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Aion,MMORPG : Wings Over Atreia: Living la vida Asmo

By: MJ Guthrie Jul 26, 2010 07:00:00 PM News Item: 12218

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, belief, Wings Over Atreia

Now, it is oft heard that "Asmos don't get no lovin'!" Perusing threads, or even listening to faction-hoppers in game, you hear many complaints that Asmodians have it just that much harder than their fair-winged counterparts -- that Asmodae is harder to level in than Elysea, the Elyos have better mobs, easier quests, better loot, more press time, and so on. Basically, that the Elyos race is the "favorite child." In the interest of representing both factions in Aion, I gave readers the chance to choose my class as I ventured into Asmodae as a black-winged beauty (sorry folks, I just can't bring myself to create a male character).

And the votes are in! Your choice for my new persona is --drum roll -- priest! While I was excited to delve into the class, a part of me wondered if there was an ulterior motive to this choice... a cry for more healers among the Asmodians, perhaps? Regardless of the reasoning behind it, yours truly slipped out of Elysea and into Asmodae. While it will take me a while (since I am not a power-grinder), I am going to take you along with me as we journey through life on the dark side, comparing the leveling on each side of the planet. In this installment, we are looking at Asmodian life from creation to ascension.

Follow across the cut to join me in my very first clawed footsteps, as well as a hint to maximize your experience at beginning levels.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Living la vida Asmo

Wings Over Atreia: Living la vida Asmo Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST.

AOC,Dofus,MMORPG : FanartminatorFanartminator

By: Jul 26, 2010 06:49:14 PM News Item: 12355

Goultard

Who said that the Goultarminator was only for barbarians?? Some events require skills other than those used in battle… This is the case for the FANARTMINATOR, an intercommunal artistic smack-down where you can win prizes, but more importantly, you can score points for your server!!

In this unprecedented event, the best artists of each community now have a chance to compete and test their skill! Design a poster illustration to present the Goultarminator and then submit your drawing before August 17th to be one of the ten finalists selected for the International Community…

Read the rules of the Fanartminator.

LangDetecten>fr GoogleC

Lire les règles du Fanartminator.

GW,MMORPG : Flameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars

By: Rubi Bayer Jul 26, 2010 04:00:00 PM News Item: 12292

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Culture, Flameseeker Chronicles

Oh, settle down. I'm not stating that as a fact, I'm just repeating what others have said. It's an old argument, but one that's in recent times come to my attention several times over the past week, so I want to take a look at the argument today.

Heroes came to Guild Wars near the end of 2006 with the introduction of Nightfall. They were a enormous upgrade from the much-maligned Alesia and her companions. Sure, you had to level them up, but you had as much control over their runes and insignias, skill bars, and weapons as you did your own.

The addition gave gamers the option to add three of these customized companions, making it much easier to continue adventuring even if you couldn't get a group at the moment. It sounds perfect, right? Not everyone agrees, and it's a debate that flared back up in the past months when the possibility was raised of companions in Guild Wars 2.

Hit the handy "read more" button to look into both sides of the argument.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars

Flameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST.

MMORPG,STO : Dan Stahl Speaks To

By: Rekhan Jul 26, 2010 02:58:25 PM News Item: 12196

Link to the forum post

Dofus,MMORPG : Goultarminator: T-Minus 7 Days and Counting...Goultarminator: T-Minus 7 Days and Counting...

By: Jul 26, 2010 02:50:09 PM News Item: 12354

Goultarminator

The second Goultarminator tournament begins in one week!

Valiant warriors of every server, be prepared to participate in the qualifying events! The Royal Tofu, Pandora Master, and Royal Rainbow Blop are blocking the path to your triumph. We anticipateto see rolling waves of blood and sweat pouring from your brows as you struggle for glory!

Please read the rules and study the devblog article before the start of the tournament to make sure you understand the conditions for victory.

See you on Monday, August 2nd, 2010 for the start of our biggest summer event!

Aion,DDO,LOTRO,MMORPG : One Shots: Come get some

By: Krystalle Voecks Jul 26, 2010 02:00:00 PM News Item: 12217

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Aion, One Shots

Between the recent worldmerges to increase population and the upcoming addition of the 2.0 Assault on Balaurea update to the game, there are several folks returning to the gorgeous world of Aion. While Player vs Player isn't necessarily everybody's thing, there are more than enough citizens willing to take up the call -- and enjoy this beautifully textured world. Today's One Shots comes to us from Flog, who also in recent times returned, and writes in:

"I resubbed because of the worldmerges. It is nice to see the game so busy again. I was on my way out of Altgard to level up my essence tapping when I glided so high that I was able to land on this little guard post. After seeing what was behind me I figured I would take a picture. Come at me Elyos! I am Flog....protector of Altgard!"

From big to small, we love to see all manner of MMORPG worlds. However, we need you to help us by sending in screenshots of them! Email those to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. Yours could be the next one posted out here on !

