http://www.massively.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.massively.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.massively.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/9e4iwuz1yFQ/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/massivelys-black-prophecy-qanda-character-creation/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/massivelys-black-prophecy-qanda-character-creation/#comments <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/black-prophecy"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/blackprophecyinterview1at580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.blackprophecy.com"><em>Black Prophecy</em></a> is one of the hotly anticipated games on the horizon that sci-fi MMO fans have been wanting to hear more about. Until recently though, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/reakktor-media">Reakktor Media</a> wasn't quite ready to reveal many of the specifics of what the game will offer. We've known that <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/black-prophecy"><em>Black Prophecy</em></a>'s gameplay will differ from titles in the genre like <a href="http://www.eveonline.com"><em>EVE Online</em></a> -- with <a href="http://www.reakktor.com">Reakktor</a>'s game a bit more accessible in terms of learning curve and with a more dynamic feel to piloting space ships. Plus, if the screenshots and <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/04/08/black-prophecy-trailer-offers-a-first-look-at-gameplay-experienc/">video footage</a> are an accurate indication, <em>Black Prophecy</em> will be <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/08/18/black-prophecys-unique-art-style-blends-realism-with-the-unreal/ ">visually stunning</a> as well.<br /> <br /> Business-wise, <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/11/06/reakktor-media-financial-woes-resolved-full-speed-ahead-for-bla/">things have recently changed for the better</a> at Reakktor Media and the <em>Black Prophecy</em> project is once again moving ahead at full speed. More info about this title is on the way as well; Reakktor was kind enough to agree to do a series of focused Q&amp;As at Massively about various facets of the game. Over time, this series will cover topics ranging from <em>Black Prophecy</em>'s modification system to details about how players will build space stations. Since we're going to look at some of the fundamental aspects of <em>Black Prophecy</em>, it makes sense that we'd begin this series where the players themselves will begin -- at character creation. <br /> <br /> In our first Q&amp;A in this series, Massively spoke with Jens Kortboyer, Lead Artist on <em>Black Prophecy</em>, who walked us through the design decisions Reakktor made in creating the <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/11/10/the-aesthetics-of-black-prophecys-genide-faction/">look of the Genides</a> and <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/10/22/the-art-direction-of-black-prophecys-gearheads/">Tyi characters</a>, as well as the visual choices players will have when starting out.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/black-prophecy-gallery/">Black Prophecy Gallery</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/black-prophecy-gallery/2544455/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/tyipilot1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/black-prophecy-gallery/2544454/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/genidepilot1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/black-prophecy-gallery/2544453/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/blackprophecynpc2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/black-prophecy-gallery/2544452/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/blackprophecynpc1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/black-prophecy-gallery/2539797/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/maintheme_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/massivelys-black-prophecy-qanda-character-creation/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively's Black Prophecy Q&amp;A: Character Creation</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/black-prophecy/" rel="tag">Black Prophecy</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/massivelys-black-prophecy-qanda-character-creation/">Massively's Black Prophecy Q&amp;A: Character Creation</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/massivelys-black-prophecy-qanda-character-creation/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285481/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/massivelys-black-prophecy-qanda-character-creation/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/X8v6GbPVnrFrURVDmsybPxTgwdw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/X8v6GbPVnrFrURVDmsybPxTgwdw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/X8v6GbPVnrFrURVDmsybPxTgwdw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/X8v6GbPVnrFrURVDmsybPxTgwdw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/9e4iwuz1yFQ" height="1" width="1"/> black-prophecycharacter-creationfeaturedgermanyinterviewsjens-kortboyerlead-artistmassively-interviewsnew-titlesreakktorreakktor-mediasci-fi James Egan Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/massivelys-black-prophecy-qanda-character-creation/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/F3WmY5LMUPc/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/one-shots-an-interesting-point-of-view/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/one-shots-an-interesting-point-of-view/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/gallery/one-shots/2548139/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os800_aoc_580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> Now here's one we don't often see -- an image captured from the <em>monster's</em> point of view. You can almost hear the skittering of chitinous legs across the ground, the crunch of weaponry into exoskeleton. And of course, it wouldn't be <a href="http://ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> without blood and body parts flying around. Today's wild One Shots comes to us courtesy of Niels W. who writes in: <em>Hi! I've attached a screenshot of a nocturnal combat scene against scorpions in Kheshatta. It shows the action-filled and rather bloody combat style that <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Age-of-Conan/">Age of Conan</a> has to offer. I hope you enjoy it</em>. It's certainly one of the most unique shots we've gotten in terms of combat! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/One-Shots/">One Shots</a> is in need of your screenshots, so while you're out getting your game time in, why not send us some of your images! It's easy to do. Just email them to <strong>oneshots AT massively DOT com</strong> along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post them out here and give you the credit -- bonus points for interesting camera-work!<br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/">One Shots</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2548139/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os800_aoc_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2546314/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os799_allods_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2543145/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os798_lotro_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2539781/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os797_fe_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2536524/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os797_aion_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/one-shots/" rel="tag">One Shots</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/one-shots-an-interesting-point-of-view/">One Shots: An interesting point of view</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/one-shots-an-interesting-point-of-view/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19287893/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/one-shots-an-interesting-point-of-view/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nVVnCwZfNZLQKkHvCSfB7-oYmu8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nVVnCwZfNZLQKkHvCSfB7-oYmu8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nVVnCwZfNZLQKkHvCSfB7-oYmu8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nVVnCwZfNZLQKkHvCSfB7-oYmu8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/F3WmY5LMUPc" height="1" width="1"/> age-of-conanaocfuncomniels-wone-shotsscreenshotscreenshots Krystalle Voecks Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/one-shots-an-interesting-point-of-view/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/4a1OpqzGrCA/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/new-producers-letter-for-warhammer-online/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/new-producers-letter-for-warhammer-online/#comments <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/war-producerletter-epl-1218.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> As we approach the end of the year, which has been <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/11/09/rumor-80-more-layoffs-hit-mythic/">a pretty tumultuous one</a> for <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com"><em>Warhammer Online</em></a>, it's not surprising to see a <a href="http://herald.warhammeronline.com/warherald/NewsArticle.war?id=1006">new letter from the producer</a>. But this letter is also a letter from a new producer -- <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/Bruce-Maclean/">Bruce Maclean</a>, who is apparently now taking on the duties as producer. There's no word on <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/Jeff-Skalski/">Jeff Skalski</a> except that he is still "working hard" on the game. But we may as well focus on the positives, as the letter itself doesn't speak about the problems the game has had, instead focusing on the improvements that have come into <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Warhammer-Online/">Warhammer Online</a></em> over the past year.<br /> <br /> The <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/09/warhammer-online-drops-1-3-3-patch-to-live-servers/">patch 1.3.3</a> graphical improvements are cited as a notable improvement, as are the many updates the game has seen over the course of the year and the launch of the <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/10/29/warhammer-online-now-with-100-more-mac-support/">Macintosh client</a> for the game. There's also a brief discussion of what might be expected in the near future, which include useful weapons earned via RvR gameplay and a new scenario structure. How far in the future isn't mentioned, but they're hinted to be close, which could be excellent news for a game that's seen its fair share of ups and downs. As <a href="http://herald.warhammeronline.com/warherald/NewsArticle.war?id=1006">the letter</a> says, however, now is the time to drink and relax and enjoy the game so far. Good advice, that.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/warhammer-online/" rel="tag">Warhammer Online</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/new-producers-letter-for-warhammer-online/">New producer's letter for Warhammer Online</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://herald.warhammeronline.com/warherald/NewsArticle.war?id=1006>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/new-producers-letter-for-warhammer-online/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286784/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/new-producers-letter-for-warhammer-online/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/My60McOtbDTr6lw2bfrvM4d0vzc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/My60McOtbDTr6lw2bfrvM4d0vzc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/My60McOtbDTr6lw2bfrvM4d0vzc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/My60McOtbDTr6lw2bfrvM4d0vzc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/4a1OpqzGrCA" height="1" width="1"/> bruce-macleancoming-soonjeff-skalskimacintoshmythicmythic-entertainmentpatchespreviewsproducer-letterstate-of-the-gameupdateswarwar-patch-1.3.3warhammer-online Eliot Lefebvre Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/new-producers-letter-for-warhammer-online/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/zaugfVT33x8/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/dungeon-fighter-online-begins-the-dawn-of-retribution/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/dungeon-fighter-online-begins-the-dawn-of-retribution/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dungeonfighter.nexon.net/News/View.aspx?boardNo=200&amp;contentNo=005sR"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/dfonewexpansion580.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> It's the holidays, and the elder spirits of <a href="http://dungeonfighter.nexon.net"><em>Dungeon Fighter Online</em></a> are in a giving mood! The first major update to the game, the <a href="http://dungeonfighter.nexon.net/News/View.aspx?boardNo=200&amp;contentNo=005sR">Dawn of Retribution</a>, fixes three main areas that have been giving players some trouble with the game.<br /> <br /> If you felt things were going a bit slow, then worry no longer as the leveling curve has been reduced, speeding up your progress through the advancement tree. Less grinding, more punching monsters into the dirt where they belong!<br /> <br /> For the newer players entering the game, the lower level dungeons have been made easier and the tutorial has been revamped. So not only are the starting instructions clearer, but the starting dungeons won't beat you as hard as they use to.<br /> <br /> There's also <a href="http://dungeonfighter.nexon.net/News/View.aspx?boardNo=300&amp;contentNo=005rZ">the usual holiday event</a> added to the mix, where snow will fall on the ground once per day for an hour. If you're there when it's snowing, you'll be enjoying a 20% experience boost during your adventures! There's also loot to steal off of Chrismas goblins and the special notorious monster, Snowblin. So get out there and get dungeoneering!<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/dungeon-fighter-online/" rel="tag">Dungeon Fighter Online</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/dungeon-fighter-online-begins-the-dawn-of-retribution/">Dungeon Fighter Online begins the Dawn of Retribution</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://dungeonfighter.nexon.net/News/View.aspx?boardNo=200&amp;contentNo=005sR>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/dungeon-fighter-online-begins-the-dawn-of-retribution/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286917/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/dungeon-fighter-online-begins-the-dawn-of-retribution/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/F9Ru0A5AIxzW6AFm9qwY7voRjmo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/F9Ru0A5AIxzW6AFm9qwY7voRjmo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/F9Ru0A5AIxzW6AFm9qwY7voRjmo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/F9Ru0A5AIxzW6AFm9qwY7voRjmo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/zaugfVT33x8" height="1" width="1"/> dawn-of-retributiondfodifficultydungeon-fighter-onlinedungeonsexperience-curveholiday-eventlevelingnexon Seraphina Brennan Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/dungeon-fighter-online-begins-the-dawn-of-retribution/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/xMbkQSn6_x0/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/wrup-were-not-playing-star-trek-online-edition/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/wrup-were-not-playing-star-trek-online-edition/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/stoheader_ss4_111309_37.jpg" alt="" /></div> We hate to tease, dear readers. So to the poor unfortunates who are not in <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/"><em>STO</em></a>'s beta, let's simply assure you that we're not out learning to pilot starships or picking fights with Klingons. Of course not. It would be terribly unkind of us to brag about these things to an audience out in the cold. We'll just be sitting around Massively HQ all weekend playing the same old MMOs -- really, it's hardly worth even posting about is it? Probably not even worth the bother of clicking through to read the rest of this post.