The week in Massively features

Speculating on combat in Star Wars: The Old Republic
Even though Star Wars: The Old Republic is now officially a real game, we still know very little about it aside from slivers of information BioWare has been able to share with us. What we know even less about is the combat system, which has simply been described as "choreographed" much like the battles featured in the Star Wars films.

Warhammer developers weigh in on 1.1a RvR changes
The core philosophy for 1.1 as regards RvR is to guarantee you a rewarding time in open field combat. It should be just as rewarding as spending an hour anywhere else in the game.

Why you should be playing Lord of the Rings Online: The Warden
The Warden class in the Lord of the Rings Online (introduced with the new Mines of Moria expansion) is, all things considered, a blast to play. A capable jack-of-all-trades class, rich in tactical options. Not a class for those who prefer their combat to be a bit mindless, the Warden keeps you thinking.

SOE CEO John Smedley explains the Station Cash service roll out
We sat down earlier this week with SOE's CEO John Smedley for a talk about the whys and wherefors of the Station Cash service. More than just a novelty incorporated into their flagship games, Station Cash is an important new service vital to the future of Sony Online Entertainment.

Warhammer developers explain their expansion/new content philosophy
We want to reward player loyalty, we want to show we're dedicated to the ongoing quality of the product we already have on the market, and we want to leverage all the resources we've got.

No new careers any time soon, say the Warhammer developers
We're not going to add things back in simply to say, 'hey, new crap'. If you see new careers in the future, it will be because we see it as new, useful content that improves on the experience the players are already enjoying.

First Impressions: zOMG!
This week I head into the world of Gaia Interactive's beta MMO project, zOMG! Having never actually waded hip-deep into the Gaia community, it was certainly an enlightening experience. Some good, some bad, with a word to parents as well. Curious as to what's involved in the anime-inspired world of zOMG?

Why you should be playing Lord of the Rings Online: Fishing
The problem with fishing is that it's often boring. In several games, you really have to really grind away at it to 'get anywhere'. Often the mechanics are needlessly complicated, and some games just aren't that pretty to stand around in for an extended period of time. That's why I've grown to love fishing in Lord of the Rings Online so much.

Saving for that horse: a mid-level guide to making money in LotRO
As stated in this guide, that new armor is more durable, and with a higher armor rating, you'll die less. This will cut down significantly on your item repair bills, and ultimately keep more money in your pocket.

Know Your LotRO Lore: The Nazgul
Chasing the four Hobbits through The Shire, Bree-land and eventually confronted on Weathertop for the first time, the Black Riders are a source of impending fear for all. Why are they there? Who sent them? What are they?

Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 35
Massively Speaking Episode 35 returns us to the 'roundtable of bloggers' format we kicked off with. After more than a month of interviews and expansion-related hoopla we're back talking about the news in the MMO industry for the last week.

Massively interviews the makers of The Old Republic's game engine
We had the chance to answer all of these questions by speaking with Neil Harris. Neil is an Executive Vice President for Simutronics, the creators of HeroEngine, and shared with us an overview of their collaboration with BioWare. Join us as we talk about the fateful meeting between Simutronics and Gordon Walton that lead to their collaboration, BioWare's reliance on the software, and some encouraging news for players who may still be looking forward to their demo game Hero's Journey!

Ask Massively: Is that *really* all there is?
Now that I've had a week to think about it, it seems kind of silly to blame ennui on the entire genre, doesn't it? Are people tired of side-scrollers? First person shooters? Real time strategy? Sports games? This is an issue that needs a little more examination, and that's why I'm here.

Massively's guide to LotRO's Yule Festival
Now that the Yule Festival in Lord of the Rings Online is in full swing, you may find yourself in need of a proper guide nudging you in the right direction. Well, that's why we're here! Whether you haven't had a chance to try the festival yet, or you're just stuck in a quest, this guide will help you get the most out of the event.

The Digital Continuum: Microtransaction stigma
There's been a lot of news about microtransactions this week, and because of that I felt it was as good a time as any to discuss the topic. Are they good or bad, useful or useless and are they really the future of the MMO industry?