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: Come get some Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST.

EQ,EQ2,MMO,MMORPG : The Tattered Notebook: Mask of the betrayer

By: Jef Reahard Jul 26, 2010 01:30:00 PM News Item: 12281

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, belief, The Tattered Notebook

You know, there's something decidedly ironic about playing a rat in an MMORPGRPG, meticulously in a themepark grinder like EverQuest II (and before anyone burns me at the stake, it's a good themepark grinder, I'm positively in love with it). The parallels are almost too perfect. Rats chase cheese and gamers chase digital carrots, running around a pre-defined maze with numerous boundaries, roadblocks, and invisible walls just like your standard lab rodent. Luckily EQII camouflages these minor irritations better than most games, even on fairly grinderific substence like the city betrayal quest series.

Yes, I've returned to playing my ratonga after a week of cheating on him with a shiny new shadowknight, and I've finally managed to move his furry little butt away from the abusive stylings of Freeport to a comfy little four-room rat hole off the side streets of South Qeynos.

Turn the page for more on his journey and thumb through his gallery below.

Gallery: EQII Ratonga Betrayal

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Mask of the betrayer

The Tattered Notebook: Mask of the betrayer Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST.

AO,MMORPG : Anarchy Online beats the heat with nano spreadsheets

By: Justin Olivetti Jul 26, 2010 01:00:00 PM News Item: 12221

Filed under: Sci-fi, Anarchy Online, Classes, Previews, Free-to-play

We may be in the dog days of summer, but that doesn't mean that MMORPG factories close up shop. On the contrary, the team at Anarchy Online is faithfully hacking away at upcoming changes and additions to the game. Senior Designer Brad L. McAtee (no, he doesn't do virus checking) in recent times made the rounds to see what the team was working on, and report back to us.

The biggest news is that the keeper class is getting a host of new nano changes. This pronouncement is so vast that it took the power of a spreadsheet to contain it. Seriously, McAtee includes an Excel spreadsheet at the bottom of the article for number-crunchers to enjoy.

The Anarchy Online team is juggling a number of other projects, including a new AI dungeon and a fresh Player vs Player playfield. Daily missions are also slated for an upgrade, with mission scaling, new substence and other adjustments heading our way. You can read the full team report over at Anarchy Online's site.

Anarchy Online beats the heat with nano spreadsheets Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST.

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DAOC,MMORPG,SWG,WAR,WOW : BioWare Mythic says "Never!" to Real ID

By: Justin Olivetti Jul 26, 2010 12:30:00 PM News Item: 12239

Filed under: Dark Age of Camelot, MMORPG industry, Warhammer Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Worried that Blizzard's Real ID system may be coming to an MMORPG near you? BioWare Mythic has a few words of reassurance on that point: "No. Never. Never. No." This was the response by Warhammer Online's Carrie Gouskos to Eurogamer when asked if BioWare Mythic was mulling over a Real ID-type feature for its games.

BioWare Mythic's general manager Eugene Evans supported that sentiment and expanded on it: "We wouldn't do it. I'm shocked they did it, and for a group that is so close to their community, it was amazing that they misread it that poorly. I'm pleased to see them reacting to the community. We should all learn to listen to our communities. Their community made it very clear what the right answer is."

This follows the controversial decision -- later retracted by Blizzard -- to force World of Warcraft forum posters to use their real names in an attempt to cut down on trolling and forum spam. Since the controversy, other MMORPG studios have come out strongly against Real ID, so it's good to see that this includes the folks behind Warhammer Online, Dark Age of Camelot and Star Wars: The Old Republic.

BioWare Mythic says "Never!" to Real ID Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST.

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LOTRO,MMORPG : We've got your key for The Lord of the Rings Online F2P beta test!

By: Seraphina Brennan Jul 26, 2010 12:00:00 PM News Item: 12308

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, New titles, Free-to-play, Giveaways

Step right up here friends, I said step right up! How would you, yes you, like to try out the title that has been 'causin a ruckus among us? That's right, friend, I'm talking about the one, the only, the hobbittastic Lord of the Rings Online[TM]! But I'm not talkin' about the one that's already out there, friend! I'm talkin' about the one that's coming -- the free to play version! Are you gamer enough to take it on?

All right, circus barker speech aside, our friends over at Turbine have supplied us with a special code for those of you who want to get in on the Lord of the Rings Online beta! However, there is a catch to this code -- it can only be used for 500 readers who will be invited to the beta when the next wave of invites goes out.

Want more information, as well as the code you'll need to enter when you sign up for the beta? Not a problem, just skip past the break for all of the information you'll need!

Continue reading We've got your key for The Lord of the Rings Online F2P beta test!

We've got your key for The Lord of the Rings Online F2P beta test! Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST.

