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Insta360's upgraded Go 2 action cam will have a 'Minions Edition'
Insta360 Go 2 is a thumb-sized action cam bundled with several handy accessories, and it no longer has a time limit for normal video recording.
Now you can rouse your kids to the smell of ‘Frozen’
Do your kids struggle to wake up, no matter how loudly you shout that if they're not quick, you'll steal their cereal? Perhaps you could try tempting them into wakefulness with the scents of either Olaf from Disney's Frozen or the armpit scent of Despicable Me's Minions. That's the idea behind the newest couple of devices from the makers of Sensorwake's perfume-based alarm clock.
Google apologizes again for its ill-fated 'Mic Drop' prank
Every year Google insists on unleashing a storm of April Fool's "jokes," but this time one had a problem. Last night its Gmail "Mic Drop" feature that responded with a dismissive GIF and closed the conversation permanently had to be pulled after user complaints. Now in a second update to its blog post, Google has acknowledged its mistake, focusing on three points: It should've asked users before turning on the feature and/or added a confirmation step, it placed the Mic Drop button too close to other more familiar elements, and there was a bug that could cause the regular send button to still send Mic Drops. Hopefully any damage wasn't too catastrophic, and Google says it's working on bringing Mic Dropped messages with further replies back to user's inboxes.
RIFT plans improvements to dimensions and minions
Two of RIFT's more popular systems, dimensions and minions, will be getting some major dev love when Patch 3.1 arrives. In a new dev diary that went out yesterday, the team lays out a list of improvements for these systems. Dimensions will be getting a free-fly camera to allow for even more building precision, permissions options for visitors, ban lists, and -- prepare for this to blow your mind -- a bigger +1 button. As for minions, players will have even more options in how they deploy these hard-working followers. The team is adding minion stamina potions, the ability to shuffle adventures, and the option to link to minions in the chat window.
RIFT beefs up the minion system
RIFT's new minion system is arguably one of the more popular additions to the game in some time, with players sending out their loyal subjects to bring them back treasures and fame. However, Trion Worlds says it still has work to do, and in a new "State of the Minunion" post, the studio lists a few areas that it's improving with the game's next hotfix. The new Fae Yule minion mission pack, with a series of quests that tell a story, will have some of its minion rewards buffed up with better stats. The hotfix will also tackle a few bugs and add minion-releated achievements. Finally, adventure rewards are being fine-tuned and improved, although it has been difficult for the team to handle this as it has been "an extremely extensive change touching dozens upon dozens of loot tables."
Enter at Your Own Rift: How Nightmare Tide brought me back to RIFT
Wow -- it's been a year and a half since I last sat down to pen this column. Obviously, around that time I had left the game and focused on other writing projects here at Massively. It wasn't a bad break-up with my former stomping grounds in Telara; it was a "goodbye for now" type of situation. There were other vistas to be viewed and other worlds to conquer. Yet RIFT has this power to eventually pull me back in. I'll admit that I hadn't even thought of the game for the most part in 2014 until one fateful morning at PAX Prime in September when I sat down with Trion's devs to get an overview of the new expansion. The more I watched, listened, and asked questions, the more I groaned inwardly because I knew that my carefully tuned play schedule was about to witness another upheaval. I knew I'd have to go back to RIFT to experience Nightmare Tide. In less than a week, Nightmare Tide will roll into this game, bringing with it several new features, zones, and most likely fellow lookie-loos who will be equally curious how the game's improved with its second expansion. For this returning edition of Enter at Your Own Rift, I want to highlight four factors that were instrumental in grabbing my attention and convincing me to come back for another go in this fantasy world.
RIFT: Nightmare Tide to introduce Minions
Today's adventurer in RIFT is busy. There are a lot of villains all across Telara, after all, and let's not forget those rifts opening up all the time. So instead of having to help another random NPC find a missing coat, wouldn't it be nice to just have some of the NPCs you've met solve problems for you? Good news, then, because the Minion system being added with the game's Nightmare Tide expansion will allow you to do just that. Minions come from a variety of sources across Telara, and they can be dispatched on a variety of different missions. Once they've completed their tasks, they'll return with a variety of rewards including crafting items and dimensional rewards. Minions can only be sent on so many missions before they need a break, though, so a player won't be able to do everything with just a handful of loyal troops. Check out the full preview for a bit more insight into the upcoming system.
The Daily Grind: Do you like ordering NPC minions around?
Buried among the announcement of RIFT: Nightmare Tides was the addition of collectible minions to the game. Players will supposedly be able to order minions around on various tasks to benefit their characters, which sounds pretty awesome to me. It also seems to be the latest entry in a growing movement of player-controlled NPC minions in MMOs. Star Trek Online has the duty officer system, Neverwinter has a cool web game that uses one's companions, SWTOR allows you to boss around crew members, and Warlords of Draenor looks to have something similar with its garrisons. Do you like this type of feature? Is it enjoyable to send your loyal subjects out to do your bidding even if you're not in the game? 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!
