Selasa, 05 Januari 2010

The Daily Grind: Excited for Star Trek Online?


Admit it -- when you prototypal saw the trailers for Star Trek Online, you started datum the inaugural language in your head. Or maybe that was meet us. Either way, there's a aggregation of cultural coefficient and belief feat into the game, as you'd expect for a program with thirty-four years of fandom and material. With the doors unstoppered and more aggregation decent available about the game, there's a aggregation of expanse (pun intended) for you to move stuff in the adventures of the USS Whatever. Not to name that launch is inferior than a period away, which ever makes it that such more exciting.

On the other hand, the evaluations hit not been uniformly positive. Early previews strength give you the notion that the mettlesome isn't polished, or isn't centering on the areas you rattling want to wager from the game. Perhaps you see burned by Champions Online and worry that Cryptic isn't feat to be able to deliver a meliorate undergo this time. Or maybe you're one of the grouping who meet hates Star Trek for whatever reason. With a little inferior than a period to go, are you agog for Star Trek Online?


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Senin, 04 Januari 2010

China's decision on World of Warcraft imminent

2009 wasn't just a intense assemblage for World of Warcraft players -- they had an expansion with plenty of noesis to play around in, one that was outselling, well, pretty such everything else on the planet. Of course, if you were a Chinese World of Warcraft player, the represent looks a little different, with the expansion being delayed, then stalled as the companies in charge changed hands, then banned again presently after it was eventually released. So patch it's pleasant to hear that there should be a decision on the game's status in the near future, most gamers belike aren't holding out a aggregation of hope.

It gets worsened -- the short programme component announces that the digit squabbling agencies, the GAPP (General Administration of Press and Publications) and the Ministry of Culture, have reached a consensus and will announce the penalisation in mid-January. "Punishment" obviously doesn't alter to nous a heartfelt defence and a touching on the backwards for NetEase, who at prizewinning strength encounter themselves even boost negatively compact by the full debacle. At worst, they strength wind up being unnatural to kibosh dealings altogether, which would be intense programme for the favourite MMO. Nothing's certain, but it looks same there are still a some downturns ahead.


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China's decision on World of Warcraft imminent

2009 wasn't just a bad year for World of Warcraft players -- they had an treatment with plentitude of content to play around in, digit that was outselling, well, pretty much everything added on the planet. Of course, if you were a Asiatic World of Warcraft player, the picture looks a lowercase different, with the treatment existence delayed, then stalled as the companies in calculate denaturized hands, then illegal again presently after it was finally released. So while it's pleasant to center that there should be a selection on the game's position in the nearby future, most gamers belike aren't holding discover a aggregation of hope.

It gets worse -- the short programme item announces that the digit squabbling agencies, the GAPP (General Administration of Press and Publications) and the Ministry of Culture, hit reached a consensus and will announce the punishment in mid-January. "Punishment" apparently doesn't alter to mind a heartfelt apology and a pat on the back for NetEase, who at prizewinning strength encounter themselves even boost negatively compact by the whole debacle. At worst, they strength twine up existence unnatural to kibosh dealings altogether, which would be bad programme for the popular MMO. Nothing's certain, but it looks same there are ease a some downturns ahead.


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One Shots: The time has come


One thing that you can pretty such guarantee in EVE Online: if you ever separate crossways this many ships and you aren't in Jita, you'd better wish you have an up-to-date clone, or that they're on your side. If not, it's likely feat to get very, rattling ugly in rattling brief order -- forward someone doesn't invoke cut and separate like hell, anyway. Today's Brobdingnagian fast screenshot comes to us from Andrew, who writes in: Geminate is burning. The united forces of Atlas, Cult of War, and Gentlemen's Club have invaded, and the Northern Coalition has suffered 3 straightforward days of defeats. This shot shows the advance elements of another united fleet, venturing forth to fight the Northern Coalition.

If you've been part of an epic battle, we'd love to see it! Just beam those pictures in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the study of the game, and a quick description. (Polite smack-talk is welcome too.) We'll place it discover here for everyone to analyse discover and provide you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots


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The Daily Grind: New player in an old game

It's been a rattling daylong instance since MMOs were a newborn concept, and many games are effort a lowercase daylong in the agency but still feat strong. Maybe one of those older games caught your receptor and you're intellection most gift it a try. The exclusive thing is, you're a lowercase later to the band than most players.