Eve,MMORPG : Inspired by Images of EVE Competition

By: CCP Zymurgist Jul 26, 2010 02:24:00 AM News Item: 12192

EVE is a beautiful universe, no doubt about it. If you find it inspiring, head on over to Starfleetcomms for your chance to win ISK and PLEX by writing a short story based on an image of a sleek Gallente ship warping through a system. Warp to Starfleetcomms for information on how you can enter.

MMORPG,Potbs : Pirates of the Burning Sea confirms expansion release date, extra features

By: Jef Reahard Jul 25, 2010 08:00:00 PM News Item: 12315

Filed under: Historical, Pirates of the Burning Sea, Expansions, News items

Get ready to return to the high seas, as Flying Lab Software and Sony Online Entertainment have announced the official release date for Pirates of the Burning Sea's first expansion. Power and Prestige will sail on August 24th due to Flying Lab's desire to polish and perfect.

The expansion, which already features quite a list of game improvements, will also debut with a new career rewards exchange shop, a junk buyer exchange shop, and client-side preferences for auto-facing targets in avatar combat. When we add these to the previously announced port governance, skill revisions, career revamps, ship tweaks, avatar skill revamps, and hefty doses of new mission substence, the effect looks to be a premium expansion that will keep captains busy for quite some time.

You can view all the facts via the official press release and expansion feature list.

Pirates of the Burning Sea confirms expansion release date, extra features Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST.

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Eve,MMORPG : EVE Evolved: EVE Online's not-so-free market

By: Brendan Drain Jul 25, 2010 06:00:00 PM News Item: 12271

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Economy, Game mechanics, EVE Evolved

One of the most talked-about features of EVE Online is its gamer-run economy. Due to over 330,000 gamers living on one server, the markets have reached a critical mass where the laws of economics play out in a very usefulmanner. When there's a demand for something, no matter how obscure the item or low the demand, you can be sure there are dozens or hundreds of pilots trying their best to supply it. The in-game economy mirrors real-life economic circumstancess so closely that CCP even hired a dedicated economist to analyse the market and advise CCP of any problems that arise.

EVE's economy is often referred to as a pure free market, but that isn't technically true. At its heart, EVE is still a game designed and implemented by a team of creators. All MMORPG economies require some degree of control and intervention for the game to remain playable. In EVE, this comes in the form of careful balance of supply and demand via changes to game mechanics and drop rates. There are also a number of more direct passive influences on the market, such as NPC market orders and insurance.

In this economic article, I look at a few of the influences that constrain free-market economics in EVE.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: EVE Online's not-so-free market

EVE Evolved: EVE Online's not-so-free market Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST.

Aion,MMORPG : SDCC 2010: conversation with Aion producer Lani Blazier

By: Rubi Bayer Jul 25, 2010 04:00:00 PM News Item: 12216

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Events, real-world, Expansions, Interviews

San Diego has been the place to be for the past few days, with creators bringing out all the latest and greatest to show off at Comic-Con 2010. We at have been pretty busy, in part with Aion's web producer Lani Blazier.

Aion's free expansion Assault on Balaurea is just over a month away, so Lani had plenty to talk about. She gave us a look at what we can anticipatewith 2.0, and spent a bit of time answering our questions afterward. Follow along after the jump to see what she had to say.

Continue reading SDCC 2010: conversation with Aion producer Lani Blazier

SDCC 2010: conversation with Aion producer Lani Blazier Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST.

Eve,MMORPG : CCP Zymurgist's Swap Meet

By: CCP Zymurgist Jul 25, 2010 02:26:00 PM News Item: 12191

Today, July 25 at 19:00 UTC I will be hosting a swap meet in Rens, Dodixie, and Amarr. Everyone is invited to fill up their industrials or freighters and fly out for some good times. Our friends at EVE University and EVE Radio have some fun planned as well. So tune into EVE Radio, come on down to see what EVE University has planned for you, and look into this forum thread.

Aion,DDO,LOTRO,MMORPG : One Shots: Time for a nap

By: Krystalle Voecks Jul 25, 2010 02:00:00 PM News Item: 12260

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Dungeons and Dragons Online, One Shots

Have you ever imagined what life is like for MMORPG characters once you log out of the game? Do they go to the market? Enjoy some free time flying kites? Perhaps they simply sleep, as we see in today's Dungeons and Dragons Online One Shots that has come to us from Weables Wigglebottom, a human monk. Of course, we also picked this image for today because Sundays are truly awesome days to catch a little catnap after a long week. Weables writes in: "When my friend and I found a fluffy bed inside a mummy's tomb, we decided it was a good time for a cuddly snooze."

One Shots is always on the lookout for more screenshots from readers. If you're playing an MMORPG we don't often see here, we'd love to hear from you. Just email it in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll do the rest!

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: Time for a nap Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST.

AOC,MMORPG : The Anvil of Crom: Uncommon fun

By: Jef Reahard Jul 25, 2010 12:00:00 PM News Item: 12204

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, PvE, belief, The Anvil of Crom, Guides

I'm standing high above the stone and stucco portcullises of Tarantia, the glare of the sunshine doubly bright as it bounces off the dirty white dwellings and the twin daggers poised in my calloused hands. The Iron Tower, a bleakly bronzed pillar of darkness amid a sea of sandstone, rises menacingly to the west, casting a lengthy shadow over the maze of rooftops that stretches in all directions.

