Massively http://www.massively.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://www.massively.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Order and Chaos Online developer discusses server-linking and more]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Order and Chaos
In honor of the game's paper anniversary, Order & Chaos: Online producer Arnaud Bonnard took the time to do some Q&A with user-submitted questions about what is one of the biggest mobile MMOs available.

Arnaud shared some of the toughest parts of development, which were the pressure of creating a world vast enough to entertain players for months (and now years) and ensuring that everything was as stable and functional as possible from a technical point. He followed up by reliving the joy of a successful launch and the success that the game met with over time. He talked a bit about updates and DLC, which come out every one or two months and are generally still drawn from the original design document for Order & Chaos: Online, given that the world design was much bigger than could possibly fit into the game originally.

Bonnard also addressed the server separation between Android, iOS, and Mac devices: Not only would it be time-consuming to link all the operating systems, but such a system would mean that patches could only be deployed once every device was supported, which would be tricky and cause too many extra delays. As far as Order and Chaos' future is concerned, he's optimistic. There are new graphic features coming down the pipe as well as "lots of ideas for the game" as the company looks forward to another fantastic year thanks to fan support.

Catch all the intricacies of Bonnard's answers for yourself over at Gameloft.

MassivelyOrder and Chaos Online developer discusses server-linking and more originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arnaud-bonnardGameloftmac-mmomobile-mmoorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlineSat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MechWarrior Online dev Q&A covers beta, grouping, and combat damage]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/17/mechwarrior-online-dev-qanda-covers-beta-grouping-and-combat-dam/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/17/mechwarrior-online-dev-qanda-covers-beta-grouping-and-combat-dam/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/17/mechwarrior-online-dev-qanda-covers-beta-grouping-and-combat-dam/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

MWO
MechWarrior Online's devs aren't quite ready to disclose specifics on the game's minimum specs or beta process, but news for both is coming "soon." These vague assurances were the anomaly in a recent community Q&A, during which Piranha Games President Russ Bullock and Creative Director Bryan Ekman spilled on all of the minutia that fans were dying to know.

The duo said that they're "working very hard" to get MWO servers into every major region and that information about beta will be coming next week. They did confirm that there will be an open beta at some juncture, however.

Other details disclosed included the fact that players can form groups of up to 12 'Mechs, that legs cannot be blown off (but can be immobilized), and that the launch matchmaking system will be very basic and won't take into account player skill or records.

MassivelyMechWarrior Online dev Q&A covers beta, grouping, and combat damage originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaBryan-Ekmanclosed-betacommunity-q-and-af2pfree-to-playmechmechsmechwarriormechwarrior-mmomechwarrior-onlinemin-specsminimum-specsmwoopen-betapiranhapiranha-gamespvpq-and-aRuss-Bullocksci-fisoonsoon-tmspecstweetchattwitterThu, 17 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR preps character transfer service for this summer]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/04/30/swtor-preps-character-transfer-service-for-this-summer/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/30/swtor-preps-character-transfer-service-for-this-summer/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/30/swtor-preps-character-transfer-service-for-this-summer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR
Feeling grounded on a particular Star Wars: The Old Republic server while your friends are hyperjumping on a different one? BioWare says relief for player segregation is in sight, as the studio is preparing for character transfers in SWTOR starting "in early summer."

According to Senior Producer Dallas Dickinson, the service will be made available in waves. The studio will begin by offering free transfers to and from specific servers, but later on there will be a more widespread system that will allow anyone to transfer to the server of their choice. The service should help alleviate issues with low population servers by offering transfers to high-pop ones.

It's important to note that while some of these transfers will be free, others will require a real-world fee.

SWTOR recently released in new territories including the Middle East and has plans for additional playable races for later this year.

