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WRUP: This is why we can't have nice things
Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game in which we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you giggle at all the lore purists who demand in-game lore-friendly holidays and events instead of Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day because here it is. This is our punishment for hating on Ewoks with cupid wings. This is why we can't have nice things.
Choose My Adventure: Hunting for trouble (and riches) in ArcheAge
Bouncing between alpha and beta has hindered progress in ArcheAge for Massively's MJ, but it hasn't diminished the fun. As per last week's vote, she spent the past weekend in beta, checking out life on the other continent as an Elf. Now, with the next beta a whole week away, it's back to alpha life as a Firran. But that doesn't mean it's a lonely life! MJ found a spot for her little farm and has been raising some goslings as she continues her crafting and trade exploits. And there's also this thing about joining a guild... we're sure she could find some more trouble to get into with friends. Perhaps she'll even finally make it to prison! Join us live at 7:00 p.m. for MJ's final two-hour CMA Live adventure. Game: ArcheAge Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Friday, July 55th, 2014 Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below.
WRUP: Just a beta
Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game in which we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you tell us how gaming journalists who are paid to preview games should handwave worrying fundamental problems in a major pre-launch MMO because, you know, it's just a beta. After all, you definitely don't want to hear about games before they launch, unless it's an opinion that perfectly mirrors your preferred reality, which is why you don't patronize MMO websites. Right? Right.
Choose My Adventure: The crafty side of life in ArcheAge
After last week's exciting dungeon and boating adventure, Massvely's MJ was ready to settle into the quiet life of crafting in ArcheAge. And crafting can definitely be a whole way of life, taking all your time, attention, and funds. If you want to specialize in multiple crafts, it can gobble up that much more! Since you voted for MJ to try all the crafting, she's been trying to dabble in everything. However, getting all the various materials necessary for all the different professions turned out to be quite the undertaking, so she's been paying special attention to armor (which tied for first in votes) and housing items (which came in second). Join us live at 7:00 p.m. to see the crafty side of life in ArcheAge and help direct MJ's two-hour adventures during this CMA Live. Then don't forget to vote and direct next week's (and this weekend's) adventures! Game: ArcheAge Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Wednesday, July 16th, 2014 Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below.
Ask Massively: Seven seriously spectacular reasons to hate clickbait
Oh hi! Welcome to our clickbait article, and thanks for clicking! No really, let's talk about clickbait. Massively reader Avaera recently posed to me a question that dovetailed nicely with a few complaints I've seen in our comments. He wrote, Does Massively make a deliberate effort to minimize the number of perceived "clickbait" opinion pieces? That is, to make sure that any controversial topics or unpopular opinions are discussed only sparingly, so that the perception and reputation of the site is kept relatively neutral? I can completely understand trying to manage a certain tone for the community; I'm just curious if that is an explicit factor in some editorial decisions. I'll tell you, but first you have to click to find out!
WRUP: Best geeky rom-com ever
Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game in which we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you wipe away a tear because the Jedi Guardian who re-sparked Jef's flame for Star Wars actually stumbled into his post and they fell in love and got married because of SWTOR but not really. But wouldn't that make a great geeky rom-com?
The Think Tank: Finding the magic in MMOs
About a month ago, a Massively reader wrote to our team to ask for help on an issue many of us -- and probably many of you -- struggle with: a genre with lots of games and not enough stickiness (and patience!). I've been around the MMO block (since EverQuest); I even dabbled in Meridian 59. And I keep seeing game articles that make me want to try or retry lots of MMOs, but between my schedule and investment in other titles already, I cannot bring myself to jump into old or new games for more than a few play sessions. There's so many to play that I just can't bring myself to settle down for a little bit to really get enough of the experience to enjoy it. For example, I recently played Asheron's Call for a total of three hours after subbing and reading articles that compelled me to try it. But it felt foreign and clunky. I couldn't stick around to really appreciate it. I fear the same results in other games I'd like to try. Can you give me advice on shedding the urge to judge and dismiss a game if it doesn't click with me immediately? Is there a way to not be jaded or lazy with being a newbie (yet again) in older titles? Help me play more MMOs for the sake of experience and new loves! - MMO junkie seeking help "finding the magic" I polled the team for advice in this week's Think Tank!