My cloak whips to and fro in the hefty breeze; my sandalled feet inch backward toward the edge of a high rooftop as three masked Crows close fast. I risk a glance over my shoulder, and the dizzying height makes my head spin. One of the Crows lashes out with a short sword and whiffs as I step off the ledge and drop like a stone toward the glassy surface of the canal several stories below.

With a rush of wind, the building walls bleed and run as I plummet past, indistinguishable streaks of tan on white. The shock of the water whips me back into the here and now; I surface for air and drag myself up on the bank, trying not to dwell on the stench that plasters the cloak to my skin.

Welcome to another leisurely stroll through the Commons.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Uncommon fun

The Anvil of Crom: Uncommon fun Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST.

L2,MMORPG,MWO : Comic Con 2010: DC Universe Online trailer

By: Jul 24, 2010 10:43:15 PM News Item: 12179

We've got some more teasing assets pouring in from the Comic Con event ongoing at San Diego. Now we have this new DC Universe Online trailer, featuring the "Who Do You Trust" clip.

MMORPG,WAR : Patch 1.3.6 obtainable on Warhammer Online's Warpstone server

By: Eliot Lefebvre Jul 24, 2010 08:00:00 PM News Item: 12342

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, Warhammer Online, News items

It's been a quiet month for Warhammer Online gamers, unless you've been part of the transition of management over in Europe, but change appears to be on the horizon. Patch 1.3.6 has been in development for a little while now, and the gamers are getting to take it for a spin this weekend, as it's just been commenceed onto the Warpstone public test server. As usual, the development team is hosting a Q&A session as well as a stress test during the test phase, and while the official pronouncement doesn't point out any giveaways, history would seem to imply they'll be there.

Of course, all of the testing is well and good, but what does the patch actually contain? Fear not, as the full patch notes are obtainable to read, with the major highlights covering item sets and RvR balance -- the latter addressed via the new "Against All Odds" system that gives a bonus to the underdog in RvR lakes. Items will now be customizable via appearance slots, and the Sovereign armor sets have been split into two potential sets for different playstyles. Take a look at the patch notes, and be sure to head on to Warpstone for a preview of the latest and greatest addition to Warhammer Online.

Patch 1.3.6 obtainable on Warhammer Online's Warpstone world Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST.

MMORPG,WAR : Waging WAR: And a pinch of warpstone, yes yes...

By: Greg Waller Jul 24, 2010 04:00:00 PM News Item: 12341

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Game mechanics, Patches, Warhammer Online, belief, Hands-on, Waging WAR

After being slightly disappointed by the lack of response to last week's challenge, Greg was worried that he wouldn't have a topic for Waging WAR this week, and suffered a short-term bout of writer's block. But Serendipity and Providence once again shook hands, and two new pronouncements were made on the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning developer forums on Thursday and Friday earlier this week that would supply him with ample fodder for discussion in this week's column. Now, armed with the facts and a tall glass of creative juice, we can set things up properly, in all their italic glory.

The upcoming patch (1.3.6) for Warhammer Online promises a hefty amount of substence, balancing, and changes. Highlights include the new armor vanity slots, the sovereign set revamps, the addition of the Against All Odds mechanic, and several class changes that have been needed for some time. In fact, it seems this latest career balancing pass has affected nearly every career obtainable, and full mastery point refunds have been handed out to a whopping eight careers. The list doesn't stop there. Players will enjoy a new sticky targeting system, auction house interface, and loads of other new features including another batch of new art for the setting weapons, and a revamp to the victory point system in the RvR campaign. There's even more still. You can read the full patch notes for patch 1.3.6, test the patch yourself (it went live on the PTS yesterday), or even take part in the developer head spotlight tests on July 30th at 4 p.m. EDT and August 6th at 8 p.m. EDT.

But, of all the changes promised in the patch notes, one specific set of related changes has sparked my imagination for the future of WAR more than the rest. Find out what I'm talking about after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: And a pinch of warpstone, yes yes...

Waging WAR: And a pinch of warpstone, yes yes... Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST.

Eve,MMORPG : EVE Online CSM Interview -- Community backlash

By: Brendan Drain Jul 24, 2010 03:00:00 PM News Item: 12238

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Interviews, MMORPG industry, belief

In an effort to get gamers more concerned in the development process of EVE Online, CCP Games began the Council of Stellar Management agendame back in 2008. Twice per year, creators meet up with this democratically elected group of gamers to discuss issues ranging from bug-fixes and balance tweaks to feedback on future expansions and how gamers recieved the previous expansion. The latest summit was not without its troubles, with chairwoman Mynxee and council member Ankhesentapemkah expressing their concern over CCP's attitude during the summit.

