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/XejJaeJxN3w/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/jumpgate-evolution-economy-changing-to-player-driven-system/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/jumpgate-evolution-economy-changing-to-player-driven-system/#comments <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/jumpgate-evolution"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/jgeradiointerviewoneconomyat580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />Some gamers were disheartened when <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/netdevil">NetDevil</a> opted to <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/05/27/jumpgate-evolution-delayed-no-new-launch-date-in-sight/">delay the <em>Jumpgate Evolution</em> launch</a> in order to refine some aspects of gameplay, but we're hoping the extra time they've bought for themselves will equate to a more polished release. One of those aspects of the game they're improving is <a href="http://us.jumpgateevolution.com/"><em>Jumpgate Evolution</em></a>'s economy, which is the subject of an interview that producer <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/hermann-peterscheck">Hermann Peterscheck</a> gave to <a href="http://www.jgeradio.com">JGERadio</a>'s "Tikigod."<br /><br />Throughout the interview, Peterscheck emphasizes that <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/jumpgate-evolution"><em>Jumpgate Evolution</em></a>'s economy should, by design, function in ways similar to a real world economy (but hopefully with a lot less fail) -- a far more dynamic system than one driven by NPC vendors. Peterscheck says, <em>"I actually think the changes make the economy more alive. What we have done is moved away from an AI-based economy to a player-driven economy."</em><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/jumpgate-evolution-economy-changing-to-player-driven-system/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Jumpgate Evolution economy changing to player-driven system</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/jumpgate-evolution/" rel="tag">Jumpgate Evolution</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/crafting/" rel="tag">Crafting</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/jumpgate-evolution-economy-changing-to-player-driven-system/">Jumpgate Evolution economy changing to player-driven system</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 05 Jul 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.jgeradio.com/the-news/jge-news/45-project-news/75-jgeradio-exclusive-hermann-peterscheck-on-the-jumpgate-evolution-economy.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/jumpgate-evolution-economy-changing-to-player-driven-system/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086478/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/jumpgate-evolution-economy-changing-to-player-driven-system/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/D_abf5n--dflAXolrH2A_bJiO8c/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/D_abf5n--dflAXolrH2A_bJiO8c/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/D_abf5n--dflAXolrH2A_bJiO8c/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/D_abf5n--dflAXolrH2A_bJiO8c/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/XejJaeJxN3w" height="1" width="1"/> auction-housecraftingeconomygame-mechanicshermann-peterscheckinterviewsjgejgeradiojumpgate-evolutionnetdevilplayer-drivenpositional-valueproducersci-fi James Egan Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/jumpgate-evolution-economy-changing-to-player-driven-system/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/S_MpBGtNhQc/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/the-daily-grind-greener-grass/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/the-daily-grind-greener-grass/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesleysmith/3684376576/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/wowscrnshot_070209_215242.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> I've played Alliance since Day One of my time in <a href="http://massively.com/tag/world-of-warcraft"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a>. Granted I've dabbled now and then with Horde, I've always been so depressed by the starting zones that I never went further than level 4. However my recent experience with <a href="http://massively.com/tag/aion"><em>Aion</em></a> and leveling <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/elyos">both</a> <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/asmodian">factions</a> has given me a new perspective on playing 'good' and 'evil' factions. Indeed terms like that are fast becoming obsolete. So when a friend of mine told me she had rolled a Horde on a backwater server (describing her toon as 'furry with horns') I was eager to join her. Of all the Horde races, the Tauren seem the least evil, the most peaceful and have the prettiest starter zone. So I rolled a female shaman just to be completely different and my friend chose a male warrior.<br /><br />The grass really is greener on the other side of the fence. The quests are new, as is the lore and while the actual objectives are often similar it's like seeing an MMO with a new pair of eyes. Indeed I think it could totally change how you enjoy a particular MMO and how you play it. When it comes to <a href="http://worldofwarcraft.com"><em>WoW</em></a> specifically, this is even more the case now that Blizzard have revealed their plans to allow you to <a href="http://www.wow.com/2009/06/29/faction-changes-coming-to-the-world-of-warcraft/">change your faction</a>. So, come on readers, have you leveled a toon in (insert your chosen MMO here), got them geared up and then decided to see things from the other side? Did you switch because you wanted a change? Was it the lore? Better quests? A chance to do something different? If you were like me, would you consider jumping ship and re-rolling during your next bout of burn out? Speak up, constant readers, and drop your comments in the box.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/aion/" rel="tag">Aion</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/races/" rel="tag">Races</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/the-daily-grind-greener-grass/">The Daily Grind: Greener grass</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 05 Jul 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/2009/07/05/the-daily-grind-greener-grass/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086019/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/the-daily-grind-greener-grass/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lCF74RhrLyoW2gENpNMN7BgKbdA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lCF74RhrLyoW2gENpNMN7BgKbdA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lCF74RhrLyoW2gENpNMN7BgKbdA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lCF74RhrLyoW2gENpNMN7BgKbdA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/S_MpBGtNhQc" height="1" width="1"/> aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternityasmodianchange-your-factionelyosfactionsre-rollingtaurenthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraft Lesley Smith Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/05/the-daily-grind-greener-grass/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/uT4R7T2VYlo/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/second-life-private-simulator-data-december-2006-to-may-2009/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/second-life-private-simulator-data-december-2006-to-may-2009/#comments <p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/tan-islands-june2009-225.jpg" alt="" />It's been widely grumbled about that Linden Lab has stopped publishing some key <a href="http://secondlife.com/"><em>Second Life</em></a> economic and service statistics, such as the number of non-mainland simulators (that is, those that are privately owned). Well actually,as it happens, that isn't entirely true, thanks to the wonders of automation.</p> <p>The data was culled from the <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-life"><em>Second Life</em></a> Web-site, where these things go, quite some months ago but automation is a funny thing. Linden Lab's systems kept publishing the data, and my own automated systems kept collecting it. So, despite a months-long blackout of the data it all continues to pile up in my databases, with the reliability and patience that only machines possess.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/second-life-private-simulator-data-december-2006-to-may-2009/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Second Life private simulator data, December 2006 to May 2009</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</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/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/2009/07/04/second-life-private-simulator-data-december-2006-to-may-2009/">Second Life private simulator data, December 2006 to May 2009</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 04 Jul 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/2009/07/04/second-life-private-simulator-data-december-2006-to-may-2009/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086624/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/second-life-private-simulator-data-december-2006-to-may-2009/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uMN2pWZjUFs332-W5OBLT3ulLO4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uMN2pWZjUFs332-W5OBLT3ulLO4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uMN2pWZjUFs332-W5OBLT3ulLO4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uMN2pWZjUFs332-W5OBLT3ulLO4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/uT4R7T2VYlo" height="1" width="1"/> economylinden-labopenspace-simulatorsopinionsecond-lifevirtual-worldsvoid-simulatorsworld-metrics Tateru Nino Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/second-life-private-simulator-data-december-2006-to-may-2009/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/yLs6kMJTLqo/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/a-fortnight-of-freedom/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/a-fortnight-of-freedom/#comments <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/trial/index.html"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/freetrial.jpg" /></a><br />I sometimes get restless in my MMO gaming and even in amiable circumstances, where a currently played title still retains my interest and has done nothing wrong itself, I still like to explore, to play the field and keep tabs on how much greener the grass is elsewhere. The list of currently available and active MMOs is a surprisingly large one, so there are always alternatives I've yet to try.<br /><br />So every now and then, I hit the free trial circuit, picking my way through a list of increasingly commonplace 14-day MMO Free Trials. These fortnight trial periods are generally intended as tasters, samples of what might be in store for the gamer if they decide to proceed with the commitment of a long-term service contract with the MMO publisher in question. But do these two week try-outs serve the purpose, or is it impossible to preview a multi-month gaming experience in just fourteen days?<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/a-fortnight-of-freedom/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Fortnight of Freedom...</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</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></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/a-fortnight-of-freedom/">A Fortnight of Freedom...</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 04 Jul 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/2009/07/04/a-fortnight-of-freedom/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086439/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/a-fortnight-of-freedom/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yp2eBzf8xk2tX15craDdjcc3rLk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yp2eBzf8xk2tX15craDdjcc3rLk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yp2eBzf8xk2tX15craDdjcc3rLk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yp2eBzf8xk2tX15craDdjcc3rLk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/yLs6kMJTLqo" height="1" width="1"/> 14-day-trialfeaturedfree trialfree-to-playFreeTrial Tim Dale Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/a-fortnight-of-freedom/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/-pQF2W4YSSk/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/one-shots-darkfall-fireworks/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/one-shots-darkfall-fireworks/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/gallery/one-shots/2125022/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os593_darkfall_580.jpg" /></a><br /></div> With good PvP, it's all about taking advantage of anything legit that you can - skill, tactics, or things as simple as paying attention to and using the terrain around you. In a game like <a href="http://www.darkfallonline.com"><em>Darkfall</em></a> where death means more than a quick run back from the nearest graveyard, scenes like the one above must be <em>scary</em> if you get caught in the middle. Today's <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Darkfall/">Darkfall</a></em> One Shots comes to us from fellow MMO <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/profile.cfm/username/Paragus1">blogger</a> and Co-leader of the <em>Darkfall</em> guild Inquisition, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/Paragus/">Paragus</a>, who writes in to explain. <em>A narrow hallway can make for a tight place for a fight. Mercenary forces battle against the Death Alliance in the tunnels of Aradoth in an attempt to force them out of the city. Both sides [decided] to employ the use of various advanced magics which made for quite a firework show.</em><br /><br /><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/One-Shots/">One Shots</a> needs your screens, dear readers! So while you're out playing, or digging through your hard drive, grab some screenshots for us. Send them to us here at <strong>oneshots AT massively DOT com</strong> along with your name, server, and a brief description of what's in the screenshot. In turn we'll give your screenshot and tale a moment to shine, right here on Massively. How cool is that?