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Moog's documentary series recounts the early days of electronic music
Giants, it will tell the story of some of the people who helped shape both synths and electronic music as an art form.
The Daily Grind: Are giant characters at a disadvantage?
As a player who usually chooses a small character, I will once in a while push myself out of my comfort zone and select the biggest slab of avatar beef to play (literally in the case of my World of Warcraft Tauren). When I do venture over to the other side of the size slider, I'm struck by how many downsides there are to being big. For starters, speed normalization means that big characters appear to run very, very slowly (even though they're going just as fast as everyone else). Your character is blocking more of your screen view and is sometimes hated by other characters for blocking theirs. And then there's the lovely fact that larger toons are easier to target in PvP. So do you think giant characters are at a disadvantage? Do they have enough pluses to compensate if so? 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!
San Francisco Giants (and most of MLB) adopt Apple's iBeacon for an enhanced ballpark experience
"It's kind of a no-brainer." That's what the San Francisco Giants' Chief Information Officer, Bill Schlough, said when asked why the team is implementing Apple's iBeacon technology this season.
Camelot Unchained gives a first look at the Viking Jotnar [Updated]
A new producer's letter from Camelot Unchained's Tyler Rockwell is out today with a first look at one of the giant races of the game. The game posted a piece of concept art for its Viking Jotnar as well as an image of a creature found in The Depths dungeon. Rockwell said that the team has a lot to do over the next month, including integrating a new game designer into the team, developing the Tuatha giant race, and vastly improving the internal testing client so that large-scale battles can happen. The game's scheduled to get Havok physics and collisions added in, allowing for jumping and projectiles to be included in the future. [Update: Tipster Matthew let us know that CU also uploaded a new developer video. It's after the cut!]
Know Your Lore Tinfoil Hat Edition: How is flesh a curse?
The World of Warcraft is an expansive universe. You're playing the game, you're fighting the bosses, you know the how -- but do you know the why? Each week, Matthew Rossi and Anne Stickney make sure you Know Your Lore by covering the history of the story behind World of Warcraft. Please don your tinfoil hat - all that follows is speculation based on in-game evidence. It is not canonical lore endorsed by Blizzard. One of the big reveals of Wrath of the Lich King is the Curse of Flesh. Upon our arrival in Ulduar's Halls of Stone, we escort Brann Bronzebeard to the Tribunal of Ages, a repository of Titan knowledge. After a fierce battle with the Tribunal's defense systems, Brann manages to access the Tribunal's information and learns the history of Azeroth, including how the Titans created Azeroth and how the Old Gods came to infest it, and how the Titan's creations of stone and iron were infected by the Curse of Flesh, making them more easily assimilated by the Old Gods. After defeating and imprisoning the Old Gods, the Titans re-engineered their creations to ensure they were no longer susceptible to the Curse... leaving the ones they'd already created to suffer it, and slowly change into the dwarves, gnomes, humans, troggs and their offshoots. Thus was Azeroth peopled in many cases. It sounds plausible enough. But there are some problems with it - namely, not all of the Titans information sources agree with it. For instance, the first Titan trove accessed by the mortal races of Azeroth was in Uldaman, in the Badlands. This Titan complex, lying in the heart of the Eastern Kingdoms, is potentially the source of the dwarves and gnomes who live nearby in the mountains of Khaz Modan. The Lore Keeper of Norgannon we meet at the end of Uldaman tells us that the Titans deviated from their normal plan when creating seed races. A cross-section of Azeroth's crust was used as the foundation for the Earthen's synthesis rather than the typical biomass construction foundation used by the Creators. Research on the world's composition led the Creators to theorize that an enhanced being could be synthesized that would epitomize the resiliency of this world's essence. This was accomplished by choosing to use a blend of Azeroth's various stone core compounds as the foundation. What does this mean? Rather than the typical biomass construction foundation used by the Creators implies that the use of stone and other materials in the Titan constructs of Azeroth is not standard. This is not what the Titans usually do. Why did they do it on Azeroth, then? They appear to have done it quite extensively as well - the Earthen, the Mechagnomes, the Vrykul, the Mogu, the Tol'vir - a whole host of inorganic entities, using 'a cross-section of Azeroth's crust' to construct them. And why is the resilience of Azeroth's essence so remarkable?