In the first of our two-part conversation with EVE's Council of Stellar Management, we asked some general questions about how the summit went and what could be done to improve the CSM process. We gained valuable insight into what exactly CCP committed to do this term, what happens to ideas put forward by the CSM after approval and what's being done to improve communication between the council and CCP. In this vital second part of the conversation, we moved on to more hard-hitting questions on gamer reactions to the summit meeting minutes, CCP's current assignment of development resources and whether the council can actually achieve anything over the next 18 months.

Skip past the cut for an illuminating look at the council's opinion on these explosive issues.

Continue reading EVE Online CSM Interview -- Community backlash

EVE Online CSM Interview -- Community backlash Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST.

Aion,DDO,Eve,LOTRO,MMORPG : One Shots: It's full of stars

By: Krystalle Voecks Jul 24, 2010 02:00:00 PM News Item: 12270

Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, EVE Online, One Shots

When it comes to spending time out wandering the universe in EVE Online, it's always wise to bring at least one friend along. Sure, the rats are easily enough taken care of, but you never know when that little bit of extra firepower will mean the difference between gettingbootyand becoming someone else's prey. Besides, it's just more fun to share the experience and have someone to keep you company while flying around! Today's EVE Online One Shots featuring a pair of pilots comes to us from ApexJB, who writes in to tell us about this image: "Me and my friend both in our Caracals killing rats in an asteroid belt. On the Caracal in the foreground you can see the shield hardeners."

Do you have screenshots of your favorite game that you haven't sent in to us yet? If so, why are you holding back? You should gather those up and send them to us here at oneshots@massively.com. We can always use more screenshots to show off.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: It's full of stars Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST.

L2,MMORPG,MWO,SWG : Star Wars: The Old Republic will have space combat

By: Jul 24, 2010 01:10:56 PM News Item: 12178

There's a factorwhy gamer ships will be showing up in Star Wars: The Old Republic, and it's not just so gamers can have a customizable place to sleep and keep their belongings. They'll also be used

FFXI,MMORPG : The Mog Log: The collective jealous community glance

By: Eliot Lefebvre Jul 24, 2010 12:00:00 PM News Item: 12286

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Culture, Launches, Patches, belief, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log

It's a hard time to be playing Final Fantasy XI. On the one hand, it ought to be a great time -- a lot of neat features were included with the June version update (several of which I waxed poetic about in the recent developer tour), and there's quite a roadmap for the months ahead. But that roadmap also has an enormous bump that's shaped like a 14... specifically, Final Fantasy XIV. Or maybe it's just me. All I know is that the next thousand-plus hours can't pass quickly enough. (Although Going Rogue should actually take the edge off.)

But this column isn't just about me and my hangups -- it's about the community. It's especially about community this week, as we're taking a look at all of the insanity running through different discussions far and wide. Square certainly has given us plenty to talk about over the past month, whether you're avidly playing Final Fantasy XI or just looking forward to Final Fantasy XIV. So let's look at some noteworthy threads while I stare longingly at the promised game.

Continue reading The Mog Log: The collective jealous community glance

The Mog Log: The collective jealous community glance Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST.

Aion,COH,L2,MMO,MMORPG : Lineage II readies Freya update

By: Jef Reahard Jul 23, 2010 09:00:00 PM News Item: 12293

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Lineage 2, Patches, News items

NCsoft's Aion and City of Heroes may get more press here in the States, but the workhorse of the Korean MMORPGRPG maker's worldwide stable continues to be Lineage II. The long-running fantasy title is gearing up for yet another substantial update, with the much-anticipated Freya patch scheduled to hit the public test worldon July 29th.

Lineage II's updates have always been rather meaty (and free of charge, provided you have an active subscription) and Freya is no different. Included in the patch is everything from new weapons, armor, and abilities to entirely new overland and dungeon areas. Small touches aren't left out either, with new social emotes -- including partner dances -- scheduled for inclusion, as well as reduced teleportation fees and an increase in obtainable quest journal space.

The patch notes have yet to be released, but you can get a sneak peek at the projected additions on the Freya wiki page. Additionally, mark your calendar for the Freya reveal festivities and don't forget to read the official press release. Finally, look into some of the new armors after the cut.

[Thanks Justin!]

Continue reading Lineage II readies Freya update

Lineage II readies Freya update Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST.

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GW,MMORPG : Linsey Murdock stepping down from ArenaNet Live Team

By: Rubi Bayer Jul 23, 2010 08:00:00 PM News Item: 12237

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, MMORPG industry, News items

If you're a Guild Wars fan, the Live Team is a group you're most likely very familiar with. They're the main minds behind Guild Wars, the primary development team.

Linsey Murdock has been the Live Team's header for quite a while, so it was a bit of a surprise when she announced today that she is stepping down from the position. She'll be passing the torch to designer John Stumme, and they each took a little bit of time to say a few words on the change.

