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[Warhammer's 1.4.6 patch brings RvR and scenario changes]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/18/warhammers-1-4-6-patch-brings-rvr-and-scenario-changes/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/18/warhammers-1-4-6-patch-brings-rvr-and-scenario-changes/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/18/warhammers-1-4-6-patch-brings-rvr-and-scenario-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - 1.4.6 patch
There's a new patch on Warhammer's public test server. The 1.4.6 update is designed to tweak both realm vs. realm and scenario PvP. In terms of RvR, one of the biggest changes is the shift from multiple city invasion instances to a single instance. The instance will support 60 players from each realm -- 120 total. "Once that number is reached, no further reinforcements will be allowed," according to the update notes on the WAR website.

Scenario brackets are also being altered. Whereas the old system grouped players into tiers based on character level, the new mechanic uses both levels and renown rank. Players from level one to 15 go into bracket one, while players of renown ranks zero to 69 and 70 to 100 go into brackets two and three, respectively.

[Edit: Clarified 120 total players in the instance]

MassivelyWarhammer's 1.4.6 patch brings RvR and scenario changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.6-patcheaelectronic-artsendless-trialfantasymythicmythic-entertainmentpvprvrscenarioswarwar-1.4.6warhammerwarhammer-1.4.6warhammer-onlineFri, 18 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
In the increasingly diminishing field of subscription-only MMOs, two distinct camps have formed. There is the Old Guard that has its established playerbase and is simply not interested in jumping on board the F2P train, and then there are the New Kids on the Block (which would make an excellent band name, by the way), who argue that their premium features and AAA content warrant a subscription in the F2P age.

A few years ago, doing a list of the final few F2P holdouts would have been a ridiculous proposition, but now it's actually difficult to get to 10 of these. Each company has a different reason that it hasn't given these games more flexible payment options (FPO should replace F2P; pass it on!), and while some have addressed this publicly, others say nothing and leave us to speculate on it.

For today's Perfect Ten, we're going to look at the 10 biggest current F2P holdouts in the industry and muse about what's going on behind the scenes. Will this list be impossible to do in a few years or will subscription-only titles come back in a big way? Hey, I don't predict things; I just make lists.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acactivisionAndy-Cataldoasherons-callbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcamelotccpccp-gamesclassic-mmoconsoleconsolesdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsendless-trialeveeve-onlinef2pfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivfpsfree-to-playhumorinternet-spaceshipsKai-Schoberlord-britishlucasartsmmofpsmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionp10perfect-10perfect-tenplanetsidepsps1pvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararounduprvrsandboxsci-fiscott-hartsmansoesony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinesquaresquare-enixstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtortriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentultimaultima onlineuowarwarcraftwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online is cross-promoting with Wrath of Heroes]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/04/18/warhammer-online-is-cross-promoting-with-wrath-of-heroes/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/18/warhammer-online-is-cross-promoting-with-wrath-of-heroes/http://www.massively.com/2012/04/18/warhammer-online-is-cross-promoting-with-wrath-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

PvP in WAR, then in WoH, then back to WAR, then back to WoH...
Are you the sort of player who just can't get enough of Warhammer Online, whether in classic form or the new Wrath of Heroes bite-sized version? Or are you a fan of the latter game and not sure if you want to keep up a subscription to the former? The latest cross-promotional deal for the games is aimed directly at players like that -- starting now, any players with active Warhammer Online subscriptions will receive a 50% bonus to gold and experience in Wrath of Heroes.

There's no complicated process to getting the bonus; if you have both accounts on the same EA/Origin account, your characters will reap the benefits, although it may take up to 24 hours for the system to line up if you've just started a subscription. The bonus also stacks with items from the Wrath of Heroes store, letting veterans of Warhammer Online get ahead in the new game.

