Filed under: Trailers

Marvel Heroes unveils its first official trailer [Updated]

by Matt Daniel May 22nd 2012 at 2:30PM

Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Marvel Heroes

Screencap -- Marvel Heroes announcement trailer

After months and months of teasing us, Gazillion Entertainment has finally officially released new details about its upcoming new title, the free-to-play Marvel Heroes. The press release claims that the game will take "the MMO category to a completely new level of excitement and engagement" by combining "the energy of action role-playing games with the breadth and immersion of the MMO genre."

Players can now get their first look at Marvel Heroes with the title's first teaser trailer, which features gameplay footage interwoven with some rather menacing shots of a certain Victor Von Doom, who seems to have gotten his titanium-plated hands on what appears to be the Cosmic Cube, an artifact that gives its bearer the power to bend reality to his will. We're not sure what Doc Doom plans to do with the Cube, but we know that it can't possibly be anything good. Presumably it will be up to the players to put a stop to Doom's nefarious plans and return the Cube to its rightful place, but until we find out more, head on past the cut and enjoy the trailer in all of its super-goodness.

[Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release]

[Update: IGN has a preview of the game that discusses in detail its Diablo roots.]

EVE Online releases 17th expansion, Inferno

by Jef Reahard May 22nd 2012 at 2:00PM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, EVE Online, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Sandbox

CCP is a pretty polarizing topic in MMO circles these days. Whether you love or hate the studio's flagship EVE Online title and the community that surrounds it, one thing you can't say is that the devs lack a work ethic. Today marks the release of EVE's 17th expansion, and when we say expansion, we don't mean a glorified content patch that's been dipped in PR sauce.

Inferno boasts a reworked war declaration system, substantial faction warfare updates, a new mercenary marketplace, enhanced graphics, new missile and launcher effects, and a host of other features focusing on everything from inventory to new modules and ship balancing.

CCP has also released a slick new Inferno trailer, which we have for you right after the cut.

[Source: CCP press release]

Trion releases Defiance feature video, details 'transmedia' synergy

by Jef Reahard May 22nd 2012 at 10:15AM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Defiance

Trion has released a new making-of featurette for Defiance, its "transmedia" property that includes a sci-fi shooter MMO and a Syfy television series.

Defiance the game takes place in the bombed out ruins of a post-alien-invasion San Francisco, while Defiance the TV show is set in and around St. Louis, Missouri. Despite the location differences, Trion says that the events of the virtual world will affect those of the show and vice versa. How so (and how much)? That remains to be seen, but Shacknews has a game preview that sheds a little light on the subject.

In a nutshell, characters on the show might namedrop a gamer avatar who completes a particular mission or makes an impact on the game world in some way. Syfy president Dave Howe also told the website that he's hopeful that gameplay events will have a more significant impact on season two of the television series.

Head past the break to view the full video feature.

[Source: Trion press release]

Not So Massively: Error 37, hero spotlights, and the Torchlight II beta

by Brendan Drain May 21st 2012 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Trailers, Video, Bugs, Game mechanics, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III

Well-known World of Warcraft guild Method secured a world first kill on Diablo III's Skeleton King in inferno mode just a few days after launch but was beaten to the game's completion by a single person. Players have been in outrage all week as server instabilities and login difficulties plagued the game's launch.

League of Legends revealed upcoming champion Darius this week and announced huge client updates that seem set to double the game's frame rate. Blacklight: Retribution released a new Netwar game mode, combining capture the flag and control point gameplay. Heroes of Newerth released its new support hero Riftwalker, Dota 2 released classic hero Treant, and Rise of Immortals took a close look at melee damage-dealer Tzai. Upcoming MOBA Smite will be entering closed beta at the end of the month, and Torchlight II's beta will soon end for the last time.

Vindictus EU update features two new raid bosses

by Jef Reahard May 21st 2012 at 2:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Vindictus

Vindictus - Glas Gobbledegook something or other

This must be the day for sexy MMO news. On the heels of one risque announcement, we have a trailer for the latest Vindictus EU update that features a scantily clad lass named Succubus and a demonic colossal called Glas Ghaibheleann. Succubus is, well, a succubus, and she's also a raid boss who will challenge players like no other.

Except for maybe Glas Ghaibheleann. He's also a raid boss. While he's not quite as attractive as his partner-in-crime, he's equally deadly. Nexon says that the pair will awe players with their appearance and unique abilities. Get a load of the latest Vindictus EU update in the video after the cut.

[Source: Nexon Europe press release]

New flythrough video previews Project Copernicus

by Eliot Lefebvre May 18th 2012 at 5:45PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Previews, News items

A pair of scales might be more apropos. Or dice.