<br /> <br /> ...are they gone?<br /> <br /> Good. Because, well, a few of us might be in the beta. And those of us who aren't? Well, we're pretty darned jealous of the ones who do. But with <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/11/09/its-official-star-trek-online-releases-february-2nd-2010/">less than two months to the game's official launch</a>, there's not much longer to wait.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/wrup-were-not-playing-star-trek-online-edition/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>WRUP: We're not playing Star Trek Online edition</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively meta</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/wrup-were-not-playing-star-trek-online-edition/">WRUP: We're not playing Star Trek Online edition</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/wrup-were-not-playing-star-trek-online-edition/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19287693/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/wrup-were-not-playing-star-trek-online-edition/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fULDgUAFSujoTDjemRyLyf5wy7c/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fULDgUAFSujoTDjemRyLyf5wy7c/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fULDgUAFSujoTDjemRyLyf5wy7c/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fULDgUAFSujoTDjemRyLyf5wy7c/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/xMbkQSn6_x0" height="1" width="1"/> what-are-you-playingwrup Elizabeth Harper Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/wrup-were-not-playing-star-trek-online-edition/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/9n6hIDeCzJA/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/the-daily-grind-what-little-bug-is-a-big-problem/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/the-daily-grind-what-little-bug-is-a-big-problem/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="top" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/tdg-bugs-epl-1218.jpg" /></a></div> You know the one. It's a tiny <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/bugs/">bug</a>, a problem that only comes up once in a blue moon -- if it's even a problem and not just a slight problem like a model clipping issue. You really shouldn't care one way or the other, it's so irrelevant... but you care. You can't help but care. The very thought of it bothers you. And even though it's something so obscure that you're not sure if anyone has even bothered reporting it other than you, or so rare or so unnecessary, you still get angry when all sorts of other minor bugs get fixed and this one persists.<br /> <br /> We're not talking about bugs that people can legitimately point to as impacting quality of play today, like the infamous <a href="http://www.wowwiki.com/Vanish#Known_bugs">Vanish bug</a> in <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a>. We're talking about those minor issues that you can't let go of, sometimes even long after you've stopped playing the game. What small and ultimately irrelevant bug just can't help but get your goat every time it comes up? How do you try to work around it? Have you reported it once, multiple times, or not at all with the expectation that the developers must know about it already?<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/bugs/" rel="tag">Bugs</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/academic/" rel="tag">Academic</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/the-daily-grind-what-little-bug-is-a-big-problem/">The Daily Grind: What little bug is a big problem?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/the-daily-grind-what-little-bug-is-a-big-problem/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19287599/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/the-daily-grind-what-little-bug-is-a-big-problem/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3LtpYQnuUrNBcLyvnzyBFWQhEyU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3LtpYQnuUrNBcLyvnzyBFWQhEyU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3LtpYQnuUrNBcLyvnzyBFWQhEyU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3LtpYQnuUrNBcLyvnzyBFWQhEyU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/9n6hIDeCzJA" height="1" width="1"/> angerannoyanceannoyingbugbugsirritationissuesminor-bugssmall-bugstdgthe-daily-grind Eliot Lefebvre Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/19/the-daily-grind-what-little-bug-is-a-big-problem/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/Zy9m6Bshexs/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-rolls-out-a-large-content-patch-rai/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-rolls-out-a-large-content-patch-rai/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://forums.ijji.com/showthread.php?t=733847"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/sunfirstupdate.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://sun.ijji.com"><em>Soul of the Ultimate Nation</em></a> (SUN) hasn't been out that long and it's already getting <a href="http://forums.ijji.com/showthread.php?t=733847">an injection of content</a>!<br /> <br /> Players of <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/webzen">Webzen</a>'s second MMORPG will be happy to have a brand new level cap of 100 to ascend to, sockets on items so you can modify your weapons with gems, the new ability for crafters to make "elite" armor (the best armor in the game for now), and one new dungeon along with a brand new field.<br /> <br /> The Cursed Tower is an interesting dungeon offer that starts off at level 20 and goes all the way to level 100. Each wing of the tower is specifically crafted for a certain level range. For example, the Emerald Sanctuary is tuned for players between level 20 and 40. So, no matter your level, you'll have something available to you in the Cursed Tower.<br /> <br /> The Valley of the Dragonkin is the brand new field area, coming equipped with new quests to beat and monsters to kill. We'd say more about it, but we have this handy video of players in the Valley of the Dragonkin right after the break. So, don't listen to us, watch it for yourself by continuing to read!</div><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-rolls-out-a-large-content-patch-rai/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Soul of the Ultimate Nation rolls out a large content patch, raises level cap</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation/" rel="tag">Soul of the Ultimate Nation</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-rolls-out-a-large-content-patch-rai/">Soul of the Ultimate Nation rolls out a large content patch, raises level cap</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://forums.ijji.com/showthread.php?t=733847>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-rolls-out-a-large-content-patch-rai/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19287072/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-rolls-out-a-large-content-patch-rai/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZzgHf1j0_QWJDqeTI9smKRn5ipg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZzgHf1j0_QWJDqeTI9smKRn5ipg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZzgHf1j0_QWJDqeTI9smKRn5ipg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZzgHf1j0_QWJDqeTI9smKRn5ipg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/Zy9m6Bshexs" height="1" width="1"/> elite-craftingijjiijji.comsoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunthe-cursed-towervalley-of-the-dragonkinvideo Seraphina Brennan Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-rolls-out-a-large-content-patch-rai/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/umd2_SU67Hg/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-gives-an-official-reveal-of-tatooine/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-gives-an-official-reveal-of-tatooine/#comments <a href="http://www.swtor.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/swtor-tatooine-epl-1218.jpg" /></a><br /> Despite being an obscure planet on the outer rim in <a href="http://www.swtor.com"><em>Star Wars: The Old Republic</em></a>, everyone knew that the desert planet <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Tatooine">Tatooine</a> was going to be in the game. No, really, everyone. It's like <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Hoth">Hoth</a>, it shows up all the time, probably because the first movie in the franchise started on it. <a href="http://www.bioware.com/">BioWare</a> has thrown us a few curveballs, but to think they wouldn't send us to a well-known and iconic planet in the franchise would be silly. And sure enough, today's update to the official site is <a href="http://www.swtor.com/info/holonet/planets/tatooine">details on the sprawling desert wasteland with occasional pockets of civilization</a>.<br /> <br /> There's plenty to do in the desert, however, even if the traditional stomping of tusken raiders doesn't appeal to you. The official page details the aftermath of the Czerka Corporation's meddling with the biosphere and with unfettered weaponry, which the Sith Empire is attempting to reclaim. There's the promise of something truly horrible under the sand as well, which should provide players of <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Star-Wars-The-Old-Republic/">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></em> plenty of searching around dunes. Take a look at <a href="http://www.swtor.com/info/holonet/planets/tatooine">the official page</a> on the planet, and if that doesn't sate your need for the game's universe, the newest installment of <a href="http://www.swtor.com/news/news-article/20091218_002">Threat of Peace</a> is also available for your reading pleasure.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual worlds</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/" rel="tag">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-gives-an-official-reveal-of-tatooine/">Star Wars: The Old Republic gives an official reveal of Tatooine</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-gives-an-official-reveal-of-tatooine/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286918/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-gives-an-official-reveal-of-tatooine/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kMJsjtenDk5f9Yi50ACD9dPpBfI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kMJsjtenDk5f9Yi50ACD9dPpBfI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kMJsjtenDk5f9Yi50ACD9dPpBfI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kMJsjtenDk5f9Yi50ACD9dPpBfI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/umd2_SU67Hg" height="1" width="1"/> biowareczerka-corporationdesertsith-empirestar-wars-the-old-republicswtortatooinethreat-of-peace Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-gives-an-official-reveal-of-tatooine/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/DpwTEm3yrS8/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ccp-releases-first-video-tutorial-for-exploration-in-eve-online/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ccp-releases-first-video-tutorial-for-exploration-in-eve-online/#comments <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heYfTA00Idg"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/evescanningguidetutorial580.jpg" /></a><br /> Exploration is one of the more rewarding mini-professions a player can have in <a href="http://www.eveonline.com"><em>EVE Online</em></a>. With the right skills you can scan down all types of hidden content, such as harvestable gas clouds, hidden asteroid belts, and combat encounters that take advantage of an explorer's skills like Archaeology and Hacking. The new exploration system that became part of <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/eve-online"><em>EVE</em></a> with the <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/apocrypha"><em>Apocrypha</em></a> expansion last winter also made it possible for players to discover wormholes leading to uncharted space. However, exploration is also something a number of new players feel daunted by. (<em>Truth be told though, the drag and drop system of manually guiding probes on a map and adjusting scan ranges is *far* easier than what many of the older players will remember from exploration pre-</em>Apocrypha.)<br /> <br /> <em>EVE Online</em> currently has four different exploration tutorials in-game to help players get a handle on the profession, but sometimes it's easier to just sit back and watch how it's done. <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/ccp-games">CCP</a> has now released a video tutorial for exploration that teaches players how to scan down the hidden content. The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heYfTA00Idg"><em>EVE Online</em>: Scanning Guide Tutorial</a> is a tag team effort from EVE TV's <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/ccp-charlie">CCP Charlie</a> who goes through the steps while <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/stevie-sg">Stevie SG</a> narrates. They show the viewer how it's possible to find a wormhole in just a few minutes. The video tutorial coincides with the <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/15/eve-online-giving-players-free-holiday-gift-the-zephyr/">free Zephyr exploration ship</a> that players are receiving as a holiday gift from <a href="http://www.ccpgames.com">CCP Games</a>. Stay with us after the jump for a video embed of the official Scanning Guide Tutorial for <em>EVE Online</em>.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ccp-releases-first-video-tutorial-for-exploration-in-eve-online/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>CCP releases first video tutorial for exploration in EVE Online</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/guides/" rel="tag">Guides</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/professions/" rel="tag">Professions</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/making-money/" rel="tag">Making money</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/tips-and-tricks/" rel="tag">Tips and tricks</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ccp-releases-first-video-tutorial-for-exploration-in-eve-online/">CCP releases first video tutorial for exploration in EVE Online</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.eveonline.com/news.asp?a=single&amp;nid=3644&amp;tid=1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ccp-releases-first-video-tutorial-for-exploration-in-eve-online/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286821/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ccp-releases-first-video-tutorial-for-exploration-in-eve-online/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mtnUgq-TMo_uD-Z21IavLE4IB1k/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mtnUgq-TMo_uD-Z21IavLE4IB1k/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mtnUgq-TMo_uD-Z21IavLE4IB1k/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mtnUgq-TMo_uD-Z21IavLE4IB1k/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/DpwTEm3yrS8" height="1" width="1"/> apocryphaarchaeologyccpccp-charlieccp-gamesdeadspace-complexeveeve-onlineexplorationladarmagnetometricmini-professionsplexesprofessionsradarscanningsci-fistevie-sgtutorialsvideowormholes James Egan Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ccp-releases-first-video-tutorial-for-exploration-in-eve-online/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/dlx0d5AOGEo/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/blue-mars-limited-term-pioneer-pricing-plans-announcement/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/blue-mars-limited-term-pioneer-pricing-plans-announcement/#comments <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively,com/category/blue-mars"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/09/tan-bluemars-2009-09-10-00-16-24-18.jpg" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/avatar-reality">Avatar Reality Inc</a>, the operators of <em><a href="http://bluemarsonline.com/">Blue Mars</a></em>, are today announcing limited time "pioneer" pricing for developers, digital entrepreneurs, educators, and businesses for space on the <em><a href="http://massively.com/category/blue-mars">Blue Mars</a></em> virtual environment platform.