So the question arises: is it worth it? Since the "multiplayer" part of an MMO is a pretty bounteous draw, how do you place the multi in multiplayer when you're sort newborn and it feels same the rest of the community dinged take 60 a assemblage or digit ago? Do you listing a class that can unaccompanied easily? Do you persuade a buddy to start discover with you? Do you PUG it? Do you tie a guild and hope for the best? Click that accessible lowercase fix downbound there and permit us know!


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Minggu, 03 Januari 2010

Roleplaying and the lack of it in MMOs

We refer to our music as MMOs in shorthand, frequently, as an abbreviation of MMORPG. Of course, there are entries that don't fit the modeling -- Planetside makes no dissembling of existence an RPG, for instance, while Second Life is rattling a realistic surround rather than a mettlesome per se. But the roots of the constituent do delimitate what most MMOs are essentially aiming at: existence an RPG with a large factor of players. Which is ironic, because as We Fly Spitfires points out, they're not rattling RPGs at all. They feature the stats and the leveling, but nothing of the larger significance of locate and news that the music hails as its strengths.

Compared to games such as Dragon Age: Origins or Oblivion, it's clear that for every the capableness of options we strength have in some MMOs, we demand some significance of actual character specialization or unequalled progression. Part of the concern, of course, is content -- you don't poverty to needs obligate some player who didn't happen to attain the right choices in a talking tree to miss discover on a major endgame event. The ubiquity of communication also helps displace players toward a limited ordered of specializations or knowledge tree, with lowercase to no deflexion encouraged.

But there's more that can be done, and games such as Star Wars: The Old Republic seem to have a greater aim to pore on individualist news and progression. Even if you don't needs same the impromptu acting which is usually associated with roleplaying in the genre, it's hard to deny that a greater significance of individualist pick and individualism would be intoxicating.


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Roleplaying and the lack of it in MMOs

We intend to our music as MMOs in shorthand, frequently, as an abbreviation of MMORPG. Of course, there are entries that don't sound the modeling -- Planetside makes no dissembling of being an RPG, for instance, while Second Life is rattling a realistic surround kinda than a game per se. But the roots of the constituent do define what most MMOs are fundamentally aiming at: being an RPG with a large factor of players. Which is ironic, because as We Fly Spitfires points out, they're not rattling RPGs at all. They feature the stats and the leveling, but null of the large significance of locate and story that the music hails as its strengths.

Compared to games much as Dragon Age: Origins or Oblivion, it's country that for every the strength of options we strength hit in whatever MMOs, we lack some significance of real case adaptation or unequalled progression. Part of the concern, of course, is noesis -- you don't poverty to needs obligate some contestant who didn't happen to attain the right choices in a talking tree to woman discover on a field last event. The presence of act also helps herd players toward a limited ordered of specializations or knowledge tree, with lowercase to no deviation encouraged.

But there's more that crapper be done, and games much as Star Wars: The Old Republic seem to hit a greater intent to focus on individualist story and progression. Even if you don't needs same the impromptu performing which is commonly related with roleplaying in the genre, it's hard to deny that a greater significance of individualist pick and uniqueness would be intoxicating.


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One Shots: Auld lang syne


While we're not entirely destined of the good of giving Hobbits things that crapper explode, it would appear that the assemble that bacilliform during Shawn's Choose My Adventure trek through Lord of the Rings Online is ease out there and doing well. Capeo definite to snag a screenshot and let us know how their merry lowercase clump rang in the newborn year. He writes in: It was New Year's Eve in the Shire and a some of the Massive Hobbits gathered for fireworks downbound the Hill from the Party Tree. As you crapper wager from [this] shot, safety was maybe far from our minds than it should have been. (We're ease around and having great adventures in Moria and Mirkwood. *waves to Gibbi*)

For some, it's every solo. For others, it's every about their group. Some others favour a bit of both! We'd fuck to wager screens of your selection MMO, if you'd same to send them to us. Just email them to oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the study of the game, and a hurried description. We'll do the rest.

Gallery: One Shots


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The Daily Grind: Do you need the box?

One could easily debate that mettlesome boxes are apace becoming a abstract of the past. These life you have what feels same an endless variety of options to obtain your selection mettlesome correct away, without leaving your seat, permit alone your house. Steam and Direct2Drive are huge, and pretty such every consort discover there has the choice to acquire and download their stylish mettlesome or expansion direct from their site. The fast increase in liberated trials and limited free-to-play options attain it an even more attractive option.

But on the another hand, there's something very enticing most having that incase in your hands, and most mettlesome companies will attain it worth your patch to acquire the incase by adding player goodies, particularly if you pre-order or acquire a collector's edition.

So where do you fall? Do you same that box, those discs, and every the another goodies, or do you favour just to download it so you can intend to patching that such faster?


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Sabtu, 02 Januari 2010

Looking behind the scenes at Warhammer Online

When you are playing your selection MMO, how much do you conceive about what goes on behindhand the scenes? If your interest goes beyond general gameplay and lies within the actualised nuts and bolts of how it every works, Gamasutra has a feature that will interest you.

"Restless Entities Never Sleep" is a feature that takes a close look behindhand the scenes of Warhammer Online, exploring the binary complicated processes that keep the game up and running. The feature explores the principle of how the servers keep the game up and streaming and what exactly they do, and continues with excerpts from a previous interview with Online Technical Director Andrew Mann. They also counterbalance the challenges of disagreeable to reassert the servers and derogate downtime, as well as improvements designed (or hoped for) downbound the road.

As a few readers noted, it's an Intel-sponsored feature and it shows a bit, but that doesn't make it some inferior engrossing to the tech-minded discover there. The flooded feature crapper be institute here.


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Looking behind the scenes at Warhammer Online

When you are activity your selection MMO, how such do you think about what goes on behindhand the scenes? If your interest goes beyond generalized gameplay and lies within the actualised nuts and bolts of how it every works, Gamasutra has a feature that will interest you.

"Restless Entities Never Sleep" is a feature that takes a near countenance behindhand the scenes of Warhammer Online, exploring the multiple complicated processes that ready the mettlesome up and running. The feature explores the basics of how the servers ready the mettlesome up and streaming and what just they do, and continues with excerpts from a previous discourse with Online Technical Director Andrew Mann. They also counterbalance the challenges of disagreeable to reassert the servers and derogate downtime, as substantially as improvements planned (or hoped for) downbound the road.

As a few readers noted, it's an Intel-sponsored feature and it shows a bit, but that doesn't make it some inferior interesting to the tech-minded discover there. The full feature crapper be found here.


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One Shots: New year, old school


While yesterday's One Shots featured one of the depressing stories from 2009 -- the expiration of a mettlesome whatever institute home -- today's shows soured something old-school, still cheery. For those who haw not be familiar, this is a screenshot from Dark Age of Camelot, the mettlesome that some feel is the mettlesome for hard and recreation demesne vs. demesne action. This ikon comes to us today from Casey, who writes in: I undergo you guys don't cover much most Dark Age of capital but here is a concealment from me letting you undergo there is still chronicle and recreation to be had in the game. As far as the represent goes, I just prefabricated a scholar and moved on to a newborn zone.

From old-school to newborn school, we fuck to wager your images! If you'd like to verify part, all you have to do is telecommunicate your screenshot to us here at oneshots [at] massively [dot] com along with your name, the study of the game, and a hurried description. We'll place it out here and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots


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The Daily Grind: Can you look backwards with games?


Take a countenance at the screenshot above from Meridian 59. It probably doesn't countenance same such to most of you. But for some of our readers, that screenshot represents a mettlesome that was digit of the prototypal illustration and three-dimensional MMOs ever, and it strength well alter backwards fond memories. It every depends on whether or not you were gaming at the time and fascinated in the genre, and modify then you strength not have enjoyed the mettlesome or had a quantity to garner it up and endeavor regularly. (Cable internet was not just a foregone conclusion in 1996, after all.)

Games are on an ever-increasing ramp of illustration complexness and depth of play, and so games that were subverter at digit saucer have embellish such inferior so with time. But crapper you countenance time that and wager ground they were important in the prototypal place? Do you endeavor EverQuest and wager dated graphics and gameplay models, or do you wager a mettlesome that inspired welfare in the music sufficiency to attain the current market possible? Do you countenance backwards when you endeavor a game, or do you encounter yourself hung up with the stylish and large features instead?


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Jumat, 01 Januari 2010

Betawatch Dec. 25, 2009 - Jan. 1 2010



Welcome to Betawatch, Massively's weekly inform on the land of MMO betas. In apiece installment, we'll inform everything from the latest open betas, winking betas and modify alphas in one favourable place. Plus, we'll make trusty to allow as such content on apiece game's underway status, including sticking promulgation dates (if known) and course to the sign-up forms to intend yourself into that beta you've been seeking.

We've got lots of news in this week's Betawatch. We effort a sad going to Metaplace as they close their doors, but hold out hope with the noesis that Metaplace, Inc. isn't absent for good. On a happier note, Love has declared that open beta module begin Jan 7th, and Face of Mankind leaves us as they go live.

Open Beta Stage
Blue Mars (Avatar Reality) - Announcement - Signup CloudNine (Mgame) - Announcement - Signup Dragonica (gPotato)* - Announcement - Signup DragonSky (Aeria) - Announcement - Signup Dungeon Fighter Online (Nexon) - Announcement - Signup Earth Eternal (Sparkplay Media) - Announcement - Signup Galaxy Online (Sky Union) - Announcement - Signup Gatheryn (Mindfuse) - Announcement - Signup Hello Kitty Online (Aeria Games) - Announcement - Signup Jade Dynasty (Perfect World Entertainment) - Announcement - Signup Karos Online (NHN)** - Announcement - Signup
La Tale (OGPlanet) - Announcement - Signup Luna Online (gPotato) - Announcement - Signup NIDA Online (JCE) - Announcement - Signup Red War: Edem's Curse (Uforia) - Announcement - Signup Sudden Attack (GameHi) - Announcement - Signup
Closed Beta Stage
2029 Online (IGG) - Announcement - Signup 7Million (Deep Silver) - Announcement - Signup Aika (gPotato) - Announcement - Signup Allods Online (gPotato) - Announcement - Signup (Currently in CBT 3) APB (Realtime Worlds) - Announcement - Signup Dawntide (Working As Intended) - Announcement - Signup Dragon's Call (EverDream Studio) - Announcement - Signup Global Agenda (Hi-Rez Studios) - Announcement - Signup***** Huxley: The Dystopia (NHN USA)*** - Announcement - Signup (CBT over, OB dates TBA) MAG (Zipper Interactive) - Announcement - Signup (beta acquirable to pre-order customers) Mortal Online (Star Vault) - Announcement - Signup Star Trek Online (Cryptic Studios) - Announcement - Signup (OB Jan 12th-26th) WonderKing (NDOORS) - Announcement - Signup
Alpha Stage

Earthrise (Masthead Studios) - Announcement - Signup (signups available, CB not dated) Heroes of Bestia (IGG Inc.) - Announcement - Signup Jumpgate Evolution (NetDevil) - Announcement - Signup (launch suspended indefinitely) Love (Eskil Steenburg) - Announcement - Signup (OB begins Jan 7th) Mythos (Redbana) - Announcement - Signup (CB signups started) Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare) - Announcement - Signup (signups available, CB not dated)
* Dragonica is EU only. Dragonica Online is the NA version
** aggregation only
*** Western promulgation only
**** North USA and UK only
***** Only in CB selected weekends
OB = Open Beta, CB = Closed Beta


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Betawatch Dec. 25, 2009 - Jan. 1 2010



Welcome to Betawatch, Massively's weekly inform on the land of MMO betas. In apiece installment, we'll inform everything from the latest unstoppered betas, closed betas and modify alphas in one convenient place. Plus, we'll make trusty to allow as much content on apiece game's underway status, including sticking release dates (if known) and links to the sign-up forms to intend yourself into that beta you've been seeking.

We've got lots of news in this week's Betawatch. We bid a sad farewell to Metaplace as they near their doors, but hold discover hope with the knowledge that Metaplace, Inc. isn't gone for good. On a happier note, Love has declared that unstoppered beta module begin Jan 7th, and Face of Mankind leaves us as they go live.

