Krystalle Voecks
Articles by Krystalle Voecks
Alter-Ego: Spring has sprung
It's been a heck of a week for DC Universe Online. Not only did the team show off the sweet new trailer for Update 4, cool new screenshots, and the drop of the StationPass subscription price, but we've also gotten a surprise late-week patch with Update 3 going live on Thursday rather than on Tuesday like other releases. The patch notes are incredibly long and well-detailed, offering a variety of things from new content to a heaping helping of bug fixes for existing content, powers, and more. With the good in DC Universe Online, of course, comes the bad. Certain powers seem to be having issues, a PvP-flag bug allowing players to drop their PvP flags on PvP servers cropped up (as of this writing, this is reportedly fixed), and chat appears to once again be a cornucopia of frustrating issues. However, rather than dwell on the things that are starting to crop up (and because we're not going to have a solid picture of just what's shaken out of this patch just yet), I thought instead I'd offer an overview of the new spring-themed event for those who are curious as to just what's going on and why this one might well be the best holiday event yet.
Alter-Ego: What's in a name?
While it is incredibly tempting to go off on a tear about the major decision announced this week to reboot the entire DC Comics universe, starting 52 new comics at issue #1 and essentially retconning every hero and villain we've known to date, this week's column isn't about that. After all, this isn't a comics site, and we've already heard from the DC Universe Online developers that the continuity in the game is separate from that of the overall DC Universe. (Considering how much we heard that noted in the recent chats, we wonder whether Sony Online Entertainment didn't know this major shake-up was on the way.) As such, I suspect we will see the game's storyline remain essentially intact, at least until the point at which we finally take down Brainiac once and for all. After that, it's anyone's guess. Depending on how the reboot works, it might well shake up the game's direction if the new comics are doing well with readers. No, instead our superpowered game is getting its own different version of a restart in the promised upcoming MegaServer merges. While before we had multiple servers, each side will now have two -- one PvP and PvE for both PC and PS3 players -- giving us a total of four. Over this mad-scientist server-mashup, the issue of collisions looms. This week, we also found out that the merges will not only affect player names but league names as well, ensuring that there is plenty of confusion and concern on the part of the playerbase. Will MegaServers be the bane or balm of DC Universe Online's population issues? What precisely are the facts and fallacies? Whom will this affect? Join me behind the break as I take a look at the overall situation!
Alter-Ego: Update 3 and more in store
Good things are on the horizon in DC Universe Online, heroes, and villains! After having the chance to sit in on a roundtable discussion with Jens Andersen, Mark Anderson, and Lorin Jameson on Thursday, I am confident that the team in charge of the game's development is taking a good hard look at all the feedback it's been receiving from players. Aside from getting a chance to hear more about the soon-to-be-released Update 3, we were able to get a handful of answers for some burning questions that players have been asking about recently -- and some screenshots in the gallery below to give you a sneak peek! Additionally, we managed to get a hint of things to come, as we're certain anyone who was watching Thursday night's DC Universe Online stickam chat noticed. For those who didn't make it, don't worry -- I'll be running down several interesting points from that event too since it meshes well with the roundtable discussion. All you have to do to get the super-scoop is join me behind the break! %Gallery-50201%
Alter-Ego: Only doom in the hall
Just after my column went live last week, we saw the Sony Online Entertainment servers start to come back online. Those of us who consider DC Universe Online our MMO home were able to once again get our hero or villain on and meet up with friends we'd been relegated to catching up with on Facebook. (Don't get me wrong, Facebook is fine for what it is, but it can't compare with getting to bash virtual superhero or supervillain heads in alongside your league-mates!) As I mentioned last week, the restoration also came with a nice variety of goodies. With the added outage time tacked onto the 30 days, everyone was awarded 45 days of free play time, which isn't too shabby. I'd also note that the 45 days free applies to all Sony Online Entertainment game accounts you might have -- whether or not they were active at the time of the outage. This offers DC Universe Online players who may have opted to cancel after the first month the perfect chance to log in and check out the content updates that have gone live since launch, without having to spend a dime. The real question is this: What type of future might we see for DCUO in the aftermath of the outages, especially with so many players screaming that they were leaving? Join me behind the break as I look at our first week back on the mean streets.