</p> <p>Space on <em>Blue Mars</em> is allocated in "cities". A <em>Blue Mars</em> city can be any size up to 16 kilometres on a side (a total of 256 million square metres). A city is more or less a discrete environment, or pocket "world" (if you prefer the term) with its own custom terrain, interface, rules, controls, items, themes, dominant language, and activities.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/blue-mars-limited-term-pioneer-pricing-plans-announcement/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Blue Mars limited-term pioneer pricing plans announcement</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/blue-mars/" rel="tag">Blue Mars</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual worlds</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/blue-mars-limited-term-pioneer-pricing-plans-announcement/">Blue Mars limited-term pioneer pricing plans announcement</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/blue-mars-limited-term-pioneer-pricing-plans-announcement/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286270/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/blue-mars-limited-term-pioneer-pricing-plans-announcement/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uu1RBcGxVRfg8MDouANVVwNA8tQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uu1RBcGxVRfg8MDouANVVwNA8tQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uu1RBcGxVRfg8MDouANVVwNA8tQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uu1RBcGxVRfg8MDouANVVwNA8tQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/dlx0d5AOGEo" height="1" width="1"/> avatar-realitybetasblue-marsbreakingbusiness-modelscaledoncaledonialinden-labopinionpricingsecond-lifevirtual-worlds Tateru Nino Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/blue-mars-limited-term-pioneer-pricing-plans-announcement/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/fHCjZA0KsLQ/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/hasbro-wizards-of-the-coast-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-r/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/hasbro-wizards-of-the-coast-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-r/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=26559"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/dndhasbrosuit.jpg" /></a></div> You might be wondering right now, "What's Massively doing covering a lawsuit between two companies that aren't MMO companies over a non-MMO product?" Well, dear readers, if you would come with us on a trip down memory lane, you might remember a <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/turbine">certain MMO developer</a> suing <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/atari">a certain publisher</a> over <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/08/26/breaking-turbine-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-online/">a certain set of rights</a> pertaining to, you guessed it, <a href="http://www.ddo.com"><em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons Online</em></a>.<br /> <br /> Well, it seems that <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=26559">Atari has sub-licensed</a> the <a href="http://www.wizards.com/DnD/"><em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons</em></a> rights out to Namco-Bandai, and Hasbro isn't too fond of that. <a href="http://www.namcobandaigames.com/">Namco-Bandai</a> is seen as a competitor to Hasbro's products, and Hasbro's contract with Atari specifically forbids them from doing any licensing like this. Namco-Bandai <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/24344/Namco_Bandai_Completes_Atari_European_Distro_Buy.php">has recently purchased</a> Atari's distribution wing in Europe, renaming it to Namco-Bandai partners.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/hasbro-wizards-of-the-coast-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-r/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast sues Atari over Dungeons &amp; Dragons rights</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively meta</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/legal/" rel="tag">Legal</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/hasbro-wizards-of-the-coast-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-r/">Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast sues Atari over Dungeons &amp; Dragons rights</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=26559>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/hasbro-wizards-of-the-coast-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-r/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286943/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/hasbro-wizards-of-the-coast-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-r/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HmO0G06Cu0vue77gd1WWBFJkHyA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HmO0G06Cu0vue77gd1WWBFJkHyA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HmO0G06Cu0vue77gd1WWBFJkHyA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HmO0G06Cu0vue77gd1WWBFJkHyA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/fHCjZA0KsLQ" height="1" width="1"/> ataribreakingcompetitorcryptic-studiosdnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinehasbrolegalnamco-bandaineverwinter-nights-mmoturbinewizards-of-the-coast Seraphina Brennan Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/hasbro-wizards-of-the-coast-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-r/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/w1gGnyGVD-8/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mmo-family-hey-this-looks-like-a-kids-game/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mmo-family-hey-this-looks-like-a-kids-game/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/10/16/mabinogis-dragon-update-adds-dragons/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/mabdragonupdate%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mmo-family/">MMO Family</a> is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family ... From tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate niches for every family member, MMO Family offers you advice on MMO gaming of the family, by the family and for the family.</em><br /> <br /> We've talked before about different ways to sniff out <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/10/16/mmo-family-con-your-games-like-a-pro/">if an MMO is a good choice</a> for your kids. What we haven't covered yet are the indicators that a game may <em>not</em> be a good fit for your family. In light of the long hours of freedom stretching before our kids when school's out (and the fact that parental oversight is more likely to be lenient, if not downright indulgent, during the holidays), we decided some yellow-light signals might be in order.<br /> <br /> Being a gaming parent sometimes makes it tougher, not simpler, to choose the right games for kids. Constant exposure to gaming news and game names can give us a false sense of familiarity. We build assumptions about games based on what we know about the companies that produce them. What we think we know actually makes it harder to spot what we're not clued into at all.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mmo-family-hey-this-looks-like-a-kids-game/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MMO Family: Hey, this looks like a kids' game</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/kids/" rel="tag">Kids</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mmo-family/" rel="tag">MMO Family</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mmo-family-hey-this-looks-like-a-kids-game/">MMO Family: Hey, this looks like a kids' game</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mmo-family-hey-this-looks-like-a-kids-game/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286224/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mmo-family-hey-this-looks-like-a-kids-game/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y2O8P1pks68FtslC2bGnPQlyv5c/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y2O8P1pks68FtslC2bGnPQlyv5c/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y2O8P1pks68FtslC2bGnPQlyv5c/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y2O8P1pks68FtslC2bGnPQlyv5c/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/w1gGnyGVD-8" height="1" width="1"/> childrenESRBfamilyfeaturedfree-to-playkidsparentsratingratings Lisa Poisso Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mmo-family-hey-this-looks-like-a-kids-game/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/r5rVFT2rTsA/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/betawatch-december-11-18-2009/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/betawatch-december-11-18-2009/#comments <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/betawatch"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/betawatchheader-sms-0709.jpg" /></a></div> <em>Welcome to <strong>Betawatch</strong>, Massively's weekly report on the state of MMO betas. In each installment, we'll report everything from the latest open betas, closed betas and even alphas in one convenient place. Plus, we'll make sure to include as much info on each game's current status, including projected release dates (if known) and links to the sign-up forms to get yourself into that beta you've been seeking.</em><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.everquest.com/everquest.vm"><em>EverQuest:Underfoot</em></a> leaves Betawatch this week after its <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/15/massively-digs-into-the-everquest-underfoot-expansion/">December 15th launch</a>. Blue Mars and Face of Mankind have also joined our open beta list. Follow along after the jump for the current list.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/betawatch-december-11-18-2009/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Betawatch: December 11-18, 2009</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively meta</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/betawatch/" rel="tag">Betawatch</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/betawatch-december-11-18-2009/">Betawatch: December 11-18, 2009</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/betawatch-december-11-18-2009/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286190/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/betawatch-december-11-18-2009/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oV4VQ7Qzvdwl3GlGISZ_4_cxk0A/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oV4VQ7Qzvdwl3GlGISZ_4_cxk0A/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oV4VQ7Qzvdwl3GlGISZ_4_cxk0A/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oV4VQ7Qzvdwl3GlGISZ_4_cxk0A/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/r5rVFT2rTsA" height="1" width="1"/> alphabetabetawatchclosed-betafeaturedmassively-metaopen-beta Rubi Bayer Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/betawatch-december-11-18-2009/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/AaJ3-k14IVo/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/one-shots-totemic/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/one-shots-totemic/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/gallery/one-shots/2546314/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os799_allods_580.jpg" /></a><br /></div> When it comes to free-to-play games it seems like every other day you turn around and there's another one. Even with that said, <a href="http://allods.gpotato.com/"><em>Allods Online</em></a> has been steadily gaining interest from the MMO blogosphere. While its gameplay is by no means reinventing the wheel, it does appear that the cute graphics and the refinement on extant mechanics <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/11/13/first-impressions-allods-online/">is turning heads</a>. If you haven't seen some of the ridiculously cute things in the game, today's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/One-Shots/">One Shots</a> from Jacob J. will give you an idea. He writes in:<em> <em>Because I'm liking <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Allods-Online/">Allods Online</a> so much; here's the obligatory "Gibberlings showing off by the waterfall" screenshot.</em></em><br /><br />If your MMO travels have taken you to a world we don't often see -- or one new to the scene altogether -- why not send in some screenshots and share your journeys! Email them to <strong>oneshots AT massively DOT com</strong> along with your name, the name of the game, and a brief description. We'll post them here and give you the credit. <br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/">One Shots</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2548139/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os800_aoc_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2546314/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os799_allods_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2543145/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os798_lotro_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2539781/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os797_fe_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2536524/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os797_aion_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/one-shots/" rel="tag">One Shots</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/allods-online/" rel="tag">Allods Online</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/one-shots-totemic/">One Shots: Totemic</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/one-shots-totemic/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286593/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/one-shots-totemic/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mHMPSaH0tAFEsv3XcsunL8WhzKg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mHMPSaH0tAFEsv3XcsunL8WhzKg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mHMPSaH0tAFEsv3XcsunL8WhzKg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mHMPSaH0tAFEsv3XcsunL8WhzKg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/AaJ3-k14IVo" height="1" width="1"/> allods-onlinegibberlingsgpotatojacob-jone-shotsscreenshotscreenshots Krystalle Voecks Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/one-shots-totemic/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/ut4butZ-V0w/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/free-realms-introduces-player-to-player-real-money-transactions/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/free-realms-introduces-player-to-player-real-money-transactions/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freerealms.com/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/fr-rb-1218.jpg" alt="" /><br /> </a></div> <a href="http://www.station.sony.com/">Sony Online Entertainment</a> is taking an interesting step to help cut down on fraud and gold farming: beating them at their own game. As of today, if you are a <a href="http://www.freerealms.com/"><em>Free Realms</em></a> player over the age of 18 you have the option to use <a href="http://www.livegamer.com/">Live Gamer Exchange</a> (LGX), a RMT service set up to allow players to trade virtual goods in <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-realms"><em>Free Realms</em></a> for real world cash.<em> "LGX for </em>Free Realms<em> allows SOE to make tremendous progress in reducing fraud by providing a secure platform for legitimate player-to-player transactions."</em><br /> <br /> Live Gamer is an established provider of real money transaction platforms, and all LGX transactions in <em>Free Realms</em> will be authenticated through Live Gamer and done without extra fees. It's an unusual approach to the gold-seller problem, but may meld well with the new <em>Free Realms</em> pricing structures in the end as players find they can earn a few dollars in game to offset the cost of advancing in the game.