<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/2125022/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os593_darkfall_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2123899/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os592_wow_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2121806/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os591_war_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2118519/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os590_ffxi_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2116311/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/06/os589_freerealms_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/darkfall/" rel="tag">Darkfall</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</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/2009/07/04/one-shots-darkfall-fireworks/">One Shots: Darkfall fireworks</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 04 Jul 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/2009/07/04/one-shots-darkfall-fireworks/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086635/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/one-shots-darkfall-fireworks/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/18ZJFQ_R-eQyCoeMLkJJe8R3kaY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/18ZJFQ_R-eQyCoeMLkJJe8R3kaY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/18ZJFQ_R-eQyCoeMLkJJe8R3kaY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/18ZJFQ_R-eQyCoeMLkJJe8R3kaY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/-pQF2W4YSSk" height="1" width="1"/> aventurinedarkfalldarkfall-onlineone-shotsparagusscreenshotscreenshots Krystalle Voecks Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/one-shots-darkfall-fireworks/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/d7USvNASyF0/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/#comments <a href="http://top.igg.com/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/talesofpiratesimageat580.jpg" /></a><br />For the first time in a long while, we've come across a tale of digital wrong-doing that doesn't involve <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/eve-online">internet spaceships</a> and is <em>definitely</em> <em>not</em> <em>allowed</em> by the developers. The game in question is <a href="http://top.igg.com/"><em>Tales of Pirates</em></a> published by <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/igg">IGG</a>. Apparently a number of the game's players have fallen victim to a trick, and IGG wants to publicize this to make people aware of the scam. There's a brief <a href="http://top.igg.com/info.php?articleId=971">warning on the official <em>Tales of Pirates</em> site</a> about account security, but they just put out a press release that's far more detailed. <br /><br />IGG writes: <em>"As with any popular game, IGG's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/tales-of-pirates">Tales of Pirates</a> has attracted its share of scammers. Even the most careful pirate can sometimes be fooled by a well-executed scam. The best way to avoid becoming a victim is to learn the common tricks scammers use. To help players, the ToP would like to highlight one particularly popular method used recently." </em>We can only hope they emailed the full info to their playerbase, but we'll keep our own take on it short and sweet here -- five steps to violating the <em>Tales of Pirates</em> EULA and getting banned (and of course, what to watch out for.):<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>How scammers plunder your Tales of Pirates booty</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/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/tales-of-pirates/" rel="tag">Tales of Pirates</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/kids/" rel="tag">Kids</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/">How scammers plunder your Tales of Pirates booty</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 04 Jul 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.gamesonice.com/tales-of-pirates-beware-of-scammers/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086468/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JWYTQS4uAs4w2QBb5dH6esmzMHg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JWYTQS4uAs4w2QBb5dH6esmzMHg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JWYTQS4uAs4w2QBb5dH6esmzMHg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JWYTQS4uAs4w2QBb5dH6esmzMHg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/d7USvNASyF0" height="1" width="1"/> f2pfantasyfree-to-playiggimpersonationkidsmmo-industryphishingscamscamstales-of-pirates James Egan Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/X_QmZX_G1_Q/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/wrup-happy-holiday-weekend/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/wrup-happy-holiday-weekend/#comments <div align="center"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/gw236-thumb-sms-0709.jpg" /><br /></div> To those of you in the US, happy 4th of July! To those of you elsewhere, also, we at Massively wish you a happy 4th of July! For a lot of us, the 4tth is a time to celebrate the birth of our nation by blowing up a small part of it. So to those of you celebrating this weekend -- and those of you who aren't -- stay safe and if you really must blow anything up, we recommend doing it in the virtual sense.<br /><br />So what's the Massively team<a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/wrup/"> playing over the weeekend</a>?<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/wrup-happy-holiday-weekend/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>WRUP: Happy holiday weekend!</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/2009/07/04/wrup-happy-holiday-weekend/">WRUP: Happy holiday weekend!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 04 Jul 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.massively.com/2009/07/04/wrup-happy-holiday-weekend/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086541/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/wrup-happy-holiday-weekend/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/xTgrByXRbRp3MHQAbmd-uLkkC8I/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/xTgrByXRbRp3MHQAbmd-uLkkC8I/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/xTgrByXRbRp3MHQAbmd-uLkkC8I/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/xTgrByXRbRp3MHQAbmd-uLkkC8I/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/X_QmZX_G1_Q" height="1" width="1"/> what-are-you-playingwrup Elizabeth Harper Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/wrup-happy-holiday-weekend/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/095xxo-ozVo/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/the-daily-grind-browser-centric-mmos/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/the-daily-grind-browser-centric-mmos/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.gaikai.com/streaming-worlds/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/gaikai.jpg" /></a><br /></div> The <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/first-gaikai-demo-shows-wow-and-eve-played-via-browser/">other day</a>, I watched <a href="http://www.wow.com/2009/07/03/gaikai-promises-to-stream-pc-games-like-wow-straight-to-your-bro/">this demo</a> of <a href="http://www.gaikai.com/">Gaikai</a>, a new service being spearheaded by the legendary games developer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Perry_%28game_developer%29">David Perry</a>. The idea is a simple one: using a browser you can access everything from MMOs to racing games and even the memory-hog that is Photoshop with all the actual software installed on a remote server and accessed via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing">the cloud</a>. Now it seems like an awesome undertaking but I came out of it feeling really impressed. <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/world-of-warcraft"><em>WoW</em></a> and <a href="http://massively.com/tag/eve-online"><em>EVE</em></a> were running at lightening speed and the prospect of not patching or updating got me a little excited. Now browser-based MMOs are now new. Just look at <a href="http://massively.com/free-realms"><em>Free Realms</em></a> and the plethora of <a href="http://massively.com/tag/free-realms">free-to-play</a> titles. But the idea of playing seriously intensive games like <a href="http://eveonline.com"><em>EVE</em></a>? Wow, just wow. You still need some kind of graphics card in your computer but the cloud seems to do the vast majority of the work.<br /><br />So readers, what do you think? You might well have used browser-centric MMOs in the past and their ease of use is encouraging. Would you play <a href="http://worldofwarcraft.com"><em>WoW</em></a> on a browser if it could mimic your current setting or even improve on them? Would it make your life easier knowing that someone else was dealing with all the patches? On the other hand, cloud-based technology is still new and shiny, would you rather stick with actual discs or your own hard drive? Tell us, readers, and drop your thoughts in the box below.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <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/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <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/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</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/2009/07/04/the-daily-grind-browser-centric-mmos/">The Daily Grind: Browser-centric MMOs</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 04 Jul 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/2009/07/04/the-daily-grind-browser-centric-mmos/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085954/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/the-daily-grind-browser-centric-mmos/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4gnJMJYkqGsnXLWG99G15HtLU4o/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4gnJMJYkqGsnXLWG99G15HtLU4o/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4gnJMJYkqGsnXLWG99G15HtLU4o/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4gnJMJYkqGsnXLWG99G15HtLU4o/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/095xxo-ozVo" height="1" width="1"/> browserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-MMOscloudcloud-computingdavid-perryeve-onlinegaikaipatchingthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraft Lesley Smith Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/04/the-daily-grind-browser-centric-mmos/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/i1cqHsXqti0/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/researchers-mine-second-life-interaction-logs-to-track-trends/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/researchers-mine-second-life-interaction-logs-to-track-trends/#comments <p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/tan-socialinfluenceec1.jpg" alt="" />While most actions people take in the flesh are ephemeral - performed fleetingly, and unmarked - MMOGs and virtual environments keep that data as a rule, usually most or all of it.</p> <p>Three social researchers from the University of Michigan obtained data from Linden Lab about the possession and acquisition of 'gestures' (preprogrammed sequences of text, avatar animations and/or audio) and data about account creation dates and friends-lists, and studied how gestures passed from user to user.</p><p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/researchers-mine-second-life-interaction-logs-to-track-trends/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Researchers mine Second Life interaction logs to track trends</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/second-life/" rel="tag">Second Life</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/academic/" rel="tag">Academic</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/2009/07/03/researchers-mine-second-life-interaction-logs-to-track-trends/">Researchers mine Second Life interaction logs to track trends</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-07/uom-sld070209.php>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/researchers-mine-second-life-interaction-logs-to-track-trends/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086450/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/researchers-mine-second-life-interaction-logs-to-track-trends/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wuf-tqZCMC4Ak2VKxtdCvv52bxM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wuf-tqZCMC4Ak2VKxtdCvv52bxM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wuf-tqZCMC4Ak2VKxtdCvv52bxM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wuf-tqZCMC4Ak2VKxtdCvv52bxM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/i1cqHsXqti0" height="1" width="1"/> academicculturelinden-labsecond-lifeuniversity-of-michiganvirtual-worlds Tateru Nino Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/researchers-mine-second-life-interaction-logs-to-track-trends/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/t0LnFFtzBDY/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/runes-of-magic-opens-new-pve-server-will-hold-independence-day/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/runes-of-magic-opens-new-pve-server-will-hold-independence-day/#comments <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/runes-of-magic"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/runesofmagichotmageat580.png" alt="" /></a><br />It looks like <a href="http://us.runesofmagic.com"><em>Runes of Magic</em></a> is getting in on the 4th of July MMO celebrations this weekend. <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/frogster">Frogster America</a> has announced that players can usher in Independence Day with bundles of fireworks (minus any fines or risk of bloody nubs), which they can pick up for 1 diamond in-game. They've also said the holiday celebration will bring specials in the item shop with prices on three Power Bundle slashed by 75%. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.frogster-america.com/www/home.html">Frogster America</a> also announced they'll launch a new PvE server tomorrow, "Reni", and there will be other summer activities that kick off on July 4th as well: a community screenshot contest; item and prize giveaways; and a leveling contest for players and guilds on Reni. Be sure to <a href="http://us.runesofmagic.com/us/news,id267,celebrate_with_bang_new_server.html">see their full announcement</a> for more details on the <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/runes-of-magic"><em>Runes of Magic</em></a> Independence Day contests and giveaways.<p>Filed under: <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/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</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>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/runes-of-magic/" rel="tag">Runes of Magic</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/runes-of-magic-opens-new-pve-server-will-hold-independence-day/">Runes of Magic opens new PvE server, will hold Independence Day celebration</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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://us.runesofmagic.com/us/news,id267,celebrate_with_bang_new_server.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/runes-of-magic-opens-new-pve-server-will-hold-independence-day/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086347/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/runes-of-magic-opens-new-pve-server-will-hold-independence-day/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bQ7rb0PQcHP0ylHHBikQVxzpY1M/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bQ7rb0PQcHP0ylHHBikQVxzpY1M/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bQ7rb0PQcHP0ylHHBikQVxzpY1M/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bQ7rb0PQcHP0ylHHBikQVxzpY1M/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/t0LnFFtzBDY" height="1" width="1"/> 4th-of-julydiamonddiamondseventsfantasyfireworksfrogsterfrogster-americaholidayholidaysindependence-daynew-serverpower-bundlepvepve-serverreniromrunes-of-magicservers James Egan Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/runes-of-magic-opens-new-pve-server-will-hold-independence-day/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/iQH2GIrczEU/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/champions-online-devs-reveal-mystic-power-sets-sorcery-and-supe/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/champions-online-devs-reveal-mystic-power-sets-sorcery-and-supe/#comments <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/champions-online"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/championsonlinemysticat580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />Over the past few weeks, the developers at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/cryptic-studios">Cryptic Studios</a> have been walking readers through the various powers that will be available to <a href="http://www.champions-online.com"><em>Champions Online</em></a> players, from <a href="http://www.champions-online.com/node/80020">Energy Projectors</a> to <a href="http://www.champions-online.com/node/81840">Martial Arts</a>, as well as <a href="http://www.champions-online.com/node/83808">Power Replacers</a>. Now they're giving us a look at the game's Mystic power sets -- Sorcery and Supernatural -- for those players who want to dabble in the dark arts. <br /><br />Do you know your Circles of Power from your Circles of Summoning? When should you use a Sigil instead of an Invocation? The <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/champions-online"><em>Champions Online</em></a> devs explain all matters arcane in this latest, and final, "All About Powers", and discuss their intent to create subsets of Mystic powers that better fit a given character's concept. Whether you're looking to create a Primal Shaman, a Necromancer, or a pure Arcane-type, you might enjoy this <a href="http://www.champions-online.com/node/85955">latest dev blog on the official <em>Champions Online</em> site</a>.