Eli Shayotovich

Eli was once an MMO cynic. Until he was introduced to the spandex wearing ways of City of Heroes that is. Now he’s a true believer, addictively sampling all those that don’t include orcs, mages and fairies. Eli has been writing about PC games since 2003 and playing them since the very Dawn of the Gaming Age. Reared on Commodore computers "The Mad Man" finds little use for consoles and game pads. Eli lives in the thin air of the Rocky Mountains (which may be the cause of his deteriorating mind) with his loving and very understanding wife, and his psychotic Alaskan malamute. When not virtually busting bad guys or laying waste to alien scum, Eli is obsessively analyzing each episode of Lost, tweaking one of his many fantasy sports lineups, or imbibing (and blogging about) fine craft beer.

Articles by Eli Shayotovich

CoH's Hollows gets a facelift
The Hollows. Long a zone of contention for those who don the tights and cape in the City of Heroes. This zone quickly became a bane to every low level toon for several reasons: it couldn't be soloed, players were forced to go there to get missions, it was a pain to travel through without getting whacked multiple times, framerates were often poor... the list goes on. Well, Melissa Bianco (5-year veteran Level Designer on the CoH team) wanted to change it... and change it she did. In fact, there are so many changes it's impossible to list them all here. You really need to go check Melissa's new dev diary to get the full rundown. Needless to say, veteran players will love the new and improved Hollows. It's been simplified, streamlined and now reflects the style of Striga, Faultline and other zones in that it's more of a hybrid zone (part city spawns, part hazard).
Game Informer gets some Stargate goodies
A new issue of the popular print magazine Game Informer has an in-depth Q&A with creative director Chris Klug and studio head Dan Elggren from Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment about Stargate Worlds. While you can get a sneak peek from Game Informer's website, you need to have a subscription to access it. Or, you can just pick it up at the newsstand like the rest of us schlubs. And according to the Stargate Worlds website, you'll want do just that. Apparently the magazine has some never-before-seen content - including the very first look at what combat will look like in the game itself. They also give a snipet from the interview which talks about how players can use the environment as a buff in combat (players will receive a boost not only in damage dealt, but how much damage can be taken). This feature sounds a lot like what's already in place in Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa.The exclusive images found in Game Informer will eventually be posted on StargateWorlds.com, so if you can't get the mag (or just don't want to)... stay tuned.
The Quantar jump through the gate
Both Ten Ton Hammer and MMORPG.com are sporting exclusive screenshots of a Quantar ship. The Quantar are one of the many playable factions in NetDevil's upcoming space combat MMO, Jumpgate Evolution. These mystics construct their ships according to spiritual principles and believe that the pilot and ship evolve to become a single being. The Quantar are very gifted pilots, which might be due to being raised among asteroids.Ten Ton Hammer has two shots of this goldfish looking starship, while MMORPG has one.
Mining in Jumpgate Evolution
Steve Hartmeyer dropped another dev diary into the laps of MMO Gamer, this time he talks about how mining will play out in their upcoming sci-fi MMO. Apparently it was a "major pastime" for a large portion of players in Jumpgate Classic, and basically formed the game's economy. That's all well and good, and I understand the need to cater to loyal players and all types of game styles, but Jumpgate Evolution (for me) better be more about the space combat (the "fun" stuff) then sitting around mining (what I consider insanely "boring" stuff). JGE's mining is getting a whole new face lift in terms of the process and the graphical presentation. Thankfully, they intend to make it fun by turning it into a treasure-hunting activity that can be done as casually or intensively as the player wants. Whew. NetDevil will be able to provide a clearer picture in a few weeks since the whole mining experience is just now entering the implementation phase and hasn't been put through the rigors of testing yet. So if the thought of working in a coal mine (pardon the song pun) spins your wheels, check out the diary for all the details (and there are plenty).
