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Firefall reveals founder's packages, special deals available at PAX
Earlier today Red 5 Studios posted a portion of its Firefall monetization model on the game's official website. While we've heard a lot about combat revamps and various other gameplay details in recent weeks, one thing we've never really known is how the sci-fi shooter will sell itself. This week's PAX convention will see the studio begin selling its founder's packages, complete with special attendee discounts. The packages start at $15 and offer an assortment of "convenience and cosmetic items." Check out the Firefall website for further details, and don't forget to watch the founder's package video after the jump.
Help your favorite game win the GDC Online Audience Award
GDC Online is coming up fast, and now's your chance to get in on the voting action for the conference's annual Audience Award. Starting today and running through September 14th, fans can vote for their favorite persistent online game and cheer for it as the winner is announced at the show in Austin, Texas on October 10th. Past winners have included League of Legends and Wizard101, and voters may pick from "any currently operating persistent online game, whether it be a subscription MMO, free-to-play web game, social network game, or anything else," according to a GDC press release. More info on the contest, potential nominees, and the voting process is available via the official GDC Online website. [Source: GDC Online press release]
GDC Europe 2012: F2P developers should expect 70 percent initial user drop
Batting .300 is the gold standard for free-to-play games, according to former Empire: Total War designer Jan van der Crabben. He told listeners at a GDC Europe keynote that free-to-play developers should expect to lose 70 percent of their initial registered users. He said that player retention is the key issue facing the new business model, and despite the fact that most players leave F2P titles shortly after registering, those who stick around for a few days will usually keep playing. Van der Crabben, who is currently designing browser-based F2P games at Travian, pointed to World of Warcraft as a model, noting its mechanical effectiveness at retaining users by presenting them with cyclical gameplay. This amounts to "kill[ing] stuff to get better to get more abilities to kill more stuff," he said.
The Daily Grind: Do you expect big news from this week's confluence of conventions?
GDC Europe, GenCon Indy, and Gamescom all happening at the same time? It'd be completely unbelievable if it weren't happening right now. This week sees three major gaming conventions all taking place, and while all three are focusing on different areas of the gaming world, you can't focus on one while ignoring the others. That means that next week is going to be full of coverage of all three events, and if you've been following the convention calendar, you're no doubt eagerly anticipating this. But will there be any major news? After all, sometimes these events don't produce news so much as a few interesting footnotes. With so much gaming concentrated in a single week, it would almost make more sense to wait until the ruckus has died down to make any big announcements. So do you expect big news from this week's convention extravaganza? Or do you expect a whole lot of noise and not a lot of signal? 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!
ArenaNet posts convention schedule
With Guild Wars 2's launch mere weeks away, hunting down the ArenaNet team at tradeshows may be the last thing from your mind. Still, there are those inquisitive souls who like to keep tabs on their favorite studio appearances, and for them the company posted a list of shows that it will be attending. While ArenaNet will have a presence at Gamescom, it will be demo-free and far more casual in tone. The studio will also be making an appearance at the Gamestop Expo on August 29th for five hours. This appearance will feature several demo machines for those still on the fence about Guild Wars 2. Due to the launch, ArenaNet decided not to go to PAX but is instead hosting a party off-site on September 1st to celebrate the game's release. ArenaNet also commented on why it's sticking with DX9 for GW2 instead of DX11: "Our goal with GW2 has always been to provide a gorgeous fantasy world while at the same time running on a wide range of gaming PCs. Focusing on DX9 allows us to do this, as it's a much wider supported graphics API than DX11 is and we wanted our game to reach as many of our fans as possible. We will be evaluating supporting DX11 post launch."