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</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/2009/07/03/champions-online-devs-reveal-mystic-power-sets-sorcery-and-supe/">Champions Online devs reveal Mystic power sets: Sorcery and Supernatural</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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.champions-online.com/node/85955>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/champions-online-devs-reveal-mystic-power-sets-sorcery-and-supe/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086350/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/champions-online-devs-reveal-mystic-power-sets-sorcery-and-supe/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/t_fpebrH8TZ1j92szE-hwGQf0Eo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/t_fpebrH8TZ1j92szE-hwGQf0Eo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/t_fpebrH8TZ1j92szE-hwGQf0Eo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/t_fpebrH8TZ1j92szE-hwGQf0Eo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/iQH2GIrczEU" height="1" width="1"/> champions-onlinecircles-of-powercircles-of-summoningcryptic-studiosdev-blogdev-blogsenergy-projectorsgame-mechanicsinvocationsmartial-artsmysticnew-titlespower-replacepower-replacerspower-setpower-setssigilssorcerysuper-herosupernatural James Egan Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/champions-online-devs-reveal-mystic-power-sets-sorcery-and-supe/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/yNdkUpHCsic/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/mandalorians-smack-down-the-jedi-in-swtors-new-timeline-update/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/mandalorians-smack-down-the-jedi-in-swtors-new-timeline-update/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/header_sithmandie.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> One of the most common questions asked regarding <em><a href="http://www.swtor.com">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></em> and the easily accessible Jedi is, <em>"Who's going to take on an army of Jedi?"</em> We've long since <a href="http://www.massively.com/2008/07/19/the-digital-continuum-five-kotor-mmo-jedi-counter-measures/">had the answer tucked away here at Massively</a>, but now <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/BioWare/">BioWare</a> has been kind enough to illustrate it for us <a href="http://www.swtor.com/info/holonet/timeline/return-mandalorians">in their latest timeline update,</a> which features the fearsome Mandalorians.<br /><br />The nomadic Mandalorians are strikingly unique and much like the Jedi and Sith in that sense they're not an actual species; yet war is their singular goal in life. Their mantra is that strength is not merely good, it is great, it brings honor through battle. Thus, it's no surprise that Mandalorians are generally opposed to the Jedi and get along better with the power hungry Sith. At this point, the Republic Trooper's coutnerpart is pretty obvious. That powerful Jedi army doesn't seem so intimidating against legions of Sith, Bounty Hunters and bred-for-war Mandies, now does it?<br /><br />We highly recommend you check out the timeline video. It's not only informative, but quite entertaining if you've got even the slightest amount of interest in <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Star-Wars-The-Old-Republic/">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></em>.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</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/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/2009/07/03/mandalorians-smack-down-the-jedi-in-swtors-new-timeline-update/">Mandalorians smack down the Jedi in SWTOR's new timeline update</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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/2009/07/03/mandalorians-smack-down-the-jedi-in-swtors-new-timeline-update/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086382/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/mandalorians-smack-down-the-jedi-in-swtors-new-timeline-update/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2qk1dNPMQyZU6AgZLUxdhV63Ps0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2qk1dNPMQyZU6AgZLUxdhV63Ps0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2qk1dNPMQyZU6AgZLUxdhV63Ps0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2qk1dNPMQyZU6AgZLUxdhV63Ps0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/yNdkUpHCsic" height="1" width="1"/> biowareeaelectronic-artsjedilorelucasartsmandalorianmandaloriansmandiesrepublicsithsith-empirestar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortimeline Kyle Horner Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/mandalorians-smack-down-the-jedi-in-swtors-new-timeline-update/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/ZfxSARD_aks/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/being-a-wow-fan-doesnt-mean-youre-an-mmo-fan/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/being-a-wow-fan-doesnt-mean-youre-an-mmo-fan/#comments <img hspace="4" height="166" border="1" align="right" width="225" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/pure-pwnage.jpg" /><a href="http://massively.com/tag/syncaine">Syncaine</a> posted <a href="http://syncaine.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/gamer-bob-says-mmos-suck/">an interesting article</a> on his blog discussing why he thinks there hasn't been much uptake in the majority of MMOs released since <a href="http://worldofwarcraft.com"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a>. Basically, he believes that just because you enjoy playing <em>WoW</em>, it doesn't mean you'll enjoy other MMOs.<br /><br />The post goes on to say that there are many more non-MMO gamers than MMO gamers out there who simply can't fathom spending a monthly fee to repeatedly <a href="http://killtenrats.com">kill ten rats</a> or grind out the perfect PvP character over several months time. They have much more accessible and engaging singleplayer RPGs or FPS games for that, right?<br /><br />The main point he aims to make is that designers should stop chasing non-MMO gamers and focus on those who are already fans. On the other hand, hasn't our genre become a bit pigeon-holed as of late? Isn't the biggest and best part of an MMO the community aspect and not the DIKU-based &uuml;ber-grind? We hope so! Couldn't we maybe expand our acceptance of what MMOs are and <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/redefining-mmos/">challenge the boundaries</a> of what they could be? Maybe that's a viable route toward making those who do not care actually care.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/being-a-wow-fan-doesnt-mean-youre-an-mmo-fan/">Being a WoW fan doesn't mean you're an MMO fan</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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://syncaine.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/gamer-bob-says-mmos-suck/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/being-a-wow-fan-doesnt-mean-youre-an-mmo-fan/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085415/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/being-a-wow-fan-doesnt-mean-youre-an-mmo-fan/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/rIqUyUw5sCS-5RqRfP87RpvmB6o/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/rIqUyUw5sCS-5RqRfP87RpvmB6o/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/rIqUyUw5sCS-5RqRfP87RpvmB6o/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/rIqUyUw5sCS-5RqRfP87RpvmB6o/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/ZfxSARD_aks" height="1" width="1"/> blizzardgame-designkill-ten-ratsmmo-industrysyncaineworld-of-warcraftwow Brooke Pilley Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/being-a-wow-fan-doesnt-mean-youre-an-mmo-fan/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/ugRUhDMzAik/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/soe-updates-everquest-lore-for-underfoot-expansion/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/soe-updates-everquest-lore-for-underfoot-expansion/#comments <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/everquest"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/everquestunderfootconceptartat580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />It <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/17/soe-trademark-filings-hint-at-new-everquest-and-everquest-ii-exp/">began as a rumor</a> but was <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/27/highlights-from-the-soe-fan-faire-2009-community-address/">confirmed at SOE Fan Faire 2009</a> -- <a href="http://everquest.station.sony.com/everquest.vm"><em>EverQuest</em></a>'s 16th expansion will be called <a href="http://everquest.station.sony.com/expansions/underfoot/"><em>Underfoot</em></a> and is coming in November of this year. We've mentioned some of the features that <em>Underfoot</em> will bring to the game, like the expansion progress window and new zones, and <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/sony-online-entertainment">Sony Online Entertainment</a> is also updating the game's lore. <br /><br />The lore update explains the subterranean Plane of Underfoot and some of its notable inhabitants, namely Brell Serilis, the Duke of Below. But mostly it provides <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/everquest"><em>EverQuest</em></a><em> </em>lore fans with a history of Underfoot, from the time it was shaped by the gods to the creation of Norrath's races. It's all part of the official <em>EverQuest Underfoot</em> announcement <a href="http://eqplayers.station.sony.com/news_article.vm?id=51538">over at <em>EverQuest</em> Players</a>.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/everquest/" rel="tag">EverQuest</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/races/" rel="tag">Races</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/soe-updates-everquest-lore-for-underfoot-expansion/">SOE updates EverQuest lore for Underfoot expansion</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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://eqplayers.station.sony.com/news_article.vm?id=51538>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/soe-updates-everquest-lore-for-underfoot-expansion/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086275/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/soe-updates-everquest-lore-for-underfoot-expansion/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fRVGMzNiAVeguFCPCyE7-ay7N1I/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fRVGMzNiAVeguFCPCyE7-ay7N1I/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fRVGMzNiAVeguFCPCyE7-ay7N1I/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fRVGMzNiAVeguFCPCyE7-ay7N1I/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/ugRUhDMzAik" height="1" width="1"/> brell-seriliseqeverquesteverquest-underfootexpansionsfantasylorenorrathplane-of-underfootracessoesony-online-entertainmentunderfoot James Egan Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/soe-updates-everquest-lore-for-underfoot-expansion/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/w0jMMbRYKjk/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/one-shots-playing-with-fire/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/one-shots-playing-with-fire/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/gallery/one-shots/2123899/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os592_wow_580.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="left">This weekend is going to be a time for many to get together and do some grilling out and partying! Meanwhile in Azeroth, the Midsummer Fire Festival is wrapping up, so we wanted to take a quick peek in and see how things are going there. Today's <em><a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com">World of Warcraft</a> </em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/One-Shots/">One Shots</a> finds us in the company of Hollyberry from the Bronze Dragonflight EU server. She writes in: <em>Dizzy dizzy and even more so.... tripping the light fantastic in Duskwallow Marsh out side Theramore, is Hollyberry, Night Elf Druid - taking time out from her adventures to enjoy the festival...</em><br /><br />We hope you all have a fun, relaxing, and safe weekend with friends, family, and fire - or fireworks! If you manage to catch some MMO time, why not grab a screenshot of your favorite MMO and send it in to us here at <strong>oneshots AT massively DOT com</strong> along with your name, the name of the game, and a brief description. We'll show it off and give you credit for sending it in!<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/2125022/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os593_darkfall_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2123899/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os592_wow_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2121806/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os591_war_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2118519/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os590_ffxi_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2116311/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/06/os589_freerealms_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /></div> </div><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <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></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/one-shots-playing-with-fire/">One Shots: Playing with fire</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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/2009/07/03/one-shots-playing-with-fire/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086301/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/one-shots-playing-with-fire/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Li6SdwGHeSiHcL6Ru7GSibjx4LE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Li6SdwGHeSiHcL6Ru7GSibjx4LE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Li6SdwGHeSiHcL6Ru7GSibjx4LE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Li6SdwGHeSiHcL6Ru7GSibjx4LE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/w0jMMbRYKjk" height="1" width="1"/> blizzardhollyberrymidsummer-fire-festivalone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsworld-of-warcraftwow Krystalle Voecks Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/one-shots-playing-with-fire/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/E_kdTjK_OF0/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/massively-webcomic-grinders-gender-eqality/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/massively-webcomic-grinders-gender-eqality/#comments <center><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/grinders"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/grinders0020_07-03-09.jpg" alt="" /></a></center>City of Heroes continues to fulfill items on the long list of player requests, next up being the option to change your height and gender, the only to pieces to the costume editor left static. While I think it's neat you'll finally be able to make that Mr. Hyde knockoff you've been waiting to build, <strong>Grinders</strong> today reflects other possible gameplay options.<br /><br />On a side note, I wonder what this'll do to the character gender debate. Now in CoH, your character doesn't need to have a gender, just a costume slot does. You could make a character that is in fact five distinct characters. Food for thought.<br /><br />Have a funny story of your own? Submit your tale complete with a screenshot to <span id=":1t9" dir="ltr"><a href="mailto:lemuel.pew@weblogsinc.com">lemuel@mass<wbr></wbr>ively.com</a></span>. The best will also probably involve boobies in some form or another. Or just put in the comic.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/grinders-webcomic/">Grinders Webcomic</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/grinders-webcomic/2043600/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/05/grinders0015_05-29-09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/grinders-webcomic/2043599/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/05/grinders0014_05-22-09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/grinders-webcomic/2043598/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/05/grinders0013_05-15-09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/grinders-webcomic/2003819/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/05/grinders0012_05-08-09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/grinders-webcomic/2003818/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/05/grinders0011_05-01-09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><hr /><em><img hspace="4" border="1" align="left" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/02/lemmo_massively.jpg" alt="Lemuel Pew" />Lemuel Pew is a webcomic artist and MMO player with the attention span of a guppy. Between sketching gamers in cartoon form and making glib social commentary, he draws an online comic called <a href="http://blankitcomics.com">Blank It</a>. Feel free to <a href="http://twitter.com/lemmo">watch his Twitter</a> at your own risk.