Alter-Ego: In blackest night, no pilot's light, awaits the city frights
Another week passes when those of us who want to get back to stomping around in DC Universe Online are left to our own devices. Meanwhile, Sony is continuing to work toward restoring its service as the days of the longest large-network MMO outage tick by. (We are, after all, all about the MMOs here at Massively!) Since last week's column, Sony Online Entertainment has announced that not only will subscribers be getting the free month plus a day for each day the network is down along with the Batmask, but there will be additional goodies as well. For DC Universe Online players, that means the previously mentioned Batman and new Two-Face inspired masks (no word on whether this will be one mask per side or both masks for both sides) and 30 Marks of Distinction. Station subscribers will also get 500 Station Cash, and Lifetime subscribers get 10 additional Marks of Distinction. (For those not familiar, Marks of Distinction are what you need to get Tier 2 raiding gear.) Personally, I think the marks are a wise choice of bonus since locked out players re essentially losing the chance to run dailies and raiding, both of which involve timers. The amount is also especially wise -- it's a good portion based on outage time but isn't so huge that people can immediately jump into lots of T2 gear. The cheapest piece (back-slot) would take all 40 marks a Lifetime subscriber had. Meanwhile, as SOE remains locked in its security and networking cocoon, we're left on our own to hunt down other DC Comics entertainment. As I'm also a player cut off from running around and then using this column to write about things I'm experiencing in the game, this week I figured I'd once again diverge from the game to the larger DC Comics universe and take a look at a few cool DC things to come.
Alter-Ego: Ways to get your DC Comics fill -- free!
As we already know, Sony's PSN servers have been offline for well over two weeks at this point, and Sony Online Entertainment's PC networks followed suit earlier this week due to the same hack. We also know that all DC Universe Online players will be receiving a month's free subscription time plus one additional day for every day the network is down in addition to a funky-looking Batman-inspired mask. The topic of the overall network breach is so big that it's crossed from gaming news to mainstream media -- the U.S. government has called Sony on the carpet about the loss of personal data, and Australia is planning to add new privacy laws due to the breach. As a long-time SOE gamer, I understand the frustration, trust me. I am concerned about my personal data being out there, have signed up for credit monitoring, and filed fraud alerts with the three major bureaus just to be safe. Still, rather than devoting yet another post here on Massively to the security breach, I thought it would be better to instead borrow a page from Karen's great Guild Counsel posting from earlier this week so I can offer up some different DC Comics-related things to do while the game is offline. At least one of the suggestions is both free and time-sensitive, so be sure to join me after the break as soon as you can!
Alter-Ego: Landing the perfect league
One of the things that people tend to like about DC Universe Online is the fact that it's an extremely solo-friendly game. If you're just out to enjoy the PvE storyline as you level up, the majority of the content can be done without your ever needing to speak to another person. However, if you're playing solo, you're really missing a lot of the best parts of the game. Even when leveling up, there are Arenas, tough bosses running around in the open world, and more that really require some extra hands in the fight. There's also the rather obvious point in playing an MMO: It's ultimately all about getting a chance to play the game with other people. If you're only interested in a single-player game, Batman: Arkham Asylum or any of a number of other cool DC Universe-based games are readily available. Better yet, they don't require a subscription fee. The problem with remaining isolated really comes when you hit endgame. As with many MMOs, DC Universe Online's endgame changes the way the game itself is played. At level 30, the PvE content turns into group-required progression through the pursuit of tier raiding gear. Players who remain solo and want to continue a PvE path will find it difficult to progress, thereby turning a fun game into a waiting game as they queue for instances that may or may not ever pop. As a case in point, I've recently jumped to the Villain side to see how the other half lives, and I'm also looking around for an active league to join. This got me to thinking about the best places to do just that and a couple of important considerations to keep in mind. So if you're on the hunt for a new home for your DC Universe Online characters -- or are looking to find more people to join your league -- then join me after the break!
Alter-Ego: Featuring Feats
With its tie to the PS3 as well as the emergence of achievement systems in other MMOGs, the presence of achievements in DC Universe Online probably doesn't come as much of a surprise. With that said, unless you've taken the time to poke around in the Feat section, you may not be aware just how many there are for players to complete. You also may not be aware that completing feats doesn't just get you bragging rights; it also grants you additional skill points to improve your character. Whether you're the type that enjoys exploring the open world, prefers soloing, or gets into PvP matches and beats the snot out of other players, there's a little something for everyone in terms of things to unlock. And if you happen to be on a realm where getting a group is a bit tricky and you simply love running around in the world of DC comics, feats give you something to pursue while you're waiting for friends to log in or for a group instance to pop. Additionally, in looking through the rather in-depth feat listings, you might be surprised to realize just how much lateral content you missed while you were following the main storyline for your side. From hunting iconic characters, roaming the world, and completing missions at high-speed onward to sillier things like breaking hundreds of barrels, there are tons of opportunities to further enrich your experience in DC Universe Online. So if you've been looking for something new to try or simply want a way to continue improving your character after you hit level cap, then join me behind the break. I'll be taking a look at the many different feat types available in-game as well as offering some tips and tricks I've picked up from my own feat-mad achievement-chasing sessions.
One Shots: Poised to take wing
Don't be scared! Today's One Shots is a fantastically dark screenshot from Warhammer Online -- a game that we definitely don't get to see too often! With dark, jewel-toned mist in the background, it looks like this nasty beast is ready to pounce on the unwitting traveler. However, thanks to the handy link Xpander sent us, we understand that this fellow is quite solidly frozen -- at least for the moment. Xpander writes in: "I did some exploring around the world and bumped into a huge cavern. This location is known as Frostshard Prison." Have you taken a tasty screenshot while you were traveling through different MMOs? There's no point in letting those pictures sit dusty and neglected in your screenshots folder. Use them for the powers of awesome by emailing them in to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post them out here and give you the credit. %Gallery-112285%
One Shots: Purple haze
No matter whether you like Final Fantasy XIV, there's no disputing that the graphics are lush, and some would say, truly inspired. Today's shot hovers between being ethereally lovely and being a bit ominous, as the fog near the ground could hide all manner of nasty monsters just waiting to take a bite out of some weary travelers' hides. This fabulous Final Fantasy XIV image comes to us from Focant, who writes in to explain: "After porting into Mor Dhona (I have no idea what would bring me to that hellish place) via the Camp Revenant's Toll Aetheryte, I was greeted by a truly eerie sight. A miasmic haze filled the air, darkening the landscape and turning the sky a pale lavender. The weather just highlights the dangers of the zone, a place that even a group of max-rank players have to watch their backs in. The zone is usually empty too, considering it serves little purpose beyond a few short missions and acting as a mass grave for adventurers. Well... and as eye-candy." Next week we'll be introducing theme weeks to One Shots, kicking things off in the most logical place: starting zones! If you'd like to help us out with One Shots, then send a screenshot of what you think is the best starting zone in any game to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the thanks! %Gallery-112285%
Alter-Ego: Looking at the state of the game
One of the most common questions I get every week in the comments for Alter-Ego is whether or not I think people should come play DC Universe Online. Obviously, I personally like the game, else I wouldn't still be playing and writing a column about it. I freely and openly admit my bias there. I'm a comic geek, so I've played every superhero MMO that's come out to date. While I love aspects of all of them, I currently prefer DC Universe Online for the fact that I get to run around with some of my favorite heroes and take down villains that I've known all my life. So with my bias openly stated, I'd like to counterbalance it with this: As a veteran MMO player, I also won't put up with things I think are absolute crap for very long. Much like everyone else, I have a life to attend to outside of MMOs, I had to shell out for a copy of the game, and I pay my own subscription each month. I get just as irked when I feel as if I'm not getting value for that dollar as anyone else does. With that in mind, let's take a look at DC Universe Online from launch to current day, and I'll toss out my thoughts on picking up the game afterward.
One Shots: Beloved rainbow
In all the time I've written One Shots here on Massively, one of the many things that seems to make Lord of the Rings Online players want to stop and snap screenshots for us is this particular rainbow. While seeing a rainbow at night is possible, it is incredibly rare. When it comes to MMOs, it's even rarer still. Nonetheless, it's always great to see that this beautiful night sight is still out there, lighting the way for yet another traveler in Middle-earth. Today's darkly quiet image comes to us from Sire Angelus, who writes: "This is a screenshot of my Dwarf Guardian in Lord of the Rings Online; it was taken while he was questing in Eregion. I assume a rainbow at night is a graphical glitch of some kind, but it was an awfully pretty one." Next week we'll be introducing theme weeks to One Shots, kicking things off in the most logical place: starting zones! If you'd like to help us out with One Shots, then send a screenshot of what you think is the best starting zone in any game to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the thanks! %Gallery-112285%
One Shots: Raining hellfire
We don't know about you, but we think there's something particularly evil-looking about the fiery portals that open up in RIFT. Perhaps it's because of an aversion to fire, or maybe it's due to the well-instilled idea that fire, demons, and brimstone go hand in hand. Whatever the case may be, this scorchingly eerie screenshot comes to us from Chadwich, who writes in to tell us of his experience: "This is a fire rift that roared to life and burnt the countryside asunder. It was the beach-head of a fire assault. Within minutes of the rift opening, minions began pouring out and charging down the road toward the closest villages. Time was of the essence. We had to close the rift as fast as we could." Next week we'll be introducing theme weeks to One Shots, kicking things off in the most logical place: starting zones! If you'd like to help us out with One Shots, then send a screenshot of what you think is the best starting zone in any game to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the thanks! %Gallery-112285%
One Shots: A light to guide the way
Because of the changes recently made to the death penalty in Allods Online, some players are giving this interesting MMO that we don't often see on One Shots another chance. Today's sunny Allods Online screenshot comes to us from Hazael, who captured a great shot of the sunlight beaming through the city. Hazael writes in to tell us a bit more about the picturesque setting: "It is sunset in the Empire city of Nezebgrad. Sometimes I just like to stare off at the environment; it is so soothing and beautiful." Next week we'll be introducing theme weeks to One Shots, kicking things off in the most logical place: starting zones! If you'd like to help us out with One Shots, then send a screenshot of what you think is the best starting zone in any game to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the thanks! %Gallery-112285%
One Shots: Charge!
What's a poor Dwarf to do when an absolutely enormous rift opens up nearby? Gather up all the magical firepower he can and head right for it! Today's RIFT screenshot sent in to us by Stuxatte shows off a group of NPCs putting their heads together just before a giant water rift descended on the area. Being a helpful sort, Stuxatte decided to lend a hand to face the oncoming nastiness, and he writes in: "I was trekking through the Moonshade Highlands and I came across a band of local Dwarves doing battle with an Abyssal invader from the Plane of Water. Just before I stopped to help them out, I took this screenshot of the scene, which I think captures the lush and brooding feel of the zone." Next week we'll be introducing theme weeks to One Shots, kicking things off in the most logical place: starting zones! If you'd like to help us out with One Shots, then send a screenshot of what you think is the best starting zone in any game to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the thanks! %Gallery-112285%
One Shots: Line 'em up
Those crazy Goons seem to love just about any excuse to party they can get. Perhaps it's because of some sense of fun carrying over from the recent EVE Online Fanfest, or perhaps it's simply the potential of taking sov over another sector that gets them in the mood to get down. Whatever the reason, Bob Gold from the Dromedaworks corp sent in this fun EVE Online screenshot of a recent conga line made up of TEST and other assorted Goon ships. He cryptically notes: "[This is a screenshot of] TEST Alliance Please Ignore and Goons forming the obligatory conga line while waiting to go shoot a POS." If you've been thinking about sending in a fun screenshot of your favorite game for One Shots, there's no time like the present! Just email your image in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing in the picture. Please make sure your image is at least 1024px wide and has no visible UI in it. You never know -- your screenshot could be the next one we feature here on Massively! %Gallery-112285%
WoW player makes her way to 85 without quest or kill experience
Tired of the same old same old in your favorite MMO? Looking for something else to do? Well, if you're one of a particular breed of players, you might try out setting some self-imposed limitations on your leveling. In World of Warcraft, several players have tried their hands at different methods. Gutrot from the EU leveled to 70 wearing only a loincloth. Gweryc decided to run his hunter as a melee-only character. Noor the Pacifist then decided to level his character to 70 by not killing any mobs at all, and he only did quests that involved non-violent criteria (like FedEx quests). Now we hear that another player has upped the alternative-leveling ante by not questing at all. Everbloom, level 85 Night Elf Restoration Druid from the Feathermoon server, leveled all the way to 85 by grinding exploration and gathering experience! While Everbloom's armory profile shows that the character entered one five-man dungeon at some point, there is only one completed quest -- and Everbloom explained that one was a fluke. Apparently Blizzard blindsided her by granting a quest completion for simply reading an Argent Tournament invitation letter -- even without having a quest for it. Everbloom additionally managed to level to 85 while only dying 25 times in total (once to falling), making this crazy stunt an even more impressive feat. If you'd like to read more about it directly from the source, head over to the World of Warcraft forums and check out Feathermoon's leveling thread. It's certainly worth a look if you've ever thought about trying some form of self-imposed limitation leveling in your MMO of choice.
One Shots: No man is an island
The fun parts of jumping into any brand-new MMO are those moments of finding out-of-the-way places. It's even more fun when you snap pictures and send them in to us here at Massively so we can share them with everyone else. Take, for example, this lovely mountain range captured in RIFT by Kent D., whose avatar gives us a sense of the mountains' scale and distance. Kent writes in to tell us more about this picture: "This is a screenshot of my character Hark from the RIFT server Reclaimer. I took it while at the Lake of Solace and facing toward the high-level zone of Shimmersand. As you can tell, it was quite lonely!" If you haven't shared a great screenshot with us yet, there's no time like the present. If you've got 15 minutes, an MMO, email, and the ability to take a screenshot, we want to hear from you. Take a great picture and send it to us at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a note telling us what we're seeing in your super-awesome screenshot. It really is that easy! %Gallery-112285%
One Shots: Your mission, should you choose to accept it
With the addition of the feature episodes, the team at Cryptic Studios has been hard at work expanding the missions and storyline of Star Trek Online. Players are sent to all manner of exotic locales and required to get to the bottom of all manner of craziness, such as this particular story arc that involves the Romulans. Today's Star Trek Online image comes to us from our regular contributor, Ocho, who didn't go too far into detail as to what precisely we're seeing here, noting only: "[This is] from the recent Cloaked Intentions series that just finished up, which is easily the best feature episode series to date." Find something worth sharing on your recent adventures? Want to tell us about the awesome mission you just completed? We're all about it! All you have to do is snap a great screenshot to go along with your note and email it in to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Please make sure you include your name and the name of the game along with your note and screenshot so we can credit you properly. Your picture could be the very next one we post here on One Shots. %Gallery-112285%
Alter-Ego: A closer look at Update 2's troublesome trio
One of the best things about playing DC Universe Online, in my opinion, is the great deal of rich history there is for all the characters. There is also the fact that the iconic DC characters aren't just relegated to the shelves of your local comic book store. Even if you're not the biggest comic nerd on the face of the planet, you've undoubtedly seen at least a few of the iconic characters from the DC universe like Superman or Batman in cartoons on television or at the movies. With Update 2 now live in DC Universe Online, three more names have joined the ever-growing list of in-game characters who have crossed from popular culture into the online world. The Penguin and Two-Face are busy scheming over the future of Gotham, while Mister Mxyzptlk has taken to the streets of Metropolis to play his strange tricks. This week, I thought it would be fun to look a little deeper into the origin stories of the troublesome trio, as the same popular culture that makes these three characters recognizable may also cause some confusion when you run up against the in-game versions -- and their current motives. I should also note, lest the continuity fiends jump on me for it, that these origins are sourced directly from the DC Universe site.