-world-entertainmentpweregistrationsign-upwar-of-the-immortalswoi Shawn Schuster Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST Massively <![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 173]]> http://www.massively.com/2011/11/09/massively-speaking-episode-173/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/09/massively-speaking-episode-173/ http://www.massively.com/2011/11/09/massively-speaking-episode-173/#comments STO Borg Massively Speaking Episode 173 returns this week with your hosts Shawn, Rubi and Justin discussing this week's MMO news. Topics include news from G-Star 2011, Star Trek Online's F2P date, LEGO Universe shutting down in January, and a whole mess of Blizzard/World of Warcraft news. We also read through some more email and make a special announcement at the end.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to shawn@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Massively Speaking is the official podcast of Massively.com. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Shawn Schuster and Community Manager Rubi Bayer, Massively Speaking takes on the week's biggest news and dev interviews with plenty of opinion, rants, and laughs thrown in for good measure. Join us every Wednesday afternoon to listen in and see what we'll say next!

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 173

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Massively Speaking Episode 173 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humormassively-metamassively-speakingopinionpodcastingpodcasts Shawn Schuster Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST Massively Massively Speaking Episode 173 Massively.com Staff 01:04:08 podcasts