Choose My Adventure: Adventuring in ArcheAge
Although ArcheAge has many different things to do, you decided that Massively's MJ should continue her adventures with quests, so that's what she's been doing. After showing off her favorite spot in game and brilliantly demonstrating death by jellyfish, she's been running to and fro delivering notes, assembling statues, and killing whatever vermin are bothering the locals. And there's certainly no lack of vermin! During those questing adventures MJ has come across a dungeon, and she's looking forward to taking you inside. Hopefully she'll find other in-game companions to enter with her as well, else she'll surely experience death in a new and spectacular way! If she's alone, will you still have her enter? Join us live at 7:00 p.m. to decide her fate live! And don't forget to participate in the next vote to decide which crafting profession MJ should pursue next week. Game: ArcheAge Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below.
WRUP: Star Wars ceiling specifications edition
Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game in which we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you get into a giant comment flamewar about how high ceilings and luxury condos break established canon lore for Tatooine. Man, Star Wars fans really are crazy.
Choose My Adventure: Forever Firran in ArcheAge's alpha
Welcome to the first official all-stream version of Choose My Adventure, where Massively's MJ will delve deeper into ArcheAge on two-hour adventures that you help direct. She's continuing to explore the world as the feline Firran as directed by the last round of voting. But now the adventures are ramping up and she's picking up the pace, so what direction shall she go? There's no need to only quest if you want XP; you can also gather, craft, and farm. You can focus on land adventures or brave the high seas. There's plenty of choice involved, and the choice is yours. Join us live at 4:00 p.m. EDT and help decide what MJ does, then vote in the poll to determine next week's leveling path! The polls closes at 11:59 P.M. Monday, June 8th. Game: ArcheAge Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Friday, July 4th, 2014 Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below.
WRUP: For spacious skies
Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game in which we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you sign our petition to make Ra'merica the official mascot of SMITE. He might just be the only character in the whole game unlikely to offend anyone. Except eagles, I guess.
Ask Massively: Misconceptions about game criticism, free-to-play, and lazy scrubs
In previous editions of Ask Massively, we've covered misconceptions about new, old, and sunsetted MMOs as well as misconceptions about jerk players, Kickstarters, and untrustworthy studios. Let's tackle a few more this week: who gets to dish out criticism, what F2P portends for a game, and which MMO generation really has the most lazy scrubs (answer: all of them).
WRUP: The one about jumping
Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game in which we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you jump and jump and jump a lot in MMOs because you're not too old to play video games, no sir!
WRUP: The one where MMOs get an easy win
Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game where we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you remind Ubisoft that almost every MMORPG since forever has somehow managed to do the impossible and include playable female characters and it did not in fact break the space-time continuum or wreck the budget.
WRUP: The internet isn't real edition
Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game where we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you tell us how you're not a jerk even though you act like one on the internet. Which is perfectly OK, of course, since the internet isn't a real place and what goes on there is but a figment of our collective imagination.
WRUP: Who's not playing WildStar edition
Welcome back to Massively's What are You Playing, the game where we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you tell us that we're writing about WildStar too much. You might also want to remind us that we hate Elder Scrolls Online, love and hate Star Wars: The Old Republic, and carry a rather hopeless and pathetic torch for Star Wars: Galaxies. One of those statements might even be true!
Ask Massively: Misconceptions about jerk players, Kickstarters, and untrustworthy studios
Continuing our miniseries theme from the last Ask Massively, today's edition will focus on a brand-new set of misconceptions commonly held by MMO gamers and participants in our comments section: jerk players in MMORPGs, the playerbase of one particular sci-fi sandbox, Kickstarters vs. investments, and learning to trust a studio that's done you wrong. As always, if there's a misconception you want me to add to my list, let me know in the comments!
WRUP: The one where we pick on MOBAs
Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game where we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you brilliantly propose a MOBA in which players slip into the shoes of classical composers and kick the crap out of each other (seriously, we'd play that).
WRUP: Nostalgia is an insult in MMOland
Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game where we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you tell us that we love games only because of nostalgia, but the games you love are real and true and objectively awesome!
Ask Massively: Misconceptions about new, old, and sunsetted MMOs
As the editor-in-chief of Massively, I make it a point to read as many of our comments as I can. We have some really smart people here chatting at the bottom of our posts, and I learn a lot from them. But I also see the same illogical statements and easily countered arguments being made independently by different commenters across many different threads and games. I'd like to address some of those misconceptions today in the first part of a new Ask Massively miniseries. Today's misconceptions are all about new, old, and sunsetted MMOs.