Don't wave goodbye to Linsey just yet, she's not leaving ArenaNet. She'll be taking a different position within the company instead. If you want to know what it is, you'll have to wait a bit, says Linsey -- she can't talk about it quite yet.

Check out the ArenaNet blog to see what John and Linsey have to say about the switch.

Linsey Murdock stepping down from ArenaNet Live Team Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST.

MMORPG,WAR : WAR Joins the BioWare Social Network!

By: Jul 23, 2010 06:53:23 PM News Item: 12335

Greetings!

Over the past year we have worked to grow a collaborative forum community where all gamers can come and get important information or just talk about the game they play. In less than 18 months you have totaled over 120 million page views with nearly 1 million posts across 80 thousand discussions leaving no doubt about your dedication and passion for WAR.

As we continue to integrate with the BioWare family we are pleased to announce our plans to bring two great communities together. Next week the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning forums will join the BioWare Social Network where you will have the benefits of being a part of a larger community, one with a passion for gaming as big as our own.

We'll be sure to provide clear directions and information next week before the transition. For now you don't have to do anything and can continue to use these forums normally while we iron out all the facts.

Stay tuned!
- The BioWare Mythic Community Team

We have put together a brief FAQ below - have a great weekend!

MMORPG,MS : Two blades are better than one: MapleStory announces dual blade class

By: Justin Olivetti Jul 23, 2010 06:00:00 PM News Item: 12310

Filed under: Fantasy, MapleStory, Classes, Free-to-play

When it comes to weapons, the general thought process in pop culture goes, "One is definitely good, but two is twice as good, not to point out actually, actually cool looking." Let's be honest -- if citizens had three hands, we'd be seeing Hollywood movies full of triple-wielding gunslingers, and we'd love it.

MapleStory knows this, which is why their latest class strips away pretensions and plays it like it is. Dual blades are a subset of the thief class, specializing in melee weapons to lay down a double-whammy on the bad guys. The new class also comes with an interactive backstory, as they're accepted into an organization of secret thieves (as if thieves advertise) who are out for revenge against the Dark Lord. With a name like Dark Lord, you know he isn't just selling Girl Scout cookies, so he most likely deserves what's heading his way.

Nexon's set up a special site for the new class that includes a trailer, three contests for impressive prizes, and a handful of dual blade wallpaper downloads to spiffy up your desktop. You can look into all of MapleStory's double-wielding action here.

Two blades are better than one: MapleStory announces dual blade class Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST.

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Dofus,MMORPG : Charlie's Agents: Get Some Vacation Action!Charlie's Agents: Get Some Vacation Action!

By: Jul 23, 2010 04:39:18 PM News Item: 12352

You don't know much about the mysterious Charlie Endstown-Smisse and his sidekicks, Charlie's Agents? Oh, but they're here to open the doors to new horizons, and two new mini-dungeons that will be added this summer! Not only will you be able to enjoy a much-needed change of scenery, there will also be an opportunity to win new Emotes...

We'll see you on Tuesday, July 27th for an explosive beginning to Charlie's new tours... on Moon Island!

Dofus,MMORPG : [Goultarminator] Call to fan sites[Goultarminator] Call to fan sites

By: Jul 23, 2010 04:20:23 PM News Item: 12353

Goultarminator

Attention DOFUS fan site contributors!

In less than a month, starting 2nd August, Goultarminator II will be THE topic of conversation. This tournament will see the top 12 strategists from the 50 DOFUS worlds take part in nearly 400 high-octane battles.

Like last year, and primarily for technical reasons, the tournament will be held on a restricted access worldso that the 600 participants and their substitutes will be able to train and fight in optimum playing conditions.

So that all gamers can be kept informed about the tournament and have first hand reviews of the action, we will be allowing fan sites access to the worldto monitor the fights, conversation participants and deliver their impressions!

So if you have a DOFUS fan site and you want to track, comment, film or take screenshots of the different Goultarminator battles, you can put yourself forward to be one of the official tournament fan sites.

To do this, simply log in to the forum and send a private message to the "Goultard" account with the title "[Goultarminator fan site] name of your site". The community management team will select the best sites (in terms of quality of substence, population and appearance) to attend the event.

In the substence of your message, please specify:

The URL of your site
The DOFUS nickname (the one displayed on the forum, NOT the username used to login) of the accounts that will access the world(up to 10 accounts per site).
A quick overview (200 words max) of your site.

Thank you in advance to all sites taking part and see you on August 2!

Send a private message to apply on behalf of your fan site to cover the Goultarminator.

LOTRO,MMORPG : The Road to Mordor: A look back at Volume 1

By: Justin Olivetti Jul 23, 2010 04:00:00 PM News Item: 12307

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Lore, The Road to Mordor

This past week I finally finished Volume 1 of the epic storyline for the very first time in my LotRO career. Yeah, I know, welcome to 2008, right? My inner survey department says that 60% of this column's readers finished Volume 1 a long time ago (and perhaps many times since), and are currently sitting there with a bemused expression as if to say, "Oh, isn't that quaint as a duck's burp?" The other 40% most likely gave up on the epic storyline somewhere around North Downs -- AKA The Zone That Saps Your Will To Live.