Trion showing off RIFT expansion, Defiance PvP at Gamescom
Gamescom is coming next week, and most major publishers are gearing up to make the trip. The latest announcement comes to us from Trion, which is showing its stable of games including RIFT, End of Nations, Defiance, and Warface. Next week's convention will mark the "consumer debut" of RIFT's Storm Legion expansion, and MMORTS End of Nations will be playable on a massive 24-PC setup. Defiance is bringing "previously unseen PvP gameplay" to the table, while Warface will be presented inside a giant helicopter-themed display arena. [Source: Trion press release]
The Daily Grind: What do you hope to learn from E3?
So E3 2012 is a day away, and Massively is gearing up to stagger drunkenly around the Los Angeles Convention Center schmoozing with game devs. Oh wait, that's not us, but we are excited to see some of the MMOs on display at this year's con, including The Elder Scrolls Online, Neverwinter, Defiance, the Riders of Rohan expansion for Lord of the Rings Online, and dozens more. For some of us, it's our first E3. For others, it's old hat at this point. One thing's for certain, though: Gaming's Graceland has a lot to offer both vets and newbs alike. For today's breakfast topic, share your thoughts on this year's event. More specifically, what do you hope to learn from E3? 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!
The Daily Grind: Do you like gaming conventions?
As you read this, PAX East is entering its final day for the year, and the Massively writers have been working on covering the event as best we can. Of course, some people would rather be on the ground instead of reading about the show second-hand because there's nothing quite like the thrill of being knee-deep in a convention. For others, though, the idea of standing around in a convention hall with thousands of other people sounds like a special kind of torture. Do you like gaming conventions? If you do, what's your favorite element of the shows -- the new games, the special giveaways, or just the energy level? If you don't, what bothers you -- the crowds, the spectacle, or the necessity of travel and cramped scheduling? Or are you the sort of person for whom it really depends on the show, i.e., you've been to some you loved and some you couldn't stand? 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!
Get your PAX strategy guides here
Heading to PAX East this weekend? If so, you're in good company, as the Massively and Joystiq crews are going too! ThriftyNerd has put together a brief PAX strategy guide, and it's well worth a look if you don't have your itinerary planned out to the minute (or heck, even if you do, because you might have forgotten something). The guide has a rundown on essential mobile apps as well as plenty of tips for both the seasoned con-goer and the wet-behind-the-ears rookie. Be sure to follow Massively all weekend as we'll be bringing you all the best MMO news direct from Boston.
En Masse bringing TERA and sci-fi surprise to PAX East
PAX East 2012 is swiftly approaching, and that means that it's about time developers start announcing their plans for the show. Today, En Masse Entertainment joined that steadily growing roster with an announcement that the studio will be showcasing its upcoming action-based MMO TERA at the convention. Attendees will be able to get a look at a never-before-seen area of the game, so fans of the title would do well to stop by En Masse's booth to have a go-'round in the world of Arborea. To top it all off, the studio ends the announcement with the cryptic remark that it "will also have some new details to share that are sure to excite fans of modern sci-fi." We're not sure whether this means that TERA is going to be getting some sci-fi flavor or En Masse has a new project to announce or what, but we can't wait to find out. Of course, Massively will have its own presence at the show (including yours truly!), so even if you can't make it to Boston for the con, you can bet that we'll be bringing you all of the delicious, juicy TERA news that you could possibly ask for. In the meantime, though, just hang tight for a couple of weeks. We're sure it'll be worth the wait. [Source: En Masse Entertainment press release]
The Daily Grind: Have you ever traveled specifically for a gaming event?
There are a lot of real-world gaming events going on this month. Whether we're talking about the Star Wars: The Old Republic guild summit in Austin, GDC in San Francisco, or the EVE Online fanfest in Reykjavik, opportunities to rack up frequent flyer miles abound. While lots of gamers spend lots of money on subs, cash shop items, and upgrades to their gaming rigs, the aforementioned shindigs tend to attract only the hardest of the hardcore fans. What say you, Massively readers? Have you ever traveled specifically to attend a game-related event? 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!
The Daily Grind: What do you hope to hear from GDC 2012?