MassivelySWTOR preps character transfer service for this summer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecharacter-transfercharacter-transferscommunity-q-and-aDallas-Dickinsoneaelectronic-artslucasartsq-and-asci-fisegregationserver-transferserver-transfersstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 30 Apr 2012 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic answers a new set of community questions]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/04/27/star-wars-the-old-republic-answers-a-new-set-of-community-quest/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/27/star-wars-the-old-republic-answers-a-new-set-of-community-quest/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/27/star-wars-the-old-republic-answers-a-new-set-of-community-quest/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No, rakghouls are probably not one of the new playable races.
The Legacy update is live, the Rakghoul Plague is contained for the time being, and Star Wars: The Old Republic fans are eager for more content and more news. The latest set of community questions and answers doesn't really deliver any new content, but it does deliver tantalizing promises, such as the fact that players can expect to roster of playable races to expand this year. There are also promises of an overhaul to the Achievement system and more Legacy-wide rewards, potentially including datacrons.

Not all of the news is good, however, with dual spec confirmed to not be included in the the upcoming patch 1.3 (but hopefully in the following patch). There are also a few in-depth answers about crafting and the necessity of finding a crafter for optimal item modifications. Players can also expect to see future spontaneous world events, although the team doesn't want to precisely replicate the Rakghoul Plague with a new skin. Take a look at the full list of questions, and if you want something answered that isn't there, submit it for the next round.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic answers a new set of community questions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecraftcrafterscraftingdesigndevelopmenteaelectronic-artslucasartsq-and-aquestions-and-answerssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorswtor-patch-1.2swtor-patch-1.3the-old-republictorupdatesFri, 27 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare publishes this week's SWTOR community Q&A, preps for next week]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/04/21/bioware-publishes-this-weeks-swtor-community-qanda-preps-for-nex/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/21/bioware-publishes-this-weeks-swtor-community-qanda-preps-for-nex/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/21/bioware-publishes-this-weeks-swtor-community-qanda-preps-for-nex/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Jedi PvE
BioWare has published a selection of community questions (and answers) on its official Star Wars: The Old Republic website. The firm is making a concerted effort to reach out to its players lately, and the Q&A is the latest effort that comes on the heels of a website revamp and the in-game rakghoul plague.

Combat designer Cameron Winston fields a query about SWTOR's threat mechanics, while lead designer Damion Schubert talks about the logic behind the equipment available at commendation vendors. "We don't want you to get all of the pieces of an armor set from any one source of gear. We want you to do multiple activities in the game to build out a full set of gear. This is a conscious decision on our part to encourage and reward playing multiple facets of the game. So you should do other things -- heroics, check the GTN, etc. -- the full set of gear is out there," he explains.

BioWare has also made two new discussion threads available on the forums: one for this week's questions and one for next week's Q&A.

MassivelyBioWare publishes this week's SWTOR community Q&A, preps for next week originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecameron-winstondamion-schuberteaelectronic-artslucasartsQ-and-Aquestion-and-answersci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorswtor-q-and-aswtor-question-and-answerthe-old-republictorSat, 21 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively to co-host STO panel at the Official Star Trek Convention]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/04/20/massively-to-co-host-sto-panel-at-the-official-star-trek-convent/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/20/massively-to-co-host-sto-panel-at-the-official-star-trek-convent/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/20/massively-to-co-host-sto-panel-at-the-official-star-trek-convent/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

STO
Hey MMO Trekkies, are you beaming down to Las Vegas for this year's Official Star Trek Convention? If so, we've got one event that you won't want to miss: a Q&A panel with Star Trek Online's developers co-hosted by Massively and TrekRadio.net!

We'll be on the scene as Cryptic Studios fields a wide variety of questions from ardent fans of the game. If getting that burning question you've had off your chest isn't enough of a reason to attend, the developers will also show a few trailers and sneak peeks of upcoming content.

The panel will take place on Saturday, August 11th, from 2:00 to 3:00 EDT (11:00 a.m. to noon PDT) at the Rio Suites Hotel in Las Vegas.