While it may be old news, Volume 1 is still quite relevant in the LotRO landscape for many reasons. One, it's what I've spent the past month of my life playing through, and I always assume that everyone is experiencing the same thing I am due to being a raging egomaniac. Two, ever since it in recent times received a makeover that allows any and everyone to solo all the way through it, there's been a newfound appreciation for the quest line, even from veterans who gave up on it long ago. And three, with all of the new citizens coming into the game this year, it'll be the very first thing they experience.

So as I sit on my high (grey) horse and look back over all fifteen books that comprise this massive Volume, I'm struck by a number of thoughts: some good, some bad, some itchy. Let's reminisce, shall we?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A look back at Volume 1

The Road to Mordor: A look back at Volume 1 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST.

Eve,MMORPG : Win EVE store credit with Battleclinic

By: CCP Navigator Jul 23, 2010 02:16:00 PM News Item: 12190

What can be more fun that blowing up ships with Planetary Interaction products in their cargohold? Not much, according to Battleclinic, who are running a giveaway over the next few days in which pilots can earn EVE Store credit for ship kills. Full facts are obtainable here.

LOTRO,MMORPG : Beta journals testify about the LotRO store

By: Justin Olivetti Jul 23, 2010 01:30:00 PM News Item: 12306

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Interviews, Previews, Free-to-play

While the new version of Lord of the Rings Online is still under NDA lockdown, Turbine's opened a crack in the door to allow a few beta testers to jaw about the LotRO store. On the EU site, beta testers were encouraged to submit their thoughts and experiences with the new store for non-testers to assimilate, with four stories chosen to be posted.

Although these stories come with the caution that they were hand-picked to be shared, they seemed free to share both likes and dislikes about the store. Some of the positive point outs include the speed of the store's delivery to gamer inventory, the sheer amount of items obtainable, fun items like emotes and mounts, and general ease of use. They report that cosmetics are a big hit with beta testers.

On the flip side, the authors were critical of the unfinished feel to the store and the fact you can't see the items you're purchasing in the dressing-room window. Generally, however, the four testers are upbeat about this new LotRO feature. You can read their full thoughts at LotRO EU's site.

Beta journals testify about the LotRO store Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST.

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COH,COV,MMORPG : The lore behind districts in City of Heroes: Going Rogue

By: Eliot Lefebvre Jul 23, 2010 09:00:00 AM News Item: 12251

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Lore, Previews, News items

As we alluded to in ourshortpreview last week, Nova Praetoria is one of the most elite neighborhoods in the alternate Earth setting of Going Rogue. The City of Heroes team has long been known for giving every region a detailed backstory, and the new areas of Praetoria are no exception. Official information on Nova Praetoria and the Underground has just been released on the official site, giving gamers a chance to take a peek behind the visuals to see how day-to-day life functions in the world's most prestigious city -- and its underbelly.

The seat of humanity's self-proallegeed savior, Nova Praetoria is elevated from the rest of the world both figuratively and physically, built on an artificial island upon an artificially flooded river. Unfortunately, between the Resistance and the disenfranchised Destroyers --previous soldiers who want to tear down Cole for purely anarchistic reasons -- even the seat of power is increasingly less stable. Meanwhile, the Undergound below is a war between Cole's loyalists using the tunnels for their original purpose of surreptitious transport, the Resistance setting up headquarters to strike at Cole's base of power, and the ravenous Ghouls patrolling the tunnels for unknown reasons. The lore on both areas is top-notch, and it should help make City of Heroes gamers even more invested in the coming expansion.

Gallery: City of Heroes preview of Nova Praetoria and the Underground

The lore behind districts in City of Heroes: Going Rogue Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST.

Eve,MMORPG : EVE Online CSM Interview -- The summit

By: Brendan Drain Jul 22, 2010 07:00:00 PM News Item: 12236

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Interviews, MMORPG industry, belief

When it comes to getting gamers concerned in the development process, EVE Online's democratically elected Council of Stellar Management has up until now been a clear success. Previous council members have managed to get some important features implemented in the game and helped CCP with feedback on up-coming expansions. Last month, members of the fifth council met with CCP in Iceland for the first of their twice-yearly development summits. In meetings with creators, they put forward issues deemed important by the gamer-base. Initial impressions from the summit appeared grim, with both chairwoman Mynxee and council member Ankhesentapemkah voicing concerns on their personal blogs. Players were left waiting for the official meeting minutes to be published so they could decide for themselves whether or not those concerns were justified.