MassivelyWarhammer Online is cross-promoting with Wrath of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountaccount-bonusbiowarebonuscross-promotioneaelectronic-artsendless-trialfantasymobamultiple-accountsmythicmythic-entertainmentpromotionpvprvrwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswohwrath-of-heroesWed, 18 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another one bites the dust: Warhammer Online shuts down another server]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/03/19/another-one-bites-the-dust-warhammer-online-shuts-down-another/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/19/another-one-bites-the-dust-warhammer-online-shuts-down-another/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/19/another-one-bites-the-dust-warhammer-online-shuts-down-another/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Warhammer Online
Another round of server merges are coming to Warhammer Online, and this time it's Drakenwald's metaphorical head on the proverbial chopping block. As of tomorrow, March 20th, Drakenwald will be marked as a Legacy server, which will prevent players from creating new characters there. In the meantime, the players who currently populate the server will be able to move to either Karak Norn or Badlands. After three weeks in Legacy status, Drakenwald will be officially retired and any characters remaining on the server will have to be transferred before they can be played. WAR players should know the routine by now, but if you need a refresher, the details can be found on the game's official site.

MassivelyAnother one bites the dust: Warhammer Online shuts down another server originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drakenwaldeaelectronic-artsendless-trialfantasymythicmythic-entertainmentpvprvrserver-mergeserver-mergesserver-shutdownserver-shutdownswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineMon, 19 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/03/13/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-kesmai-legacy/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/13/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-kesmai-legacy/http://www.massively.com/2012/03/13/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-kesmai-legacy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Air Warrior
Most studios would be overjoyed to have pioneered one significant advancement in video game history, but then again, most studios aren't Kesmai. While it's not a household name today, it's reasonable to say that without the heavy lifting and backbreaking coding that this company shouldered in the '80s and '90s, the MMO genre would've turned out very different indeed.

Last week we met two enterprising designers, Kelton Flinn and John Taylor, who recognized that multiplayer was the name of the future and put their careers on the line to see an idea through to completion. That idea was Island of Kesmai, an ancestor of the modern MMO that used crude ASCII graphics and CompuServe's network to provide an interactive, cooperative online roleplaying experience. It wasn't the first MMO, but it was the first one published commercially, and sometimes that makes all the difference.

Flinn and Taylor's Kesmai didn't stop with being the first to bring MMOs to the big time, however. Flush with cash and success, Kesmai turned its attention to the next big multiplayer challenge: 3-D graphics and real-time combat. Unlike the fantasy land of Island of Kesmai, this title would take to the skies in aerial dogfighting and prove even more popular than the team's previous project.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air-warriorair-warrior-for-windowsair-warrior-iiair-warrior-iiialiens-onlineaolbattlefield-1942cd-romChris-Holdenclassicclassic-mmosclassicscompuservedark-age-of-camelotdungeons-of-kesmaieaelectronic-artseverquestfeaturedgame-archaelogistgame-developers-conference-choice-awardsgamespotgamestormgdcgdc-choice-awardsgenieharpoon-onlineisland-of-kesmaijohn-taylorkelton-flinnkesmaikesmai-corporationkesmai-studioslegends-of-kesmaimark-jacobsmatchmakingmeridian-59Multiplayer-Battletechmythicnews-corpnostalgiaonline-game-legend-awardopinionrealm-vs-realmrvrthe-game-archaeologistultima-onlinewarwarhammer-onlineythic-entertainmentTue, 13 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Clever ideas]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/02/23/the-perfect-ten-clever-ideas/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/23/the-perfect-ten-clever-ideas/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/23/the-perfect-ten-clever-ideas/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
I'm a sucker for a good, clever idea. You know the type: the ideas that make you slap yourself on the forehead and shout, "Why didn't I think of that first?" Or for the less humble of us out there, "Why, I did think of that first! But I got lost on the way to the patent office and I'm pretty sure that someone stole my dream journal to pilfer my genius notions!"

While critics point their fingers at the MMO industry and proclaim it a barren wasteland of innovation, there are quite a few awesome -- if small -- ideas that bubble up in MMO and move the genre forward. Maybe they're teeny-tiny baby steps; maybe they're giant hopscotch leaps over the six-spot with the rock in the middle. But these ideas can and have had the power to change how these games are made and played.