MassivelyMassively to co-host STO panel at the Official Star Trek Convention originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-q-and-aconventioncrypticcryptic-studiosdev-panelf2pfree-to-playlas-vegasofficial-star-trek-conventionpanelperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweq-and-asci-fisneak-peekstar-trekstar-trek-conventionstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrekradio.netFri, 20 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MechWarrior Online devs field 'Mech customization queries]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/04/18/mechwarrior-online-devs-field-mech-customization-queries/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/18/mechwarrior-online-devs-field-mech-customization-queries/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/18/mechwarrior-online-devs-field-mech-customization-queries/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

MechWarrior Online
If you had four developers of a hot upcoming title trapped in a room and could ask them any question you wanted, what would it be? (Please note that if you actually are in this situation, Massively advises releasing the hostages and surrendering to the police.) While there might not be a filthy underground lair involved in MechWarrior Online's latest community Q&A session, the principle is the same.

A good bulk of the 27 questions thrown to the four members of Piranha Games' team revolve around 'Mech customization. MechWarrior Online will be pretty flexible in this regard, although not as flexible as pen-and-paper fans might hope. For example, custom decals won't be in the game at launch, as their inclusion would require too much monitoring. Still, if you're trying to get a sense of the scope of MWO's 'Mech customization, this Q&A might impress you.

Just because the community could ask doesn't mean that Piranha had to answer, however. When queried about the in-game economy, Creative Director Bryan Ekman put the answer off until later: "We're not ready to go into details on the economics of the game. We plan to cover this in greater detail in the next couple of months via our dev blogs."

MassivelyMechWarrior Online devs field 'Mech customization queries originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-q-and-acustomizationdev-q-and-aeconomyf2pfree-to-playin-game-economymechmech-customizationmechsmechwarriormechwarrior-mmomechwarrior-onlinemwopiranhapiranha-gamesq-and-asci-fiWed, 18 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Skyshrine, mercs, Qeynos, and shields that roar]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/04/14/the-tattered-notebook-eqii-webcast-talks-skyshrine-mercs-qeyn/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/14/the-tattered-notebook-eqii-webcast-talks-skyshrine-mercs-qeyn/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/14/the-tattered-notebook-eqii-webcast-talks-skyshrine-mercs-qeyn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Withered Lands Giant
For those gamers who have been patiently waiting to hear about GU63, the past few weeks have been a treat. We've shown off a few trailers on Massively, the official site has hosted a couple of team interviews, and even the SOE Twitch TV channel has been focused on EverQuest II. In fact, the recent webcast was the second part of a featured series on the update, and this one took a closer look Skyshrine and also answered a few fan questions. EQII Producer Holly "Windstalker" Longdale, Lead Designer Akil "Lyndro" Hooper, and SOE Executive Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson sat down to preview what's coming to a server near you. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at the highlights and analyze what it means to both new players and old. Read on for the skinny!

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Skyshrine, mercs, Qeynos, and shields that roar

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Skyshrine, mercs, Qeynos, and shields that roar originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akil-hooperanimated-shieldsdave-georgesoneqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiiEQII-PvPeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playholly-longdalekaren-bryanmercenariesopinionqeynosQeynos-revampskyshrinesmokejumpersoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebooktradeskill-apprenticesSat, 14 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online takes a look at the road ahead]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/04/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-takes-a-look-at-the-road/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-takes-a-look-at-the-road/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-takes-a-look-at-the-road/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It should be more like classic Trek, where you have to jettison the warp core every three episodes and the holodeck regularly tries to kill everyone on board.
There's a great big galaxy out there in Star Trek Online, so much so that some things occasionally fall through the cracks. The latest installment of Ask Cryptic focuses on a few of these elements, like the Andorian ship and the addition of a playable Romulan faction. Neither of these elements is on the table for immediate inclusion, but both are in the pipe for future updates; the former is planned for sometime the next year, while the Romulans are on the more distant horizon.

