physics-based-combat
Latest
Why I Play: Vindictus
I've noticed a curious trend among the Massively staff when it comes to the Why I Play column: The writers here tend to choose games you wouldn't necessarily expect them to choose. MJ Guthrie, who is the wind beneath our Wings Over Atreia, wrote about why she plays the Secret World. Patrick Mackey, our former Champions Online caped crusader and lately our League of Legends legend, wrote about why he plays Global Agenda. Shawn Schuster, our boss-in-chief, wrote about the little MMO that could, WURM Online. Jef Reahard, our stalwart sandbox supporter, wrote about Lord of the Rings Online. And Larry Everett, our Jedi master, wrote about, well, Star Wars The Old Republic, but my point is that the Why I Play column seems to be a place for us to write about the games we play when we're not "gaming." That brings me to my choice for this week: Vindictus. Each week, I express my fondness for RIFT, EverQuest II, and various kid-friendly MMOs, but about a year ago, I began to do an MMO walkabout and sampled a bunch of games, many of which I livestreamed with Massively's Jeremy Stratton. I really enjoyed most of the MMOs we played, but one that stood out for me was Vindictus. There's something about the game that makes it my favorite game away from gaming, and I'll attempt to explain why in this week's Why I Play.
DC Universe video touts world, combat physics
The DC Universe hype machine is in full swing, what with this week's partial NDA drop and the steady stream of information flowing out of Sony Online Entertainment pertaining to the superhero title. To that end, game director Chris Cao narrates the latest DCUO video, which focuses on physics and physics-based combat. Note that when Cao says physics, he's talking more comic book and less Stephen Hawking, and the two-minute short does a good job of demonstrating the possibilities generated by what SOE is calling the MMO genre's first fully integrated physics system. Whether you're looking to encase your enemies in blocks of ice and toss them out of the fight, or use them as a frozen weapon to bludgeon any nearby baddies, it's all doable according the video. Check it out on the official DCUO Facebook page.