Camelot Unchained's internal testing 'successful' so far
Camelot Unchained Producer Tyler Rockwell wrote a letter to the community today saying that internal testing on the MMO is going well and that the team is ready to work toward its second milestone. "We had a very successful start to internal testing," Rockwell reported. He mentioned that while Camelot Unchained's internal testing has taken place with small groups in limited environments, at one point the team had worked up to 286 players fighting in an area. With the game's first development milestone reached, Rockwell said that the team is now focused on hitting the second one. This includes work on the Depths dungeon and the Giants race. The project will also continue to refine the technical aspect: "Moving forward over the next month we'll be focusing on continued server and client performance and stability. We hope to continue adding art to the client and recently added some simple combat. The big goal is even larger numbers of people in testing with a continued frame rate of 60fps."
Camelot Unchained meets Depths stretch goal, Giant race next
Camelot Unchained has met another of its stretch funding goals, which means that The Depths are now confirmed for the forthcoming fantasy RvR title. CU's website has updated with the next stretch goal, which is "the giant races of Camelot." "Giants will be used as both player races and as inhabitants of The Depths," says the update. "Each giant race will be unique to their Realm (no mirrors used here either). While the concept of giants isn't new, it wouldn't be Camelot Unchained if we didn't do things just a wee bit differently." Details as to what "differently" means are pretty scarce at this point, but keep on eye on this space for more Camelot Unchained news as it happens. [Thanks Guinness!]
Know Your Lore: Titan facilities of Azeroth
The World of Warcraft is an expansive universe. You're playing the game, you're fighting the bosses, you know the how -- but do you know the why? Each week, Matthew Rossi and Anne Stickney make sure you Know Your Lore by covering the history of the story behind World of Warcraft. Let's just be up front about this now -- the Titans left stuff everywhere. It would be hard to disbelieve in them, frankly. They left bases, research stations, fortresses, labs and more. We don't even know what everything they left behind originally did or why it was there in many cases. Some places have somewhat clear reasons for existing (Ulduar, for instance, was tasked with holding the Old God Yogg Saron prisoner, but the Halls of Stone and Lightning point to other goals for the complex) but others, such as the ruined complex now known as Ahn'Qiraj was simply a 'research facility', and we have no idea what it was researching or why such a complex was needed so close to Uldum. At any rate, there are a lot of Titan complexes currently known of on Azeroth.
Visualized: DeLorean hovercraft cruises around McCovey Cove, wins the internet
What do you get when you multiply a crazy Make project with a Kickstarter fund? You get the answer to our childhood dreams, that's what.
Comcast's extra ads ruin NFC championship game conclusion in some areas
It wasn't just RIM that had designs on the limelight during the football action last night. Comcast commercials appeared over the NFC Championship game last night, thoughtfully playing over the climax of the match 'twixt the Giants and the 49ers. Frustrated fans who missed out on parts of the fourth quarter and overtime promptly began voicing dissent on the company's support forums. The Washington Post has a quote from spokesperson Amiee Metrick indicating the problems were due to a possible "equipment failure" at a local Fox affiliate, WTTG, resulting in the ill-timed ads reported in Washington D.C. We've heard that of customers receiving a $10 credit and an apology, but it seems unlikely to soothe the brow of those -- like the person who recorded video of the incident you can see after the break -- thinking of switching to FiOS. Update: We've received a response from Comcast (included after the break), and updated the post to clarify the apparent breakdown was at local Fox affiliate WTTG.[Thanks, John]
Rise and Shiny recap: Glitch
Ah, so we meet at last, Glitch. I have been looking forward to playing this game for a long, long time. Possibly decades. All right, not decades... but there is something familiar about the game, something that feels homey and warm and nice. What is it? Perhaps I will find out soon. Before I get all gushy about the wonderful world of giants, I need to explain why I think it is important for the genre, not just for me. Glitch is like Minecraft, not in its dynamic or design but in the obvious impact it is having and will more than likely continue having on its particular genre. Actually, it has already had this type of effect on gaming in general, but not quite at the level of Minecraft. Yet. Click past the cut and I'll gush some more.
