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The Daily Grind: What's the coolest mount you've ever owned?
It's a special day when a boy or girl dings 16 and the trainers take him or her out for ice cream and a beginner mount. With a license to ride tucked inside a cloak pocket, the rider hesitantly takes the reins, yells "GIDDYUP!" and proceeds to fly across the landscape faster than a really lazy eye can follow. However, the novelty of merely owning a mount isn't enough after a while. Instead, envious eyes glance at the latest showroom models, admiring the sleek curves and fancy new features (like front and side saddle airbags). Some of these higher-end units may be faster, while others sport a rare coat of fur. Envy morphs into slavering lust and unquenchable need for the best mount on the block, and before you know it, everyone's caught the fever. So what's the coolest mount you've ever owned? What horse or tiger or woolly mammoth made you drool in anticipation for the next time you'd need to whip it out of your backpack for a jaunt across a zone? What made it so special: the features, the speed, the look or the rarity? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Anti-Aliased: Shut up people, come buy my horse
So last week's little diversion into Net Neutrality (and me apparently being a right wing liberal jackhole) was fun, but this week brings me back on track with things happening in the gaming world. And, lucky for me, there's been a spot of news yesterday that's just caught my attention -- World of Warcraft's new Celestial Steed. Microtransaction discussions are nothing new in my column. From Cryptic to Free Realms, I've been all over the different payment structures that games implement. But, no matter the topic, one thing seems to stay the same: people really, really, really dislike microtransactions overall. The comments on these columns, and pretty much any other article we write on microtransactions, tend to end with angry commenters spewing their dissatisfaction. And you know what? Good for them. If that's their opinion, then totally go for it! But, what I really hate more than anything else is when people have double standards. It seems that people really hate microtransactions, yet Blizzard's newest buyable mount doesn't have people quitting the game left and right. In fact, it seems everyone is cramming in to buy one!
Festival horse vendor removed from Lord of the Rings Online
Did your goals for Lord of the Rings Online's Spring Festival include getting yourself a spiffy horse? Well, you're going to have to wait just a little while in order to get your hands on one. How long? We don't know yet. What we do know is that the vendor has been removed entirely, thus preventing players from even gazing longingly at the listing in the menu. As Sapience explained on the forums, the issue wasn't really the vendor so much as the horse itself. To wit: the way the game is handling mounts is being changed. As a result, they need to change the item, remove the item from the vendor's list, or remove the vendor entirely until the issue is resolved. However, the former two changes require a patch, and the issue is kind of small for an entire patch -- not to mention that it's the sort of fix more easily rolled into a larger patch. While it's bad news for Lord of the Rings Online players, it's at least nice to get a quick and clear explanation on why the vendor got yanked. [ via A Casual Stroll to Mordor ]
Free Realms adds new pegasus, horse, ponies, and more!
The Free Realms team has been crazy busy at work lately creating all manner of new things that players have been clamoring for. With the recent addition of dragon and dinosaur mounts came the call for horses for players to ride. As such, they introduced new horse mounts, but then added even more fun in the form of pegasus rides as well! The horses are available for members to pick up at 450 Station Cash each. The White-Nosed Mares are colored in fantasy-like style -- pink, purple, blue, pure white and more -- while the Stallion model features more traditional horse colors like gray, black, tan, and chestnut. Pegasus rides, on the other hand, are available at 550 Station Cash, and come in lilac, blue-black, gray, pink, sea-foam green, and white.
Patch 3.3.3 PTR: Celestial steed video
We just received this mouth-gaping footage of the celestial steed mount in action. The model for the mount was uncovered in the latest patch 3.3.3 PTR but as of now no one knows where it will come from or when. The video shows what looks like an orc warlock flying over Icecrown, then swooping down to the steps of Icecrown Citadel into a gallop. At around 2:30, the steed rears and you can see a small galaxy of particles that have accumulated from the mount idling. The celestial steed is certainly drool-inducing, and the music in the video adds an extra "oomph" to its beauty. (Or hamminess, depending on how you look at it.)