</em><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/comics/" rel="tag">Comics</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/grinders/" rel="tag">Grinders</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/massively-webcomic-grinders-gender-eqality/">Massively webcomic: Grinders - Gender Equality</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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/2009/07/03/massively-webcomic-grinders-gender-eqality/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086263/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/massively-webcomic-grinders-gender-eqality/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DkG6_PQsXByEeN_KNr4t3SI1Meo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DkG6_PQsXByEeN_KNr4t3SI1Meo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DkG6_PQsXByEeN_KNr4t3SI1Meo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DkG6_PQsXByEeN_KNr4t3SI1Meo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/E_kdTjK_OF0" height="1" width="1"/> comicfeaturedgrindershumorjoystiqfeaturessuperherosuperheroeswebcomic Lemuel Pew Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/massively-webcomic-grinders-gender-eqality/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/BS3KrCBsTRQ/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/betawatch-june-26th-july-3rd-2009/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/betawatch-june-26th-july-3rd-2009/#comments <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/betawatch"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/05/betawatchheader-sms-0509.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><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 />This week saw some major announcements in the realm of MMO betas. First, <a href="http://www.champions-online.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Champions Online</span></a> has announced its <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/26/champions-online-open-beta-coming-in-august/">open beta to begin in August</a>, and <a href="http://www.globalagendagame.com"><span style="font-style: italic;">Global Agenda</span></a> should be <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/27/global-agenda-closed-beta-to-begin-in-july/">dropping the closed-beta bomb</a> sometime this month. <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/ys-online-heads-into-open-beta/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ys Online</span></a> and <a href="http://redwar.uforia.com/Guide/Begin_1.aspx"><span style="font-style: italic;">Red War: Edem's Curse</span></a> have also announced their own open betas while <a href="http://eso.perfectworld.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ether Saga Online</span></a> has <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/ether-saga-online-launches-increases-level-cap/">graduated off the list to 'launched' status</a>. <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.runesofmagic.com">Runes of Magic</a> </span>has also <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/runes-of-magic-opens-closed-beta-for-french-and-spanish-users/">entered closed beta</a> for their French and Spanish versions, continuing their plan of complete world domination. Keep reading after the jump for the complete list of MMOs in their various beta stages.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/betawatch-june-26th-july-3rd-2009/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Betawatch: June 26th - July 3rd, 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/2009/07/03/betawatch-june-26th-july-3rd-2009/">Betawatch: June 26th - July 3rd, 2009</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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/2009/07/03/betawatch-june-26th-july-3rd-2009/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19086113/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/betawatch-june-26th-july-3rd-2009/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LML_uFt_STchh_D_fJa_NgM8eWA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LML_uFt_STchh_D_fJa_NgM8eWA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LML_uFt_STchh_D_fJa_NgM8eWA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LML_uFt_STchh_D_fJa_NgM8eWA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/BS3KrCBsTRQ" height="1" width="1"/> alphabetabetawatchclosed-betafeaturedmassively-metaopen-betatesting Shawn Schuster Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/betawatch-june-26th-july-3rd-2009/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/7KLcgnCwu1A/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/everquests-51-50-server-mayong-is-live/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/everquests-51-50-server-mayong-is-live/#comments <a href="http://eqdev.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/mayong-5150-server/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/eqmayongserverlive3_225px.jpg" alt="" /></a>Earlier in the week, <em><a href="http://everquest.station.sony.com/">EverQuest</a>'s</em> new <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/05/04/new-player-elected-50-51-server-coming-to-everquest/">51/50 server</a> "Mayong" <a href="http://eqdev.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/mayong-5150-server/">went live</a>. Pretty much anyone that played <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/everquest/"><em>EQ</em></a> around launch will recognize the name as that of the infamous vampire <a href="http://eq.knowledgepit.org/wiki/Mayong_Mistmoore">Mayong Mistmoore</a>, a character that was sometimes played by GMs and devs for live events way back in the day. For those not familiar with the special rules of this server type, it's fairly simple: 51 is your starting level, and 50 is the number of AAs you automatically receive upon making a character. <br /><br />To get people in the mood to begin the inevitable leveling races, and also to celebrate Independence Day, there is a 51% experience boost for players on all servers until Monday morning -- that's right, fifty-<em>one</em> percent. See what they did there?<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/everquest/" rel="tag">EverQuest</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/leveling/" rel="tag">Leveling</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/everquests-51-50-server-mayong-is-live/">EverQuest's 51/50 server "Mayong" is live</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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://eqdev.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/mayong-5150-server/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/everquests-51-50-server-mayong-is-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085660/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/everquests-51-50-server-mayong-is-live/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NroYliY0wF14nxrJtccXnVGunQk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NroYliY0wF14nxrJtccXnVGunQk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NroYliY0wF14nxrJtccXnVGunQk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NroYliY0wF14nxrJtccXnVGunQk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/7KLcgnCwu1A" height="1" width="1"/> 51-50-servereqeverquestexperience-bonusindependence-daymayongmayong-mistmooremayong-serversoesony-online-entertainment William Dobson Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/everquests-51-50-server-mayong-is-live/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/s-vaz4iPdRI/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/guild-wars-dragon-festival-offers-a-roaring-good-time/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/guild-wars-dragon-festival-offers-a-roaring-good-time/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/guild-wars/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/gwdragonfestival_580kv.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="left">If you're one of the many <a href="http://www.guildwars.com"><em>Guild Wars</em></a> players out there, you're probably well aware of <a href="http://www.guildwars.com/events/ingame/dragon_festival/">the festival</a> that occurs right around this time each year. If, like some others, you<em> have <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Guild-Wars/">Guild Wars</a></em> - probably even installed on your machine, but haven't logged in for a little while - then now is the time to head back in-game! Why? Because it's time for the Shing Jea Boardwalk to reappear, heralding the opening of the annual <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/DragonFestival/">Dragon Festival</a>.<br /><br />Compared to the <a href="http://www.massively.com/2008/06/28/dragon-festival-returns-to-guild-wars/">demon mask</a> being offered as a turn-in for 250 Victory Tokens last year, the team at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/Arenanet/">Arenanet</a> have really outdone themselves with this year's wicked-looking Imperial Dragon Mask, seen above. Players who want one of these shiny, limited-time holiday masks will have to bring their best skills to the mini-games on the boardwalk like <em>Dragon Arena</em> and the <em>Rollerbeetle Races</em>. The event runs through Sunday, July 5th for those wanting to get in on the party and score some wicked limited-time <em>Guild Wars</em> goodies.</div> </div><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/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/2009/07/03/guild-wars-dragon-festival-offers-a-roaring-good-time/">Guild Wars Dragon Festival offers a roaring good time</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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/2009/07/03/guild-wars-dragon-festival-offers-a-roaring-good-time/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085652/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/guild-wars-dragon-festival-offers-a-roaring-good-time/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MUHEabsPMzfNpY5YnJQPC7w9pp8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MUHEabsPMzfNpY5YnJQPC7w9pp8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MUHEabsPMzfNpY5YnJQPC7w9pp8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MUHEabsPMzfNpY5YnJQPC7w9pp8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/s-vaz4iPdRI" height="1" width="1"/> arenanetdragon-arenadragon-festivalemperor-kisuguild-warsgwimperial-dragon-maskrollerbeetle-racingyearly-events Krystalle Voecks Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/guild-wars-dragon-festival-offers-a-roaring-good-time/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/u6meZZ20e-o/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/the-daily-grind-celebrating-real-holidays-virtually/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/the-daily-grind-celebrating-real-holidays-virtually/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/imageviewer.html?/info/events/newyears/,images/,2,18,http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/events/newyears/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/fireworkssummer.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> My American sources tell me this is a long weekend for you folks across the pond. Something about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28United_States%29">independence</a> from Blighty a few hundred years ago. Essentially an excuse to let off fireworks, have BBQs, enjoy the fine weather and skive off work. Good on you. It seems like lots of MMOs are using it as an excuse to take the real celebrations in-game. For example, <a href="http://massively.com/tag/world-of-warcraft"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a> has the <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/events/midsummer/">Midsummer Fire Festival</a> which concludes tomorrow with a bunch of snoozing goblin guards and a whopping fireworks display. Likewise, <a href="http://massively.com/tag/lord-of-the-rings-online"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> has <a href="http://www.massively.com/2008/07/09/a-complete-guide-to-the-lotro-summer-festival/">one festival</a> with four different names.<br /><br />Given the fact the games are created by humans, it's no surprise the in-game festivals of all our favourite MMOs share a little in common with actual celebrations in real life. However they can also be handy for people too far away to meet up this 4th of July, most often troops on active duty or family members and friends separated by thousands of miles or even continents. So are any of you out there planning to eschew real celebrations in favour of meeting up with your guildies in-game? Are you going to travel around to see the fireworks or, if you play, <em>WoW</em> raid an enemy city. Do you prefer celebrating such events in-game? Do you mark them on your calendar and anticipate them as much as their real world counterparts? Do you wish the developers would expand world festivals to take account of more important holidays?<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <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/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/the-daily-grind-celebrating-real-holidays-virtually/">The Daily Grind: Celebrating real holidays virtually</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 Jul 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/2009/07/03/the-daily-grind-celebrating-real-holidays-virtually/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085908/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/the-daily-grind-celebrating-real-holidays-virtually/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AijhthBoJrdcLl4aLg1KZgCxmZA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AijhthBoJrdcLl4aLg1KZgCxmZA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AijhthBoJrdcLl4aLg1KZgCxmZA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AijhthBoJrdcLl4aLg1KZgCxmZA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/u6meZZ20e-o" height="1" width="1"/> fireworksfourth-of-julyin-game-eventin-game-eventslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinemidsummer-fire-festi...midsummer-fire-festivalsummerfestworld-eventsworld-of-warcraft Lesley Smith Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/03/the-daily-grind-celebrating-real-holidays-virtually/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/9up32ZHtQhc/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/futurist-ray-kurzweil-to-deliver-slcc-2009-keynote/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/futurist-ray-kurzweil-to-deliver-slcc-2009-keynote/#comments <p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/tan-raymond-kurzweil.jpg" />Some consider him a kook or an eccentric, while others think of him as a technological visionary. Either way, the accomplished <a href="http://www.kurzweilai.net/" rel="external nofollow">Raymond Kurzweil</a> will be taking the stage to keynote the <a href="http://www.slconvention.org/"><em>Second Life Community Convention</em></a> in San Francisco next month, a spot traditionally afforded to a Linden Lab executive.</p> <p>Kurzweil, a famous futurist, author and inventor, is notable for his many inventions (from the first CCD-based flat-bed scanner to reading machines for the blind), his notions about transhumanism and technological singularities and a significant number of awards and honorary degrees. He has <a href="http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2007/11/futurist-ray-ku.html" rel="external nofollow">strong opinions on virtual environments</a>, and it will be interesting to hear what he has to say.</p> <p>The <em>Second Life Community Convention 2009</em> will happen in San Francisco, on August 13th - 16th, 2009 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. Registration for the event is open and attendees can <a href="http://www.slconvention.org/register/" rel="external nofollow">register at the convention's Web-site</a>.</p> <hr /> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" style="border-width: 0pt; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: -15px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" align="right" style="background: rgb(214, 214, 203) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-life/"><img border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2008/08/tatsignal75.jpg" alt="" /></a></td> <td style="background: rgb(214, 214, 203) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><em>Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-life/">Second Life coverage</a> keeps you in the loop.