Well it's almost time for game convention silly season. First up is the Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco next week, followed by PAX East in April and E3 in June. A gaggle of Massively scribes are heading west in a few days to bring you the best (and the most grammatically correct) coverage of all the happenings at GDC. From preview sessions with The Secret World, DUST 514, and PlanetSide 2, to interviews with dev luminaries and glimpses of all that's new and shiny in the world of MMOs, there looks to be a lot of industry news coming your way next week. Today's Daily Grind is an easy one. Are you looking forward to GDC, and is there anything in particular that you hope to learn from this year's conference? 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!
EVE Fanfest events detailed
Preparations for EVE Online's annual Fanfest are well underway, and CCP has updated its website with a blog entry that gives gamers an idea of what to expect if they're coming to Reykjavik in March. CCP is adjusting its VIP office tour prize package this year. A contest entry will only set you back one PLEX (as opposed to the $1,000 minimum bid in years past). There's also a poker tournament, a silent auction, and a battle of the bands in the offing. What does all this have to do with New Eden, you're asking? Well not much, aside from the opportunity to drink heavily and put a name to a face when it comes to all those capsuleers you've been swindling and killing for the past eight years. Head to the official site for details on all the events and prizes.
Macworld transitions to Macworld|iWorld as conference begins next week
Paul Kent, general manager of Macworld Expo, says that next week's renamed Macworld|iWorld show will be "the most interesting and certainly the most unique show that we've ever produced." The event begins next Thursday at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center, and according to what Kent describes, there will be plenty going on. First up is the exhibition hall itself -- just like last year, it will be in the first floor of Moscone West. There are 271 exhibitors total, and 130 of those are app developers. Like last year, there will be plenty of iOS developers around, but one of the big pushes this year is to represent the emerging Mac App Store, so Macworld has set up an "OS X Zone," which will feature OS X apps and their developers. There are also plenty of iOS accessory and lifestyle item makers as well, says Kent. "iWorld is not just a new name, it's really a direction for the show, where all aspects of the mobile lifestyle are going to be brought to life." Upstairs in Moscone West will be the tech talks and the show's mainstage, and in those panels, says Kent, Apple users will find all sorts of great tips and insights on how their hardware and software works together. Some of the talks will be for a general Mac audience, featuring luminaries from the Mac community talking about their area of interest, and some of them will be very specific talks based on some technical issues, like dealing with Photoshop or Quicktime. Elsewhere on the main stage, there will be plenty of celebrities and artists coming in throughout the week to talk about how they use Apple products in their work. Modest Mouse will open up the event, and during the week, visitors will see all kinds of artists and musicians showing off their work, including bands like moe, Atomic Tom, and legendary electronic musician BT. And the last big exhibit is the Macworld Midway, also on the show's second floor, which will feature all kinds of different fan-centered exhibits based on Apple's hardware and software. In addition to musical shows and demonstrations, there will be an iPad sketch booth, where visitors can get sketched on an iPad, and a photo booth run with Apple devices. "In general show managers don't design attractions," says Kent, but Macworld this year is different -- he and his team have created a little something different from the standard convention. "We've kind of gone down the road of really creating this experiential environment." Kent says that the past few years in the Apple community have shown that yes, there are two camps: Old school Mac users, and those jumping on board the iOS/mobile device train. But there's no reason why those two camps can't come together, and have "unified view of what it means to be an Apple platform user," Kent tells us, "I'd be surprised if there are many Mac users that don't have an iPhone or iPad." The show definitely sounds fun, and of course TUAW will be there covering it from door to door, even if you're not in San Francisco and can't come by. We'll have a meetup next Thursday as well, so if you are headed to Macworld, make sure to visit us and say hi. Whether you're coming for a few hours, a day, or the whole show, it definitely sounds like there's a lot to do and see at Macworld this year.