In the wake of the Rhode Island governor's release announcement, all eyes are on 38 Studios and Project Copernicus. Up until now the title has been talked about only in hushed tones, but today we've gotten a little something more: a flythrough of some areas of the game, showing off what we can expect from the environments. And suddenly that announced release date seems just a touch more plausible because the environments certainly look gorgeous.

Players of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning will no doubt recognize some of the environmental looks if not the exact locations, but everyone can appreciate the design that's gone into each region. Of course, it's a long road between showing a pretty place and making a playable game, and 38 Studios is still struggling to keep its head above water. But the MMO the studio has promised seems a bit more plausible now, and hopefully there's a light at the end of this particular tunnel.

[Thanks to all the tipsters who sent this in!]

Blizzard uses a video to explain what Diablo III is

by Eliot Lefebvre May 15th 2012 at 6:30PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Launches, News items, Diablo III

The angels want YOU! Specifically, they want you to do their job.

So what is Diablo III? Certain members of our audience are likely shaking their heads at the question, but some potential players genuinely don't have any idea. After all, the first game was released back in 1996. For those of you who have heard the name but have no idea what in the world it refers to, you're in luck, as Blizzard has just put together a short video explaining exactly what Diablo III is for the uninitiated.

The short version? It's a game where you head through a lot of randomly generated dungeons, slaughter untold numbers of demons, and try to banish the forces of the Burning Hells from the mortal realm. It's not quite an MMO, but there are definitely tastes of such with the in-game worldwide auction house. But why are you relying on us to tell you? Click on past the break and find out for yourself.

Diablo III launch day roundup

by Brendan Drain May 15th 2012 at 7:00AM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Culture, Game mechanics, Launches, New titles, News items, Diablo III

It's been a decade in the making, but today Diablo III finally arrived. The past few months have been filled with Diablo III news and more data than you can imagine, from speculation on the release date to details of gameplay and the different difficulty modes available. We've seen five epic class reveals on the Darkness Falls, Heroes Rise launch site and a series of unlocks that ended with the awesome animated Wrath of Angels short.

In this launch article, we pull together some of the top Diablo III news from the past few months. If you're playing the game today (or not!), be sure to check out our top five tips for making the most of your first few days in Diablo III.

Not So Massively: Diablo III launch and DreamHack Summer 2012

by Brendan Drain May 14th 2012 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III

Diablo III became potentially the most pre-ordered PC game in history this week, breaking both Blizzard's personal pre-order records and online retailer Amazon's. The game is set to launch at midnight tonight, unlocking physical copies and digital installers. Diablo-inspired free-to-play dungeon crawler Path of Exile approaches its own launch this week with the release of its penultimate version 0.9.9 patch.

League of Legends announced its upcoming MSI Beat IT tournament at DreamHack Summer 2012, with a prize fund of $40,000 US and a series of public online qualifiers. Bloodline Champions revealed its own $10,000 DreamHack tournament, with open in-game qualifiers scheduled for next weekend. Valve announced details of the second Dota 2 world championship, a series that started with last year's $1.6 million US tournament.

Blizzard settled its lawsuit with Valve this week, renaming Blizzard DOTA to Blizzard All-Stars but securing the continued non-commercial use of the DotA name for the fan community. Heroes of Newerth released its incredibly successful new Midwars game mode, and Rise of Immortals put forth its official immortal spotlight for new immortal Nauria.

New MOBA SmashMuck Champions fights its way into closed beta this month

by Matt Daniel May 14th 2012 at 6:30PM

Filed under: Betas, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, MOBA

Watch out, MOBA fans: A new challenger has appeared! Indie game developer Kiz Studios announced in a press release today that its upcoming MOBA title, SmashMuck Champions, is set to enter closed beta this month. Of course, if you're anything like us, you're probably wondering what the heck a SmashMuck Champions is.

According to the game's official site, the title is "a free-to-play action/strategy game featuring online multiplayer combat" in which players "build and train their own SmashMuck teams... to do battle in the toughest sport on Planet Muck." Gameplay-wise, the game seems to be your standard MOBA with a few not-so-standard twists. The addition of persistent champion gear plus interesting new mechanics such as stat-boosting training routines aim to put a new spin on the old formula. But hey, you don't have to take our word for it. The game will be entering closed beta testing on May 27th, so if you're a MOBA fan looking for a new thrill, just head on over to the game's official site and sign up for yourself. Oh, and while you're at it, don't forget to check out the game's latest official trailer after the cut.

[Source: Kiz Studios press release]

Gallery: SmashMuck Champions

Allods Online prepares players for patch 3.0.2 with a new mini-site

by Justin Olivetti May 14th 2012 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Patches, PvP, Free-to-play, Allods Online, Dungeons, Crafting

Allods Online's mascots are back for another humorous video, as Troll and Crab try their hands (claws) at making potions. It doesn't quite go as expected, but it's hard to blame Crab for what happens (he's just an earnest little guy). This is all to promote the game's newest update, patch 3.0.2, which promises to be a savory concoction for players to quaff. Over the weekend, gPotato opened up a new mini-site to promote the update and has since posted several new articles highlighting the changes.