</em></td> </tr> <tr> </tr> </tbody> </table><p>Filed under: <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/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-life/" rel="tag">Second Life</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/2009/07/02/futurist-ray-kurzweil-to-deliver-slcc-2009-keynote/">Futurist Ray Kurzweil to deliver SLCC 2009 keynote</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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/2009/07/02/futurist-ray-kurzweil-to-deliver-slcc-2009-keynote/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085718/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/futurist-ray-kurzweil-to-deliver-slcc-2009-keynote/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pKOkiX7zM9zldoCOsCAWCHCaVyQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pKOkiX7zM9zldoCOsCAWCHCaVyQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pKOkiX7zM9zldoCOsCAWCHCaVyQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pKOkiX7zM9zldoCOsCAWCHCaVyQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/9up32ZHtQhc" height="1" width="1"/> culturelinden-labray-kurzweilsecond-lifeslccslcc-keynoteslcc2009virtual-worlds Tateru Nino Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/futurist-ray-kurzweil-to-deliver-slcc-2009-keynote/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/O7E9YFV_rB8/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/raph-koster-speaks-on-metaplaces-new-functionality-and-the-chan/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/raph-koster-speaks-on-metaplaces-new-functionality-and-the-chan/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.metaplace.com"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/metaplaceembed580.jpg" /></a><br /></div> <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.metaplace.com/">Metaplace</a> introduced the world to a brand new technology two days ago -- the ability to embed a fully functional virtual world into any website or forum, anything that can handle HTML.<br /><br />This upgrade allows <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.massively.com/category/metaplace">Metaplace</a> to act like a more enhanced version of <a href="http://www.lively.com/goodbye.html">Google's old <span style="font-style: italic;">Lively</span> service</a>. All you need to do is make a world, take the embeddable HTML code from it, drop it into your website, and you now have a full virtual world running in flash right inside of your blog post or forum thread. The world can be edited to your whims through the <span style="font-style: italic;">Metaplace</span> builder, letting you create whatever you want to create inside of your space. Think of it like <a href="http://www.secondlife.com"><span style="font-style: italic;">Second Life</span></a> Lite.<br /><br />We had more than a few questions for <a href="http://www.raphkoster.com">Raph Koster</a>, the founder and creator of <span style="font-style: italic;">Metaplace</span>, about this new upgrade for his virtual platform, so we caught up with him to pick his mind on <span style="font-style: italic;">Metaplace</span> and virtual worlds at large.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/raph-koster-speaks-on-metaplaces-new-functionality-and-the-chan/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Raph Koster speaks on Metaplace's new functionality and the state of virtual worlds</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/metaplace/" rel="tag">MetaPlace</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual worlds</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/raph-koster-speaks-on-metaplaces-new-functionality-and-the-chan/">Raph Koster speaks on Metaplace's new functionality and the state of virtual worlds</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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.massively.com/2009/07/02/raph-koster-speaks-on-metaplaces-new-functionality-and-the-chan/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085565/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/raph-koster-speaks-on-metaplaces-new-functionality-and-the-chan/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/OF-leLvvh6thUetl3nwyO5XM8gM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/OF-leLvvh6thUetl3nwyO5XM8gM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/OF-leLvvh6thUetl3nwyO5XM8gM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/OF-leLvvh6thUetl3nwyO5XM8gM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/O7E9YFV_rB8" height="1" width="1"/> embeddedfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesmassively-interviewmetaplaceraph-kostersecond-lifevirtual-worldsweb-3.0 Colin Brennan Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/raph-koster-speaks-on-metaplaces-new-functionality-and-the-chan/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/RqeLMs7uqW4/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/ether-saga-online-launches-increases-level-cap/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/ether-saga-online-launches-increases-level-cap/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eso.perfectworld.com/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/ethersagaonlinelaunches_580px.jpg" /></a><br /></div> <a href="http://eso.perfectworld.com/"><em>Ether Saga Online</em></a> is now officially live, and <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/04/e3-2009-ether-saga-online-to-release-major-content-patch-this-m/#continued">as we found out last month</a> at E3 from the game's developers Perfect World, this event has gone hand in hand with a large update. We already knew about the introduction of an "Easy" setting for instances, a new world boss, and the reduction of "kill X number of monsters" quests, but there was also an increase to the level cap. In this patch the maximum level has gone from 90 to 105, and getting through these levels will grant the player lots of brand new class skills.<br /><br />The launched <em>ESO</em> is a free-to-play title, and the client <a href="http://eso.perfectworld.com/download/game_client">can be found here</a>. Check after the break for the full launch patch information.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/ether-saga-online-launches-increases-level-cap/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ether Saga Online launches, increases 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/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/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/2009/07/02/ether-saga-online-launches-increases-level-cap/">Ether Saga Online launches, increases level cap</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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/2009/07/02/ether-saga-online-launches-increases-level-cap/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19084521/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/ether-saga-online-launches-increases-level-cap/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/gDR72RDGvpZfGq7Qfcv9o-S6-9s/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/gDR72RDGvpZfGq7Qfcv9o-S6-9s/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/gDR72RDGvpZfGq7Qfcv9o-S6-9s/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/gDR72RDGvpZfGq7Qfcv9o-S6-9s/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/RqeLMs7uqW4" height="1" width="1"/> esoether-saga-onlineinstanceslaunchlevel-caplevel-cap-increasepatchperfect-world William Dobson Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/ether-saga-online-launches-increases-level-cap/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/2H96Naa2eDM/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/largest-wizard101-expansion-launches-today-introduces-crafting/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/largest-wizard101-expansion-launches-today-introduces-crafting/#comments <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/wizard-101"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/wizard101imageyellowrobeat580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />The kid-centric MMO <a href="http://www.wizard101.com"><em>Wizard101</em></a> from <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/kingsisle-entertainment">KingsIsle Entertainment</a> seems to be doing quite well for itself, having already gained <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/04/30/wizard101-hits-2-million-unique-user-mark/">millions of unique users</a> since its launch last September. <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/wizard-101"><em>Wizard101</em></a> has gotten a steady stream of updates as well. In fact, today marks the game's largest expansion release to date, adding a <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/23/norse-themed-expansion-coming-to-wizard-101/">new land called Grizzleheim</a> with a Norse theme, and a <a href="https://www.wizard101.com/site/posts/list/7788.ftl">Bazaar in Olde Town</a> where players can buy and sell their wares. <br /><br />Perhaps the biggest addition to <em>Wizard101</em> with today's expansion is a <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/crafting">crafting system</a> which will bring new gear into the game that spans the various schools of magic. <em>Wizard101</em> players will be able to <a href="https://www.wizard101.com/site/posts/list/7789.ftl">craft hundreds of items</a> ranging from clothing to Treasure Cards. In addition to using crafting tables in their houses and dorm rooms, players can progress through <a href="https://www.wizard101.com/site/home5/w101playersguide/page_8ad6a40422115d9b012218c20e4f017b">five tiers of crafting advancement</a>.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/crafting/" rel="tag">Crafting</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/kids/" rel="tag">Kids</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/wizard101/" rel="tag">Wizard101</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/largest-wizard101-expansion-launches-today-introduces-crafting/">Largest Wizard101 expansion launches today, introduces crafting system</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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=https://www.wizard101.com/site/posts/list/7789.ftl>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/largest-wizard101-expansion-launches-today-introduces-crafting/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085411/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/largest-wizard101-expansion-launches-today-introduces-crafting/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/umCzTIobFO65xVWEjlzN5EWYmuc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/umCzTIobFO65xVWEjlzN5EWYmuc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/umCzTIobFO65xVWEjlzN5EWYmuc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/umCzTIobFO65xVWEjlzN5EWYmuc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/2H96Naa2eDM" height="1" width="1"/> bazaarcraftingcrafting-tablesexpansionsfantasygrizzleheimkidskingsisle-entertainmentolde-townwizard101 James Egan Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/largest-wizard101-expansion-launches-today-introduces-crafting/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/_GAHpPT4Ajs/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/wow-com-posts-coming-to-massively/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/wow-com-posts-coming-to-massively/#comments <div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/fromwowdotcom-580.jpg" /><br /></div> You may have noticed that Massively doesn't talk very much about <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a>. Even though it's the biggest MMO on the block, our friends at <a href="http://www.wow.com">WoW.com</a> cover it so comprehensively that it seems silly for us to duplicate their efforts. But <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft/"><em>WoW</em></a> is an MMO too, and it only makes sense to talk about it when there's news. So, from here on out, we'll be co-opting WoW.com's coverage when appropriate. When you see a post on Massively that says "WoW.com" in the upper left (as in the image above) with an unfamiliar writer's name -- that means you're seeing a post directly from our <em>WoW</em>-centric sister site! It should look and feel the same to you, dear reader, but if you head off to comment, be advised that you'll be leaving Massively for WoW.com, where the <em>WoW</em> fans outnumber the rest of us. You'll be able to comment with your existing Massively account, but tread with caution!<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <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/2009/07/02/wow-com-posts-coming-to-massively/">WoW.com posts coming to Massively</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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/2009/07/02/wow-com-posts-coming-to-massively/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085232/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/wow-com-posts-coming-to-massively/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_VGwEAntMx3f7t0FHYFcUud5rBM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_VGwEAntMx3f7t0FHYFcUud5rBM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_VGwEAntMx3f7t0FHYFcUud5rBM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_VGwEAntMx3f7t0FHYFcUud5rBM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/_GAHpPT4Ajs" height="1" width="1"/> blizzardmassivelyworld-of-warcraftwowwow.com Elizabeth Harper Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/wow-com-posts-coming-to-massively/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/TPTNgUsZHQU/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-global-agenda-gameplay-vids-show-off-customization-and-pvp/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-global-agenda-gameplay-vids-show-off-customization-and-pvp/#comments <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/global-agenda"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/roboticsimageat580ga.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />As the shooter-MMO hybrid <a href="http://www.globalagendagame.com"><span style="font-style: italic;">Global Agenda</span></a> enters <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/27/global-agenda-closed-beta-to-begin-in-july/">closed beta this month</a>, the team at <a href="http://www.hirezstudios.com">Hi-Rez Studios</a> has begun to release more videos showing off gameplay footage. John Walker over at <a href="http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/07/02/global-agenda-gets-trailer-happy/">Rock, Paper, Shotgun</a> hunted down and rounded up the new videos from <a href="http://www.gametrailers.com">Gametrailers</a>, which give us a good look at how the game is shaping up. The first video shows off the <a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/52239.html">character creation process</a>, with a cut scene explaining your introduction to the world, trapped and floating in a cloning tank monitored by machines, then rescued by armored human allies. That's followed up by footage of other character creation options in <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/global-agenda"><span style="font-style: italic;">Global Agenda</span></a>, from the look of your agent's body to <a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/52225.html">armor customization</a>, as well as showing how <a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/52221.html">large and open the game's social hubs will be</a>. <br /><br />Even better, there are two more videos that show off <span style="font-style: italic;">Global Agenda</span>'s combat, demonstrating both co-op gameplay and PvP. We've got video embeds of the combat footage after the jump:<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-global-agenda-gameplay-vids-show-off-customization-and-pvp/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New Global Agenda gameplay vids show off customization and PvP</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/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/global-agenda/" rel="tag">Global Agenda</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-global-agenda-gameplay-vids-show-off-customization-and-pvp/">New Global Agenda gameplay vids show off customization and PvP</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/07/02/global-agenda-gets-trailer-happy/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-global-agenda-gameplay-vids-show-off-customization-and-pvp/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085307/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-global-agenda-gameplay-vids-show-off-customization-and-pvp/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/QTEUk0D9-GQF7PIG-41zJMjwv4k/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/QTEUk0D9-GQF7PIG-41zJMjwv4k/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/QTEUk0D9-GQF7PIG-41zJMjwv4k/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/QTEUk0D9-GQF7PIG-41zJMjwv4k/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/TPTNgUsZHQU" height="1" width="1"/> armorcharacter-creationco-opcustomizationgametrailersglobal-agendahi-rez-studiosnew-titlespvprock-paper-shotgunsci-fispy-fivideo James Egan Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-global-agenda-gameplay-vids-show-off-customization-and-pvp/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/z4ADwMpxM9U/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/one-shots-a-face-only-a-mother-could-love/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/one-shots-a-face-only-a-mother-could-love/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/gallery/one-shots/2121806/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os591_war_580.jpg" /></a><br /></div> Believe it or not, not every <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com"><em>Warhammer Online</em></a> image we get has a glitch in it. It just seems like more people snap screenshots of funny glitches than normal life. We figure they're too busy trying to kill each other for that. That's why even if this guy's face is scary-looking, we're glad to see it today on <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/One-Shots/">One Shots</a> - and glitch-free! Without further ado, here's today's contributor: <em>This is my Warrior Priest, Serathor, from the Phoenix Throne server of <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Warhammer-Online/">Warhammer Online</a>. As I [was] waiting for me and my warband to finish defending a battlefield objective in the Shadowlands, I turned around to capture an amazing lightning strike hitting one of the spires.