CCP lays out the path to attend the EVE Fanfest
At the end of March, it's time for EVE Online players the world over to once again come together in their shared love of backstabbing, corporate management, and monocles. Yes, the EVE Fanfest is approaching swiftly, and if you're planning to head over to Iceland for the event, now is probably the time to start making some plans about how to get there. Fortunately, CCP Games has made some accommodations for players so that getting to the event and in the door can be a wee bit easier. Tickets to the event can be purchase from the game's account management page, with a special early bird discount available through the end of January and bulk discounts on groups of 5-10 tickets. You can also book Fanfest activities through the same purchase page, allowing you to save time when you actually get on the ground. There are also deals available for players flying in via Icelandair, making it easier than ever to get to the convention -- a welcome change for the legions of fans not already based there.
TERA wins G-Star 2011's highest honor
Things have been looking fairly bleak for TERA fans over the last few months. There have been reports of server merges and general discontent among the Korean playerbase, executive switcheroos at Bluehole Studio, and an American launch date delay to the spring of 2012. This year's G-Star convention finally provided a ray of sunlight in the form of the prestigious Presidential Award. Yes, TERA won it, and the honor is a pretty big deal in the South Korean gaming community. The country's Ministry of Culture (a government board responsible for gaming industry regulations) chooses the nominees while a pool of journalists, industry veterans, and gamers vote on the winner. TERA also took home G-Star awards for best sound effects, graphics, and character design.
Guild Wars 2 is at G-Star with new items but no beta
With Guild Wars 2 appearing this weekend at the G-Star convention, there's been a lot of speculation about two potential pieces of news -- a date for the beta or the eighth profession reveal. Unfortunately for the speculators, the latest updates from Eric Flannum have put those rumors to rest. Flannum confirms that while there will be news coming out on the 11th, it will not include either of those updates, which are still on track for a later date. That being said, there's still some news to be found, including the preview of some high-level armor sets that are exclusive for the Korean demo. Flannum stated that there will be other elements unique to this demo, although he declined to elaborate beyond the armor. Guild Wars 2 fans will have to keep their eyes peeled for what comes out of the convention... and wait just a wee bit longer to find out when the beta will begin, or what the last profession will be.
Funcom talks The Secret World at NYCC
MMORPG.com's got the details on Funcom's appearance at last weekend's New York City Comic Con. Ragnar Tornquist and Dag Scheve were on hand to hype The Secret World, and the duo was the main attraction on a panel that fielded fan questions and showed off some new gameplay footage. Several of the questions from the audience related to The Secret World's progression mechanics, and Tornquist stated that despite the fact that the game has no levels, there will be plenty of activities for grind aficionados. The term horizontal progression was mentioned, as were various skills and gear (the latter of which serves as a gate between different bits of the game's content). Check out the rest of the recap, along with a video embed, at MMORPG.com.
The Old Republic playable at New York Comic Con
Mark October 13th through the 16th on your calendars, Star Wars: The Old Republic faithful, especially if you'll be anywhere in the vicinity of New York City. BioWare's Hutt-sized Star Wars MMO will be hogging the spotlight at this year's New York Comic Con, and you'll have a couple of opportunities to get some hands-on time with the highly anticipated sci-fi title. The Alderaan and Huttball warzones will be playable at SWTOR's booth, while a few of the developers will be featured on three separate panels over the course of the event. If you like a little alcohol with your Star Wars, you'll also want to make note of a dev-hosted meet-and-greet at District 36 on Wednesday, October 12th. All the details are available at the official site, so what are you waiting for?
The Daily Grind: What are you looking forward to at Dragon*Con?
Dragon*Con is one of those conventions that stands in a league all its own. It's mostly made up of panels and fan gatherings, there are hardly ever any big reveals and you'll break your neck looking at all of the amazing costumes. But for those who attend, it's an experience that can't quite be put into words. You can try to explain it to those used to "normal" conventions, but it's something you'll need to see to believe. So for those of you attending the convention, which starts today, what are you most excited to see? For those of you not attending, what would you like to see us cover the most? Check out our own guide to Dragon*Con to help you navigate your way through the MMO bits. 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!