So this week I'm saluting 10 clever ideas, both large and diminutive, as a reward for a job well done!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Clever ideas

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Clever ideas originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aoe-lootaoe-lootingarea-of-effect-lootingcity-of-heroesclever-ideascohdiplomacydiplomacy-systemdoffdoodlingdungeon-finderduty-officer-systementertainereveeve-onlineexamplarexemplaringfeaturedglitchguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2listlistsminimapoverflow-serverperfect-10perfect-tenriftsidekicksidekick-systemsidekickingstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstoswgswtorterathe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentome-of-knowledgevanguardwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 23 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR producer's letter talks bug fixing, patch schedules]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/02/14/war-producers-letter-talks-bug-fixing-patch-schedules/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/14/war-producers-letter-talks-bug-fixing-patch-schedules/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/14/war-producers-letter-talks-bug-fixing-patch-schedules/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - Knight of the Blazing Sun
Hey kids, it's time for another Warhammer Online producer's letter (no, it's still not dead, doomsayers). The dev team is currently hard at work on the 1.4.5a patch, and in case you were wondering, that little "a" basically indicates additions to the previous 1.4.5 update. Said additions will take the form of "functionality, messaging, and tweaks to the fortresses and relics," all of which are still being discussed on the official WAR forums.

Next up is the 1.4.6 patch, and Mythic has switched gears to focus on bug fixing instead of the previously planned open RvR tweaks. There are also some additional items of interest on the horizon, including a new live event and some changes to crafting. Head to the WAR Herald to read up on all the details.

[Thanks to Benjamin for the tip!]

MassivelyWAR producer's letter talks bug fixing, patch schedules originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.5-patch1.4.6-patchbioware-mythicbug-fixingbugscraftingfantasylive-eventsmythicMythic-Entertainmentopen-rvrproducers-letterrvrwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online encourages murder most foul]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/warhammer-online-encourages-murder-most-foul/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/warhammer-online-encourages-murder-most-foul/http://www.massively.com/2012/02/08/warhammer-online-encourages-murder-most-foul/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Warhammer Online
In the happy, carebear world of Warhammer Online, we've reached the time of year when the clouds break to let in a ray of sunshine that warms the souls of all it touches and sprinkles hearts with... oh, forget it. It's Murder-o-Rama, aka the Night of Murder.

Mythic's annual WAR bloodfest centers around players attempting to appease a gruesome Elf god by taking out contracts on each other's lives. From February 9th through the 22nd, players will try to complete Tome of Knowledge tasks by completing "Marked for Death" quests and killing those with a dripping red skull-and-crossbones over their heads.

The rewards are worth the effort, though, with items like Lobbin' Noggins, Khaine's Caress, and a fun pike sporting your opponent's head that you can slam down next to a defeated foe. It's the yearly holiday your mother always warned you about, but you never listened then and you're probably not going to start now.

MassivelyWarhammer Online encourages murder most foul originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carebearea-mythiceventin-game-eventmurdermurder-markmythicMythic-Entertainmentnight-of-murderwarwarhammer-onlineWed, 08 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online releases patch 1.4.5 highlights]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/warhammer-online-releases-patch-1-4-5-highlights/http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/warhammer-online-releases-patch-1-4-5-highlights/http://www.massively.com/2012/01/30/warhammer-online-releases-patch-1-4-5-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Inevitable City at peak hours.
Despite Mythic Entertainment's recent winnowing of the Warhammer Online servers -- bringing them down from four servers to a measly pair -- the company is still hard at work developing patches for the RvR-based title. Patch 1.4.5 will be hitting the live servers tomorrow, January 31st, and it brings a number of interesting changes and also ushers in the return of fortresses, which should be good news for open RvR fans.

With the recent Skaven invasion, a number of relics have been found in myriad underground tunnels dug below the game's fortresses. Players will be charged with guarding their faction's relics while attempting to purloin those of the enemy. The Grovod Cavern scenario is also making a return, allowing two teams of 12 players to duke it out in the crumbling cave. But this time, there's a twist: Players will be taking control of two teams of Skaven; hilarity will ensue. To top it all off, 1.4.5 is bringing fortresses back into play (after they were removed some time ago), which should hopefully encourage players to head back into the open RvR lakes for fun and profit. For the full details, just head on over to the Warhammer Online official site.