Mr. Ed-approved My Pet Speaker lets your stable rock softly, safely
File this one in the "you've got to be kidding me" category. Just in case you're terrified of your dog, cat, horse or Russian grizzly bear getting "put on alert" by the "jarring volumes and piercing sounds" that are generally emitted from your boombox, there's now a solution to your specific quandary. Pet Acoustics has just introduced the My Pet Speaker, an omni-directional sound system that contains a 4-inch driver, reduced bass levels and the extraordinary ability to "disburse music in 360 degrees recreating how animals hear in nature." Not good enough? The buttons are even positioned in the rear to keep your animals from skipping the awful tracks in your chosen playlist, and the "stable case design prevents easy knock down by pets." If you're a particular type of sucker (or you just enjoy hearing music with no bottom end whatsoever), you can claim your own in secret next month for $249.95. Rock on, Rosie.
Beginner's guide to horse crafting in Fallen Earth
When you think of post-apocalyptic mounts, you probably imagine a gas-sipping motorcycle, an armored truck or the last of the V8s, right? Yet, a very practical way to get around when society falls is on horseback. In Fallen Earth currently, a horse mount is probably your best option -- especially considering the fact that you can get one very early in the game.With all other mechanized mounts in Fallen Earth, you need to assemble them from scavenged parts and fuel them with gasoline. As you can imagine, gas isn't exactly available on every corner after the apocalypse. Repair is done through costly repair kits, and some of the vehicles have some fairly steep limitations when it comes to accessibility around town and up hills (the ATV, for instance, stops dead at every curb). With a horse, you have a whole different set of options and features. Even though you fuel them with sacks of horsefeed, they can slowly regenerate their stamina when they're not being used. Plus, you have the choice of healing a horse with either a veterinary kit or the same bandages you use on yourself.Want to learn how to get your very own horse at level 3? Keep reading below for our tutorial.
Pimp your ride, Lord of the Rings Online style
Ok, ok, so the contest isn't called "Pimp Your Horse," but Codemasters does want you to submit your own designs for a new horse in Lord of the Rings Online. Here's the chance for aspiring artists to really customize a game that they love by submitting original designs for horse coloring, saddle color, and blanket design. Or you could do what we did and find the worst possible design to put on your horse, followed by a flame decal. Oh yeah, totally rockin'.The winner (which will totally be our lightning fast purple speed mount we named "Schuster's Shooter") will receive a Codemasters goodie bag, a unique forum title and avatar, and their design appearing in the live game as a player mount. Two runners up will also get the the goodie bag and forum prizes as well.So what are you waiting for? Get in the saddle and start designing!Update: Turbine just got in contact with us, and apparently the contest is for United States and North American audiences too! Go, design, let one horse rule them all!
LotRO's Spring Festival features aMAZEing new content
The Lord of the Rings Online Spring Festival is now in full swing, and you may be pleasantly surprised by the fact that this festival offers a few differences from previous festival events. Sure there's the new(ish) horse, and the other usual suspects in Hobbiton, Thorin's Hall, Duillond, and Bree's Horsefields, but this season we have a maze!Detailed in a recent developer diary, the Hedge Maze is "intended to bring players together for a new challenge that will take place in a more close-quartered public instance than we've seen previously in the game. There are chickens to be caught, Elves to be scolded, signs to be posted, records to be beat, and a very sinister surprise at the center of it all." This festival also brings a new notification system for these events, getting the word out to those who may not read the official LotRO forums. Check out the complete dev diary and the official forums for more on this year's Spring Festival.
Soloing LotRO from levels 20 to 40
As Turbine continues their series of guides for soloing Lord of the Rings Online, this newest one explains the trek from levels 20 though 40 sans fellowship. This five-page guide runs through some of the best moments you'll have in these 20 levels, and the most effective ways to play them. At this point, you gain several more options for where to play, and at level 20 you can start entering the Lone-lands and the North Downs. You will also start your level 30 class quests and have the chance to buy your first mount at level 35. If you're getting worried about affording your horse around these levels approaching 35, Turbine has some hints for that, or you can read our handy guide on the same topic. We can't wait to see what Turbine has in store for their next guide for levels 40-60, coming soon!