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-realms/" rel="tag">Free Realms</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/free-realms-introduces-player-to-player-real-money-transactions/">Free Realms Introduces player-to-player real money transactions</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/free-realms-introduces-player-to-player-real-money-transactions/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286994/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/free-realms-introduces-player-to-player-real-money-transactions/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5YMDV2XXnsMGeHNEJ9z9X-SApJY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5YMDV2XXnsMGeHNEJ9z9X-SApJY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5YMDV2XXnsMGeHNEJ9z9X-SApJY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5YMDV2XXnsMGeHNEJ9z9X-SApJY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/ut4butZ-V0w" height="1" width="1"/> free-realmsgold-sellerslgxLive-Gamerlive-gamer-exchangermtSOEsony-online-entertainment Rubi Bayer Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:30:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/free-realms-introduces-player-to-player-real-money-transactions/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/9EIWEK9TP78/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/usa-takes-the-gold-in-atlantica-online-during-the-game-and-game/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/usa-takes-the-gold-in-atlantica-online-during-the-game-and-game/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/robinswanatlantica.jpg" alt="" /></div> It's not very often that we get to announce that an American player won an international gaming championship! RobinSwan from the US server of <a href="http://atlantica.ndoorsgames.com"><em>Atlantica Online</em></a> went to capture the gold this year in the <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/05/06/atlantica-online-selected-for-game-and-game-world-championship-2/">Game and Game World Championship</a> (GNGWC), a collection of events focusing on different MMOs and featuring the top gamers from around the world.<br /> <br /> Robin went to trump 16 competitors from Europe, Vietnam, North America, Korea, South America, China, Japan and Thailand to take the prize of $5,000 and the gold medal for the <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/atlantica-online"><em>Atlantica Online</em></a> event. Robin's winning mercenary combos included a stun-lock/DoT combination of the Musician and Shaman to close the final match against Liu from China.<br /> <br /> We've got an exclusive Q&amp;A with RobinSwan about his winning techniques after the break, so come along and learn some PvP tactics for <em>Atlantica Online</em>.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/usa-takes-the-gold-in-atlantica-online-during-the-game-and-game/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>USA takes the gold in Atlantica Online during the Game and Game World Championship</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/atlantica-online/" rel="tag">Atlantica Online</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/usa-takes-the-gold-in-atlantica-online-during-the-game-and-game/">USA takes the gold in Atlantica Online during the Game and Game World Championship</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/usa-takes-the-gold-in-atlantica-online-during-the-game-and-game/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285796/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/usa-takes-the-gold-in-atlantica-online-during-the-game-and-game/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fjQNfN-PcrVm-kbJg4nLHteB6cs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fjQNfN-PcrVm-kbJg4nLHteB6cs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fjQNfN-PcrVm-kbJg4nLHteB6cs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fjQNfN-PcrVm-kbJg4nLHteB6cs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/9EIWEK9TP78" height="1" width="1"/> americaatlantica-onlinebreakingchampionshipgame-and-game-world-championshipgngwcmedalndoors-interactivepvprobinswantournament Seraphina Brennan Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/usa-takes-the-gold-in-atlantica-online-during-the-game-and-game/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/fNFFiWSlGsU/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/fallen-earth-offers-a-new-exclusive-item-via-direct2drive/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/fallen-earth-offers-a-new-exclusive-item-via-direct2drive/#comments <a href="http://www.fallenearth.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/fe-yetanotheritem-epl-1217.jpg" /></a><br /> Have you still not purchased <a href="http://www.fallenearth.com"><em>Fallen Earth</em></a>? Really? I mean, come on, you've been <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/02/fallen-earth-arrives-on-impulse-offers-more-exclusive-attire/">given</a> <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/11/26/order-fallen-earth-via-steam-and-improve-your-attire/">special</a> <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/11/17/fallen-earth-puts-a-feather-in-your-hat-for-purchasing/">items</a> everywhere you go to buy the game, you can get a discount if you're in the military, and they've just added new social features and gambling. Heck, we even <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/11/30/why-you-should-be-playing-fallen-earth-first-person-combat/">had a piece about why you ought to be playing it</a>, remember? Did all that not convince you? Well, admittedly, all of those other items were fluff and silliness, mildly useful but not exactly overwhelming. But with the latest offer, in partnership with <a href="http://www.direct2drive.com/">Direct2Drive</a>, they've brought what every apocalyptic survivor wants: <a href="http://www.fallenearth.com/node/329">brutal efficiency</a>.<br /> <br /> No t-shirts for you, after all. Fashion is nice, but it's not as nice as a tool that gives a +6 boost to Scavenging skills, without taking up one of your valuable armor slots. Nor is it as nice as having a pair of Experience Boosts on-hand for any and all late-night grinding sessions you'd care to take part in. And if you'd like some backup out in the harsh wastelands, well, that's what the included Buddy Pass covers, letting you invite a friend to join you in <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Fallen-Earth/">Fallen Earth</a></em> for a free 15-day trial. If all of this hasn't yet <a href="http://www.fallenearth.com/node/329">enticed you into the game</a> through <a href="http://www.direct2drive.com/">one of the more popular digital distributors</a> out there, well, we don't know what it will take. Maybe even more hats.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fallen-earth/" rel="tag">Fallen Earth</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/leveling/" rel="tag">Leveling</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/fallen-earth-offers-a-new-exclusive-item-via-direct2drive/">Fallen Earth offers a new exclusive item via Direct2Drive</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.fallenearth.com/node/329>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/fallen-earth-offers-a-new-exclusive-item-via-direct2drive/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286111/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/fallen-earth-offers-a-new-exclusive-item-via-direct2drive/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MasWClatmb-P6GlShc8f6yqOAvY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MasWClatmb-P6GlShc8f6yqOAvY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MasWClatmb-P6GlShc8f6yqOAvY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MasWClatmb-P6GlShc8f6yqOAvY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/fNFFiWSlGsU" height="1" width="1"/> bonus-itemsdigital-distributiondirect2driveexperience-boostsfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfegiveawaysnews-itemspost-apocalypticscavengingspecial-offers Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/fallen-earth-offers-a-new-exclusive-item-via-direct2drive/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/2s6_jXSPVwY/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/guild-wars-adds-costumes-just-in-time-for-wintersday/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/guild-wars-adds-costumes-just-in-time-for-wintersday/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guildwars.com/gameplay/loot_and_items/costumes/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/omgwant-rb-1217-1261116216.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> Last night's fairly sizable patch in <a href="http://www.guildwars.com"><em>Guild Wars</em></a> was a bit of a surprise to players who weren't expecting any Wintersday updates until today, and a quick round of "What was that?" throughout the game led to the discovery of a big surprise from <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/arenanet">ArenaNet</a>: <a href="http://www.guildwars.com/gameplay/loot_and_items/costumes/">costumes</a>! In what is hopefully the first of many, special <a href="http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Grenth">Grenth</a> and <a href="http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Dwayna">Dwayna</a> Wintersday costumes are now available in the <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/ncsoft">NCsoft</a> store.<br /> <br /> Each version can be purchased for $6.99 US in the store, but <a href="http://www.ncsoft.com/global/">NCsoft</a> has an <a href="https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/Store.pl?dnv=1526850908&amp;action=viewItem&amp;item_id=165">introductory deal</a> until January 17th -- both sets for $9.99. The costumes are account-wide, headpieces are included, they can be dyed, and you'll get both male and female versions so none of your characters are left out. The costumes are purely cosmetic and can be worn over your existing armor without a change in stats, so feel free to charge into battle dressed as Grenth to put a little extra fear into your opponents.<br /> <br /> A brand new feature like this one is bound to bring an avalanche of questions from players, so we suggest you start with <a href="http://www.guildwars.com/products/extras/costumes/">the costume FAQ</a> before heading over to the NCsoft store.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/guild-wars/" rel="tag">Guild Wars</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/guild-wars-adds-costumes-just-in-time-for-wintersday/">Guild Wars adds costumes just in time for Wintersday</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.guildwars.com/products/extras/costumes/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/guild-wars-adds-costumes-just-in-time-for-wintersday/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286293/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/guild-wars-adds-costumes-just-in-time-for-wintersday/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MQp7BKnIYam0QrIGqgLaAdEm4II/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MQp7BKnIYam0QrIGqgLaAdEm4II/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MQp7BKnIYam0QrIGqgLaAdEm4II/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MQp7BKnIYam0QrIGqgLaAdEm4II/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/2s6_jXSPVwY" height="1" width="1"/> arenanetcostumesDwaynaGrenthguild-warsncsoftncsoft-storewintersday-costumes Rubi Bayer Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/guild-wars-adds-costumes-just-in-time-for-wintersday/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/FQnG0znW74g/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ddo-unlimited-rolls-out-second-major-update/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ddo-unlimited-rolls-out-second-major-update/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/t48gtq234hg0.jpg" /></a></div> <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/Turbine/">Turbine</a> is rolling out its second large update for <a href="http://www.ddo.com/"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited</em></a>, which includes a substantial new Adventure Pack entitled Dreaming Dark. If you're interested in finding out more about the new questing content, <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/05/dungeons-and-dragons-online-developer-tour-the-dreaming-dark/">we have some hands-on experience with Dreaming Dark</a> and the plot surrounding the Plane of Dreams and its many dangers.<br /> <br /> There's plenty more in this new update, however, including many new DDO Store items and improvements. Turbine is even adding special holiday items like snowballs. In addition to that, players can celebrate Festivult, where every treasure chest has the potential to drop festival coins. Free dungeons and adventure packs are all potential Festival coin carries, so nobody gets left out. Coins are turned in to the Festivult Jester, who'll exchange them for gifts crafted specially for the season from House Ghallanda and House Cannith.<br /> <br /> Sounds like good times in <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/"><em>DDO Unlimited</em></a>. Who doesn't enjoy finding extra loot in their treasure chest? Well, assuming it isn't junk loot, of course!<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ddo-unlimited-rolls-out-second-major-update/">DDO Unlimited rolls out second major update</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ddo-unlimited-rolls-out-second-major-update/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19284839/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ddo-unlimited-rolls-out-second-major-update/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wbOHlw_7aMpDhuIO5nibPLSPxac/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wbOHlw_7aMpDhuIO5nibPLSPxac/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wbOHlw_7aMpDhuIO5nibPLSPxac/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wbOHlw_7aMpDhuIO5nibPLSPxac/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/FQnG0znW74g" height="1" width="1"/> adventure-packddoddo-unlimiteddreaming-darkdungeons-and-dragons-onlinefestivulthands-onhouse-cannithhouse-ghallandaturbine Kyle Horner Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/ddo-unlimited-rolls-out-second-major-update/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/4HpbaMDKAHk/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/cabal-online-reloads-for-a-new-update/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/cabal-online-reloads-for-a-new-update/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://newforum.ogplanet.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=136180"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/cabalreloadedupdate.jpg" /></a></div> Free-to-play MMO <a href="http://cabal.ogplanet.com/"><em>CABAL Online</em></a> has recently played host to a new update entitled "<a href="http://cabal.ogplanet.com/news.og?op=nview&amp;num=1990&amp;pn=1"><em>CABAL Reloaded</em></a>." The new update has aimed to correct a few areas of gameplay as well as offering players some brand new content to play through.<br /> <br /> As a few other games have recently done, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/cabal-online"><em>CABAL</em></a> has looked at their earlier gameplay and made a few changes to the early content. In <em>Reloaded</em>, the developers have added <a href="http://newforum.ogplanet.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=135496">three new dungeons</a> targeted at those between levels 35 and 70, giving lower level players more options of game play. <a href="http://newforum.ogplanet.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=135497">New quests</a> have been added to the game as well, but those quests are more targeted towards endgame players, rather than midgame.<br /> <br /> Other additions, such as skill books and a change to the party interface, adds more to the playability of the game than it changes how the game plays. For the full story on what's been added and changed, check out <a href="http://newforum.ogplanet.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=136180">the full patch notes</a> available on the North American forums.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/cabal-online/" rel="tag">Cabal Online</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/cabal-online-reloads-for-a-new-update/">CABAL Online reloads for a new update</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://newforum.ogplanet.