MassivelyWarhammer Online releases patch 1.4.5 highlights originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.5eaea-mythicelectronic-artsf2pfortressfortressesfree-to-playgrovod-cavernmythicmythic-entertainmentopen-realm-vs-realmopen-rvrorvrpatchpatch-1.4.5patchesplayer-vs-playerpvpscenarioscenariosskavenupdateupdateswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewhoMon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[And then there were two: Warhammer Online merges servers once more]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/01/10/and-then-there-were-two-warhammer-online-merges-servers-once-mo/http://www.massively.com/2012/01/10/and-then-there-were-two-warhammer-online-merges-servers-once-mo/http://www.massively.com/2012/01/10/and-then-there-were-two-warhammer-online-merges-servers-once-mo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Warhammer Online at peak hours
Warhammer Online's server culls continue today as the Gorfang (North America) and Karak Azgal (Europe) servers are being retired. As we mentioned last month, Gorfang players will now be taking refuge on the Badlands server, while Karak Azgal's denizens will find a new home on Karak Norn. For those of you keeping score at home, this brings Warhammer Online's total operational servers to a whopping two. Players with characters on either server can transfer them to the remaining servers via the Mythic Account Center, though at the rate things are going, there may not be any servers left soon enough.

MassivelyAnd then there were two: Warhammer Online merges servers once more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badlandseaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playgorfangkarak-azgalkarak-nornmythicmythic-entertainmentserverserver-mergeserver-mergesserverswarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 10 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Most significant MMO stories of 2011]]>http://www.massively.com/2011/12/29/the-perfect-ten-most-significant-mmo-stories-of-2011/http://www.massively.com/2011/12/29/the-perfect-ten-most-significant-mmo-stories-of-2011/http://www.massively.com/2011/12/29/the-perfect-ten-most-significant-mmo-stories-of-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
2011 was an odd duck of a year for MMO news. A huge chunk of the year felt devoid of significant releases, but that was mitigated somewhat by the major launches of RIFT and Star Wars: The Old Republic. Titles got shoved back to 2012 or beyond, MMOs that we thought never would go free-to-play did, and the industry continually surprised us with revelations, ideas, and controversy.

So in my last Perfect Ten of 2011, I put together the 10 most significant MMO stories of the year. Ten seems like an awfully small number for such a great big field, so I had the rest of the staff members chime in with their nominations just to make sure I wasn't too off-base with any of these.

It was a whopper of a year, and Massively was there for all of it -- the ups, the downs, the queues, and the QQs. It's time to wrap it up with a pretty bow and dedicate it to the history museum!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Most significant MMO stories of 2011

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Most significant MMO stories of 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20112012aionataribiowareccpccp-gameschampions-onlinecity-of-heroescrypticcryptic-studiosdaocdark-age-of-camelotdc-universe-onlinedcuoeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-iif2pfallen-earthfeaturedfree-to-playglobal-agendajagexkung-fu-pandaleague-of-legendslistlistslucasartsmists-of-pandariamonoclegatemythicpandaperfect-tenperfect-worldriftrunescapesoesonysony-hacksony-online-entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorthe-agencythe-perfect-tentriontrion-worldswarhammer-onlineworld-of-darknessworld-of-warcraftwrath-of-heroesThu, 29 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This Week in MMO: Oh hey, it's Star Wars edition]]>http://www.massively.com/2011/12/16/this-week-in-mmo-oh-hey-its-star-wars-edition/http://www.massively.com/2011/12/16/this-week-in-mmo-oh-hey-its-star-wars-edition/http://www.massively.com/2011/12/16/this-week-in-mmo-oh-hey-its-star-wars-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This Week In MMO
It's time for another episode of This Week in MMO, and the focal point of this week's episode is none other than the freshly launched Star Wars: The Old Republic. Gary Gannon, Mike B., and Mike Schaffnit share a conversation about the staggered launch, the early start, the newly announced grace period, and much more.