Open Chenopodiaceae Stage
Blue Mars (Avatar Reality) - Announcement - Signup CloudNine (Mgame) - Announcement - Signup Dragonica (gPotato)* - Announcement - Signup DragonSky (Aeria) - Announcement - Signup Dungeon Fighter Online (Nexon) - Announcement - Signup Earth Eternal (Sparkplay Media) - Announcement - Signup Galaxy Online (Sky Union) - Announcement - Signup Gatheryn (Mindfuse) - Announcement - Signup Hello Kitty Online (Aeria Games) - Announcement - Signup Jade Dynasty (Perfect World Entertainment) - Announcement - Signup Karos Online (NHN)** - Announcement - Signup
La Tale (OGPlanet) - Announcement - Signup Luna Online (gPotato) - Announcement - Signup NIDA Online (JCE) - Announcement - Signup Red War: Edem's Curse (Uforia) - Announcement - Signup Sudden Attack (GameHi) - Announcement - Signup
Closed Chenopodiaceae Stage
2029 Online (IGG) - Announcement - Signup 7Million (Deep Silver) - Announcement - Signup Aika (gPotato) - Announcement - Signup Allods Online (gPotato) - Announcement - Signup (Currently in CBT 3) APB (Realtime Worlds) - Announcement - Signup Dawntide (Working As Intended) - Announcement - Signup Dragon's Call (EverDream Studio) - Announcement - Signup Global Agenda (Hi-Rez Studios) - Announcement - Signup***** Huxley: The Dystopia (NHN USA)*** - Announcement - Signup (CBT over, OB dates TBA) MAG (Zipper Interactive) - Announcement - Signup (beta acquirable to pre-order customers) Mortal Online (Star Vault) - Announcement - Signup Star Trek Online (Cryptic Studios) - Announcement - Signup (OB Jan 12th-26th) WonderKing (NDOORS) - Announcement - Signup
Alpha Stage

Earthrise (Masthead Studios) - Announcement - Signup (signups available, CB not dated) Heroes of Bestia (IGG Inc.) - Announcement - Signup Jumpgate Evolution (NetDevil) - Announcement - Signup (launch delayed indefinitely) Love (Eskil Steenburg) - Announcement - Signup (OB begins Jan 7th) Mythos (Redbana) - Announcement - Signup (CB signups started) Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare) - Announcement - Signup (signups available, CB not dated)
* Dragonica is EU only. Dragonica Online is the NA version
** aggregation only
*** Western release only
**** North USA and UK only
***** Only in CB designated weekends
OB = Open Beta, CB = Closed Beta


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One Shots: Goodnight, sweet prince


With the modify in the newborn year, we effort a inclined farewell to Dungeon Runners, which shuffled soured the Internets terminal night. It's ever depressing to wager an MMO go, especially a wacky, fun, free-to-play title. Thankfully, Massively reader Ripper McGee was on-hand terminal period to getting this screenshot from the test moments. We'll invoke it over to Ripper to explain:

Dungeon Runners was closed downbound for good at midnight terminal night/this morning. Here [is a shot] from yesterday. [This] is me on my important character incoming to the assail Steve Nichols naturalised in the region of Townston. All of the players acknowledged the assail would go soured at midnight, but it was actually just decoration. At midnight, we were all simply disconnected from the server.... Prior to that, though, the server population was completely full (first instance in a daylong time)!


If you hit some screenshots from the end of Dungeon Runners -- or indeed some sunsetted MMO -- we'd be pleased to feature them here. All you hit to do is to email them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the study of the game, and a hurried description. We'll place it out here and give you the credit!

Gallery: One Shots


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The Daily Grind: Ruining the blank canvas


It's the move of the newborn year, and that effectuation you've got a huge sort of life exercising out before you in which you crapper do almost anything, at small erst you better from your hangover. It's a seafaring of unbounded possibilities, which is a beatific thing... for whatever people. Sometimes, when you listing the cube and you crapper be almost anything, you wind up... well, with a large Negro with freakish safekeeping act a joint and what materialize to be cannibalized Gundam shoulders. We're not sure either.

Since we have a seafaring of choice aweigh of us for the newborn year, we're wondering how you move games and situations where you have a wide difference of options. Games same Champions Online and City of Heroes give us a wealth of options in case creation, and games much as Fallen Earth let us physique our characters in myriad structure as we take up. Do you physique your case based on right information, or do you essay and attain a decorous surmisal at fairly cooperative abilities? Or do you meet garner things at haphazard and wish it forms a cohesive whole in the end?


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