Some of patch 3.0.2's big selling points include a revamp of the Alchemy profession, the ability for pets to do the looting, a neat-sounding mentor system, a new skirmish called The Deserted Farm, a free-for-all treasure hunting space, a new raid boss, and better questing.

Before you head over to see all of the patch changes, make sure to catch up on the latest episode of Troll and Crab after the break!

[Thanks to Alex for the tip!]

MapleStory celebrates its seventh anniversary with experience bonuses and cake monsters

by Matt Daniel May 11th 2012 at 9:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MapleStory, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play

Do you feel lucky, MapleStory players? You should, because Nexon is celebrating the game's lucky seventh anniversary, and the studio is passing the good fortune on to the players with a series of in-game events and double experience weekends.

For the duration of the month, players will be treated not only to double experience and drops every weekend, but they'll also be able to take part in events such as the Maple Rising Star Contest, which requires players to complete tasks to show support for their favorite NPC contestant. And of course, no anniversary would be complete without a visit from the deliciously vicious Cake Boss monster, which combines a challenging battle and a tasty treat into one mutant monstrosity. To put the icing on the proverbial cake, Nexon has released a short anniversary trailer that recaps the major MapleStory events of the past year, so put on your party hats and join the festivities after the cut.

[Source: Nexon America press release]

The Secret World's skill system detailed in new video

by Jef Reahard May 11th 2012 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

If you're staring down the barrel of The Secret World's first beta weekend and you're a little bit daunted by the game's 500-plus skills or its classless progression system, don't despair. Funcom has released an eight-minute video designed to teach you the basics and get your paranormal adventures off on the right foot.

The ability wheel breaks everything down into one of three categories: melee, magic, or ranged. Each is subdivided a further three times into different types of weapons (blood magic, blades, rifles, etc.). Technically you can learn every ability in the game, but you can only equip 14 at a time (seven active and seven passive), and you're also limited to equipping two weapons simultaneously. Your 14 abilities, when paired with your weapons of choice, make up your build, and half the fun in The Secret World is trying out all the possible permutations.

Learn more after the break, and don't forget to check out our Secret World press beta impressions while you're at it.

MechWarrior Online unleashes a torrent of new screenshots, plus new teaser trailer

by Matt Daniel May 11th 2012 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, News items, Free-to-play, MechWarrior Online

Piranha Games has spent the last few weeks inundating us with information on the various gameplay mechanics and customization options that players can expect from its upcoming free-to-play 'bot-battling title, MechWarrior Online, but today the studio has unleashed a deluge of screenshots and a new video that shows what the game's really about: big robots and even bigger explosions. Also, lots of lasers. Pew pew!

The screenshots showcase a variety of 'Mechs -- including the first in-game screens of the Dragon -- going at it with everything from lasers to long-range missiles and everything in between, plus there are quite a few showing off the game's MechLab customization features. The video, meanwhile, gives players yet another look at the game's combat, which, judging by the number of lasers flying around, could double as a (potentially fatal) light show. But enough words; go on and click through the gallery below and feast your eyes on all the giant robot goodness.

[Source: Piranha Games press release]

Gallery: MechWarrior Online screenshots

The Firing Line: 16th century fragging edition

by Jef Reahard May 11th 2012 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Dev Diaries, The Firing Line

What do War Thunder, World of Warplanes, Leonardo da Vinci, and Tribes: Ascend have in common? Not a whole lot aside from their respective appearances in this week's edition of The Firing Line.

Won't you join me after the cut for a rundown on some recent and notable online shooter news? If you're feeling particularly ornery, you can point and laugh at the fact that I'm still not in the War Thunder beta.

Massively Features

Events Calendar

Name	Date
Cataclysm Launch	Dec 7, 2010
DCUO Launch	Early 2011

Massively Staff

Name	Title
Shawn Schuster	Editor-in-Chief
Brianna Royce	Senior Editor
Rubi Bayer	Community Manager
Brendan Drain	Contributing Editor
Eliot Lefebvre	Contributing Editor
Jef Reahard	Contributing Editor
Justin Olivetti	Contributing Editor
Krystalle Voecks	Contributing Editor
Larry Everett	Contributing Editor
Beau Hindman	Columnist
Edward Marshall	Columnist
Greg Waller	Columnist
Jeremy Stratton	Columnist
Karen Bryan	Columnist
MJ Guthrie	Columnist
Patrick Mackey	Columnist
Ryan Greene	Columnist
Lisa Poisso	Columnist