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=136180>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/cabal-online-reloads-for-a-new-update/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285226/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/cabal-online-reloads-for-a-new-update/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jpvDWEt4r9dXZMPaQYmT4egiD90/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jpvDWEt4r9dXZMPaQYmT4egiD90/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jpvDWEt4r9dXZMPaQYmT4egiD90/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jpvDWEt4r9dXZMPaQYmT4egiD90/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/4HpbaMDKAHk" height="1" width="1"/> cabalcabal-onlinecabal-reloadedexpansionnew-dungeonsogplanetpatchquestsupdate Seraphina Brennan Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/cabal-online-reloads-for-a-new-update/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/qUjs31yIqK0/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mortal-online-newsletter-announces-launch-delays-holiday-discou/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mortal-online-newsletter-announces-launch-delays-holiday-discou/#comments <a href="http://www.mortalonline.com/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/mo-releasedelay-epl-1217.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> We all know that launch dates for an MMO are loose targets at best and long shots in the darkness at worst. While it's disappointing when a game doesn't hit the target date, by and large players are used to it and all but expect it to happen -- it's part of the cycle. But it's still more than a little depressing to see that <a href="http://www.mortalonline.com"><em>Mortal Online</em></a>, the upcoming game from <a href="http://www.starvault.se/">Star Vault</a>, is going to be delayed by a month. That's the word in the <a href="http://www.warcry.com/news/view/96915-Mortal-Online-Release-Pushed-Back">latest newsletter for the game's fans</a>, which is a bit of a depressing way to lead into the holidays, to say the least.<br /> <br /> The Limited Editions of the boxed game will also be seeing a slight delay, due to production issues with the artbook included. To compensate purchasers of the Limited Edition, an extra week of free playtime is being added to make up for the delayed ship. And to help take the sting off the entire sad process of delaying the game, Star Vault is <a href="http://www.warcry.com/news/view/96915-Mortal-Online-Release-Pushed-Back">offering discounts on both digital downloads and the last boxed editions of the game</a>. <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Mortal-Online/"><em>Mortal Online</em></a>'s fans and beta testers are still likely to be sad about the delay, of course, but a few little bonuses never fail to take the edge off.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mortal-online/" rel="tag">Mortal Online</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mortal-online-newsletter-announces-launch-delays-holiday-discou/">Mortal Online newsletter announces launch delays, holiday discounts</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.warcry.com/news/view/96915-Mortal-Online-Release-Pushed-Back>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mortal-online-newsletter-announces-launch-delays-holiday-discou/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285339/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mortal-online-newsletter-announces-launch-delays-holiday-discou/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dluN3t59opHqvOHh7rzHjc1y-10/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dluN3t59opHqvOHh7rzHjc1y-10/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dluN3t59opHqvOHh7rzHjc1y-10/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dluN3t59opHqvOHh7rzHjc1y-10/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/qUjs31yIqK0" height="1" width="1"/> betaboxed-gamesdiscountsfanslaunch-delayslaunchesmortal-onlineshipping-delaystar-vault Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/mortal-online-newsletter-announces-launch-delays-holiday-discou/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/jAjXHQSQZnM/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/the-daily-grind-what-kind-of-weapons-do-you-long-for/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/the-daily-grind-what-kind-of-weapons-do-you-long-for/#comments <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusarigama"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/tdg-weapons-epl-1216.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> There's not exactly <em>nothing</em> to do in many games if you don't want to hurt anyone, but outside of certain environments such as <a href="http://secondlife.com"><em>Second Life</em></a>, you're going to be spending a good amount of your time racking up an impressive string of kills. Rather than <a href="http://johntynes.com/revland2000/rl_powerkill.html">considering the in-depth moral ramifications of that</a>, it's probably better to focus on the more pertinent issues of <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ImprobableWeaponUser">what crazy items you can use to inflict said kills</a>. Whips and chains, for instance, put in a miserably small showing across the variety of games that are on the market, despite having <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChainedByFashion">obvious advantages</a>.<br /> <br /> Today, we ask you what sort of bizarre weapon you'd like to see in your game of choice. Whether it be something practical with a solid basis such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusarigama">kusarigama</a> pictured above or something <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ParasolOfPain">unwieldy and unlikely to be reasonable</a>, there are probably weapons that are nowhere to be found or at least only found in a few settings that you still harbor a soft spot for. What do you want your character to tote around as an engine of destruction?<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/academic/" rel="tag">Academic</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/the-daily-grind-what-kind-of-weapons-do-you-long-for/">The Daily Grind: What kind of weapons do you long for?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/the-daily-grind-what-kind-of-weapons-do-you-long-for/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19284486/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/the-daily-grind-what-kind-of-weapons-do-you-long-for/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4qfepmqpcFtkIK-LHsp_BmkLTw4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4qfepmqpcFtkIK-LHsp_BmkLTw4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4qfepmqpcFtkIK-LHsp_BmkLTw4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4qfepmqpcFtkIK-LHsp_BmkLTw4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/jAjXHQSQZnM" height="1" width="1"/> armamentschainshurting-thingsimpractical-weaponsridiculous-weaponssecond-lifetdgthe-daily-grindweaponswhips Eliot Lefebvre Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/18/the-daily-grind-what-kind-of-weapons-do-you-long-for/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/dpVF1mnddBI/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ask-cryptic-about-klingons-in-sto/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ask-cryptic-about-klingons-in-sto/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/star-trek-online/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/450gejh24987rwe3qer8723.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> Do you have burning questions about Klingon play in <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a>? <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/Cryptic/">Cryptic</a> is more than aware that people are going to have questions, and so they've put up a new thread (<a href="http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?t=43239">hit it up right here</a>) where you can use a Cryptic account to post all the questions your heart could ever possibly desire to ask. We're sure to see the answers sooner rather than later, but with holidays occurring next week, it may take longer than usual. <br /> <br /> Also, in case you need some help with your questions, here are some keywords we'd suggest you consider using when asking questions about Klingons: booze, battle and bat'leth.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ask-cryptic-about-klingons-in-sto/">Ask Cryptic about Klingons in STO</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?t=43239>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ask-cryptic-about-klingons-in-sto/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19286017/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ask-cryptic-about-klingons-in-sto/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8Ag8He6Oiy-ETmxadlKcOA8eYOA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8Ag8He6Oiy-ETmxadlKcOA8eYOA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8Ag8He6Oiy-ETmxadlKcOA8eYOA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8Ag8He6Oiy-ETmxadlKcOA8eYOA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/dpVF1mnddBI" height="1" width="1"/> alcoholask-crypticataribat-lethbeerboozeklingonklingonspvpstar-trekstar-trek-onlinesto Kyle Horner Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ask-cryptic-about-klingons-in-sto/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/DrxRrURbibs/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/turbine-releases-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screenshots/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/turbine-releases-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screenshots/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lotro.com/mirkwood/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/lotrosmall-rb-1217.jpg" /></a></div> The new <a href="http://www.lotro.com"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> expansion, <a href="http://www.lotro.com/mirkwood"><em>Siege of Mirkwood</em></a>, has players enjoying a wealth of new content and improved mechanics, and with some ramped-up hardware on the way things are bound to get even better.<br /> <br /> Tower raids are a part of Mirkwood that players have been enjoying, and how could they not? Attacking the tower, taking on Sauron's minions, and fighting a dragon -- what's not to love? Today <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> released six new screenshots from a tower raid, and as usual they are gorgeous, giving a very nice overall look at the scenery both inside and out.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> has got a <a href="http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/569-developer-diary-yule-festival-of-2009">lot going on</a> over the next two weeks, but if you can tear yourself away from the beer fights for a bit, these screenshots should provide some incentive to check out a new area in Mirkwood (if you haven't already). Follow along after the jump for a look.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/turbine-releases-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screenshots/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Turbine releases new Siege of Mirkwood screenshots</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/turbine-releases-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screenshots/">Turbine releases new Siege of Mirkwood screenshots</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.lotro.com/mirkwood/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/turbine-releases-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screenshots/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285111/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/turbine-releases-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screenshots/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0_Wy0xDUp2T2OqAntfQWAUEV4a0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0_Wy0xDUp2T2OqAntfQWAUEV4a0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0_Wy0xDUp2T2OqAntfQWAUEV4a0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0_Wy0xDUp2T2OqAntfQWAUEV4a0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/DrxRrURbibs" height="1" width="1"/> lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroscreenshotssiege-of-mirkwoodtower-raidsturbine Rubi Bayer Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/turbine-releases-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screenshots/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/F7A5UcfK6tU/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/#comments <a href="http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Winter_Event_2009"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/coh-holidaycontest-epl-1217.jpg" /></a><br /> It's holiday time in both <a href="http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Paragon_City">Paragon City</a> and the <a href="http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Rogue_Isles">Rogue Isles</a>, and that means it's time for players of <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com"><em>City of Heroes</em></a> to celebrate the occasion. We <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/16/massivelys-2009-winter-holiday-event-guide/">recently discussed</a> the game's <a href="http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Winter_Event_2009">holiday event</a>, which is of course how the characters in the game get to enjoy the start of the winter months. But what about the players behind the keyboard, the ones who may very well have donated to charitable causes and deserve something nice themselves this holiday season? Well, perhaps if you're blessed with a spot of luck and the spirit of the season, you could win some decorations for yourself and your environment in the game's <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/contests_promos/the_city_of_heroes_holiday_con.html">holiday contest</a>.<br /> <br /> The contest has two categories, for most festive costume and most festively-decorated base, with three winners per category. Prizes include hero and villain pins, some of the limited-edition <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/City-of-Heroes/">City of Heroes</a></em> fifth-anniversary t-shirts, and a few other nice toys. All that's required for entry is to take two screenshots of your character's costume or your decorated base and submit them by January 3rd, which means that everyone in the game has both time an inclination to get into the spirit of things. Read <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/contests_promos/the_city_of_heroes_holiday_con.html">the official rules</a> for more details, and get a little something back for your superhuman antics being seasonally appropriate.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/city-of-heroes/" rel="tag">City of Heroes</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/city-of-villains/" rel="tag">City of Villains</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/contests/" rel="tag">Contests</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/">City of Heroes offers holiday contest</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/contests_promos/the_city_of_heroes_holiday_con.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285343/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/itwVyGitwZrhbQc3JRspzRCABz0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/itwVyGitwZrhbQc3JRspzRCABz0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/itwVyGitwZrhbQc3JRspzRCABz0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/itwVyGitwZrhbQc3JRspzRCABz0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/F7A5UcfK6tU" height="1" width="1"/> city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcontestscostumecovcoxfestiveholiday-2009holiday-contestncsoftparagon-cityparagon-studiosrogue-islesscreenshot-contestsupergroup-base Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/7Tjy1GDpBpM/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/best-buy-offers-guild-wars-trilogy-for-14-99-why-you-need-to/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/best-buy-offers-guild-wars-trilogy-for-14-99-why-you-need-to/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Guild+Wars+Trilogy+-+Windows/9075056.p?id=1218016140412&amp;skuId=9075056&amp;st=guild%20wars&amp;lp=1&amp;cp=1"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/gw-rb-1217.