Not everything comes down to a simple "not right now," however. The KDF, for instance, is slated to continue receiving new updates and additional features to bring the faction more in line with the Federation's content level. The development team is also hard at work trying to allow older ships to be retrofitted into higher-level content, letting players take classic designs into modern engagements. It's certainly not a question of whether the development team has a plan or not, just a matter of how soon all of these fabled upgrades will be implemented.

MassivelyNewest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online takes a look at the road ahead originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfactionsfree-to-playnew-shipsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpreviewspwesci-fishipsstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoupcoming-contentupdatesThu, 05 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously On MVTV: The week of March 24th]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/04/01/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-24th/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/01/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-24th/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/01/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-24th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previously On banner
Ah, spring is in the air. You know what that means! That means that we get to sit inside, away from all of the sunshine and pollen, and watch others play through video games that we just don't have access to or haven't given a chance yet. This week, we worked hard to bring you some more of our digital adventures and got some of our biggest viewership numbers ever! Remember, if you come across a game we haven't covered yet or want to see a certain title covered, take the time to tell us. Give us the website, why we should look at it, and any other information you think we need to know, and you just might see it live on MVTV!

First Blake jumped into Global Agenda for his Lunchtime Livecast; then Richie took some time to try out the Mists of Pandaria beta for World of Warcraft. Adventure Mike explored some content in Final Fantasy XIV, while plain old Mike burned some space dust in EVE Online and cast many spells in RIFT. I decided to look at Nadirim because it's been a while and gave the Rise and Shiny treatment to Remanum.

Be sure to bookmark our livestream MV Guide, a sort of TV Guide for our livestreams. That way you can blame only yourself when you miss one of our awesome streams!

Continue reading Previously On MVTV: The week of March 24th

MassivelyPreviously On MVTV: The week of March 24th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanBlizzardccpeve-onlinef2pfeaturedfinal-fantasy-xivfree-to-playftpLiveStreamLiveStreamingmists-of-pandarianadirimpreviously-on-mv-tvremanumriftSquare-Enixtravian-gamestriontwitchtwitch-tvvideoWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 01 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT developers answer a new round of community questions]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/03/29/rift-developers-answer-a-new-round-of-community-questions/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/29/rift-developers-answer-a-new-round-of-community-questions/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/29/rift-developers-answer-a-new-round-of-community-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This was going to be filled with fire-related puns, but I lost the popular vote on that.
There are a lot of questions within the RIFT community, questions the development team seeks to answer with a new set of responses to community inquiries. Some of the answers are a bit on the negative side; there are no plans to expand the game's lore into novels, for instance. There are also no plans to add in arena-style combat or the option of visible cloaks, with the developers feeling that the former makes the game seem less massive and the latter has a detrimental impact on game performance.

That doesn't mean it's all bad news, however. The developers are looking into more ways to allow cross-faction interaction beyond the mercenary PvP system. There's also some talk about the next big raid and player feedback, which according to the answers is largely positive. There are also plans for more Souls in the future, which should provide RIFT players with even more options to custom-build a character.

[Update: Trion contacted us to clarify the cloak question. They say that cloaks aren't completely off-the-table, they're just not focusing on them right now. There was even a hint that cloaks will be a definite future addition to RIFT.]

MassivelyRIFT developers answer a new round of community questions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesarenaarenascapescloakscross-factionfactionsfantasypowersq-and-aquestions-and-answersriftrift-literift-planes-of-telaraskillssoulsspecstriontrion-worldsThu, 29 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 beta questions: Answered!]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-beta-questions-answered/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-beta-questions-answered/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-beta-questions-answered/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2: Party On, dude!
The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

Last week we asked for your Guild Wars 2 questions as we prepared to head into the beta weekend, and boy did you rise to the occasion! After sorting through all the questions, we made a list of the most interesting and frequently repeated ones to investigate. Have a question you don't see answered here? Tonight I'll be doing a live question-and-answer session on Massively's own livestream! Tune in at 7:00 p.m. EDT and ask away!

Continue reading Guild Wars 2 beta questions: Answered!

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 beta questions: Answered! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenaneteventsfantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewgw2iron-legionncsoftpreviewpreviewsq-and-aqaquestions-and-answersrespecMon, 26 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR devs attempt to balance the Force through nerfs]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/03/23/swtor-devs-attempt-to-balance-the-force-through-nerfs/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/23/swtor-devs-attempt-to-balance-the-force-through-nerfs/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/23/swtor-devs-attempt-to-balance-the-force-through-nerfs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR
It's Friday, Friday, and even Jedi got to get down with Friday... which also means a new community Q&A sent across the holonet to players eager for a glimpse of Star Wars: The Old Republic's future. However, the devs have asked that questions focus more on current features in the game, as in many cases they cannot give firm details about what's coming up in SWTOR.

Today's topics begin with a discussion about why some advanced classes, such as Commandos and Mercenaries, lack an interrupt. This wasn't an oversight, the devs revealed, but "a purposefully designed weakness in their ability arsenal" to keep them balanced in the game -- especially in PvP.

"Balance" was an answer to another issue as well, specifically the nerfs to some of the healing specs. Lead Combat Designer Georg Zoeller realized that folks were going to rail against it, but the team thought it was necessary: "I know trying to 'sell' a downwards adjustment (AKA nerf) to anyone affected is like selling the need for a tax increase to people. When you are on the receiving end of it, you're not going to be happy about it."

Other questions revolved around rage timers, looping the game's music, cross-faction communication within the same guild, and legacy system specifics.

MassivelySWTOR devs attempt to balance the Force through nerfs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecommandocommunity-q-and-aeaelectronic-artsGeorg-Zoellerlegacy-systemlucasartsmercenarynerfnerfspvpq-and-asci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 23 Mar 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic answers questions on 1.2 and priorities]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/03/17/star-wars-the-old-republic-answers-questions-on-1-2-and-priorit/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/17/star-wars-the-old-republic-answers-questions-on-1-2-and-priorit/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/17/star-wars-the-old-republic-answers-questions-on-1-2-and-priorit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

No one ever asks if Hutta is ever going to be a bit less yellow. That's just an accepted fact.
With patch 1.2 on the horizon, most Star Wars: The Old Republic players have questions, which makes it a good thing that the game is still hosting a weekly community question-and-answer session to give players answers to those questions. This week, we've been granted a confirmation that more character slots are being planned, an assertion that new crafted items will still use existing high-end materials, and the promise that a "barber shop"-style feature is in the planning stages (even if it's not in 1.2).

That last answer leads into a discussion of how the development team prioritizes updates, the pace of those updates, and what players can expect as each update goes live. As outlined in the answer, the big question is how much work any given feature is expected to take, which has to be juggled so that big features are coming out regularly without forcing development to stagnate. That means that some features have to wait for future updates -- but it seems like the team is still well aware of these issues just the same.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic answers questions on 1.2 and priorities originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecommunityeaelectronic-artsimprovementslucasartspatch-1.2patchesq-and-aquestions-and-answerssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorswtor-patch-1.2the-old-republictorupcoming-patchesupcoming-updatesupdatesSat, 17 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Center your sights with MechWarrior Online's latest dev Q&A]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/03/14/center-your-sights-with-mechwarrior-onlines-latest-dev-qanda/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/14/center-your-sights-with-mechwarrior-onlines-latest-dev-qanda/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/14/center-your-sights-with-mechwarrior-onlines-latest-dev-qanda/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Concept Art -- MechWarrior Online
MechWarriors, start your engines. It's time for another Q&A session with the fine folks at Piranha Games, the studio behind the upcoming free-to-play MechWarrior Online. Combat is the name of the game today, and developers Matt Craig, Paul Inouye, David Bradley, and Garth Eriam have taken some time to answer players' burning questions.