MapleStory goes Greek: New island coming to the game April 6th
It's no April Fools' joke: Nexon is adding a Greek-themed island to MapleStory on April 6th, ancient columns and all. Chyrse is a floating island -- thanks to a mysterious power -- that's long since left the world and has been in isolation because of its distance. Now things have changed, and Chyrse is open for business and for war. Xerxes, a fearsome baddie, has declared war against the friendly giants of the isle, and it's up to you to stop him. MapleStory players between the levels of 55 and 75 are encouraged to team up with friends to take on Xerxes and his forces. If players are victorious, Nexon promises to reward them with new, unique weapons and gear. While you wait for the 6th, you can check out the first images of Chyrse in the gallery below! %Gallery-16709%
Verizon FiOS scores the first NFL 3D broadcast with Giants/Patriots September 2
Check off another first for 3D sports broadcasts, now that Verizon has announced its FiOS1 channel will exclusively carry the first 3D NFL game. We doubt you'll see much of Tom Brady and Eli Manning in a preseason game four matchup between the Giants and Patriots, but for the New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island subscribers already rocking a 3D setup even watching backups fight for a roster spot is bound to be miles ahead of what's been available so far. Despite keeping its 3D plans close to its vest Verizon has been working closely with the Giants to bring this broadcast to life and plans 3D viewing parties at Meadowlands Stadium (although not on its enormous new HD scoreboards) and Gillette Stadium. ESPN 3D won't kick off its own college football broadcasts until a few days later, if you can't make it to the field and are still wondering if the technology is worth it there are also a couple of bars in Manhattan and Rhode Island airing the broadcast -- Jim Sorgi and Brian Hoyer will be glad to know you're watching.
Rise and Shiny recap: Mytheon
Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play, indie or unusual game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet each Tuesday and Friday night at 9 p.m. EDT (8 p.m. CDT time) followed by this column the Sunday after. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau@massively.com. I'm a simple man. I need a strong cup of coffee in the morning, walks with my two dogs, a kiss from my wife -- and giants. Lots of giants. Mytheon is a perfect game for a simple man like me. It installs easily and the controls are basic. It is by no means perfect, but I am not sure that it is trying to be. Like me, it's simple. It wants you to control miniature armies of centaurs, cyclopses and skeletons, and it wants you to kill things while controlling that army. See? Simple.
Pre-order Madden 10 at GameStop ... to get free Madden 10 demo
Pre-order either the PS3 or Xbox 360 version of Madden 10 and you'll get a sneak peak at the upcoming football game. GameStop is issuing an "exclusive" 20-minute demo that lets you relive the Super Bowl yet again with the Cardinals and the Steelers, while, according to Kotaku, everyone else will be able to download a shorter 8-minute demo between the Giants and the Cowboys.We're not exactly sure how a free demo is meant to appease those that are already committed to buying the game, but at the very least, it's a far more compelling offer than, say, a free sample of Madden's short-lived recording career.Source - GameStop pre-order announcementSource - EA demo clarification
Mabinogi expansion "Pioneers of Iria" set for February 26th
The massive content addition Pioneers of Iria is set to go live for Mabinogi users on February 26th, introducing two new races and a brand new continent for the low, low cost of free.Information about Iria has been slowly released over time on the Erinn Walker website, which has revealed even more interesting things about the new expansion. Iria will be featuring more field bosses to take on in large groups, like giant wooly mammoths, yetis, sandworms, dragons and even Ifrit himself. The new races, elves and giants, will also be able to take advantage of transformation techniques and enter "beast mode" to deal more damage to enemies around them.Nexon has also released a new trailer for Iria, which we've embedded for your viewing pleasure after the break. For more information on what Iria has in store for players, check out the Iria website and stay tuned to Massively.com.