</em><br /><br />When you're out and about in your favorite MMO, why not snap some screenshots and send them our way? It's always appreciated as we love to have lots of different worlds to show off. Just email them to us at <strong>oneshots AT massively DOT com</strong> along with your name and the game the image is from. Be sure to add in your name, the name the game is from and a brief description so we can credit you properly.<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/2125022/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os593_darkfall_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2123899/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os592_wow_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2121806/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os591_war_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2118519/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os590_ffxi_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2116311/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/06/os589_freerealms_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/warhammer-online/" rel="tag">Warhammer 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/2009/07/02/one-shots-a-face-only-a-mother-could-love/">One Shots: A face only a mother could love</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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/2009/07/02/one-shots-a-face-only-a-mother-could-love/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19084816/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/one-shots-a-face-only-a-mother-could-love/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/q8WWByZvlsf61e1-2BJoIUMX1CQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/q8WWByZvlsf61e1-2BJoIUMX1CQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/q8WWByZvlsf61e1-2BJoIUMX1CQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/q8WWByZvlsf61e1-2BJoIUMX1CQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/z4ADwMpxM9U" height="1" width="1"/> destructioneamythicmythic-entertainmentone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsserathorwaaghwarwarhammer-online Krystalle Voecks Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/one-shots-a-face-only-a-mother-could-love/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/rC7Z-mWDiCo/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/redefining-mmos/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/title-redefineweek1.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> As we look back at the past several years of the MMO scene, we see a genre that <a href="http://www.massively.com/2008/03/31/massivelys-visual-history-of-mmorpgs-part-i/">has gone through significant evolutionary leaps</a>. With those pioneering days of text MUDs and blocky graphics behind us, today we enjoy professionally developed games with impressive development teams and massive budgets behind them. The genre's depths have been thoroughly explored and we've even categorised the features we've come to love and expect from our favourite online retreats. Every part of the genre, from the types of gameplay available to the terminology we use, has been routinely evolving and redefining itself over time.<br /><br />With professional MMO development soaring and <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/betawatch/">a whole new generation of promising titles on the way</a>, we stand on the cusp of what could be the next big evolutionary leap for online gaming. In the coming weeks and months, Massively will be examining how the MMO genre has been redefined during the current generation of games and where it's headed in the next. If you have something important to say on the topic, feel free to post a comment on page 2 or even write your own "Redefining MMOs" blog post and leave a comment with the URL.<br /><br />In this introductory article, I ask why we use the terminology we do when talking about MMOs and if perhaps it's starting to change.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Redefining MMOs: Terminology</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/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/academic/" rel="tag">Academic</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual worlds</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mmofps/" rel="tag">MMOFPS</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mmorts/" rel="tag">MMORTS</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/redefining-mmos/" rel="tag">Redefining MMOs</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/">Redefining MMOs: Terminology</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19084558/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/abWTjiccaliiwd6t-_5vs6BOOQg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/abWTjiccaliiwd6t-_5vs6BOOQg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/abWTjiccaliiwd6t-_5vs6BOOQg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/abWTjiccaliiwd6t-_5vs6BOOQg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/rC7Z-mWDiCo" height="1" width="1"/> fantasyfeaturedgenrejoystiqfeaturesmmommofpsmmorpgmmortsnext-genredefining MMOsRedefiningMmossci-fispacesuper-heroterminology Brendan Drain Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/i5nCtsyvv4I/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/#comments <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/eve-online"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/gallentestationat580blue.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.eveonline.com"><em>EVE Online</em></a> is a deep sandbox game with the <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/02/19/massively-interviews-eve-online-lead-economist-dr-eyjog/">most complex player-driven economy</a> found in any massively multiplayer title. There's enough depth, in fact, that players can establish their own financial ventures in-game, in the forms of bonds and IPOs, and even <a href="http://www.massively.com/2008/11/26/a-look-at-virtual-banking-in-eve-online/">institutions like banks</a>. However, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/eve-online"><em>EVE Online</em></a> is a game where some players create while others undermine or outright destroy. <a href="http://www.massively.com/2008/06/30/eve-online-community-spotlight-a-qanda-with-chribba/">Trust is a valuable and rare commodity</a> in <em>EVE</em>'s setting of New Eden; there are always risks of deception and betrayal. But those willing to take risks are generally the ones who are most successful. Of the player-run banks presently operating in the game, <a href="http://www.eve-bank.net">EBANK</a> has billed itself as "<a href="http://www.eve-bank.net/EBANKAnnualReport07-08.pdf"><em>the largest financial entity ever seen in EVE.</em></a>"<br /><br />The secrets of its success? A <a href="http://www.eve-bank.net/About/Staff.aspx">solid Board of Directors and knowledgeable staff</a>, various safeguards preventing any one individual from accessing all bank assets and, yes, some of that rare commodity called trust.That trust was damaged recently though, when EBANK's (now-former) CEO Ricdic, well-known to the game's playerbase, <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/10/eve-onlines-largest-player-run-bank-rocked-by-embezzlement/">embezzled the virtual funds he was entrusted with</a>. Although this is permissible by <em>EVE</em>'s developers <a href="http://www.ccpgames.com">CCP Games</a>, selling in-game currency for real-world cash is not. Ricdic has been banned from the game but his actions triggered a run on the virtual bank, and have shaken the faith many players have in EBANK. <br /><br />Massively spoke about the incident with <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/03/03/eve-community-spotlight-lavista-vista/">LaVista Vista</a>, a former member of the game's <a href="http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/What_is_the_CSM">Council of Stellar Management</a> who sits on the Board of Directors of this virtual bank in <em>EVE</em>; he also provides commentary and analysis of virtual worlds and <em>EVE</em> on the <a href="http://www.eveconomics.com">Eveconomics blog</a>. LaVista told us about the parallels that can be drawn between a banking crisis in the virtual galaxy of New Eden and that of the real world, and how what happens in a game can impact real lives.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement</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/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/">New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19075758/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JOdbY5rW4m87lEt8NgXpIxWfZ0A/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JOdbY5rW4m87lEt8NgXpIxWfZ0A/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JOdbY5rW4m87lEt8NgXpIxWfZ0A/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JOdbY5rW4m87lEt8NgXpIxWfZ0A/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/i5nCtsyvv4I" height="1" width="1"/> banksccp-gamescharlie-eriksencouncil-of-stellar-managementcrimecsmebankebank-ricdiceconomyembezzlementeveeve-onlinefeaturedlavista-vistamassively-interviewsplayer-run-venturesricdicrmtscamsci-fitrust James Egan Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/dkoYiocjpqk/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-fallen-earth-trailer-is-mean-lean-and-low-on-steam/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-fallen-earth-trailer-is-mean-lean-and-low-on-steam/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fallen-earth/"><em><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/felandfish28.jpg" /></em></a><br /></div> <em>"Sick of ogres, elves and pixies? So are we. Lose the tights. Bury your crystals. Quit playing with your wand. Come get the real deal. This ain't daddy's MMO. Fallen Earth."</em> These words fill the newest <em><a href="http://www.fallenearth.com">Fallen Earth</a></em> trailer, which is accompanied by lots of fast camera zooms and punctuated with <em>extreme</em> hard rock. To be fair, we're sure there are many of you out there who're definitely tired of at least some of these things. However, this trailer is low on reality and high on, well, <em>something</em>.<br /><br />It's almost like the marketing team wasn't aware of the videos <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/08/e3-2009-fallen-earth-lead-designer-on-fallout-comparison/">and information released</a> to this point, which showed a slower, more laid back MMO. Sure, you shoot things and there's lots of mature, post-apocalyptic content, but it seems like this trailer is aimed at creating a false assumption with players wanting a fast, twitchy run-and-gun, simple MMO that <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Fallen-Earth/">Fallen Earth</a></em> just isn't.<br /><br />We think the game <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/26/fallen-earth-stress-test-now-open-to-all/">could definitely find its audience</a>, which is why this trailer seems incredibly counter-productive. Being genuine is supremely important. Players who figure out you aren't will resent it, and those who don't will become embittered after purchasing something with false expectations. Catch the full -- yet short -- video after the break.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-fallen-earth-trailer-is-mean-lean-and-low-on-steam/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New Fallen Earth trailer is mean, lean and low on steam</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/fallen-earth/" rel="tag">Fallen Earth</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></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-fallen-earth-trailer-is-mean-lean-and-low-on-steam/">New Fallen Earth trailer is mean, lean and low on steam</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-premiere-fallen-earth/52195?type=flv>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-fallen-earth-trailer-is-mean-lean-and-low-on-steam/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19085004/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-fallen-earth-trailer-is-mean-lean-and-low-on-steam/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eUL4t1PkD7iPcH-YnJhTM1jbTdw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eUL4t1PkD7iPcH-YnJhTM1jbTdw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eUL4t1PkD7iPcH-YnJhTM1jbTdw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eUL4t1PkD7iPcH-YnJhTM1jbTdw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/dkoYiocjpqk" height="1" width="1"/> butt-rockfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcshootertrailervideo Kyle Horner Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/new-fallen-earth-trailer-is-mean-lean-and-low-on-steam/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/ksLPZJtFKDU/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/twitter-added-to-champions-online-social-butterflies-rejoice/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/twitter-added-to-champions-online-social-butterflies-rejoice/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/champions-online/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/twittchamps.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> The <a href="http://champions-online.com/node/83839">first July 2009 State of the Game</a> for <em><a href="http://www.champions-online.com">Champions Online</a></em> is out and it sure came with an interesting surprise. Namely, the addition of Twitter to the in-game feature set. Now we're sure some of you will scoff at this idea, but sit there for a moment while <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/five-action-packed-champions-online-screens/">we paint you a mental picture</a>.<br /><br />You're inside a rather challenging instance, only moments away from the big fight. Your party is getting ready, resting up, etc and so you take a moment to hammer out a short message to your friends on Twitter. <em>"Oh man, about to take on my Nemesis, Big Bad Boss Man, wish us luck!"</em> you say, netting you a few encouraging replies. Then you engage and the ensuing carnage is nigh <em>legendary</em>. The party just takes a serious beating and is torn limb from heroic limb by your Nemesis. You decide to share this with the world, only to see your buddies instantly share their empathetic thoughts on your embarrassing defeat.