Get ready for LotRO's Yule Festival
It's that time once again. As the winter holiday season approaches, what could arguably be considered the best time for in-game events is beginning to arrive. In Lord of the Rings Online, this season is called the Yule Festival, celebrated during the last month of the year.Yule is considered a time of hope for all free peoples of Middle-earth. It is celebrated with traditional decorations, warm cider, rich feasts and more. As with all LotRO festivals, each home land has its own version of Yule, adding to the variety and excitement of the season. Be sure to check out Bree-land and Michel Delving which will once again host some exciting horse races where the winner will take home a sturdy winter mount. The festivities begin on December 11th, so get ready!
Turbine: Horsemanship to become "important" when LotRO reaches Rohan
Alright, it's time for that gaming industry tradition of speculation based on vague quotes from developers! In an interview with Ten Ton Hammer, The Lord of the Rings Online executive producer Jeffrey Steefel spoke about future updates to the game, saying that the best is yet to come because now that Turbine has moved into Moria, the really interesting and fully-fleshed-out stuff from Tolkien's source material is only a few steps away.Among those interesting things is the land of Rohan, which fans of the books and movies will remember is a kingdom that prides itself on breeding and grooming the finest horses in Middle-earth. Steefel went on to say: "When we get to Rohan, does horsemanship become important? Yeah! Us and our horses would be strung up if we got to Rohan someday and didn't pay attention to horses. And it's just a matter of when."Mounts in LotRO have admittedly always been a bit basic (but in a good way!), so this could mean any number of things, but perhaps the most exciting possibility would be Age of Conan-esque mounted combat. Go ahead and meditate on that for a bit, and read the interview for a few more vague quotes about the future of LotRO and the company's console plans if you feel compelled.
Age of Conan may be facing a horse price crash
If you've been planning to buy your first horse in Age of Conan, you might want to sit on that hard-earned gold for a few more days. An update to the patch currently on the Testlive Server has slashed the price of regular mounts from 2 gold down to 75 silver - a cut to less than half price. This should make mounts available from a much earlier level, allowing many players to get saddled up at the kinds of level originally envisioned by the designers.While this will be excellent news for first time horse buyers, several of those who have worked hard to earn the gold for their horses before this potential price crash are fuming. Joining them in their anger are some of those who purchased PC Gamer to get the Totem of Origins, a recall-to-home-city item which will now be dropping from 'select bosses' as a piece of loot, and as such is no longer exclusive. One universally positive change is the removal of a previous unpopular nerf. Quests that have gone gray will now give XP again.
G1 Jockey gallops aboard Balance Board bandwagon
We're not vain people who fret about occasionally looking silly (a quick peek inside our wardrobes would more or less confirm this), so stretching, swiveling and gurning on the Balance Board in front of others was never a huge deal for us.However, our indifferent attitude might yet be tested by G1 Jockey. Koei announced today that its horsey sim would also utilize the Balance Board, allowing players to adjust the position of their on-screen jockey as they "whip" their invisible steeds with the Wiimote. Picture somebody playing that game for a moment; doesn't it sound just a little too ridiculous? Apparently not. "Assuming a jockey crouch and powering to victory should brighten up even the longest of faces," lies the press release.Fortunately for us, we are just about vain enough not to be seen in public purchasing a copy of G1 Jockey.%Gallery-25251%[Via press release]
AoC mount bug fixes and speed boosts on the way
If you already own a horse mount in Age of Conan, you are probably extremely unimpressed with your new companion's speed -- it almost seems like you don't move any faster at all. According to this post at AoC's official forums, this is in fact the case. One of the game's designers has confirmed that, currently, even the mighty horse trots along at regular run-speed. A proper fix for this is coming in a future patch, but a temporary workaround is shared for now (which a lot of people in the community had already figured out): simply sheathe or unsheathe your weapon while mounted, and enjoy the mount's speed boost as it was intended.Also included in the post is the fact that the speed boost itself will be increased very soon. Horses will be slightly faster, and Mammoths and Rhinos will get a smaller boost. As well as this, to address a complaint that those with Mammoth/Rhino pre-order privileges have, the riding skills (charging, attacks, etc.) associated with these mounts will be given automatically with the "/claim" command after a future patch, and those who already have the skills through buying Basic Riding will need to perform the command to receive them again.EDIT: Going by this forum thread, the mount speed increase is already in effect as of today's patch. Some in-game testing of our own shows that at the very least, the bug requiring weapon sheathing/unsheathing is fixed. More on these other undocumented patch changes shortly.