Tabula Rasa: From Russia With Love
Tabula Rasa Vault is reporting on a news article out of England (which is where 007 hails from ironically enough), that has Tabula Rasa in 4th place on the Russian retail gaming charts.Not bad for a game that some doomed as a failure. NCsoft has formed a solid distribution network in Russia for their games by working with three of Russia's premiere distribution companies.Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa launched in the land of Ivan Drago and Vodka on January 17 at #10. It has since climbed up to #4, confirming that this sci-fi MMO has broad appeal. Seems Russians love them some TR. Like the American version the Russian version is available in two forms (Standard and Collector's Edition) and features localized packaging and instructions.TR is slated to release in Japan later this year. The reception there will be something we will follow very closely...as we like to help prove people wrong.
PlanetTR has a crossword puzzle for you
Admit it, you're either a sudoku number cruncher or a cross wording puzzler. If not, why are these two brain busting games in every newspaper and news rack across the world. Why does every in-flight magazine have them filled in? Ya, that's what I thought. PlanetTR has created a contest that combines gathering information from inside Tabula Rasa with a crossword puzzle. Some of the in-game clues (which are scattered throughout the game world) require words spewed from NPCs, the name of an NPC, a logo, or counting the number of objects at a given spot. So it's like a scavenger hunt too! Everyone is eligible to play, and the event starts tonight (5 PM Pacific, 6 PM Mountain, 7 PM Central, 8 PM Eastern)! Winners will receive a collectible Tabula Rasa Beanie, and the first place winner will earn themselves a "special" TR prize. Be sure to check out the full list of details, and... get your cross verbiage on!
Questing around Earthrise
This weeks question for the Earthrise devs asks: what types of quests will be available? Earthrise is geared towards player cooperation and PvP, but the devs aren't neglecting the casual gamers. They still want players to be able to solo through the multiplayer environment and advance their character (notice how thy didn't say "level up") without being forced to play with a group. As such, quests will be plentiful.Quests will follow a storyline based on the conflict between the Continoma and Noir. Many of these questions will have multiple solutions, allowing players to pick their side - or change it. Some quests will be repeatable (letting players change what they've done in the past), others will not. Players can follow the storyline for as long as they want, stop and pursue any of the numerous randomly generated quests, then come back to the main storyline.
Behold SGW's Battle Walker
The Stargate Worlds site revealed three new screenshots and piece of concept art yesterday. The three screenshots show the planets Lucia, Anima Vitrus and Tollan, while the concept art sketch shows the badness that is the Battle Walker (seen above).If those things are playable... I want one!Expect to see more new images In the coming weeks. Check out the Stargate Worlds Gallery for the visual treats.
NCsoft Europe launches first podcast
NCsoft Europe launched its first official podcast today, and it's full of City of Heroes goodness. Why should us Yanks bother?Sure, in the inaugural episode Stephen Reid ("Rockjaw" from the CoH EU forums) talks about an upcoming European community event (happening in Birmingham, UK, March 2st-24th), but he also chats with Matt "Positron" Miller (Lead Designer of City of Heroes), and gets the scoop on Manticore and Sister Psyche's wedding from none other then the real life couple behind the heroes themselves, Sean and Jen Dornan-Fish. Sean is the Lead Content Designer on several unannounced NCsoft projects, and works on CoH and Exteel. Jen is a freelance CoH writer (and anthropology professor). There's even some Guild Wars love thrown in for good measure as they speak to Martin Kerstein (European Community Team Lead for GW) about the Bonus Mission Pack.Click on over to the NCsoft EU site where you can download the podcast and the transcript.
Making a mature guild member
Normally I don't write about World of Warcraft (it' s just not my type of game), but Matt from World of Matticus has written a blog listing 20 characteristics that he thinks every "mature" WoW guild member should have. It got me thinking... Thinking it was sad that he had to write it at all. Unfortunately, the term "mature" and "gamer" are terms not usually associated with each other. I don't say this out of hate, I say this out of experience. I'm a 40 year old gamer who has been around since day one of the Gaming Age. The garbage I've heard uttered in game chat and seen erupt on guild sites would make a prison inmate blush. Matt writes this article out of his love for WoW, but the topic stretches across all game genres and can (and should) apply to any assembled mass of people (whether they're in a guild, a clique, a supergroup or just friends hanging out) in any game - massively or fragger.