<br /><br />We think it's got some substantially fun possibilities. Plus, if <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/Cryptic/">Cryptic</a> can work in Twitter support to their games, what else could they do? Facebook seems like the next step, but there's also Pandora and Last.FM support to consider, too.<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</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/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/2009/07/02/twitter-added-to-champions-online-social-butterflies-rejoice/">Twitter added to Champions Online, social butterflies rejoice</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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://champions-online.com/node/83839>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/twitter-added-to-champions-online-social-butterflies-rejoice/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19084922/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/twitter-added-to-champions-online-social-butterflies-rejoice/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/a8gv-ZJl1ggB1nMjVY7OchZpRWQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/a8gv-ZJl1ggB1nMjVY7OchZpRWQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/a8gv-ZJl1ggB1nMjVY7OchZpRWQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/a8gv-ZJl1ggB1nMjVY7OchZpRWQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/ksLPZJtFKDU" height="1" width="1"/> ataribetachampionschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosfacebooknemesisstate-of-the-gametwitter Kyle Horner Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/twitter-added-to-champions-online-social-butterflies-rejoice/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/FhyQDPWPMfI/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/aion-launch-party-contest-details-revealed/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/aion-launch-party-contest-details-revealed/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/aion/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/asmod827eef2.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> Do you plan on participating in the <em><a href="http://www.aiononline.com/us">Aion</a></em> beta this weekend? If not, you may want to reconsider, because <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/NCsoft/">NCsoft</a> is offering a pretty amazing contest for those of you who decide to play. Here's the rub: <span>North American players who log into the <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/Aion/">Aion</a></em> closed beta this weekend (July 2nd to July 6th) and obtain level 3 are entered to win a trip to Seattle for themselves and a friend. This trip culminates at the <em>Aion</em> launch party at the Seattle Space Needle, where they'll also get to attend the <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/PAX/">PAX</a> 2009 expo.<br /><br />Pretty cool, right? We're sure that many of you would kill to get a chance to play <em>Aion</em> at all, let alone be entered into this contest. So make sure you get to at least level 3 if you're playing this weekend. You may as well if you're already going to play at all, right? And if you really want that beta key now -- <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/get-your-keys-for-the-third-aion-beta-weekend-before-theyre-go/">but haven't had the luck to nab one</a> -- preorder customers are given access to every beta event. You can find the page for preordering yourself a copy <a href="http://www.aiononline.com/us/preorder/">right here</a>.</span><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/aion/" rel="tag">Aion</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/contests/" rel="tag">Contests</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></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/aion-launch-party-contest-details-revealed/">Aion launch party contest details revealed</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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/2009/07/02/aion-launch-party-contest-details-revealed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19084719/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/aion-launch-party-contest-details-revealed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eQdMaf8tjclewgS8H7z4M8Nb64M/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eQdMaf8tjclewgS8H7z4M8Nb64M/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eQdMaf8tjclewgS8H7z4M8Nb64M/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eQdMaf8tjclewgS8H7z4M8Nb64M/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/FhyQDPWPMfI" height="1" width="1"/> aionbetacontestnc-westncsoftpaxpax-2009seattlespace-needle Kyle Horner Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/aion-launch-party-contest-details-revealed/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/RfU_YYdy4hU/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/the-daily-grind-is-cataclysm-the-name-of-blizzards-next-mmo/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/the-daily-grind-is-cataclysm-the-name-of-blizzards-next-mmo/#comments <div align="center"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/blizlogo-sms-0709.jpg" /><br /></div> Yesterday, the news first broke that <a href="http://www.blizzard.com">Blizzard</a> had applied for a trademark on the name "Cataclysm", in the fields of <a href="http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&amp;entry=77769006">computer games</a>, <a href="http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&amp;entry=77769019">paper-based products</a>, and <a href="http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&amp;entry=77769023">online entertainment services</a>, according to <a href="http://www.wow.com/2009/07/01/blizzard-files-trademark-for-cataclysm/">an article at WoW.com</a>. Speculation has spread across the blog-o-sphere as to what this new trademark could be. Could it be the next WoW expansion? More likely it's the name of their <a href="http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/05/13/next-blizzard-mmo-to-be-completely-original-game/">next-gen MMO</a> they're said <a href="http://www.blizzard.com/us/jobopp/art-lead-3d-environment-artist.html">to be working on</a>.<br /><br />But what if it's not? As the WoW.com article points out, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starcraft_ghost"><em>StarCraft: Ghost</em></a> was also trademarked, and it never actually materialized. Is this Blizzard trying to throw us a curve ball, or is it really a solid lead into what could be Blizzard's second go at a successful MMO? Of course it's all speculation at this point, but from the <a href="http://mmorpg.qj.net/Great-things-come-in-threes-Blizzard-files-Cataclysm-trademark/pg/49/aid/132629">information presented</a>, do you think <em>Cataclysm</em> is the next Blizzard MMO?<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</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/rumors/" rel="tag">Rumors</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/the-daily-grind-is-cataclysm-the-name-of-blizzards-next-mmo/">The Daily Grind: Is "Cataclysm" the name of Blizzard's next MMO?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 02 Jul 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/2009/07/02/the-daily-grind-is-cataclysm-the-name-of-blizzards-next-mmo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19084543/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/the-daily-grind-is-cataclysm-the-name-of-blizzards-next-mmo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yXrRnXaIR9Il4euKOCkDjShT-sQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yXrRnXaIR9Il4euKOCkDjShT-sQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yXrRnXaIR9Il4euKOCkDjShT-sQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yXrRnXaIR9Il4euKOCkDjShT-sQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/RfU_YYdy4hU" height="1" width="1"/> blizzardcataclysmnext-genthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftwow Shawn Schuster Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/02/the-daily-grind-is-cataclysm-the-name-of-blizzards-next-mmo/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/6JJMeT1i10c/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/linden-lab-addresses-second-life-group-chat-problems/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/linden-lab-addresses-second-life-group-chat-problems/#comments <p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/sl-technical-difficulties.jpg" />Since the rollout of <a href="http://secondlife.com/"><em>Second Life</em></a> server 1.26 the already unreliable <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-life"><em>Second Life</em></a> group-chat system showed an almost crippling drop in reliability, compared to the previous 1.25 release. <a rel="external nofollow" href="https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/technology/blog/2009/07/01/a-status-update-on-group-chat">Linden Lab have estimated an overall 60% drop in the number of group-chat messages successfully delivered</a>, and the problem skews towards the larger groups, prompting many group owners to completely disable their group's chat functions to avoid online members from being spammed with error messages.</p> <p>Linden Lab is reporting that server version 1.27, currently in quality assurance, represents a 300% improvement in group chat reliability over version 1.25 (or almost 1000% more reliable than what is currently operating on the <em>Second Life</em> grid today). As yet, no deployment date has been announced, but for many, the update cannot come soon enough.</p> <hr /> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" style="border-width: 0pt; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: -15px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" align="right" style="background: rgb(214, 214, 203) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-life/"><img border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2008/08/tatsignal75.jpg" alt="" /></a></td> <td style="background: rgb(214, 214, 203) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><em>Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-life/">Second Life coverage</a> keeps you in the loop.</em></td> </tr> <tr> </tr> </tbody> </table><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/bugs/" rel="tag">Bugs</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-life/" rel="tag">Second Life</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/2009/07/01/linden-lab-addresses-second-life-group-chat-problems/">Linden Lab addresses Second Life group chat problems</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 01 Jul 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=https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/technology/blog/2009/07/01/a-status-update-on-group-chat>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/linden-lab-addresses-second-life-group-chat-problems/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19084408/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/linden-lab-addresses-second-life-group-chat-problems/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/f0YHkdQHLZXzAaqInAQ1bigg6FM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/f0YHkdQHLZXzAaqInAQ1bigg6FM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/f0YHkdQHLZXzAaqInAQ1bigg6FM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/f0YHkdQHLZXzAaqInAQ1bigg6FM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/6JJMeT1i10c" height="1" width="1"/> bugslinden-labsecond-lifesls-1.25sls-1.26sls-1.27virtual-worlds Tateru Nino Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/linden-lab-addresses-second-life-group-chat-problems/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/5mmTJ3QEgDU/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/what-audiences-should-mythic-have-targeted-with-warhammer-online/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/what-audiences-should-mythic-have-targeted-with-warhammer-online/#comments <div align="center"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/p1-header.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div> This is an original opinion piece written by someone who has been following <a href="http://warhammeronline.com"><em>Warhammer Online</em></a> since November 2007. Comments are open on page three.<br /><br />Many people claim <a href="http://massively.com/category/warhammer-online"><em>WAR</em></a> is a total fail-whale of an MMO. I can see sides of their argument, but I don't believe it's completely true. The "fail" perception mostly comes down to the expectations that were set by <a href="http://mythicentertainment.com">Mythic</a> and <a href="http://ea.com">EA</a> and then never fully delivered upon. It's no secret they were aiming for 500k+ subs and then missed the mark (<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/05/06/warhammer-holds-its-ground-with-300k-subs/">by about 200k</a>), but it got me wondering... Who is/was <em>WAR</em>'s target audience? Was their potential audience actually big enough to support their aspirations?<br /><br />Let's go back. Waaaaaaaaaaay back. Let's pretend we were a fly on the wall in a Mythic/EA/<a href="http://gamesworkshop.com">Games Workshop</a> boardroom as they were discussing the original vision and design direction for <em>WAR</em>. One of the first steps you take before developing any product is to define your target audience or demographic. Knowing your audience gives you better direction and allows you to focus your efforts and design decisions more clearly.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/what-audiences-should-mythic-have-targeted-with-warhammer-online/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>What audiences should Mythic have targeted with Warhammer Online?</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/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/warhammer-online/" rel="tag">Warhammer Online</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/what-audiences-should-mythic-have-targeted-with-warhammer-online/">What audiences should Mythic have targeted with Warhammer Online?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 01 Jul 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.massively.com/2009/07/01/what-audiences-should-mythic-have-targeted-with-warhammer-online/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19082927/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/what-audiences-should-mythic-have-targeted-with-warhammer-online/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0bQAe8G24OytzOHxovzY8OBGIgI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0bQAe8G24OytzOHxovzY8OBGIgI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0bQAe8G24OytzOHxovzY8OBGIgI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0bQAe8G24OytzOHxovzY8OBGIgI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/5mmTJ3QEgDU" height="1" width="1"/> dark-age-of-camelotdemographicseafeaturedgames-workshopjoystiqfeaturesmark-jacobsmythic-entertainmentPvERvRtarget-audiencewarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraft Brooke Pilley Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/what-audiences-should-mythic-have-targeted-with-warhammer-online/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/-TlgpAp92Jo/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/runes-of-magic-opens-closed-beta-for-french-and-spanish-users/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/runes-of-magic-opens-closed-beta-for-french-and-spanish-users/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.runesofmagic.com/es/index.html"><em><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/romspanish580.jpg" alt="" /></em></a><br /></div> <em>Runas de Magica</em> y el pollo es muy delicioso para la cena! Ok, so our Spanish is a little rusty, we're missing some accent marks, and we probably just said that <a href="http://www.runesofmagic.com"><em>Runes of Magic</em></a> tastes good with chicken, but what we mean to say is that the closed beta for <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/runes-of-magic"><em>Runes of Magic</em></a> in Spain and France has begun.<br /><br />Now anyone from those two countries, or anyone who wants to have their client in French or Spanish, can enjoy <em>Runes of Magic</em> in those languages. With the closed beta comes the launch of the <a href="http://www.runesofmagic.com/fr/index.html">French</a> and <a href="http://www.runesofmagic.com/es/index.html">Spanish</a> <em>Runes of Magic</em> websites as well, so feel free to scurry on over and register.