Of course, the world does not revolve only around SWTOR, so the guys also take some time to highlight other goings-on in the MMO world. Warhammer Online will be merging servers once again, which does not forecast a sunny outlook for Mythic's PvP-focused title. Also on the table is talk that the gradually less sane Richard Garriott will be returning to work on the Ultima universe. What could this mean to MMO players? Well, click on past the cut and find out for yourself.

Continue reading This Week in MMO: Oh hey, it's Star Wars edition

MassivelyThis Week in MMO: Oh hey, it's Star Wars edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaremythicmythic-entertainmentrichard-garriotrichard-garriottstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicthis-week-in-mmotortwimmoultimavideovideoswarhammerwarhammer-onlineFri, 16 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ring in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End]]>http://www.massively.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/http://www.massively.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/http://www.massively.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tomorrow is a long way away, and it gets further away with each successive drink.
Amidst the news of server merges, Warhammer Online fans could probably use something to celebrate, something to lift the spirits a bit. So it's fortunate that the annual Keg End celebration is just around the corner, giving everyone a chance to get drunk and rowdy even by the already aggressive status of the world's inhabitants. Running from December 14th until January 4th, Keg End is a chance to celebrate in style in the Dwarven tradition.

The rewards for the event haven't changed much this year, with the usual assortment of Party Kegs, Keg Taps, and Battlebrew Backpacks. There are giants roaming the field looking for their own ale and a handful of sporting battles, and there are plenty of special drinks to be sampled just for the event. So get yourself ready to log in tomorrow and take a nice roll through fields filled with blood, beer, and battle. Especially beer.

MassivelyRing in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aleannual-eventsbeerbioware-mythicea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsholiday-eventsin-game-eventsintoxicantskeg-endliquormythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentspecial-eventswarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaTue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waaaghon Ho!: Warhammer Online merging servers following free transfers]]>http://www.massively.com/2011/12/09/waaaghon-ho-warhammer-online-merging-servers-following-free-tr/http://www.massively.com/2011/12/09/waaaghon-ho-warhammer-online-merging-servers-following-free-tr/http://www.massively.com/2011/12/09/waaaghon-ho-warhammer-online-merging-servers-following-free-tr/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WAR
Saddle up, rough riders: It's time to head to more fertile lands! Starting next week, select Warhammer Online players will be given the option to transfer between servers for free. The decision is Mythic's attempt to merge underpopulated servers, and the company hopes that this move will drive up the action in RvR for previously quiet locations.

Players on the Gorfang (North America) and Karak Azgal (Europe) will be able to move house to Badlands and Karak Norn, respectively, starting December 14th. Once this happens, Gorfang and Karak Azgal will be marked as "Legacy" servers, keeping new players from rolling on them, and then after three weeks, the two servers will be shut down completely. Any characters left on those servers will not be playable until they transfer to their new homes.

Mythic is also paving the way for guilds to move wholesale to new servers, with more information about this coming next week.

MassivelyWaaaghon Ho!: Warhammer Online merging servers following free transfers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badlandsbioware-mythiccharacter-transfercharacter-transfersea-mythicgorfangKarak-AzgalKarak-Nornlegacymergemythicretireretiredretired-serversserverserver-mergeserver-mergesserver-transferserver-transfersserverswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineFri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New interview talks Warhammer Online and Wrath of Heroes synergy]]>http://www.massively.com/2011/11/23/new-interview-talks-warhammer-online-and-wrath-of-heroes-synergy/http://www.massively.com/2011/11/23/new-interview-talks-warhammer-online-and-wrath-of-heroes-synergy/http://www.massively.com/2011/11/23/new-interview-talks-warhammer-online-and-wrath-of-heroes-synergy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - Chaos hound
Warhammer Online fans can be forgiven if they took to scratching their heads in puzzlement as BioWare-Mythic announced the Wrath of Heroes MOBA at last summer's Gamescom convention. After all, here was a new fantasy title that was brazen enough to borrow the IP and arguably the best gameplay mechanic (scenarios) from an existing MMO that's still alive and kicking.