Blood Pact: Get our MoP minions and our little felpuppies too
Every week, WoW Insider brings you Blood Pact for affliction, demonology, and destruction warlocks. This week, Megan O'Neill totally cast a soulstone on her old computer minion, but it's refusing to take the battle res. Maybe it disconnected. Maybe it'll be ported to the Dwarven District when she comes back next week. Minions -- can't live with them, and can't live without them. Faithful friend, loquacious lackey, silent scapegoat -- like any typical villainous class, we've got cannon fodder for our plans. It's an important step in a warlock's proper training to know about your minions and what they do so that you can steer clear of any typical villain muck-ups in the future.
Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising releases new combat trailer
There's a new Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising video in town, and it's taking no prisoners. The new one-minute clip is centered on the game's combat mechanics, and there's plenty of whirling, slashing, stomping, and even a nifty hey-get-off-of-my-back move to whet your violent appetites. Though the clip is short, there's a good sampling of PvE mobs on display, all of them with a distinctly mythological flavor and all of them waiting to meet the business end of your weapon. You'll also get a glimpse of the game's minions (the Gods & Heroes version of the traditional MMORPG pet mechanic) as well as some nice-looking environments. The game has been selling well since its June launch, and you can check out the new trailer after the cut.
The Daily Grind: What do you want from a pet class?
It's a fact of life: If an MMO has a pet class, I'll be playing it. It's simply too alluring to avoid! I love the constant virtual companionship, the feeling that I'm "cheating" by tag-teaming mobs with a solo party of two, and the customization that pet classes bring. From Lord of the Rings Online's Lore-master to Anarchy Online's Meta-Physicist, pet classes suit me like a second skin. So assuming that you have at least a passing interest in pet classes, what would you want from one? Maybe you'd like a pet to grow physically over time or to respond to a plethora of commands. Perhaps your playstyle skews more toward controlling a horde of minions at a go. Or do you like being able to hunt and tame your own unique beast from the wilds? What would make the ideal pet class? What haven't we seen in MMOs yet that could make these classes even better? 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!
Gods & Heroes open beta is here
Friends, Romans, testers: Lend me your ears. It's open beta time for Heatwave Interactive's mythology-inspired Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising MMORPG. Interested fans can sign up today through June 12th and partake of four character classes, personal estates, a minion system, and the first 14 levels of gameplay. You can also pre-order Gods & Heroes and get in on the headstart program for a one-week jump on the launch-day competition. The title officially throws open its doors on June 21st and aims to add a unique setting to the crowded fantasy MMO market. Check out the official website to learn more about the game as well as sign up for the beta, check out the new trailer after the break, and don't forget to peruse Massively's first impressions if you're curious about the gameplay.
First Impressions: Gods & Heroes
I've seen the gameplay in Gods & Heroes before. I've played games that were built on the same idea with similar lore, and I've definitely tried games that featured the same kind of quests. I've seen a lot, to say the least, so I really like it when a game surprises me a bit. I'll be really honest and say that I don't really even like the ancient Rome setting. It's not fantasy enough for me, sort of like MMOs set in World War II. Or Canada. Still, I was asked to take a look at Gods & Heroes, and so I did. Up to that point, I had heard a lot about it, but most of it was negative. It's buggy, they said. It's ugly, too. So you can imagine my surprise when I felt surprised when I logged in. Granted, there was plenty of blandness in certain areas of the game, but the estate system and NPC groupmates made me think that this team might just have something. Click past the cut and I'll tell you more.
GDC 2011: Gods & Heroes hopes to give its audience something unexpected
The in-game story for Gods and Heroes begins with a Roman general returning home after his time in war only to be thrust into battle again. The history of the game itself mirrors this journey: In October 2006, the original creators of the game, Perpetual Entertainment, shut down. However, in August 2010, independent developer Heatwave Interactive picked up the rights to develop and distribute the game. Our hero's journey started once more. Just as your character in G&H returns home to an estate in ruins and a craving for revenge, Heatwave developers are fighting back the old gods and attacking the game with renewed vigor. At GDC 2011, our editor-in-chief Shawn Schuster discussed the rise, fall, and rebirth of the game with CEO Anthony Castoro, Lead Designer Tim Schubert, and Community Manager Donna Prior. "I think a lot of people expected us to go free-to-play and microtransact the minions then put it out there. But in early alpha tests and beta tests, people really wanted a full game out of this and expect us to treat it a certain way. We are working really hard to do that," said Castoro, who went on to assure us that he is not just out to make money -- he hopes to deliver a great game too. Follow after the break to find out what is going to make this game victorious in the gladiatorial arena. %Gallery-118322%
Gods & Heroes stress test this Saturday
Development on the resurrected Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising MMORPG is moving right along, as Heatwave Interactive has announced a stress test for the beta client this Saturday (November 6th) from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm CST. If you haven't already, head to the official website to apply for the beta and your chance to get a sneak peek at the game as well as contribute feedback to the developers. Gods & Heroes puts players in the role of an ancient Roman hero tasked with braving monsters and directing minions in a colossal battle to save Rome from the nefarious Telchine gods. Minotaurs, cyclops, and other classic mythological monsters will test your mettle as you build a legendary heroic character and seek favor with the Olympian gods.