<br /><br />The final date for launch for these two countries hasn't been confirmed yet, but the game will be shipping out with <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/26/runes-of-magic-to-add-new-zone-and-level-cap-increase-in-august/">The Elven Prophecy</a>, giving their launches a timeframe of either launching with the new expansion or shortly thereafter.<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/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/runes-of-magic/" rel="tag">Runes of Magic</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/runes-of-magic-opens-closed-beta-for-french-and-spanish-users/">Runes of Magic opens closed beta for French and Spanish users</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 01 Jul 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.runesofmagic.com/es/index.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/runes-of-magic-opens-closed-beta-for-french-and-spanish-users/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19084204/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/runes-of-magic-opens-closed-beta-for-french-and-spanish-users/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/INu2aAUfR3dCZNgYKFLZR0Jk8Ks/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/INu2aAUfR3dCZNgYKFLZR0Jk8Ks/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/INu2aAUfR3dCZNgYKFLZR0Jk8Ks/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/INu2aAUfR3dCZNgYKFLZR0Jk8Ks/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/-TlgpAp92Jo" height="1" width="1"/> betaclosed-betaeuropefrancefrenchlanguageromrunes-of-magicspainspanishthe-elven-prophecy Colin Brennan Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/runes-of-magic-opens-closed-beta-for-french-and-spanish-users/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/xRAwsgIjPxw/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/first-gaikai-demo-shows-wow-and-eve-played-via-browser/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/first-gaikai-demo-shows-wow-and-eve-played-via-browser/#comments <a href="http://www.dperry.com/archives/news/dp_blog/gaikai_-_video/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/gaikaitechdemograbat580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.gaikai.com/">Gaikai</a> is a new game streaming service that's currently in development, which was <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/03/26/gdc09-gaikai-digital-gaming-service-to-stream-mmos-to-web-brows/">first announced at GDC 2009</a> (and later was apparently previewed by game publishers at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/e3-2009">E3 2009</a>.) We've since <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/gaikai">mentioned Gaikai a few times at Massively</a>, and how the service could bring MMOs (and other games) to devices like netbooks that don't have adequate graphics capabilities to run these titles. Gaikai will use "<a href="http://www.gaikai.com/streaming-worlds/">Streaming Worlds</a>" technology to do all the graphics crunching on remote servers and then stream games to your computer via a web browser. In effect, you're playing the game as a video stream. No client install required, no patching needed. <br /><br />Given the reactions we've seen from gamers in our own comments and elsewhere on the web, skepticism abounds. Perhaps seeing is believing though, as Gaikai's <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/david-perry">David Perry</a> has put out a <a href="http://vimeo.com/5404358">video demo of the service</a> today, explaining Gaikai to viewers as he plays several games, namely <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a> and <a href="http://www.eveonline.com"><em>EVE Online</em></a>. No doubt there will still be skepticism, but it's good to get a first look at the service. Perry makes a few details about the demo and the service itself clear <a href="http://www.dperry.com/archives/news/dp_blog/gaikai_-_video/">on his blog</a>: the data travel distance in the demo is 800 miles; this is a (non-fiber) home cable connection; it works over wi-fi and with netbooks lacking 3D graphics cards; any clicking sounds heard are only from Perry's wireless headset mic.<br /><br />We've got a video embed of the Gaikai technology demo for you below, where you can see <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a> and <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/eve-online"><em>EVE Online</em></a> played via a browser:<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/first-gaikai-demo-shows-wow-and-eve-played-via-browser/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>First Gaikai demo shows WoW and EVE played via browser</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <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/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/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/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/first-gaikai-demo-shows-wow-and-eve-played-via-browser/">First Gaikai demo shows WoW and EVE played via browser</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 01 Jul 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.dperry.com/archives/news/dp_blog/gaikai_-_video/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/first-gaikai-demo-shows-wow-and-eve-played-via-browser/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19084012/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/first-gaikai-demo-shows-wow-and-eve-played-via-browser/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uXDFw8ryXbmio4Q93nzRz6aqN-E/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uXDFw8ryXbmio4Q93nzRz6aqN-E/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uXDFw8ryXbmio4Q93nzRz6aqN-E/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uXDFw8ryXbmio4Q93nzRz6aqN-E/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/xRAwsgIjPxw" height="1" width="1"/> browserdavid-perrydemofantasygaikaimmo-industrysci-fistreaming-worldstech-demovideos James Egan Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/first-gaikai-demo-shows-wow-and-eve-played-via-browser/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/Yy84nmneo7g/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/choose-my-adventure-reaching-the-crystal-desert/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/choose-my-adventure-reaching-the-crystal-desert/#comments <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/gallery/choose-my-adventure-guild-wars/2118247/"><em><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/gw236-thumb-sms-0709.jpg" alt="" /></em></a><br /></div> <em>Join me as I brave my way through lands unknown in an adventure dictated entirely by you, the Massively readers! Vote for everything from game played to character creation to ultimate goal and watch it unfold in a series of journals and galleries here on the site. </em><span style="font-style: italic;">Then, as the ultimate goal is reached, we'll do it all over again in a new game!<br /><br /></span>When last we saw our <a href="http://www.guildwars.com"><em>Guild Wars</em></a> heroine, she had just finished <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/17/choose-my-adventure-conquering-kryta/">exploring every city in Kryta</a> and was off to do the same in the Maguuma Jungle. According to your votes, Moira Zonk the Necromancer headed off to unlock each of the eight cities in the Jungle and ultimately reach the <a href="http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Amnoon_Oasis">Amnoon Oasis</a> in the Crystal Desert.<br /><br />Now that she sits at the Oasis, recovering from her travels, she's ready to head off in whatever direction you'd like. Keep reading below for more on her travels and the newest poll where you can vote on where she ventures next.<p><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/choose-my-adventure-reaching-the-crystal-desert/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Choose my Adventure: Reaching the Crystal Desert</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/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/guild-wars/" rel="tag">Guild Wars</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/quests/" rel="tag">Quests</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively meta</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/roleplaying/" rel="tag">Roleplaying</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/choose-my-adventure/" rel="tag">Choose my Adventure</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/choose-my-adventure-reaching-the-crystal-desert/">Choose my Adventure: Reaching the Crystal Desert</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 01 Jul 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/2009/07/01/choose-my-adventure-reaching-the-crystal-desert/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19083781/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/choose-my-adventure-reaching-the-crystal-desert/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oCWvbS-9AIKF6jfCp_XS5Fa5ltQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oCWvbS-9AIKF6jfCp_XS5Fa5ltQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oCWvbS-9AIKF6jfCp_XS5Fa5ltQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oCWvbS-9AIKF6jfCp_XS5Fa5ltQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/Yy84nmneo7g" height="1" width="1"/> arenanetchoose-my-adventurefeaturedguild-warsin-charactermaguuma-junglencsoft Shawn Schuster Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/choose-my-adventure-reaching-the-crystal-desert/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/_Bs0b80E5xs/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/get-your-keys-for-the-third-aion-beta-weekend-before-theyre-go/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/get-your-keys-for-the-third-aion-beta-weekend-before-theyre-go/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.aiononline.com/us/news/general_news/aion_beta_keys_available_at_fi.html"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/aionbetawk3580.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="left">It's going to be another weekend of angels flying around the world, except this weekend you're going to get to choose which side you want to support! Yes, that's right, it's the third weekend for the <em><a href="http://www.aiononline.com">Aion</a></em> beta test.<br /><br />This weekend's testing focus will be on both the <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/05/hands-on-with-the-aion-beta-creating-your-elyos/">Elyos</a> and <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/20/hands-on-with-the-aion-beta-your-first-steps-in-asmodae/">Asmodian</a> sides and testers will be able to progress all the way up to level 20. No more getting capped at 10 just after you <a href="http://www.massively.com/2008/08/18/aions-beauty-shines-through-in-asmodian-ascension-quest-video/">grab your wings</a>! The test's doors open tomorrow, July 2nd, at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET.<br /><br />If you haven't gotten your key for the beta yet, <a href="http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/aion/beta//">run on over to Fileplanet</a> and grab one! Sadly, at the time of this post, there are no more keys left for standard users, but Fileplanet subscribers still have the opportunity to grab an entrance into the beta. Oh, one more thing -- these keys are for North American users only.</div> </div><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/aion/" rel="tag">Aion</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/get-your-keys-for-the-third-aion-beta-weekend-before-theyre-go/">Get your keys for the third Aion beta weekend, before they're gone</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 01 Jul 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.aiononline.com/us/news/general_news/aion_beta_keys_available_at_fi.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/get-your-keys-for-the-third-aion-beta-weekend-before-theyre-go/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19083991/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/get-your-keys-for-the-third-aion-beta-weekend-before-theyre-go/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oLWaAbIXanm9_xvOaXq_nIUZ_vo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oLWaAbIXanm9_xvOaXq_nIUZ_vo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oLWaAbIXanm9_xvOaXq_nIUZ_vo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oLWaAbIXanm9_xvOaXq_nIUZ_vo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/_Bs0b80E5xs" height="1" width="1"/> aionasmodianbetabeta-testelyosfileplanetlevel-20ncsoftweekend Colin Brennan Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/get-your-keys-for-the-third-aion-beta-weekend-before-theyre-go/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Massively/~3/iO4ss299f88/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/one-shots-a-starry-night-kupo/ http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/one-shots-a-starry-night-kupo/#comments <div align="center"><a href="http://www.massively.com/gallery/one-shots/2118519/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os590_ffxi_580.jpg" /></a><br /></div> We're glad to see that players are taking us up on our invitation to show off worlds we don't often get to see here on One Shots. Yesterday we were treated to the bizarre fashion stylings of <a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/06/30/one-shots-noisy-ninja/">a flying ninja</a>, and today we're given a look at nighttime in <a href="http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/"><em>Final Fantasy XI</em></a>. This star-filled screenshot comes to us from Focant, who writes in to tell us a bit more about this scene: <em>Nighttime in Jugner Forest during the calm between Orc attacks on the outpost held by San d'Oria. The sky in the most recent expansion <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/WingsoftheGoddess/">Wings of the Goddess</a> is by far the most vibrant in the game to date. Rarely will you journey into the past and not be in awe at the beautiful land that also happens to host the bloody and horrendous Crystal War.</em><br /><br />If you've spotted a screenshot here that showed off one of the cool aspects of a zone, but somehow missed another part you think is pretty cool too, why not send your own viewpoint in? We're always on the lookout for more screenshots - especially of games we don't see as often as we'd like. Just email them to us at <strong>oneshots AT massively DOT com</strong> along with your name and what game the image is from. We'll do the rest, and you'll get 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/2125022/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os593_darkfall_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2123899/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os592_wow_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2121806/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os591_war_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2118519/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/07/os590_ffxi_1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.massively.com/photos/one-shots/2116311/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/06/os589_freerealms_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/final-fantasy-xi/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XI</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/2009/07/01/one-shots-a-starry-night-kupo/">One Shots: A starry night, kupo</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 01 Jul 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/2009/07/01/one-shots-a-starry-night-kupo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/forward/19084035/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/one-shots-a-starry-night-kupo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nHa1DA0Ss21BCvb9aBn2d8HIO-Q/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nHa1DA0Ss21BCvb9aBn2d8HIO-Q/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nHa1DA0Ss21BCvb9aBn2d8HIO-Q/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nHa1DA0Ss21BCvb9aBn2d8HIO-Q/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Massively/~4/iO4ss299f88" height="1" width="1"/> ffxifinal-fantasy-xiFocantone-shotspcscreenshotscreenshotssquare-enixsqueenix Krystalle Voecks Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST Massively http://www.massively.com/2009/07/01/one-shots-a-starry-night-kupo/