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One Shots: Beautiful balloon
Massively logically selects for readers who aren't necessarily playing World of Warcraft -- if you were, you'd probably be reading our sister site WoW Insider, not this column. But I am still a WoW fan, as is this week's One Shots submitter, William. He sent in a freshly snapped pic from Mists of Pandaria with this note: This screenshot is a little bit of a spoiler, so I won't actually say much about what's in it, but needless to say, this is one of my favourite scenes from the Pandaren starting area. The art design is fantastic in Blizzard's new expansion! Also, panda in a balloon! William's color image is tucked after the break along with a few more of your One Shots-worthy images.
One Shots: Angry red moon
Final Fantasy XIV is due for a cataclysmic revamp and reboot in just a few short months, so what better time to feature it than now? Massively reader Cyndair emailed One Shots this image from the doomed current version of the game: Here's a shot of the angry red moon, Dalamud, overlooking the Rivenroad battlefield, site of the final confrontation with FFXIV 1.x's main protagonist, Nael Van Darnus. Truly breathtaking shot, Cyndair. It's behind the break with a few more reader submissions!
One Shots: Wings
Resident Massively Aion columnist MJ Guthrie could sum up the best reason to play her favorite MMO in just one word: wings! That's something reader Leandra plainly echoes in today's featured One Shots submission. She sent us this image of her character soaring through Aion along with this note: I've been toying around with Aion a bit and took my baby Chanter, Elanyne, for her first flight through the Abyss. I kept an eye out for Elyos, but thankfully (though somewhat disappointingly), I was able to quest in peace. I guess I'll have to level up more and then go looking to pick some fights! You red, you dead -- that's what I always say! Leandra's flight and a few other reader screenies are tucked beyond the break.
One Shots: Go directly to jail
You have to love a culture that thinks jail should be a breathtaking experience for the prisoner... literally! Today's One Shots from reader Lovander (Tarnished Coast represent!) shows how Guild Wars 2's Sylvari race mixes glowing sparkles with deadly detention cells. Lovander wrote, I came upon this jail in the Sylvari capital, The Grove. Every cell is a Venus Fly Trap. Loved the design! Follow on for the color screenie plus a few more One Shots beyond the break.
One Shots: Still got it
Runes of Magic was a F2P game before the cool kids joined the F2P party, but it's been a little neglected by MMO players. Massively reader Andrew wants us to know that it's got some spark left in it: While Runes of Magic may be three years old, the graphics are still looking great. There's some awesome vistas in RoM that appear when you take the time to control+z your interface and look around. This shot is from Southern Janost Forest. In fact, Andrew sent us two pics, and they're both behind the break along with a few more of your One Shots!
One Shots: Abyss
Who doesn't know Nietzsche's famous quote about the abyss? When you look into an abyss, the abyss entices you to buy some stuff in the cash shop. It was something like that, anyway. Today's breathtaking featured screenshot of a character meditating before an abyss originated in none other than The Secret World. Submitter Aedesius wrote to One Shots, I've really been enjoying TSW; it's like a breath of fresh air and such a beautiful-looking game. Enjoy this screenshot of one of many amazing vistas in TSW. Let's go do that! Aedesius' pic and a few others are just a leap into infinity past the break.
One Shots: Tyrian field trip
Guild Wars 2's headstart kicked off this weekend, and the official launch is this week, so you know what that means! Yep, One Shots is going to feature the most visually appealing game of all time: Ultima Online! Just kidding. It's Guild Wars 2 day, and we've got an extra-long eyecandy edition of One Shots to celebrate. Who gets to headline today's column? A generous reader named Vazzaroth, who graciously opened up his entire vault of Guild Wars 2 screenshots to Massively. We're including two of our favorites here, but feel free to crash his site pawing through the rest! They're just past the break, alongside a bundle of our favorite Guild Wars 2 submissions received since April.
One Shots: Counting blessings
Massively reader Ralph "The Wonder Llama" (don't look at me!) delivered this spectacular TERA image to headline this week's One Shots. He wrote in: This is my Amani Berzerker, Sequoia. She's seen here showing off her brand-new crafted level 40 plate armor (proving once again that you don't have to show a lot of skin to look totally hot!). We took some time out from our busy schedule of monster slaying in TERA to admire the scenery in Blessing Basin, a beautiful forested zone full of strange and exotic creatures, most of whom want to kill you. This particular shot was taken at the Fountain of Shara, where Mystel, the goddess of fate, determines whether intrepid adventurers are are worthy of her assistance. I'm pleased to report that Sequoia passed the test with flying colors! Ralph's screenshots and a few others worthy of highlighting are tucked beyond the break.