Massively's tour of Dungeons and Dragons Online Module 8
We here at Massively love MMOs big and small. We have a special fondness for games that do things just a touch differently, though, so it should be no surprise that we're big fans of Dungeons and Dragons Online. Turbine's action/adventure MMO is a very different animal from your average fantasy game. It's fantastically beautiful, innovate, and coming soon it'll have a whole new passle of content for players new and old. If you've been reading along with the site you've probably already seen Massively's guide to the new player experience coming in DDO Module 8. We also had the chance to go on an extensive walkthrough of the new high end content, and that's what we're bringing to you today!Join us as we explore the depths of the Reaver's Refuge, crawl through the Monastery of the Scorpion, and attempt to rescue a dragon from a band of fearsome Frost Giants! We'll run through all the new features in the module, from rune armor to hirelings! We also highly recommend checking out DDOcast's guide to the hirelings and the entire module patch notes from the Dungeons and Dragons Online test realm.But first, take the tour of all-new module 8 content, courtesy of Massively.com. Set out on the Tour >> %Gallery-34752%%Gallery-34581%
The Shadow Odyssey's Befallen dungeon featured at EQ2 website
SOE posted a preview of Befallen, one of the classic EverQuest dungeons that will be reborn in EverQuest II's upcoming The Shadow Odyssey expansion. Included are several screenshots of the dungeon along with its background in the game's lore. The aesthetic of the old Befallen seems to be preserved -- and amplified -- in EQ2's newer graphics engine.The story goes something like this: a bunch of Knights of Marr built the keep in the Commonlands as a headquarters in their quest to chase off the giants and orcs that terrorized the people in the countryside. Their fortress became their tomb, though, as orcs laid siege to the keep. A warrior named Gynok Moltor came to them to help, but it turned out that he had been cursed. He betrayed the Knights and turned Befallen into the dangerous mass grave that it is today.It's standard fantasy fare. Cool enough, but we're sure most of you just care about the loot. Well met, fellow Norrathian! Make sure to check out all of our coverage of the next EverQuest II expansion, The Shadow Odyssey as well as Seeds of Destruction, the next expansion to EverQuest!
New Meadowlands Stadium features four 103- by 30-foot HD screens
Daktronics has continued to outdo itself again and again since first coming on our radar with its massive Dolphin Stadium high definition scoreboard two years ago, but the company plans to make the New Meadowlands project, opening for the Giants and Jets in 2010, its biggest yet. The $45 million project includes four 103- by 30-foot screens at each corner of the stadium, ensuring Eli Manning can always see his open receivers even while spinning free of numerous would-be tacklers to throw a miracle pass that screws up our sure thing bet...but we digress. The four big screens, plus 28 other large screen displays located around the stadium use the LED-based HD-X technology already in use at other stadiums ensuring high contrast and wide viewing angles, although with that many it's probably not necessary. After the Yankees, Mets and now both football teams we suppose the Nets are just waiting to secure Lebron in '10 before announcing the court will be replaced with an HDTV.
First Impressions: SAGA
SAGA (not to be confused with Saga, who gave us the immortal "On the Loose") is an MMORTS -- massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game. While there are few enough of these on the market -- making its very existence worthy of approbation -- we thought it would be worth taking a closer look, to offer up an opinion of our first couple of hours into gameplay. Thus, this First Impressions post.Remember: this is not a guide, nor was this in any way influenced by the development studio. This is an entirely subjective look at SAGA, from an average gamer's point of view. And now, on with the show! Game. Thing. Whatever. Onward!%Gallery-28014%
