Virtual World News
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Elder Scrolls Online
A new press release trumpets the announcement (though "timing and details of the start of playtests will be provided at a later date"), and the firms have also released a slick new cinematic trailer that will whet your appetite for Tamriel over the course of its whopping six-minute run time.
TESO will make use of ZeniMax's megaserver technology to "avoid the hassle of shard selection." The game will also feature a built-in social network which the company says makes the new MMORPG "one of the most socially enabled games ever created." You can sign up for beta via the game's official website, and we've embedded the new trailer just past the break.
[Source: Bethesda press release]
Continue reading Elder Scrolls Online beta signups now live, six-minute cinematic released
Elder Scrolls Online beta signups now live, six-minute cinematic released originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, PvP, Warhammer Online, News items
Worried about turning into a chicken because your level is too high for a starting zone event? Don't be! Higher level players are tweaked in the RvR lakes (the PvP areas) and returned to a level fit for the area. However, don't expect to keep all your high-powered skills and your fast mount when you level down; you actually only get access to the skills, abilities, and tactics of that level!
Return to Ekrund now in Warhammer Online's live event originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Return to Ekrund is live
Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Defiance
Events taking place in the two properties are "synchronized within an inch of their life," Beliaeff says. "That's the whole goal. That's some of the secret sauce that we think we have, just making sure that whenever an episode of the show is on air there's a big beat happening in the game. Our real goal is whether it's from game to show or show to game, that those big beats are happening whenever there's an episode on."
As you might imagine, this is incredibly difficult, and it's one reason that Trion and Syfy have been working on the IP for five years now. In terms of specific crossover, Beliaeff cites an example where a doctor in the TV show discovers a nanite contagion. She reaches out to one of her NPC colleagues in the game, who in turn provides players with a series of missions that they'll need to complete before the next episode of the show.
Trion SVP explains Defiance's 'transmedia synergy' secret sauce originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: GamesIndustry.biz
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, City of Steam
R2 Games already has other free-to-play titles in its portfolio, but City of Steam will be the first using the Unity 3D engine. R2 Games CEO Jared Psigoda stated, "I see a lot of potential in City of Steam. Mechanist Games' approach to making a game is something we're thrilled to be a part of. We want to make sure City of Steam gets the recognition it deserves for being the innovative game that it is."
[Source: Reality Squared Games press release]
City of Steam partners with publisher R2 Games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-play, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon
I also see other hints that BioWare might be changing up its game a little bit. Direct discussion with the community appears to be on the rise, and BioWare has also admitted and is attempting to properly fix its mistakes. In the wake of Stephen Reid's departure, direct communication had become lax, and besides Ilum, I don't remember BioWare ever truly admitting to mistakes.
Let's take a look at a few of the changes BioWare has already made this year. Maybe it will give us a clue as to where SWTOR is going in the near future.
Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Givin' SWTOR props
Hyperspace Beacon: Givin' SWTOR props originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Horror, Real life, Sci-fi, Culture, News items, The Secret World
The game is also going to be putting together a veteran rewards program for subscribers. Each month of subscription provides Veteran Points, awarded at the same time that the subscription awards bonus cash shop points. Veterans can then spend the points on a variety of items, including new consumables, outfits, pets, and training dummies. It's always nice to have some extra benefits to being a long-term fan of a game, so if you're already enjoying deciphering conspiracy, there's extra incentive to keep at it.
[Thanks to Elania for the tip!]
The Secret World working on account-wide shop unlocks and a veteran system originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Shop Changes and Veteran System
Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Lore, Previews, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV
The post contains several early renders of the completed model as well as the ice queen's concept art, all of which should look familiar to veterans of the Final Fantasy series. While Shiva is known to have worshippers much like her fellow Primals Ifrit and Garuda, it's not yet clear if her appearance means a new beastman tribe will be entering the already crowded Eorzea. The full set of pictures won't answer that question, but it will give players eagerly awaiting the beta something new to gawk at.
Final Fantasy XIV shows off early Shiva renders originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Shiva Preview
Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Endgame, PvE, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Dungeons
We'll be seeing the first bits of all that prophecy come into being on the 28th, when January's patch officially hits, bringing with it, among other things, guesting. The guesting announcement was fairly ill-received, due almost entirely to the news that it wouldn't work between North American and European servers. Up 'til now, you could always talk to folks from the other data center, but you couldn't actually play with them without transferring. Now you still can't play with them without transferring (and you can still talk to them), and people were really hoping we'd be able to do the whole guesting across regions thing. I'm hopeful that it will come in at some point, but I still can't see guesting as a net loss in any way.
There's a lot of digesting to do with all that news, though, so let's start things off by not talking about any of it.
Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Glitching in Guild Wars 2
Flameseeker Chronicles: Glitching in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Contests, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Firefall
The Skillshot Contest will be running during the open event and is available to all participants in the beta, even normal closed testers. Take a video or screenshot of your best moments for a chance to win prize packs including new Razer mice and Firefall gear. In addition, all participants will receive a special decal in-game to place on their battleframes. If you still need a little more convincing, you can check out a new trailer for the weekend just past the break.
[Source: Red 5 Studios press release]
Continue reading Firefall blasts its doors open for a beta weekend
Firefall blasts its doors open for a beta weekend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Source: Beta weekends breakdown
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Elder Scrolls Online
A new press release trumpets the announcement (though "timing and details of the start of playtests will be provided at a later date"), and the firms have also released a slick new cinematic trailer that will whet your appetite for Tamriel over the course of its whopping six-minute run time.
TESO will make use of ZeniMax's megaserver technology to "avoid the hassle of shard selection." The game will also feature a built-in social network which the company says makes the new MMORPG "one of the most socially enabled games ever created." You can sign up for beta via the game's official website, and we've embedded the new trailer just past the break.
[Source: Bethesda press release]
[Update: ZeniMax has also uploaded an FAQ regarding the beta. Enjoy!]
Continue reading Elder Scrolls Online beta signups now live, six-minute cinematic released [Updated]
Elder Scrolls Online beta signups now live, six-minute cinematic released [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.