One Shots: Set yourself free
This week's One Shots honors Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, which quietly went free-to-play a few days early. Massively reader John sent in our featured image with this note: I'm sure that many of your pictures will be of Vanguard, but here's an awesome one overlooking the Qalian sunset. It captures the beauty of a massive, open world that's devoid of linear levelling or closed instances. Just looking at this picture reminds me of the possibilities. Do I gather a group for a trip to the Coterie, perched upon a distant mountain? Do I sail down endless rivers or fly above vast plains? The choice is mine. Vanguard's motto is "Set yourself free," and this picture proves it. Do you go beyond the break to drool over John's screenshot and a few others? That choice is also yours!
One Shots: Death by tentacles
Massively reader The Platypus knows the secret behind taking a good One Shots entry: a good death! He sent in this amazing shot from The Secret World with a quick note: Hey Massively -- long-time reader The Platypus here! Two friends and I decided to three-man the Polaris dungeon in The Secret World last night, and while it went more smoothly than I imagined it would, we still had a little trouble with the Ur-Draug (TSW's Cthulhu analogue). As I was dying the first time and the creeping inevitability of my fate overcame me, I did the only logical thing I could do with the last few seconds of life: I took a screenshot! Enjoy! Tentacles past the break. Hit it!
One Shots: It's the shades
The Guild Wars franchise is infamous for its crazy outfits and gear, from banana scythes and librarian spectacles to jack-o'-lantern hats and... whatever the heck this is supposed to be. So it's no surprise that Guild Wars 2 is following in its elder sibling's footsteps! A reader named Darla sent One Shots this image of her character from the very last beta event before launch, along with this note: This is a screenshot of the final big event of the third beta weekend event, Hunger Royal. You can tell by the smile that the glasses make her feel badass. I was thinking the hot pink gun might have something to do with it too, but the sunglasses are pretty awesome! Darla's shot and a few others await you behind the break if you dare.
One Shots: A big white blur
Conventional wisdom holds that snow zones in games and movies make for a featureless, monochrome eyesore that bores onlookers, and yet both Star Wars Galaxies and Star Wars: The Old Republic couldn't resist the allure of Hoth. Today's One Shots from reader Brooks reveals his character resting above an imposing crevasse on the notorious ice planet as depicted in SWTOR: Surrounded by the harsh beauty of ice and stone, Jedi Knight Omiko Kell takes a meditative moment to reflect on the weight of her responsibility to the native people and Republic forces struggling for freedom and survival on the desolate and unforgiving planet of Hoth. Does she sway from her primary mission set forth by her Order and help others, or will she let them stand alone in their fight against the Empire, pirates, and mercenaries while she focuses on her Masters' directive? Whichever one gives you the most legacy points, of course. Brooks' full screenshot and a few others are beyond the cut!
One Shots: The Hutt in the hat
Massively reader Leandra sent us a delicious batch of screenshots from new shiny The Secret World, but her "throwaway" entry from Star Wars: The Old Republic is the one I couldn't resist highlighting. She wrote in, I recently resubscribed to The Old Republic to check out the changes made in the last few patches. The devs have made a lot of much-needed improvements, and I'm having a lot of fun. This is my Jedi Consular character on Nar Shaddaa, one of my favorite areas in the game. The statue of the Hutt in the hat always cracks me up. Why is he wearing that hat?? He's wearing that hat because it provided me an awesome post title and a giggle, that's why! The color shot and a few more from around the MMOverse await your clickery!
One Shots: Nyctohylophobia
Most MMOs aren't trying to actively spook their players (unless the sight of sparkle ponies creeps you out), but The Secret World is an exception to that rule. In honor of TSW's launch week, today's One Shots is all about Funcom's new adventure-slash-puzzler MMO. Massively reader Drinkfist has gotten into the spirit of the game with today's featured screenshot. He writes in, The Secret World just started, and the game looks amazing! This is a picture of the haunted forest in Blue Mountain. The Ghosts that inhabit it are especially rough as every 30 seconds they phase in and out of this world, changing their resistances. Brace yourself for this and a few more TSW pics after the cut!