The distinction between the two games is up for discussion in a new Warhammer Online interview at Stratics. "There is no direct link currently between your WAR and WOH characters. That being said, we plan on giving WAR subscribers benefits in WOH," explains producer James Casey. "We are also looking at other ways to connect them and have the benefits go both ways."

The interview also touches on the next WAR update (currently slated for the PTS next month), as well as the fact that the devs are considering a level-cap increase on the game's endless trial offering.

MassivelyNew interview talks Warhammer Online and Wrath of Heroes synergy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiceaelectronic-artsendless-trialf2pfantasyfree-to-playinterviewjames-caseymobapvpsubscriber-benefitswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewrath-of-heroesWed, 23 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare Mythic isn't playing favorites with free-to-play and subscriptions]]>http://www.massively.com/2011/10/24/bioware-mythic-isnt-playing-favorites-with-free-to-play-and-sub/http://www.massively.com/2011/10/24/bioware-mythic-isnt-playing-favorites-with-free-to-play-and-sub/http://www.massively.com/2011/10/24/bioware-mythic-isnt-playing-favorites-with-free-to-play-and-sub/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wrath of Heroes
BioWare Mythic says that the market is big enough to support both free-to-play and subscription models -- and everything else in between. Talking with Gamasutra, GM Eugene Evans said that the company has to acknowledge that there are people who don't like F2P and those who do, and it's important to reach out to both groups.

With Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes in beta testing, BioWare Mythic is testing the waters of free-to-play while preparing for Star Wars: The Old Republic's massive subscription launch. "We often got asked about taking our old games free-to-play, and in the case of Warhammer, we felt there was a different way of doing it," he opined, going on to say that the Mythic branch was learning a lot about polish and quality from the BioWare team.

Evans commented on the observation that the widening global market means that no one business model is guaranteed to work in every country: "We're all still figuring out what free-to-play means, what the best way to monetize is, and how to run it as a business and engage players in ways they're prepared to accept."

MassivelyBioWare Mythic isn't playing favorites with free-to-play and subscriptions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythicbusiness-modelsEugene-Evansf2pfree-to-playgamasutramythicpolishstar-wars-the-old-republicsubssubscriptionsubscriptionsswtorwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesMon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer sticking with its subscription model]]>http://www.massively.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/http://www.massively.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/http://www.massively.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - still not F2P, hehe
Those of you holding out for a freemium conversion for Warhammer Online may as well resign yourselves to waiting on the upcoming Wrath of Heroes MOBA. In a new piece at PC Gamer, BioWare-Mythic vice president Eugene Evans says there are still no plans to give away the game aside from the ongoing endless trial that covers the title's newb tier content.

"Right now, we're focused on Wrath of Heroes as our free-to-play offering in the Warhammer universe," Evans said at this week's GDC. "We believe in the community of players who are playing Age of Reckoning. Yes, we could have attracted a lot of players to it [via F2P], but it's unclear how long you'll keep them. We wanted to support our game as it currently exists."

MassivelyWarhammer sticking with its subscription model originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbioware-mythicea-biowareea-mythicf2pfantasyfree-to-playgdcgdc-2011hehemobamythicMythic-Entertainmentwarwarhammerwarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesWed, 12 Oct 2011 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Pirates ahoy!]]>http://www.massively.com/2011/09/22/the-perfect-ten-pirates-ahoy/http://www.massively.com/2011/09/22/the-perfect-ten-pirates-ahoy/http://www.massively.com/2011/09/22/the-perfect-ten-pirates-ahoy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten: Pirates
Fantasy pirates: Love 'em or hate 'em, they're deeply ingrained in geek culture to the point that they're almost impossible to dislodge. This past Monday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day, when everyone's inner pirate was encouraged to "Arr!" heartily, look for treasure in long-forgotten places, and embrace the fashion style of bandanas and eyepatches.

It seemed like a perfect week, therefore, to look at piratey life in MMOs. From entire games to mere outfits and from the token pirate union that has a chapter in each game to delusional madmen, this list aims to sate the swagger of keyboard swashbucklers. It's a testament to the pirate phenomenon that most developers can't help but include a buccaneer or two, even if the setting isn't always asking for it -- a phenomenon even the U.S. Navy has accepted.