Heatwave shows off new Gods & Heroes screenshots
Gods & Heroes is one of those rare MMORPGs that get a second chance. The game hasn't suffered through a disastrous launch like Age of Conan or been shuttered like Tabula Rasa, but development on Perpetual's mythology-inspired title was shut down in November of 2008. Earlier this year, Heatwave Interactive announced the project's resurrection, and along with a bit of discussion at the recent GDCO convention, has released some new screenshots. Check out our gallery below, where you can view all manner of classical mythology mobs including a minotaur, cyclops, and various and sundry other creatures doing battle with player characters. %Gallery-105482%
GDCO 2010: Heatwave talks Gods and Heroes
MMOCrunch has checked in with an interesting bit of news from GDCO. The off-again on-again saga of the Gods and Heroes IP was the subject of a bit of show-and-tell at the recently concluded convention, courtesy of Heatwave Interactive. Development on the classical mythology MMO stagnated following the demise of project originator Perpetual Entertainment in early 2008 before Heatwave resuscitated the game. Heatwave confirmed that players will still take on the role of a demi-god, pledging their loyalty to the Roman deity of their choice and following a class-based progression paradigm that includes control over various types of pets known as minions. While Perpetual had initially planned on each player's being able to control up to 24 minions, Heatwave hinted at the fact that the team has scaled this number down considerably to a more manageable four minions per player. Read all about the resurrection of Gods and Heroes over at MMOCrunch, and keep your eyes on Massively for more news about the title as it happens.
Blood Pact: Mistakes other people make
Blood Pact is your weekly warlock digest brought to you by Dominic Hobbs. "So this is hell. I'd never have believed it. You remember all we were told about the torture-chambers, the fire and brimstone, the "burning marl." Old wives' tales! There's no need for red-hot pokers. Hell is--other people" ~ Jean-Paul Sartre While I try not to read Arcane Brilliance if I can help it, I did notice that the one on January 16th had a lot of comments and an intriguing title. While I didn't expect Mr. Pants to actually start flaming mages I did hold out some hope for all those comments. Anyway, the piece inspired me to write a similar article. Not so much because there are a lot of warlocks that need improvement but rather they need a place to point others, so they may learn how to play with a lock. So here's a short list of things I see in groups and raids that could be improved and make the whole experience a lot smoother.
Blood Pact: Minions are people too
Warlock writer Nick Whelan has been quoted as saying that the new WoW.com layout is ''trippin.' Stormwind City Guards later found Infinite Dust in the saddle bags of his Dreadsteed. While he was being held for further questioning, he wrote this week's Blood Pact.On a whim, I pulled out some of my Dungeons and Dragons books a couple weeks back, and convinced a buddy of mine that we should pick up where we left off in one of our old games. Since then my head has been wrapped around Zalekios Gromar, Vasharan Warlock on a mission to kill the gods that spited his people in millennia past. And while the Eldritch Blast of D&D isn't exactly the same as WoW's Shadow Bolt, it certainly got me in the mood for role playing.There was a time between my adventures near Northshire Abbey, and my discovery that I had a passion for group content while I was fighting a torrential updraft of trolls in Zul'Farrak, when RP was my primary reason for playing the game. And while you don't usually see me walking through Stormwind these days, there was a time when I was Lord Sentai Grehsk, The Corpseseeker. A Warlock driven by the horrors of war to seek world peace at any cost, regardless of how many people he needed to quietly murder to achieve it.
Death Knight Ghouls' baby name book
If you spec your Death Knight as Unholy, 30 points into the talent tree you get the Master of Ghouls ability which lets you control your ghoul like a pet. On the PvE beta realms, your ghoul doesn't have a name yet; it comes up "RandomPetName," as pictured to the right. However, on the new Murmur PvP realm (US only), level 80 Death Knight premade characters are getting names for their pet-ghouls. An enterprising poster on the beta forums is compiling a list of possible names using set prefixes and suffixes they've seen. Here's the list so far. Prefixes Suffixes Blight Basher Bone Chewer Brain Cruncher Carrion Feeder Corpse Gnaw Crypt Gobbler Dirt Grinder Grave Leaper Gravel Masher Rib Muncher Rot Ravager Skull Ripper Stone Slicer Tomb Stalker Basically, the ghoul names come from picking a prefix from column A and combining it with a suffix from column B. I hope my ghoul's name comes out to be GraveFeeder or CorpseCruncher. However, as you can imagine, some of these name combinations just will not fly as they may sound too R-rated. (In particular, Blizzard might want to consider killing the "Muncher" suffix altogether.) Similar to a Warlock's minion name, it appears that the ghoul's name stays constant, even after dismissing and resummoning. Blue forum poster Ghostcrawler says that generating a random name for every summon requires a code change that won't happen before Wrath hits. However, Ghostcrawler does say that the randomizing code will likely be included in a post-Wrath release.