One Shots: Signs and portents
We're deep in the throes of The Secret World's pre-launch weekend, and here to celebrate the game's arrival is Massively reader Sharvis, who sent in several potential One Shots of the game, including one of his character puzzling his way through a quest. He writes in, I found this map of Kingsmouth with a strange symbol on it. It only served to mystify my character Cole. Something sinister is underfoot in Kingsmouth, but what could it be? The plot thickens after the cut! Well, not really, but we do have a few more user-submitted screenshots to show off!
One Shots: This old house
It'd be easy for me to sit back and say that games without housing are just lazy, so that's exactly what I'm going to do. Well, that and feature a few awesome reader screenshots of games with housing in today's One Shots! Contributor Mayrin earns the top slot this week with this image of her home in Wurm Online, a much-beloved sandbox around these parts. She writes: This is a screenshot of my house, originally taken last September. It's a stone house built back before Wurm Online had inner walls, so it's U-shaped to suggest different rooms inside. The left side is our kitchen area (the wisp of smoke over the house is from our oven), and the right side has our beds, while the center area is used mostly for storage. The gold shape near the oak tree on the left is an altar to Vynora (one of Wurm's deities); the silver one peeking out from behind the right tree is a Fo altar. Right off the path is a "spirit castle," which is used to send mail to other players. It's located where the village of Allure once stood on the Independence server. Mayrin's entry is tucked behind the break alongside a few other residential beauties!
One Shots: Building character
This week's One Shots is all about characters -- your characters, to be precise. Kicking it off is One Shots veteran EuchridEucrow, who delivered this sultry pic of his Guild Wars 2 beta character giving the camera... The Look. He wrote us with this lovely bit of description: Disturbed from a moment of contemplation, she gives you "the look." As her face turns your way, trailing the mist from her breath on the cold air, you find your own breath catching in your lungs. Is it the cold that has frozen your lungs? Her beauty? Or is there something else? Something behind the beauty, a kind of casual, indifferent grace that seems to promise violence? You see a snowflake drift onto the soft black bars of her eyelashes, but she doesn't blink it away. Perhaps it would be a good idea to go inside where it is warm. We've put a few more of your characters on display past the break!
One Shots: Before and after
Massively reader Drannos earns the One Shots spotlight today, having sent in not one but two Lord of the Rings Online screenshots: a before and after shot of Orthanc, the spire at the center of Isengard that's home to Saruman the White in the game's time period. Drannos writes in, Though I've yet to see the inside of Orthanc, I've been, shall we say, a guest. An involuntary guest. From a distance, it's very impressive, but up close, it's suitably intimidating as well! Having seen it both before and after Saruman's fall, I have to say that it also has an appropriate air of tragedy and despair. Both shots and two more from other MMOs await behind the break!
One Shots: Orrery is an awesome word
Today's One Shots is going to make you smarter because it's got an orrery in it. What's an orrery? It's a 3-D clockwork planetarium that mimics the solar system, and there's an amazing one in this lovely Guild Wars 2 beta screenshot by Brazokie. In fact, Brazokie sent in six stunning pics along with this cry for help (kidding!): I have too many! They are all pretty! Please pick one, or two, or three... Well, I've picked two plus two more from our stash of One Shots submissions, and they're all in full color behind the break!
One Shots: Bamboo Kat's
If you followed MJ's Choose My Adventure in City of Heroes throughout the month of May, you know that veterans constantly recommended that she do one thing: roll blueside. More people play superheroes than villains, and if you want to group, Paragon City is the place. But I say the villains of the Rogue Isles surely have the best scenery. Massively reader Jeromai chipped in two gorgeous shots of the grimy skyscrapers of redside with this note: One of my favorite spots villain-side is the Jackpot area of St. Martial, especially when it gets dark and the building lights are a stark contrast to the gloom of all the other previous zones. Sure, it's still a soulless Las Vegas-style strip wannabe, but I love super-jumping down the street as the music changes. This is my normal view of things when super-jumping. But if you get down to street-level, it's also surprisingly immersive. Notice the Marcone or Family gangster leaning nonchalantly against one building as the cars and pedestrians cruise through. Both shots (and a few others) are tucked behind the break!