Horse goes homicidal in Age of Conan
Funcom went to some lengths to make Age of Conan's horses seem realistic. The game's mounted combat system even makes it possible to use a horse as a weapon. But despite all the thought they put into this aspect of the game, Funcom probably didn't predict that a rather devious AoC player could use his horse to take out opponents as depicted in this video. Check it out to see an entirely new type of mounted combat, and learn why you should never stand behind a horse. Via WanderingGoblin
One Shots: The floating city
As we've mentioned a few times before, our regular One Shots contributor, Wookers, has been vacationing in the lands of Vanguard. He's sent back several absolutely lovely shots, and the one today is no exception. (Although we do wonder what he's holding on to here.) This screenshot shows off an abandoned floating city, but things are not as peaceful as they might appear. Wookers writes: This is the abadoned Raki city that is floating outside of Jalen's Crossing. It is a piece of the Raki homeworld that was left after crashing onto Telon. It has now been over run by the goblins of the four elements. Sounds ominous.Do you have a screenshot of an off-the-beaten-path MMOG that we don't see here very often? All MMOGs, old and new are welcome here! Just send along your screens and descriptions to us at oneshots AT massively.com and relax. We'll do the rest!%Gallery-9798%
Updated LotRO stable route travel chart
With gas prices skyrocketing through the roof these days, it's nice to know we have other options in store. Luckily, there is no war over horses in Middle-earth, so the price of travel tends to stay consistent. But when it does change, TheBrasse.com is here to help keep us informed of the changes.In the latest, most updated stable route chart, you can see the exact routes from stable to stable, as well as the price in silver and minimum level requirements for each one. This chart includes the latest from the Evendim update. Each route is also color-coded for regular overland travel, swift travel and there's a separate section for the Ettenmoors PvP travel. So next time you're scraping together some loose change for gas money, think of the horses!
Erling Ellingsen describes AoC mounted combat in dev video
Videogamer.com is featuring a new developer diary for Age of Conan, presented by Erling Ellingsen, all about the mounted combat that will be found in the game. Rather than going into fine details about the system, Ellingsen elects to describe some of the cool things that will be possible when engaging in mounted combat.Players will get to either fight while on their mount, or actually use their mount as a weapon. With the former, the faster you are moving, the more damage you will inflict upon a target, making old fashioned drive-bys the order of the day -- Ellingsen says that you can lop someone's head off as you zoom past, if you're going fast enough. It will also be possible to make your mount attack, and these attacks vary depending on the animal you're riding. Check out the roughly two-minute video to see the mounts in action, rearing up and knocking crowds of enemies to the ground.
The Daily Grind: Getting there
We have to say, one of the things that we've enjoyed in games was watching the evolution of travel systems. Now, this isn't to poke too much fun at the old way -- after all, a lot of friendships were started while sitting in Butcherblock Mountains or Qeynos in EverQuest and waiting for the boats to show up. (You know, when they actually worked.) But there's something to be said for having your own personal way of getting around quickly -- be it a horse, a super travel-power, a spaceship, or a pirate ship! As games evolve, there are more and more options; Warhammer Online has some pretty cool-looking mounts coming up. On the other hand, games like Perfect World do utterly bizarre things with them like piling people on top of tigers on top of giant flying manta rays like the one in the picture above. Today we'd like to know what your #1 personal method of travel has been in your game? Are you addicted to Flying or Super Jump? Is the Skeletal Warhorse your pick of choice? Is there nothing better for you than a high-end spaceship or a nice heavy pirate ship? How do you get around?