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> In case you haven't heard, <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/">Best Buy</a> is offering the <a href="http://www.guildwars.com"><em>Guild Wars</em></a> <a href="http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Guild_Wars_Trilogy">Trilogy</a> at a <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Guild+Wars+Trilogy+-+Windows/9075056.p?id=1218016140412&amp;skuId=9075056&amp;st=guild%20wars&amp;lp=1&amp;cp=1">serious discount</a> this week. $14.99 for <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/guild-wars"><em>Guild Wars</em></a>: Prophecies, Factions, and Nightfall. Since the game is free-to-play, a one-time price of $15 for all three games is a powerful incentive to check out the game as a new player. But what if you're a longtime player who loves a bargain? Are you staring at the offer, thinking "Oh man, $14.99. I really don't NEED another account, but..." Never fear, for we are here to help justify your purchase with our "ten things to do with an extra Guild Wars account."<br /> <br /> <br /> 1. <a href="http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/PvP">PvP</a> against yourself.<br /> 2. Hide all your stuff until the <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/11/30/guild-wars-account-security-issues-continue/">hacking issue</a> is sorted out.<br /> 3. Pick up more presents from <a href="http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Nicholas_the_traveler">Nicholas the Traveler</a>.<br /> 4. More Xunlai tournament points...<a href="http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User:Regina_Buenaobra/Journal/Archive_Apr-Jun_2009#Xunlai_Tournament_House_-_23_June_2009">wait, never mind</a>.<br /> 5. Lots of <a href="https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/Store.pl?dnv=247623435&amp;action=viewItem&amp;item_id=111">extra storage</a> at a fraction of the price.<br /> 6. Got friends in two different guilds and torn on which one to stick with? Put an account in both!<br /> 7. Lend yourself three more <a href="http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Hero">heroes</a> if you're feeling particularly antisocial.<br /> 8. <a href="http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Run">Run your alts places</a>.<br /> 9. Use up all of those great character names that you thought up but didn't have the character slots for.<br /> 10. Do <a href="http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Zaishen_Mission">Tihark Orchard and Chahbek Village</a> on even MORE characters.<br /> <br /> We're sure you can think up even more reasons to make the purchase -- if it helps, they even offer a "Great Financing Offer" if you need to spread your payments over 18 months. So pick up a little Christmas gift for yourself. Enjoy!<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/guild-wars/" rel="tag">Guild Wars</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/best-buy-offers-guild-wars-trilogy-for-14-99-why-you-need-to/">Best Buy offers Guild Wars Trilogy for $14.99 -- why you need to buy it</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Guild+Wars+Trilogy+-+Windows/9075056.p?id=1218016140412&amp;skuId=9075056&amp;st=guild%20wars&amp;lp=1&amp;cp=1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/best-buy-offers-guild-wars-trilogy-for-14-99-why-you-need-to/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285483/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/best-buy-offers-guild-wars-trilogy-for-14-99-why-you-need-to/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/W02yYHhIjhqzNLxtE4nVcTIZKMQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/W02yYHhIjhqzNLxtE4nVcTIZKMQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/W02yYHhIjhqzNLxtE4nVcTIZKMQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/W02yYHhIjhqzNLxtE4nVcTIZKMQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/7Tjy1GDpBpM" height="1" width="1"/> arenanetbest-buyguild-warsguild-wars-factionsguild-wars-nightfallguild-wars-propheciesguild-wars-trilogy Rubi Bayer Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/best-buy-offers-guild-wars-trilogy-for-14-99-why-you-need-to/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/nxZ-KVTgFDU/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/zachary-quinto-in-sto-as-klingons-gameplay-is-revealed/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/zachary-quinto-in-sto-as-klingons-gameplay-is-revealed/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/gallery/star-trek-online-gallery/2544003/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/header8235njf34298er355y7.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> Today we bring <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> fans two big chunks of information and a whole slew of Klingon screens, too. First is a short trailer featuring Zachary Quinto laying down dialog for the game. Make sure you watch the video until the very end, as there's a fun extra you won't want to miss.<br /> <br /> Second -- and arguably much more exciting to specific fans -- is the reveal of Klingon gameplay. Klingons are PvP only, meaning their progression contains no PvE questing of any kind. Just how much information are we talking about here? Well, pretty much all of it. In fact, we're kind of wondering why you're still reading this and not looking below the cut, where vast amounts of Klingon gameplay treasure awaits.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/star-trek-online-gallery/">Star Trek Online Gallery</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/star-trek-online-gallery/2451212/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/11/stobridge2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/star-trek-online-gallery/2451213/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/11/stobridge3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/star-trek-online-gallery/1480579/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/04/sto_screen_032709_02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/star-trek-online-gallery/2451211/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/11/stobridge1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/star-trek-online-gallery/1480580/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/04/sto_screen_032709_03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/zachary-quinto-in-sto-as-klingons-gameplay-is-revealed/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Zachary Quinto in STO as Klingons gameplay is revealed</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/zachary-quinto-in-sto-as-klingons-gameplay-is-revealed/">Zachary Quinto in STO as Klingons gameplay is revealed</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/zachary-quinto-in-sto-as-klingons-gameplay-is-revealed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285830/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/zachary-quinto-in-sto-as-klingons-gameplay-is-revealed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ikiNiSu2ZGm5XPl86rJHWnIeBP0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ikiNiSu2ZGm5XPl86rJHWnIeBP0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ikiNiSu2ZGm5XPl86rJHWnIeBP0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ikiNiSu2ZGm5XPl86rJHWnIeBP0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/nxZ-KVTgFDU" height="1" width="1"/> ataricrypticcryptic-studiosklingonklingon-empirepvpstar-trekstar-trek-onlinestotrailervideozachary-quinto Kyle Horner Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/zachary-quinto-in-sto-as-klingons-gameplay-is-revealed/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/x8AikklYgpU/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/cryptic-we-didnt-want-to-delete-your-batman-clone-we-had-to/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/cryptic-we-didnt-want-to-delete-your-batman-clone-we-had-to/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://champions-online.com/node/594793"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/gino.jpg" /></a></div> One of the most talked about features of <a href="http://www.championsonline.com"><em>Champions Online</em></a> is the outstanding character creator, practically a game in itself. It's a great part of the game, but there's a downside. It's so versatile, and you can do so much, that you can easily make the perfect Gollum or <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/08/20/if-there-was-a-gi-joe-mmo-this-is-what-it-would-look-like/">G.I. Joe clone</a>. That's not as awesome as it sounds, because your character will get downgraded to a plain old shirt-and-jeans-wearing guy sooner or later.<br /> <br /> "Why is <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/cryptic">Cryptic</a> so mean?" you might ask. The <a href="http://champions-online.com/node/594793">latest dev blog</a> explains that that's not the case at all. Noel "Destra' Holmes has quite a bit to say about the ongoing issue of IP violations, but it boils down to this:<em> "</em><em>The requirement to remove IP Violation characters from </em>Champions <em>is completely based on the fact that having IP Violation characters in our game puts us at a legal risk, and the unfortunate fact of the matter is that we are required to remove them from our game, or the owner of the IP in question can take us to court for stealing their stuff."</em><br /> <br /> The<a href="http://champions-online.com/node/594793"> full blog entry</a> is very informative, and well worth a read for any <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/champions-online"><em>Champions Online</em></a> fan.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/champions-online/" rel="tag">Champions Online</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/cryptic-we-didnt-want-to-delete-your-batman-clone-we-had-to/">Cryptic: We didn't want to delete your Batman clone, we had to</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://champions-online.com/node/594793>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/cryptic-we-didnt-want-to-delete-your-batman-clone-we-had-to/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285141/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/cryptic-we-didnt-want-to-delete-your-batman-clone-we-had-to/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ok9Xte5VoIZMYrZdMORpw-8sWSk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ok9Xte5VoIZMYrZdMORpw-8sWSk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ok9Xte5VoIZMYrZdMORpw-8sWSk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ok9Xte5VoIZMYrZdMORpw-8sWSk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/x8AikklYgpU" height="1" width="1"/> champions-onlinecharacter-creationcocrypticcryptic-studiosdev-blogip-violationlegalnoel-holmes Rubi Bayer Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/cryptic-we-didnt-want-to-delete-your-batman-clone-we-had-to/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/xuM5bmuIYRY/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/anti-aliased-rogue-rage/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/anti-aliased-rogue-rage/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/anti-aliased"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/aaroguerage.jpg" /></a></div> There's always a rogue. Doesn't matter what setting you're really dealing with either. Medieval times? Rogues. Renaissance? Professional rogues. Great Depression? Organized crime. Modern day? Thieves. Sci-fi? Assassins. It's the one job that follows you no matter where you go.<br /> <br /> Yet, I don't think we utilize our fine shadowy friends well. No, let me say it even stronger, we've sidestepped our shadowsteppers. Rogues use to be more than backstabbers and cutpurses, but since the traditional MMORPG model has taken over, our rogues have taken steps backwards.<br /> <br /> No guys, this isn't just some rant thread about how the rogue classes needs uber l33t buffs. This is about how the class plays at its very core across all games. This is about taking advantage of a class's passive abilities and how just a few new tricks of the trade can aid social gameplay for everyone.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/anti-aliased-rogue-rage/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Anti-Aliased: Rogue rage</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/roleplaying/" rel="tag">Roleplaying</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/anti-aliased/" rel="tag">Anti-Aliased</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/anti-aliased-rogue-rage/">Anti-Aliased: Rogue rage</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/anti-aliased-rogue-rage/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285549/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/anti-aliased-rogue-rage/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4FNGURT7rkUs7xPSjL23arNlP1U/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4FNGURT7rkUs7xPSjL23arNlP1U/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4FNGURT7rkUs7xPSjL23arNlP1U/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4FNGURT7rkUs7xPSjL23arNlP1U/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/xuM5bmuIYRY" height="1" width="1"/> anti-aliasedblizzarddisarm-trapsfeaturedhidden-doorsnot-a-rougeopinionpassive-abilitiespen-and-paper-roleplayingpick-lockravenholdtrogueroleplayingsocial-gameplaythiefworld-of-warcraft Seraphina Brennan Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/anti-aliased-rogue-rage/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/KvU5n-idP3U/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/sony-launching-mmo-for-playstation-home/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/sony-launching-mmo-for-playstation-home/#comments <img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/home-logo.jpg" /><a href="http://www.sony.com/index.php?CMP=AF18383">Sony</a> is adding an MMO to the ranks of games currently offered on <a href="http://www.us.playstation.com/PSN/Home"><em>PlayStation Home</em></a>. <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/12/introducing-sodium-one-the-next-evolution-of-playstation-home/"><em>Sodium One</em></a> launches today and is a sci-fi themed game involving a variety of games and community events. Players will begin their experience in <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/sodium-one"><em>Sodium One</em></a> with VICKIE, an NPC who is responsible for assigning quests. The first game is "Salt Shooter" (Are we sensing a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium">theme</a> here?), and sends you off in a tank to fight robots.<br /> <br /> Sony has adopted a pricing structure that is becoming increasingly familiar: free-to-play to a point, with the option to break out the credit card and purchase more in an a la carte system. You can play the first five levels free, and additional items are available for purchase to help you advance beyond that.<br /> <br /> The game launches today for <a href="http://www.us.playstation.com/">PlayStation 3</a> owners who have a <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/home"><em>PlayStation Home</em></a> account -- just look for the teleporter in the PlayStation Home Central Plaza and you're on your way.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/sodium-one/" rel="tag">Sodium One</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/sony-launching-mmo-for-playstation-home/">Sony launching MMO for PlayStation Home</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/12/introducing-sodium-one-the-next-evolution-of-playstation-home/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/sony-launching-mmo-for-playstation-home/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285129/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/sony-launching-mmo-for-playstation-home/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lHOwJK3Q6Gw04M6HzJFPVlMibOU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lHOwJK3Q6Gw04M6HzJFPVlMibOU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lHOwJK3Q6Gw04M6HzJFPVlMibOU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lHOwJK3Q6Gw04M6HzJFPVlMibOU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/KvU5n-idP3U" height="1" width="1"/> console-mmosalt-shootersodium-oneSONYsony-playstation-3sony-playstation-home Rubi Bayer Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:30:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/sony-launching-mmo-for-playstation-home/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/Xyahuqkq0Ys/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ryzom-launches-1-7-patch/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ryzom-launches-1-7-patch/#comments <a href="http://www.ryzom.com/en/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/ryzom-newpatch-epl-1216.jpg" /><br /> </a><a href="http://www.ryzom.com/en/"><em>Ryzom</em></a> might be a five-year-old game, but despite the few hiccups it went through, it remains an attractive and diverse game with a number of features still not widely found in the genre. Having celebrated its anniversary earlier this year, the game continues to roll along at a steady clip, exemplified by the <a href="http://forums.ryzom.com/showthread.php?t=34685">newly-released patch 1.7</a>. The patch's title, The Kitin's Lair, alludes to one of its central elements: a new zone, the first part of the aforementioned lair. Kitins are one of the game's central adversaries, and so the patch's warning to avoid entering the lair alone is no doubt well-advised.