Hit the jump to start, and sail straight on 'til morning!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Pirates ahoy!

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Pirates ahoy! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahoyblizzardcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcookiecovddodeadminesdisneydungeons-and-dragons-onlineeveeve-onlinefeaturedfree-realmsghost-piratesgooniesinternational-talk-like-a-pirate-dayirestone-inletjohnny-deppjolly-rogerlong-dronglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromr-smiteperfect-10perfect-tenpiratepiratespirates-in-spacepirates-of-the-burning-seapirates-of-the-caribbean-onlinepirates-plunderplunderravenfellrunes-of-magicscallywagsscooby-dootalk-like-a-pirate-daythe-gooniesthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenturbineus-navywarwarhammer-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftwowyaaryarThu, 22 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online: Three years later]]>http://www.massively.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/http://www.massively.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/http://www.massively.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WAR
To this day, I don't know what quite came over me when I decided to throw my chips into the blogging scene to cover Warhammer Online, eight months before the game launched. Like many of you, I had been a long-time reader of MMO blogs, but I was intimidated at trying my hand at joining in, perhaps elevating these writers to the status of legendary wordsmiths who penned unequaled prose in our lifetimes.

Or I just didn't want to be one of a thousand World of Warcraft bloggers who dominated the scene. Just a thought.

In any case, it was a terrific decision to do so on my part. I found that I had a passion not only for MMOs but for talking about them, and I loved connecting with other writers and readers and players, which happens with blogging. I've been asked from time to time if I regret picking Warhammer Online as the game that I latched onto for a couple of years, and I always say no -- no regrets. The game was fun, but the coverage was an unparalleled rollercoaster of anticipation, hype, fun, speculation, promise, disappointment, and above all, ideas. Wonderful, flawed, captivating ideas.

I haven't touched WAR since 2010, so perhaps I'm not the best source for the latest and greatest in the game. But what I do have to offer is a humble blogger's perspective on what went right, what went wrong, and why I'm ultimately happy that WAR came into being and is chugging along on today, its third anniversary.

Continue reading Warhammer Online: Three years later

MassivelyWarhammer Online: Three years later originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybears-bears-bearsbetablizzardddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinedyefeaturedguild-warshypelaunchliving-citiesliving-guildslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromark-jacobsmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpublic-questsserversskavensquig-herdertabula-rasathird-anniversarythree-yearstome-of-knowledgetrinketswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 18 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online celebrates third anniversary with bonus XP, veteran goodies]]>http://www.massively.com/2011/09/16/warhammer-online-celebrates-third-anniversary-with-bonus-xp-vet/http://www.massively.com/2011/09/16/warhammer-online-celebrates-third-anniversary-with-bonus-xp-vet/http://www.massively.com/2011/09/16/warhammer-online-celebrates-third-anniversary-with-bonus-xp-vet/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Warhammer Online - vanity pets
It's time to raise a glass to Warhammer Online, as Mythic's fantasy PvP title turns three on September 18th (time flies when you're WAAAGHing, we suppose).

What's on tap for the inevitable celebration? Bonus XP/RP, of course, and a whopping 10 days of it. Starting today, players can enjoy increased advancement potential and loot a few fireworks from the twitching carcasses of their foes. Also, three-year veterans are being recognized for their loyalty, as Mythic is gifting them with a Jack-O-Lantern vanity pet and an endless supply of both chaos black and blazing orange dyes.

Don't forget that the 1.4.4 patch was recently deployed, and the Wild Hunt event is currently ongoing. Finally, check in with Massively on Sunday for our three-year Warhammer Online retrospective.

MassivelyWarhammer Online celebrates third anniversary with bonus XP, veteran goodies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-year-anniversarybioware-mythiccelebrationchaos-blackdyesea-mythicelectronic-artsmythicpetsvanity-petswaaaghwaaagh-hammerwarwarhammer-onlineFri, 16 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST