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The Think Tank: Catching up on WildStar's launch
WildStar's launch has come and gone, and I missed it while I was away on a raid IRL (my loot? A legendary baby drop!). This might just be one of the few major MMORPGs whose launch metas I've missed out on in my entire span of playing MMOs since Ultima Online, so I asked the Massively staffers who've been playing either a lot or a little to catch me up on the state of the launch. How did it go from the perspective of the people on the ground (as opposed to the people in the peanut gallery)? I'd love to hear from our readers, too!
WildStar announces paid realm transfers, path gear vendors
WildStar has now started offering the ability to purchase a transfer from one server to another. The paid realm transfers cost $19.99 a pop. The only caveats, apart from the price, are that players cannot transfer to select realms with full populations and that they may have to change their character's name if someone already has it on the destination realm. The team is also working on patching in path gear vendors. These new vendors will sell path rewards that players may have accidentally deleted.
Choose My Adventure: Now we're playing some WildStar
As promised, this week I've entered the realm of double digits with the character you've helped me create. While my experience has admittedly improved since last week's write-up, I'm still finding WildStar to be a little too similar to the biggest MMOs of the last 10 years or so. But is that a bad thing if it's done right? Last week I asked you to give me some suggestions on how to play through this week's adventure, and I wanted to not only explain what I've done as I reached level 11 but also touch on some of the suggestions I've followed from the comments.
WildStar begins to sell C.R.E.D.D. subscription items
When WildStar went live earlier this month, there was one vital piece missing from its business model: the ability to buy and sell C.R.E.D.D. in the game. Today Carbine announced that it has activated the C.R.E.D.D. store, allowing players to buy, sell, and trade this item from here on out. C.R.E.D.D. is an in-game item that adds 30 days of play time to an account. Players can purchase one for $19.99 to sell on the exchange or purchase one from another player for in-game gold. Basically, it allows you to buy more game time with in-game currency or to gain more in-game currency with your real-world dollars.
WildStar tips for every player
Do you know the fine points of dyeing gear in WildStar? Did you know that interrupting enemies grants you a damage bonus? Are you aware that you can get all the benefits of your gear while being absolutely naked? All of these things are true, and a new video by WOBO just past the break takes a few minutes to point out all of the tips, tricks, and other fine points that you might not have noticed while playing the game. Sure, some of these are probably familiar to players who have been in the game for a while, but some of them (like the bonus interrupt damage) might be new even to players who have been in since the earlier beta phases. Jump on past the break for the full video!
The Nexus Telegraph: The first week in WildStar
Full launch for WildStar has come and gone, the servers have been up and running for a week, and I've been hacking away at various enemies of the Dominion like a good soldier. As I write this, my main is 23, although I'd probably be a fair bit higher by now if I hadn't stopped quite so many times for roleplaying and to decorate my house. (Not too much of that, though, I need to afford that spacious house once I get to a valid level.) It's safe to say that I'm enjoying the game a whole lot. Server loads seem to have largely stabilized, at least from my end, and the fullness of time has given me more opportunities to run more stuff and really enjoy a wider variety of what's in the game. There's some good stuff, some annoying stuff, and some things that kind of cut both ways at the same time. So let's just dive in, shall we?
Choose my Adventure: Dipping my toes into WildStar
The month of June is all about WIldStar as the game has officially launched this week and I'm playing the heck out of it for Choose my Adventure. This last weekend saw the headstart, so I was able to jump in a little early and play around with some alts before making the character you've chosen for me. Speaking of which, let's get right to the introductions, shall we?
Massively's WildStar launch day roundup
Well howdy there! Guess what, ladies and gentlemen, it finally happened after what seems like an eternity. WildStar has launched today, giving everyone a chance to explore the mysterious planet of Nexus, whether your interests lie in building homes and fortifications, learning about the local wildlife, or just laying waste to everything around you with practiced zeal. So it's only appropriate that the game has a new launch trailer just past the break to celebrate the fact. But that's not all, boys and girls -- we've compiled more than a few bits of news that you might want to feast your eyes upon before you jump in-game. Or, you know, if you're at work and can't jump in-game at the moment anyway, that is also a distinct possibility. So watch the trailer, do your reading, and get ready to explore Nexus from top to bottom. It's a big old world, you know.
WildStar launches with new trailer, patch, and free realm transfers
It's the official launch day for WildStar, and Carbine's got a lot for you to digest this morning! We'll start off by pointing you to Executive Producer Jeremy Gaffney's speech to the community. "If we're going to play with the big boys, we have to earn the right to be one of the few MMOs that can not just draw gamers in, but can earn those gamers' loyalty over time," Gaffney vowed. There's a new patch for launch day that includes more optimization and the ability to roll both factions on a PvP server. Carbine's also allowing players to transfer to and from certain realms for free in order to alleviate population issues. Finally, the team posted a new launch trailer, which we've got for you after the jump!
The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's headstart (launch) is here!
Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen. We've been waiting for it for a very long time, but you can indeed play the game now. WildStar is no longer a vague promise of what might be in the future, it has well and truly launched, and it's inherited all of the launch issues that come along with every single MMO launch, along with an assortment of people certain that we've never seen anything like this before. Hey, guess what I'll be talking about with today's column. I haven't had nearly as much time in the headstart as I would have liked at this point, largely due to the dread specter of Real Life minimizing my free time between launch on Saturday and when this column is being written (which is not five minutes prior to posting, if you were curious). But I've got some impressions just the same, and whilst I don't think they really qualify for first impression status, you came here to read about WildStar's launch, and that's just what I want to talk about.
WildStar's Gaffney: 'Achievement is the love of watching bars grow, that's our industry'
Carbine executive producer Jeremy Gaffney is interviewed over at Gamasutra, and he has plenty of interesting things to say regarding the MMO industry and WildStar's place in it. Particularly illuminating is Gaffney's philosophy regarding progression and the journey versus the destination. If there is a fun thing to do that is inefficient and a horribly boring thing like smacking yourself in the face with a shovel next to it that gives more XP, players will do more XP. They'll try the fun thing once or twice but then go, 'No, I can't help it. I need to hit level 50. I want my end goal more than I want my journey.' So it's very easy to have the journey trivialized. Achievement is the love of watching bars grow -- that's our industry. I don't think there's a more fundamental human need that gets tapped into by these games than watching your bars advance, and that feeling of progression -- of being able to say, 'I am tougher than I was before.'
The Daily Grind: Do MMOs make you feel old?
I did my due diligence and tried WildStar this weekend. I pretty much knew the game wasn't for me prior to logging in, but given my job and given a press account, yeah. I needed to test that hypothesis. I don't know if I'm just getting old or what, but the kindest thing I can say about WildStar is that it's over-caffeinated. I mean, come on. When an NPC looks at you and screams "HOLY SH*T, YOU LEVELED UP!" while virtual sci-fi confetti explodes all over your screen, it sets a certain tone. What about you, Massively readers? Do any particular MMOs make you feel old? Also, my lawn. Off it. 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!
Secure both your WildStar account and cool bonuses with Google Authenticator
WildStar players making plans to jump into this weekend's headstart now have one more thing on their preparation list: to connect their accounts with Google Authenticator. Carbine Studios is offering several goodies for players that make their account extra-secure with Google's two-step authentication. These bonuses include a cybernetic eyepatch, an in-game title, and a 2% bonus to XP, renown, and prestige. You'll need to download the Google Authenticator app and connect it to your NCsoft account to secure these bonuses. WildStar Report has the step-by-step directions for those interested.
Leaderboard: Will you PvP in WildStar?
WildStar's latest trailer is one of those our-game-has-everything teasers, and so of course there's a bit about PvP buried in there somewhere. I'm warming to the game, and I'm also considering PvP more than I usually do in MMOs, since the clip claims that you can level up that way as opposed to the usual themepark quest grind. What about you, Leaderboard readers? Assuming you're playing WildStar, will you be PvPing at all? Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!
WildStar releases its server list
Head start for WildStar starts on Saturday, but where will you be creating your character? How can you know without a server list? You can't. So it's a good thing that the official server list has been released for both US and EU servers. A grand total of 22 servers will be available, with equal numbers for both regions and at least one PvE, RP-PvE, and PvP server for each. US PvE servers are Avatus, Caretaker, Mikros, Thunderfoot, Orias, and Stormtalon. PvP players in the US can choose between Widow, Pago, and Pergo, while roleplayers will be on Evinora. There's also an Oceanic PvE server available, Myrcalus. Meanwhile, English-speaking players in Europe will choose between Ascendancy and Eko for PvE, with Hazak for PvP and Lightspire for RP. German players get Ikthia and Kazor for PvE, Progentior for PvP, and Toria for RP. Last but not least, French players have three servers: Stormfather (PvE), Treespeaker (PvP), and Triton (RP-PvE). So you can start making your plans about where you want to go; the servers are all right here.
The Daily Grind: Do you have a guild for WildStar?
It's hard to believe that in just a few short days the head start for WildStar and the invasion of Nexus will begin. There is a lot to do for players planning on being a part of it, not the least of which is to figure out which guild they'll join (if one at all). So assuming that you'll be playing WildStar, do you have a guild ready for it or are you still searching? If you do have a guild, why not tell the rest of the class about it and how you found it! 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!
WildStar reveals its last pre-launch trailer
It's the last week before WildStar's launch. Head start kicks off on Saturday. And Carbine Studios wants you to buy the game, if for no other reason than the simple fact that the developers would like the game to do well so they can continue to pay their rent. So if you've been on the fence, if you're not sure about the game, or you seriously haven't heard about it until just today, the last trailer is for you. After many years of trailers, DevSpeaks, and various other promotional bits, this trailer just lays it all out on the trailer, showing off the game's many features in total and what you can expect from the game. Whether you need a refresher course or just want to see what the game will look like before the head start, um, starts, you can check out the full trailer past the break. [Source: Carbine Studios press release]
WildStar gears up for launch with ginormous beta patch [Updated with videos!]
As WildStar approaches its June 3rd release date (and pre-order head-start on May 31st), the dev team at Carbine is ramping up the bug fixes and game updates to make the launch as smooth as possible. This latest beta patch, released yesterday, is no exception to the rule. We have fixes to the launcher, enemy mobs, character creation, guilds, items, classes and more in this update. In fact, the patch notes are so lengthy, they span two forum posts! You can check out the complete notes on the official forum. [Update: We've got a couple of extra WildStar videos for you today! First, Carbine has posted a "WildStar Gives Back" video about a recent surprise trip to a fan's home in Indiana. And second, friend of Massively Richie "Bogotter" Procopio has uploaded to his YouTube channel the brand-new new character cinematics in the beta. We've got both after the cut!]
Leaderboard: Do you make unique character names?
WildStar's first real brouhaha centered around character names. More specifically, there was some concern about losing a favorite name due to Carbine's reservation system snafu. I watched all this from the sidelines with a bewildered expression on my face because I tend to roll with unique names. Ergo, there's no reason to fret about someone "stealing" Pat McGroin, Legolass25, or InsertGameOfThronesCharacterHere. What about you, Massively readers? Do you make unique names for your MMO avatars? If not, do you use the same name in multiple games or a name based on a popular character character? Vote after cut! Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!
WildStar will be intermittently playable from now until the headstart
Carbine Studios has just published an FAQ covering WildStar's status from now until the beginning of the headstart period on May 30th. Dubbed "Ops Week," this period will see the team "testing various launch systems, practicing [its] disaster recovery processes, making sure [its] fail overs fail over correctly, and putting some extra testing on [the] final Release Candidate." But you don't care about their problems; you just want to know whether you can log in. Yep! Carbine intends to make the servers available for play. Although uptime windows won't be announced ahead of time and some may be brief, players should anticipate server availability during business hours on the west coast. Open beta characters will be accessible for as long as the team can manage it before the inevitable wipes.