<br /> <br /> That's hardly the only feature in the latest patch, however -- the game has also added an overhauled mail system, in-game forums for roleplaying and guilds, and the ability to enter viewable character biographies built in to the game's engine. The game has also adjusted the level display system, now using numbers to indicate the target's level only when it is close to that of the player. The addition of official <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7">Windows 7</a> support makes <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Ryzom/">Ryzom</a></em> more accessible, so the game's players would do well to <a href="http://forums.ryzom.com/showthread.php?t=34685">take note of what the patch brings</a>, and those of you who've never heard of the game may want to give it a fresh look.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/ryzom/" rel="tag">Ryzom</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ryzom-launches-1-7-patch/">Ryzom launches 1.7 patch</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.warcry.com/news/view/96885-Ryzom-Updates-to-v1-7-0-The-Kitins-Lair>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ryzom-launches-1-7-patch/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19284427/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ryzom-launches-1-7-patch/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZJgeTKFEs6QpvKKmToxLhCIdxJQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZJgeTKFEs6QpvKKmToxLhCIdxJQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZJgeTKFEs6QpvKKmToxLhCIdxJQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZJgeTKFEs6QpvKKmToxLhCIdxJQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/Xyahuqkq0Ys" height="1" width="1"/> kitins-lairnews-itemsroleplayingrp-profileryzomryzom-patch-1.7saga-of-ryzomsystem-updateswin7windows-7 Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ryzom-launches-1-7-patch/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/9wzHJDoF_lc/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/demystifying-the-secret-worlds-enigmatic-dragon/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/demystifying-the-secret-worlds-enigmatic-dragon/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-secret-world/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/2346y7a56.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> There's definitely a certain type of player the enigmatic Dragon secret society will appeal to in <a href="http://www.darkdaysarecoming.com/"><em>The Secret World</em></a>. We can say that with even greater confidence after reading <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/thesecretworld/news.html?sid=6243637&amp;tag=topslot;thumb;2&amp;mode=previews">Gamespot's Dragon-focused interview</a> with <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/Funcom">Funcom's</a> Ragnar Tornquist. They're masters of the subtle and maestros of manipulation -- also, they carry katanas and guns.<br /> <br /> The interview runs the gamut topic-wise, but many of the answers coming from Ragnar are still incredibly careful to avoid any and all spoilers. Nevertheless, there's still much to be gleaned from regarding what these guys are about and how playing them is going to be different from the other two factions within <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/The-Secret-World/"><em>The Secret World</em></a>. Our favorite nugget of new information? Lighting your katana on fire being confirmed as an in-game feature. There really isn't anything quite as satisfying as splitting a foul monster in twain with a burning chopping blade of death!<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/the-secret-world-art/">The Secret World Art</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/the-secret-world-art/2271516/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/09/uniform_dragon3457yuta_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/the-secret-world-art/2271517/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/09/uniform_illuminati346yrhg_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/the-secret-world-art/2271518/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/09/uniform_templars4ytgseryt_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/the-secret-world-art/2271519/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/09/uniforms_combined26y4rhgf_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/the-secret-world-art/2271546/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/09/tsw_art_1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/demystifying-the-secret-worlds-enigmatic-dragon/">Demystifying The Secret World's enigmatic Dragon</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/thesecretworld/news.html?sid=6243637&amp;tag=topslot;thumb;2&amp;mode=previews>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/demystifying-the-secret-worlds-enigmatic-dragon/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19284553/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/demystifying-the-secret-worlds-enigmatic-dragon/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pi27ORaniWJoimIHNwPEJpDTmJI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pi27ORaniWJoimIHNwPEJpDTmJI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pi27ORaniWJoimIHNwPEJpDTmJI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pi27ORaniWJoimIHNwPEJpDTmJI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/9wzHJDoF_lc" height="1" width="1"/> dragonfuncomgamespotilluminatiragnar-tornquistsecret-societiestemplarthe-secret-worldtsw Kyle Horner Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/demystifying-the-secret-worlds-enigmatic-dragon/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/uXIet-qedQw/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/one-shots-snow-much-better/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/one-shots-snow-much-better/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/gallery/one-shots/2543145/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os798_lotro_580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> Ah snow... When it's in the real world, it's fun for a while, but then we have to shovel it, scrape it, or drive in it -- not so much fun. In our favorite MMOs, it's always beautiful and problem-free. I suppose this is because nobody ever built in a "must shovel five walkways" quest, otherwise we'd probably think snow in an MMO was pretty irksome too. Speaking of beautiful snowy images, today's chilly <a href="http://www.lotro.com"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> postcard comes in to us from <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/Twarsong/">Twarsong</a>, who has been off exploring for some time, but stopped to send in a note. He writes: <em>'Tis the season of painted trees, capped mountains, warm fires and shire pipeweed. War may be beyond, but it is the season of greetings from Ered Luin to the fields of Lothlorien.</em> <br /><br />Have you been exploring parts of your favorite game that we haven't seen here? All games are welcome, all images too! Send us combat, posed shots, landscapes, you name it, to <strong>oneshots AT massively DOT com</strong>. Some information like your name, the name of the game, and a description of what's going on in the screenshot is awesome too. We'll post it up here and give you credit.<br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/">One Shots</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2548139/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os800_aoc_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2546314/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os799_allods_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2543145/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os798_lotro_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2539781/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os797_fe_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2536524/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/os797_aion_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/one-shots/" rel="tag">One Shots</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/one-shots-snow-much-better/">One Shots: Snow much better</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/one-shots-snow-much-better/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19285571/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/one-shots-snow-much-better/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/50eDQB7MNrjZkf0kjoS3ItQhq-I/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/50eDQB7MNrjZkf0kjoS3ItQhq-I/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/50eDQB7MNrjZkf0kjoS3ItQhq-I/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/50eDQB7MNrjZkf0kjoS3ItQhq-I/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/uXIet-qedQw" height="1" width="1"/> lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsturbinetwarsong Krystalle Voecks Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/one-shots-snow-much-better/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/eFOvjbSTTHc/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/second-lifes-caledon-expands-to-blue-mars/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/second-lifes-caledon-expands-to-blue-mars/#comments <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/caledoniamars/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/tan-caledonia1.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Desmond Shang, operator of one of the most popular and cohesive themed communities in <a href="http://secondlife.com/"><em>Second Life</em></a>, is extending his community into <a href="http://www.bluemarsonline.com/"><em>Blue Mars</em></a> in just a few days time. Shang's Caledon, popular among aficionados of Victoriana, Steampunk and Gaslight, is opening a sister colony, <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/caledoniamars/">Caledonia</a> on <a href="http://massively.com/category/blue-mars"><em>Blue Mars</em></a>, with an initial stake of roughly four million square metres.</p> <p>Caledonia is roughly 30% larger than Caledon, sporting a lot of wilder country, forests, mountains and more. We'll be looking forward to seeing what the content development pipeline will really do. Initial reports are that Caledonia will, even when built out, be considerably less bandwidth intensive on its own than Caledon.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/second-lifes-caledon-expands-to-blue-mars/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Second Life's Caledon expands to Blue Mars</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-life/" rel="tag">Second Life</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/blue-mars/" rel="tag">Blue Mars</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual worlds</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/second-lifes-caledon-expands-to-blue-mars/">Second Life's Caledon expands to Blue Mars</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/second-lifes-caledon-expands-to-blue-mars/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19282940/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/second-lifes-caledon-expands-to-blue-mars/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HCFRVNg8JwyJwz5-9Wt06rdPPwQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HCFRVNg8JwyJwz5-9Wt06rdPPwQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HCFRVNg8JwyJwz5-9Wt06rdPPwQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HCFRVNg8JwyJwz5-9Wt06rdPPwQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/eFOvjbSTTHc" height="1" width="1"/> blue-marsbm-caledoniacaledonculturedesmond-shangopinionsecond-lifesteampunkvirtual-worlds Tateru Nino Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/second-lifes-caledon-expands-to-blue-mars/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/3MiOySw7QTk/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/codemasters-offers-lord-of-the-rings-online-log-in-to-win/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/codemasters-offers-lord-of-the-rings-online-log-in-to-win/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lotro-europe.com/competition/index.php#"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/lotro-rb-1216.jpg" /></a></div> If you're a former European <a href="http://www.lotro-europe.com/"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> player, you were probably looking at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a>'s recent <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/15/lotro-has-another-welcome-back-weekend/">Welcome Back Weekend</a> offer with a bit of envy. Well, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/codemasters">Codemasters</a> has got you covered with something even better.<br /> <br /> How about a <a href="http://community.lotro-europe.com/news.php?id=10292&amp;articletype=News">week of free play</a>? Just like <a href="http://www.turbine.com/">Turbine</a>, <a href="http://www.codemasters.com/">Codemasters</a> has re-activated your account and it's and waiting for you to return to Middle-earth from December 23rd-30th. You'll also enjoy a +10% XP boost and special drops while you're in-game.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Popeil">But wait, there's more</a>! Codemasters didn't stop with a free week for returning players; they've added the Log In To Win competition for all players. Log in during the event week, answer a quick question on the site, and you have a chance at winning some great prizes. Alienware laptops, graphics cards, Siege of Mirkwood hoodies, Logitech keyboards and headsets, and <a href="http://www.lotro-europe.com/siege-of-mirkwood/"><em>Siege of Mirkwood</em></a> special editions are at the top of the prize list, but aren't the only items offered. Check out the <a href="http://www.lotro-europe.com/competition/index.php#">official site</a> for a list of prizes offered, and good luck!