Designing spaceships for Jumpgate Evolution
Steve Hartmeyer (programmer for Jumpgate Evolution) has written another dev diary for MMO Gamer, this time about what goes into designing the ships for their upcoming space combat MMO. According to Steve many of JGE's ship evolved from those in Jumpgate Classic. The process, which usually takes several days, is a very art-intensive exercise that starts with the creation of a style. From there a concept for the ship asset is created, a model is built and then put into a form that the render engine can use. Finally, stats (which won't be considered final until the game releases) that defines the ship are chosen. It's a very detailed entry, so those of you looking to get into the industry as a modeler will definitely want to give it a read.
An interview with Masthead Studios' CEO
Mark Arsenault of MPOGD.com sat down with Atanas Atanasov, CEO of Masthead Studios, and grilled him about their upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO, Earthrise. It's a very lengthy and intriguing interview chock-full of good stuff.Earthrise will offer a "true sandbox experience" and give plays unparalleled freedom, including the ability to customize almost every aspect of the character. PvP will be a very important part of the game and is tided into the lore, which has players fighting for control over pieces of a ravaged pacific island called Enterra. As such, players will be able to attack any other player (at any time) if they are in a non-secure area.As we mentioned in an article a few days ago, every item will be crafted by the players. Atanasov gives even more details about this game mechanic. Apparently players will be able to "overclock" certain items. Instead of providing static effects, players will be able to actually define the effect value of an item. Forcing that value to high ("overclocking" it) is a risk/reward scenario. Push it too high and it might fry the component completely; push it just right, and ya got yourself something truly unique.While I'm not a big crafter, this feature sounds fantastic and may lend itself to some very sweet loot that I'm sure the game's economic system will benefit from. Closed beta begins this summer with open beta occurring just prior to release.
Inspecting the Asgard drone
The Senior Systems Designer for Stargate Worlds is Chris Bernert. In an exclusive (to SGW forum members) chat he reveals the inner workings of the Asgard drone. Referred to as "The Little Grey Dude Enabler," it does all the dirty work for the Asgards, who aren't the most agile or physically formidable race you'll run across. As such, the drone is the "backbone" of the Asgard archetype. Want to know more? Well, since it's an exclusive to forum members only we don't want to steal their thunder (or piss them off). So head over to the site, sign up, and get reading!
Tabula Rasa + Vista SP1 = what exactly?
Tony "RadarX" Jones over at Ten Ton Hammer has crafted a fine briefing concerning Vista's long overdue Service Pack 1 and it's potential effects on MMOs and Tabula Rasa in particular. It's geared for gamers (if you like technobabble, check out ExtremeTech's article), so even a Dunder-Mifflin head like myself can understand it.I was one of the early adopters, hopping aboard the Vista wagon not long after it dropped. I won't say I regret it, but I will say there were days (many of them to be exact) that I pulled my hair out in frustration. I still do that on occasion, when for no reason whatsoever Vista decides to randomly erase a game's executable file. So here's hoping SP1 does for Vista what hops did for beer. But I'm not holding my breath. Vista was supposed to the shining knight on horseback to save PC gaming and bring it to gaming nirvana. Ya... not so much.So, will SP1 help or hurt gaming? More specifically, will it help or hurt Tabula Rasa? Check out Tony's article for all the details, then come back here and discuss. Do you love or hate Vista in regards to your fave MMO, and do you think SP1 will provide any benefit?
Jumpgate Evolution: Combat controls
Jumpgate Evolution is a space combat MMO. How players control their ships will be instrumental to the enjoyment of the game. When you think of joysticks and flight sticks you likely think of highly detailed flight simulators and not massively multiplayer games. But if that's all you think about then you've likely never heard of, let alone played, the greatness that was some of the X-Wing, TIE Fighter and Wing Commander games. JGE plans on bringing back the joystick and - as Ten Ton Hammer's Cody "Micajah" Bye calls it - the "strap yourself in" mentality. I couldn't have said it better myself. Bye sat down with NetDevil's Hermann Peterscheck and asked him about their game's combat controls. Aside from the basic keyboard and mouse setup, players with very elaborate control setups will be able to use those as well. But the gaming control goodness doesn't end there. NetDevil is also supporting more advanced input devices such as TrackIR, and will continue to evaluate other brand spanking new hardware as it becomes available. JGE will also provide both third and first person modes, giving players the ultimate choice in how they want to play. So if you can't find a setup you like, well... lighten up. You're too finicky. But won't people with a tricked out setup have an unfair advantage over those with just a lil ole mouse and keyboard? Find out after the break!