The Q&A covers topics ranging from the game's reticle convergence mechanics to how exactly one goes about disabling an enemy 'Mech, and just as there's more than one way to skin a cat, there are myriad methods with which to bring destruction to your foes. Players will be able to bring down an enemy BattleMech by destroying the head, disabling the torso, or literally bringing the 'Mech to its knees by crippling its legs. But of course, that's much easier said than done. The game's reticle convergence system will require players to aim their shots well and time them even better if they plan to survive for long.

The full details, for those interested in the mechanics of combat, are available for perusal at the official MWO site.

MassivelyCenter your sights with MechWarrior Online's latest dev Q&A originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatcommunity-q-and-acommunity-qaf2pfree-to-playmechmechsmechwarriormechwarrior-mmomechwarrior-onlinemwopiranhapiranha-gamesq-and-aqareticle-convergencesci-fiwarfareWed, 14 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR putting a mailbox on the Millennium Falcon (and other Q&A tidbits)]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/03/03/swtor-putting-a-mailbox-on-the-millenium-falcon-and-other-qanda-t/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/03/swtor-putting-a-mailbox-on-the-millenium-falcon-and-other-qanda-t/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/03/swtor-putting-a-mailbox-on-the-millenium-falcon-and-other-qanda-t/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR
With the upcoming Guild Summit for Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare had less time than usual to answer the weekly barrage of questions sent in by players, but an honest attempt was made to address some of them.

The biggest news to come out of this new Q&A is that BioWare will be improving ship functionality through the Legacy system. We know that this system will allow players to unlock beneficial and cosmetic features inside the game, and Principal Leads System Designer Damion Schubert confirms that two of those unlocks will be the addition of mailboxes and Galactic Trade Network access to player ships. Schubert also said that BioWare is on the verge of revealing all about Legacies: "Watch for more information about Legacy unlocks coming in Game Update 1.2 -- we should be dropping that Real Soon Now."

Other topics covered in the Q&A include endgame crafting gear, grey alignment rewards, why BioWare is sticking to a global maintenance window, the ability to turn off the smart camera in 1.2, and the mystery of the Accuracy stat.

[Thanks to Drakkonus for the tip!]

MassivelySWTOR putting a mailbox on the Millennium Falcon (and other Q&A tidbits) originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.21.2-updatebiowarecommunity-q-and-aDamion-Schuberteaelectronic-artsgame-update-1.2guild-summitlegacylegacy-systemlucasartsq-and-aquestions-and-answerssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.2Sat, 03 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Producer Dan Stahl answers the newest round of Star Trek Online community questions]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/03/01/producer-dan-stahl-answers-the-newest-round-of-star-trek-online/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/01/producer-dan-stahl-answers-the-newest-round-of-star-trek-online/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/01/producer-dan-stahl-answers-the-newest-round-of-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If we're really going to get every ship playable, we should arguably also be able to get ships that are clearly repainted models from other episodes.
Dan Stahl is back in the hot seat at Star Trek Online, and that means it's time for him to tackle another round of questions for the regular Ask Cryptic feature. This month's questions have quite a lot to do with forecasting future updates to the game, ranging from questions about new playable species to questions on revising crafting and PvP. And while these questions always involve a fair amount of ambiguity for far-off plans, there's plenty for players to chew on.

One of the obvious questions relates to the game's planned release of only two Featured Episode series. Stahl explains that the real issue isn't how many series are released; it's the fact that the game needs a steady pipeline of content, something that the team is examining closely. He also discusses future goals for Fleets and the possibility of voiceover for dedicated bridge officers. As with previous installments, there's no shortage of questions, so fans are likely to find something to get excited about within the answers.