<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/contests/" rel="tag">Contests</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/codemasters-offers-lord-of-the-rings-online-log-in-to-win/">Codemasters offers Lord of the Rings Online "Log In To Win"</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.lotro-europe.com/competition/index.php#>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/codemasters-offers-lord-of-the-rings-online-log-in-to-win/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19283999/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/codemasters-offers-lord-of-the-rings-online-log-in-to-win/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FobVh8rxkBcYmPRPJ3LyPOW-icY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FobVh8rxkBcYmPRPJ3LyPOW-icY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FobVh8rxkBcYmPRPJ3LyPOW-icY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FobVh8rxkBcYmPRPJ3LyPOW-icY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/3MiOySw7QTk" height="1" width="1"/> Codemastersfree-weeklog-in-to-winlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotro Rubi Bayer Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/codemasters-offers-lord-of-the-rings-online-log-in-to-win/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/uVv0_aS4P3U/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/arenanet-give-us-a-sneak-peek-at-the-voices-of-guild-wars-2/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/arenanet-give-us-a-sneak-peek-at-the-voices-of-guild-wars-2/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/guild-wars-2/"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/asura-rb-124.jpg" /></a><br /></div> Just when you thought we'd already gotten our excellent holiday treat from <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/ArenaNet/">ArenaNet</a> in the form of that amazingly gorgeous <a href="http://www.guildwars2.com/"><em>Guild Wars 2</em></a> <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/04/analyzing-the-newest-guild-wars-2-trailer/">trailer</a>, they decided to add in a behind-the-scenes video for us to enjoy! This new video titled "Giving Tyria a Voice" offers a look at the people making the characters of <a href="http://massively.com/category/guild-wars-2/"><em>Guild Wars 2</em></a> come alive. Additionally, we're treated to their thoughts on what their characters are all about -- shedding a bit more light on what we can look forward to in terms of story and atmosphere. When coupled with the art from the <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/04/analyzing-the-newest-guild-wars-2-trailer/">recently released races trailer</a>, this is a must-watch video for anyone curious about how the game is progressing.<br /><br />The voice talent tagged for <em>Guild Wars 2</em> is an amazing lineup of well-known, veteran voice actors. The people we meet in this trailer are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Blum">Steve Blum</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Baker">Troy Baker,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kari_Wahlgren">Kari Wahlgren</a> and geektastic favorite, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felicia_Day">Felicia Day</a>, one of the stars of <a href="http://www.watchtheguild.com/"><em>The Guild</em></a>. With a rich pool of talent like this, coupled with award-winning artists and a studio dedicated to creating top-notch content for their fans, <em>Guild Wars 2</em> is definitely shaping up to be an incredible game. But don't take our word for it -- check out the behind-the-scenes video from <a href="http://www.arenanet.com">ArenaNet</a> we've conveniently included after the break!<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/arenanet-give-us-a-sneak-peek-at-the-voices-of-guild-wars-2/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>ArenaNet gives us a sneak peek at the voices of Guild Wars 2</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/guild-wars-2/" rel="tag">Guild Wars 2</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/arenanet-give-us-a-sneak-peek-at-the-voices-of-guild-wars-2/">ArenaNet gives us a sneak peek at the voices of Guild Wars 2</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://twitter.com/guildwars2/status/6734362776>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/arenanet-give-us-a-sneak-peek-at-the-voices-of-guild-wars-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19283641/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/arenanet-give-us-a-sneak-peek-at-the-voices-of-guild-wars-2/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dvJad8LIPr4ljddesEXyRHMNhus/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dvJad8LIPr4ljddesEXyRHMNhus/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dvJad8LIPr4ljddesEXyRHMNhus/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dvJad8LIPr4ljddesEXyRHMNhus/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/uVv0_aS4P3U" height="1" width="1"/> arenanetbehind-the-scenesfelicia-dayguild-wars-2gw2kari-wahlgrenncsoftpreviewsteve-blumtroy-bakervideo Krystalle Voecks Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/arenanet-give-us-a-sneak-peek-at-the-voices-of-guild-wars-2/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/5L1UMG4UfAg/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/warhammer-online-explains-the-nuances-of-the-underdog-system/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/warhammer-online-explains-the-nuances-of-the-underdog-system/#comments <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/war-underdev-epl-1216.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> One of the biggest problems you face when designing any PvP-focused game is the trouble of <a href="http://www.sirlin.net/articles/slippery-slope-and-perpetual-comeback.html">slippery slope</a> -- in brief, the problem that losing makes it easier for you to continue losing and even harder to start winning. A game like <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com"><em>Warhammer Online</em></a> that's sold on the strength of fighting other players needs to be especially vigilant, hence the <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/underdog-system/">Underdog System</a> rolled out with the game's <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/war-patch-1.3.3/">most recent patch</a>. It promises to make it easier for the losing side to regain their footing -- but that leads to the obvious question of how it will implement the change. <a href="http://herald.warhammeronline.com/warherald/NewsArticle.war?id=1005">A new developer diary</a> on the official site explains the system in slightly more detail, helping to shed light on the method and implementation.<br /> <br /> Rather than being a <a href="http://www.wowwiki.com/Tenacity_(Wintergrasp)">straight buff</a> to the players on one side or the other, the system revolves around making the overall objectives easier or harder based on win streaks. The underdog will have more time to capture objectives and fewer control points required to obtain victory, while the top dog will have less time to capture, more control points to capture, and a shorter duration of control. <a href="http://herald.warhammeronline.com/warherald/NewsArticle.war?id=1005">The diary</a> also gives some example of the system in action, something that should be all but required reading for every <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Warhammer-Online/"><em>Warhammer Online</em></a> player. The system won't fix everything, but it certainly will make the game's PvP more lively and less prone to one side or the other having a consistent edge.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/warhammer-online/" rel="tag">Warhammer Online</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/warhammer-online-explains-the-nuances-of-the-underdog-system/">Warhammer Online explains the nuances of the Underdog System</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.warhammeronline.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/warhammer-online-explains-the-nuances-of-the-underdog-system/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19284399/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/warhammer-online-explains-the-nuances-of-the-underdog-system/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/-DQrWJ-GDcy7qzZTTWylQx6bxKU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/-DQrWJ-GDcy7qzZTTWylQx6bxKU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/-DQrWJ-GDcy7qzZTTWylQx6bxKU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/-DQrWJ-GDcy7qzZTTWylQx6bxKU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/5L1UMG4UfAg" height="1" width="1"/> developer-diarygame-mechanicsmythicmythic-entertainmentpvppvp-scenariosslippery-slopeunderdogunderdog-systemvictory-conditionswarwar-patch-1.3.3warhammer-online Eliot Lefebvre Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/warhammer-online-explains-the-nuances-of-the-underdog-system/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/K019kR0YEUo/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ether-saga-online-delivers-major-content-update/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ether-saga-online-delivers-major-content-update/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eso.perfectworld.com/news/sub/v188-patch-notes-8391"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/eso-rb-1216.jpg" /><br /> </a></div> <a href="http://www.perfectworld.com/">Perfect World</a> has given a holiday gift to <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/ether-saga-online"><em>Ether Saga Online</em></a> players in the form of a significant amount of <a href="http://eso.perfectworld.com/news/sub/v188-patch-notes-8391">new content</a> that's bound to keep fans busy and happy for quite a while. <br /> <br /> The first item on the list is the addition of eight new classes - a huge addition considering that it brings the total to twelve. Players who have hit level 90 have a new zone to enjoy, and if you are level 50 or below, you'll find a revamped set of beginner quests. If you love crafting but have crafted all the armor and weapons you possibly can, head back in to check out the enhanced crafting system, because it goes way beyond those two items now. The pet system has improved as well, as has the transformation system.<br /> <br /> Product Manager Craig Beers says <em>"We are always looking for ways to improve the gaming experience </em><a href="http://eso.perfectworld.com/">Ether Saga Online</a><em> has to offer and this update delivers on that promise. We're delivering expansion quality features and content in this update that gamers can get right now." </em>The full patch notes can be viewed <a href="http://eso.perfectworld.com/news/sub/v188-patch-notes-8391">here</a>.<a href="http://eso.perfectworld.com/" class="releaselink" target="_new"><br /> </a><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/ether-saga-online/" rel="tag">Ether Saga Online</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ether-saga-online-delivers-major-content-update/">Ether Saga Online delivers major content update</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://eso.perfectworld.com/news/sub/v188-patch-notes-8391>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ether-saga-online-delivers-major-content-update/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19283877/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ether-saga-online-delivers-major-content-update/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5xO5sYwJ58fc_nrJ5-vxTVNbI34/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5xO5sYwJ58fc_nrJ5-vxTVNbI34/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5xO5sYwJ58fc_nrJ5-vxTVNbI34/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5xO5sYwJ58fc_nrJ5-vxTVNbI34/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/K019kR0YEUo" height="1" width="1"/> ether-saga-onlinenew-contentpatchperfect-world Rubi Bayer Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/ether-saga-online-delivers-major-content-update/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/D5-UusRT1Qc/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/the-daily-grind-whats-your-swtor-class-of-choice/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/the-daily-grind-whats-your-swtor-class-of-choice/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/e54yq356qw34t534w.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> Well, <a href="http://www.swtor.com/info/holonet/classes">every class for <em>Star Wars: The Old Republic</em> is out</a> for the world to see and discuss, and you know what that means: time to start considering your first class. We find that most people fall into two categories here. They either pick a class archetype they're very familiar with (tank, DPS or support) or go for whichever class appeals to them thematically. You also have those who simply go with something different for the sake of variety.<br /> <br /> As for this particular blogger, it's safe to say the Sith Inquisitor is likely to be the first character rolling off the creation line come launch day. Then again, there's always beta to consider as well... hmm, the choices just don't stop, do they?<br /> <br /> Well, what say <em>you</em>, good readers?<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/" rel="tag">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/the-daily-grind-whats-your-swtor-class-of-choice/">The Daily Grind: What's your SWTOR class of choice?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/the-daily-grind-whats-your-swtor-class-of-choice/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19283152/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/the-daily-grind-whats-your-swtor-class-of-choice/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0jOiyktRPqEtGJG5CwHrK5Dkyws/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0jOiyktRPqEtGJG5CwHrK5Dkyws/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0jOiyktRPqEtGJG5CwHrK5Dkyws/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0jOiyktRPqEtGJG5CwHrK5Dkyws/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/D5-UusRT1Qc" height="1" width="1"/> biowareclasseseaelectronic-artslucasartssith-inquisitorstar-wars-star-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-daily-grindthe-old-republic Kyle Horner Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/17/the-daily-grind-whats-your-swtor-class-of-choice/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/_gcOQfBw0ZA/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/16/final-fantasy-xiv-beta-applications-now-open/ http://www.massively.com/2009/12/16/final-fantasy-xiv-beta-applications-now-open/#comments <a href="http://www.finalfantasyxiv.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/ffxiv-betaapp-epl-1216.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> There's something to shout about if you're looking forward to <em><a href="http://www.finalfantasyxiv.com">Final Fantasy XIV</a> </em>-- the game is <a href="http://entry.ffxiv.com/na/index.html">now accepting applicants for its beta testing</a>. We've heard that the game is slated for release some time next year, but this is one of the obvious indicators that it's closer than we might have thought. So if you're as excited about the prospect of getting to play the game as some of us, you probably clicked that link before you read any further.<br /> <br /> Anyone still reading, of course, should be apprised of some minor conditionals first. The test is only open to those 18 years of age or older capable of submitting reports in fluent Japanese, English, French, or German. (Luckily it's not in all four at once.) You'll also need to be connected to the Internet and capable of downloading large amounts of data, but that's <em>de riguer</em> for MMOs, so it merits less of a mention. There will be multiple rounds of testing, with each one adding further testers, and the official page states that testers will be evaluated based on their application rather than order in which they applied. That doesn't mean that <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Final-Fantasy-XIV/"><em>Final Fantasy XIV</em></a> fans shouldn't <a href="http://entry.ffxiv.com/na/index.html">hurry on over</a> -- but you've probably already done that back in the first paragraph.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/final-fantasy-xiv/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XIV</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/16/final-fantasy-xiv-beta-applications-now-open/">Final Fantasy XIV beta applications now open</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><p><a href=http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/square-enix-accepting-beta-applications-for-pc-final-fantasy-xiv/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/16/final-fantasy-xiv-beta-applications-now-open/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19284504/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/12/16/final-fantasy-xiv-beta-applications-now-open/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RBXrl616gysJd9gUvbp6njMBZq0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RBXrl616gysJd9gUvbp6njMBZq0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RBXrl616gysJd9gUvbp6njMBZq0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RBXrl616gysJd9gUvbp6njMBZq0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/_gcOQfBw0ZA" height="1" width="1"/> betabeta-applicationbeta-testbreakingbreaking-newsffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-xivnew-titlesnews-itemsshoutingsquaresquare-enix Eliot Lefebvre Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/12/16/final-fantasy-xiv-beta-applications-now-open/