A Stargate Worlds progress report
MPOGD.com recently interviewed CME's Senior Marketing Manager Kevin Balentine and asked him for a progress report on the highly anticipated Stargate Worlds. Here' a few brief highlights from their interview: SGW won't offer player-controlled vehicles - at launch. While the sci-fi MMO will be solo-able, it's designed for community play. The enemy AI will react like first-person shooter opponents, flanking and using cover to engage the player. During a new video trailer showed to them (which did not show any in-game combat or PvE involvement) , the MPOGD guys said the graphics sported by the Unreal 3 graphics engine looked good. When asked how SGW would exist along side the MMO King, World of Warcraft, Balentine responded with: "We co-exist nicely with WoW...because sometimes, you know, you just want to take your P90 and shoot things up." Nice! Head over to MPOGD to read the full interview and see some exclusive screenshots.
New Earthrise screenshots dawn
After weeks of the same old handful of screenies, Masthead Studios has doled out three new Earthrise screenshots to the gang at MMORPG. The one above gives me goose bumps. I love me some post-apocalyptic ruin, and this magnificent shot brings a tear of joy to my eye. It's... magnificent.And yes... I do dream of being Mad Max, zipping around the Australian wastelands in my souped up death mobile. Thank you very much.
The Rikti Return!
So you thought those ugly, alien bastiches were gone, huh? Well you thought wrong! The patented City of Heroes Advance Warning System shows the Rikti are once again up to their old tricks. As we speak, they are massing somewhere out in the middle of deep space for yet another series of attacks on the following dates throughout the year: March 7th through the 13th April 25th through May 1st June 13th through June 19th August 1st through August 7th Sept 26th through Oct 2nd November 14th through November 20th That's some system, being able to pinpoint dates like that. And nice of the Rikti to take some time off between invasions. Very thoughtful alien scum. What's more, players will not receive debt while outdoors in an invaded zone. So feel free to blast away to your heart's content! Be sure to check out the entire "broadcast" over on the CoX website, it's chalk full of neat warnings!
Chat with a world builder
Ever feel like chatting with a world builder? I'm not talking 'bout the religious Almighty who "built" this world in seven days. Hey, wouldn't it be nice if MMO worlds could be built that fast?Seriously though, if you want to know what goes into building an MMO world here's your chance. The world builder for Stargate Worlds - Derek Sunshine (what a bright, happy name!) - will be the special guest on this Saturday's SG1-Radio program (5pm EST). Derek will be there to answer your questions (log in to http://sgwirc.com and fire away!), discuss gaming, talk about the Stargate franchise, and generally illuminate listeners by revealing what it is he does at Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment.
Tabula Rasa: State of the Game
If you've been keeping track of the brouhaha surrounding Tabula Rasa over the last few weeks(i.e., fiscal reports, doomsday prophecies, etc.), you know it has been an interesting roller coaster ride. One that extended all the way from Korea to Austin, and back again. Apparently Starr Long, Producer for TR, thought it was time for a "state of the game" address to update everyone.Now some of you (and you know who you are) who actively cheer for the demise of a game (shame on you) might want to close your eyes. You'll undoubtedly consider this nothing more then damage control and PR spin. But for those of you who actually enjoy playing fun games, take heart.Obviously NCsoft has poured a lot of money, time and resources into continuing post-launch development of Tabula Rasa. They are in this to make money, not make you happy or you over there sad. So, regardless of the feeble cries from those who make it a hobby of proclaiming the sky is falling, and shouting on street corners that the end is near - this MMO isn't just going to burn up and fade away.

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