The summit meeting minutes were released last week to some strong reactions within the community. The bulk of the negative reactions seemed to stem from CCP's inability to commit definite resources to any CSM issues. The community backlash was further amplified by a later devblog setting out CCP's current development schedule for the next 18 months. Of course, the citizens best qualified to talk about how the summit went are the council delegates themselves. Having been present at the meetings and knowing more about CCP's future expansion plans than the rest of the gamer-base, members of the council should have a much clearer picture of the state of play than the standard gamer. To help clarify some of the community's biggest issues, caught up with the CSM delegates and asked them some important questions about the summit and CCP's current development plans.

In this first of our collossal two-part conversation with EVE's Council of Stellar Management, I probe members of the council for their thoughts on the summit.

Continue reading EVE Online CSM Interview -- The summit

EVE Online CSM Interview -- The summit Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST.

EQ,EQ2,LOTRO,MMORPG,WOW : Anti-Aliased: Modding your way out of a paper bag

By: Seraphina Brennan Jul 22, 2010 06:30:00 PM News Item: 12348

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Culture, belief, Anti-Aliased

If there's been a theme to this week, it's been interfaces and modding. Both EverQuest II and Lord of the Rings Online have had pronouncements related to their interfaces, be it re-skinning or new Lua functionality being installed. However, it was these two articles that set off the Rube Goldberg device in my head. They reminded me just what I thought about mods.

My relationship with mods has always been iffy. While I certainly appreciate what they do for us in our many MMORPGs, they also irk me to no end. While I understand (and totally support) some mods, there are others that I'd rather offer to Zuul.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate the mods because they're not useful. It's quite the opposite, in fact. Sometimes, I think mods are too useful. When you start skipping social interactions in favor of an e-peen number, that's the point where mods are going over the line.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Modding your way out of a paper bag

Anti-Aliased: Modding your way out of a paper bag Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:30:00 EST.

MMORPG : Study alleges that women spend double what men do on virtual goods

By: Rubi Bayer Jul 22, 2010 06:00:00 PM News Item: 12235

Filed under: Culture, MMORPG industry, News items

Worlds in Motion is reporting on a new survey that takes a look at purchases of virtual goods and money.

PlaySpan and VGMarket surveyed just over 2,200 citizens between the ages of 13 and 64 regarding their purchases of virtual goods and currency. Women are the big spenders here, meticulously when it comes to in-game money. They spend an standard of $50 per year as opposed to the $25 a year that men spend.

The gap is a bit smaller but still significant when it comes to actual in-game items. Women spend an standard of $55 a year and men an standard of $30.

The survey covered a few other similar effects, including combined spending and a different effect when overall median spending was compared. The full survey is an fascinating read, meticulously considering the increasing popularity of microtransactions in the MMORPG world.

Study alleges that women spend double what men do on virtual goods Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST.

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MMORPG,WAR : 1.3.6 Now on the Public Test Server!

By: Jul 22, 2010 05:51:52 PM News Item: 12334

It’s that time again!

Time for everyone to put on your testing hats as Game Update 1.3.6 rolls out to the Warpstone Public Test server! We’re pleased to announce that Warpstone is now open to the public, bringing with it the 1.3.6 Public Test phase. Be sure to look into all that 1.3.6 has to offer, including the following highlights:

No longer do gamers have to sacrifice their sense of fashion in the name of better stats! To allow gamers options to customize their appearance gamers now have the option of selecting the appearance of any piece of equipment while at the same time choosing their best option for statistics.
The Sovereign Armor sets have been redesigned! We have introduced Split armor sets, giving each Career multiple options of armor selection based on their play style
The Against All Odds scaling bonus for those times when your realm is outnumbered on the field of battle!
And much, much more!

The full 1.3.6 Patch Notes can be found here.

Of course a PTS phase wouldn’t be complete without our signature developer head spotlighted tests and Q&A sessions! Join the WAR Development team, Friday, July 30th at 4:00 PM EDT/22:00 CET, for a Q&A session to be followed up by our normal PTS Stability test (with a special twist!) at 8:00 PM EDT/02:00 CET.

We’ll be doing it one more time on Friday, August 6th at 8:00 PM EDT/02:00 CET as we take to the RvR Lakes to try out the all new “Against All Odds” system with a Developer Q&A following the test.

We’ll see you on Warpstone!

LOTRO,MMORPG : Turbine releases new LotRO Enedwaith images

By: Rubi Bayer Jul 22, 2010 05:00:00 PM News Item: 12305

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Lord of the Rings Online, Free-to-play

The latest Lord of the Rings Online developer diary gave fans nine pages of information on the new zone in the game, Enedwaith.

While facts and explanations are great, it's always nice to get a good visual of what the creators are talking about. The new round of screenshots from Turbine gives a better glimpse of some of the views we got earlier this week, including a second glimpse of the Druggavar, Harndirion and the Gloomglens.

This is a large area with plenty to see -- the varying climates and landscapes along with ample new art guarantee you'll be exploring for a while before you've seen it all.

Check out the gallery below for the latest look at several of the newest areas of Enedwaith.

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Enedwaith screenshots