MassivelyProducer Dan Stahl answers the newest round of Star Trek Online community questions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahlf2pfree-to-playperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoThu, 01 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Another round of Star Wars: The Old Republic questions answered by the developers]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/02/24/another-round-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-questions-answered/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/24/another-round-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-questions-answered/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/24/another-round-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-questions-answered/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Because fans are PROBING for answers! Get it?
It's been two months since Star Wars: The Old Republic launched, and players have some questions. So it's a good thing that the development team is still hosting a weekly question-and-answer session for the community, with the latest installment addressing several new concerns about future updates. Among the answers are new features that will be coming with the second major patch, including animation adjustments for cross-faction parity and tweaks to docking at planets with orbital stations such as Tython and Korriban.

There are also plans for players to gain the ability to roll on equipment specifically for companions; the Need option will be disabled unless the item in question is designed for your advanced class. Amidst all of the good news, however, there is some bad in the sense that new ship models and customization are apparently on the table -- but for much further in the future. Take a look at the full list of answers if you're interested in seeing what players can expect for new features in the near future and the slightly further future.

MassivelyAnother round of Star Wars: The Old Republic questions answered by the developers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiccommunitycommunity-questionseaea-biowareelectronic-artsfuture-patchesfuture-updatesnewspatchesq-and-aquestions-and-answersstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorupdatesFri, 24 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 info keeps on comin']]>http://www.massively.com/2012/02/24/guild-wars-2-info-keeps-on-comin/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/24/guild-wars-2-info-keeps-on-comin/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/24/guild-wars-2-info-keeps-on-comin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sarge! Call in a hype storm!
If you're a Guild Wars 2 fan, you're used to the jarring transitions between droughts and floods of information. This week, happily, it's flood time. It's been a busy week for ArenaNet, but the team gives no signs of slowing down. After a successful press beta weekend and opening up a signup form for upcoming beta tests, ArenaNet has kept up the flow of information -- and excitement -- by gracing GuildCast with the presence of a few of its devs, clarifying some points on world vs. world in a new blog post, and setting up a Reddit Ask Me Anything session for 11:00 a.m. EST on Friday the 24th. The blog post clarifies some of the more prominent questions the community has been voicing about WvW over the last few days, while the Reddit AMA is a good chance to get in those nit-picky questions that you're still dying to get clarified (no, "can I have a beta key" should not be one of 'em).

The most important information out of all of this? Mike Ferguson put a stop to a debate that might otherwise have been endless: WvW is "wuv-wuh." You're welcome.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 info keeps on comin' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarenanet-bloggamebreaker-tvGuild-Wars-2guildcastgw2interviewjonathon-sharpMartin-Kersteinmike-fergusonmike-zMike-Zadorojnyncsoftreddit-amaFri, 24 Feb 2012 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MechWarrior Online discusses the fine details of advancement]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/02/15/mechwarrior-online-discusses-the-fine-details-of-advancement/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/15/mechwarrior-online-discusses-the-fine-details-of-advancement/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/15/mechwarrior-online-discusses-the-fine-details-of-advancement/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Centurions have never looked quite so impressive.
MechWarrior Online continues its march along in development, but that's no reason for fans to just wait and see what happens. A new installment in the developer blog that answers community questions has just been unveiled, tackling a variety of different topics. The primary focus is on customizing your 'Mech and advancing your character skills, building off of the recent discussion regarding the means of advancement and how players can upgrade their skills.

As outlined by the questions, the experience system will in some ways be reminiscent of EVE Online's -- players won't be able to respec, but there will be no limitations on starting to put points in a new tree while retaining the benefits of previously spent points. It's also confirmed that your experience with a given chassis remains even if you move on from the 'Mech in question should you later choose to return. If you're worried about the fine details of self-improvement in the upcoming game, the latest answer should put most of your questions to rest.

MassivelyMechWarrior Online discusses the fine details of advancement originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>improvementslevelingmechwarrior-onlinemwopilot-skillspirahnapirahna-gamespreviwesq-and-aquestions-and-answersskillsupdatesupgradesWed, 15 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST