mounts
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World of Warcraft introduces Iron Skyreaver mount
Have you ever wanted to fly around on a two-headed dragon with freaking jet turbines strapped to it? If so, you're scaring us, but you're also in luck because World of Warcraft has just unveiled its latest cash-shop sparklepony, the Iron Skyreaver. This fierce, armored chimera steed will let you explore the lands of Azeroth in style, and the twin afterburners on its back ensure a swift journey while doubling as Gnome-roasters in a pinch, so that's a win-win. If you'd like to see the new mount in action before you shell out your hard-earned cash, just click on past the cut to check out the Iron Skyreaver's announcement video.
Sevencore is back and in beta
Sevencore came and went with a whimper some months ago, but Ignited Games is apparently confident that it can do what gPotato could not. Namely, it's looking to turn a profit on the free-to-play "mounted combat MMORPG." The repurposed sci-fantasy title is in beta through January 13th, and you can sign up via the new website. You can read our impressions of the original game here. [Thanks Paul!]
Get your Winter Veil quests done despite the crowds
The first day -- or first few days -- of any in-game holiday is always busy. Sometimes it's so busy (as above), that the number of people crowded in on their mounts makes it impossible to see or interact with the questgivers. Complaints on the official forums have drawn out Bashiok, who offers a couple of solutions to the problem: Bashiok Grr! Yeah, some people can be jerks. Some people are just oblivious though, too. If you think someone is specifically and intentionally blocking an NPC in a malicious way, that is behavior specifically mentioned in our harassment policy, and something you can report that player for and we'll take a look. An easy workaround though is enabling nameplates for friendly characters (default Shift+V) and then right click on the nameplate of the NPC you're wanting to interact with. source Of course most people in these crowds are probably just trying to get their quests done like you are, so chances are you'll get more traction by bringing up nameplates with Shift+V -- or waiting for a few days until the excitement calms down.
New collection tracking feature on Wowhead
Our friends at Wowhead hav just announced the launch of a new site feature that should make many players very happy indeed: a collection tracker! You can now use Wowhead to track your characters' possession of pets, mounts, titles, achievements, and recipes. The new feature was green lit thanks to the popularity of their recently-implemented quest-tracking feature, which has been a big hit. The new collection tracking feature includes options to exclude items that fall into certain categories -- the example used by Wowhead is that of pets only available from WoW's Collector's Editions. In this way you can hide any items you may not be interested in pursuing, either by blanking out entire categories of items (i.e. exclude anything Horde-exclusive), or you can manually select individual items to exclude as well. Hop on over to Wowhead's announcement page to check it out!
League of Angels starts closed beta on December 4th
Who doesn't need a guardian angel watching over their party at times? In the upcoming turn-based League of Angels, players get just that -- a literal angel as a member of the party providing buffs as well as firepower. If that sounds intriguing, you don't have long to wait before you can check it out for yourself; today, GTArcade announced that closed beta testing will commence on Wednesday, December 4th. Additionally, the studio will be providing daily updates on the game's progress starting this week. Some of the features of this browser-based game include mounts with buffs, fishing (which provides soulstones that can enhance your heroes), a daily match-three game that can net you gems for gear enhancement, and dragon races. For a look at some artwork and screenshots of the game, check out the gallery below. Then for a chance to test out the dynamics, sign up for beta on the official site. [Source: GTArcade press release]
Scope out Black Gold Online's vehicular combat in new trailer
By air or by land, Black Gold Online offers players a variety of transportation options that do more than just get you to the battle, but also take part in it! Muscled mounts face off against mechanized ones as The Erlandir Union (the fantasy faction) and The Kingdom of Isenhorst (steampunk faction) duke it out to get control of a mysterious energy substance. An essential part of Black Gold Online's PvP system, these mechanical mechs, war hounds, flying machines, and dragons can all be summoned in battlegrounds for PvP objectives as well as the open world. Players obtain these Raid, Aerial, Anti-Air, Penetration, and Assault vehicles through both questing and battleground achievements, and each mount has its own achievement path and customization options. Get a look at the vehicles in tactical battle formations in the trailer below. [Source: Snail Games press release]
Review: Bretford Mobile Pro Desk Mount Combo for Mac and Thunderbolt Display
The Mobile Pro Desk Mount Combo (US$239.95) is part of a range of monitor mounts from Bretford, specifically designed to compliment the iMac (with built-in VESA adapter) and the Thunderbolt Display. The range comprises the Mobile Pro Wall Mount, the Mobile Pro Desk Mount and the top-tier Mobile Pro Desk Mount Combo, supporting dual displays or one display and a stand for a Macbook Air or MacBook Pro, or even an iPad. The Mobile Pro Combo is designed to give you the ultimate in dual display flexibility, ergonimics and movement (an iMac and Thunderbolt Display or Thunderbolt Display attached to a MacBook Air or Pro). Both arms, attached to the central support pole, provide up to 12 inches of vertical and horizontal movement and depth. This means you can adjust your displays to the perfect height and angle as well as being able to pull and push the display to and away from you. Finally, the arm mounts allow you to rotate your display 360 degrees, so you can use your display in portrait positioning, too. All this flexibility, whilst supporting the weight of your precious Apple gear, means the Mobile Pro Combo needs to be incredibly strong, durable and sturdy, not to mention being securely affixed to a solid surface. Installation I've not used a desk mount before, so this was new territory for me. When the Mount Pro Combo arrived I was relieved to find just how weighty and solid it is. I'm the first to admit I'm not a DIY'er, so thankfully the installation was relatively straight forward. The Mobile Pro Combo comes with clear instructions (which are also digitally available on Bretford's website) and all the necessary tools for assembly. However, before purchasing the Mobile Pro Combo there are two important things you need to be aware of regarding installation. Firstly, the Mobile Pro Combo will require you drill holes into your desk / work surface to securely attach the central support pole. If you're not prepared to do this (I don't even own a drill), there's a desk clamp that's sold separately from Bretford, which will support the central pole with up to 14 Kgs weight on each arm. Proper installation, whether you're drilling or using the clamp, requires your desk be 0.5 to 1.25 inches thick and, of course, secured to a sturdy base. Since I don't own a drill, I requested the desk clamp. Secondly, if you're using an iMac model that predates 2012 (without the VESA Mount Adapter built-in) or a Thunderbolt Display, you'll need to purchase Apple's VESA Mount Adapter Kit ($39). This was something I hadn't realized, so I had to take a trip to the Apple Store to pick up the VESA kit for my Thunderbolt Display. Bearing the above in mind, setting up the Mobile Pro Combo was really straight forward. The desk clamp attached to the central pole with nuts and bolts, which then securely attached to my desk. I then slid in the two arms, which features a no-tension adjustment system. Attaching my Thunderbolt Display to one of the arms was where I hit a snitch however, and it had nothing to do with the Mobile Pro Combo. Rather, it was a problem with Apple's VESA Mount kit. Basically, I simply couldn't get the middle screw on the mount to completely screw into the display using the tools provided in Apple's kit. I ended up stripping the screw. Not being able to remove or fully install the VESA adapte, I had to take the display to an Apple Store. Staff at the Apple Store removed, replaced and installed a new mount for me. The Apple staff member said a Torx screw driver was ideally required to screw in the central screw properly. Unfortunately, I don't have one of those, but I've added it to my shopping list for next time! Once Apple's VESA adapter was securely attached to my Thunderbolt Display, I attached the arm and got a friend to help me slide the arm and display into the central pole. I have a MacBook Pro with Retina display, so I attached the Mobile Pro Combo's stand to its second arm and put that into place easily. Practical Use After a little bit of tinkering with the height of each arm, I finally settled on positioning that I was happy with. Previously, I'd grown accustomed to always looking slightly downwards towards my Thunderbolt Display, and even further at my MacBook Pro's display. I guess it's just something you assume is normal. However, with the Mobile Pro Combo, just having my Thunderbolt Display more in line with my sitting line-of-sight -- being able to look straight ahead at the display with out having to crane my neck up or down -- made much more of a difference than I was expecting. My posture immediately improved. No longer did I hunch, and if I did, as soon as I looked at my display I was reminded by its height that I needed to sit up straight. The second thing I noticed and immediately loved was that I suddenly had a load more desk space available. The central pole with a desk clamp takes up a little more space than the footprint of the Thunderbolt Display or iMac. However, because it's placed at the back of my desk, and pretty much in the corner, it's a much more convenient use of space. Of course, with my Macbook Pro off my desk, I immediately gained a chunk of space there, too. In terms of adjusting my displays, I think I appreciated more just being able to adjust my displays to where they best suit me ergonomically and practically. I didn't do too much adjusting on a day-to-day basis, though it was great to be able to adjust when I felt like it, like when I fancied sitting more back in my chair towards the end of the day or even tilting the display towards a visiting friend or colleague. But what really mattered was that my screen setup suited me, and that made my work environment much more comfortable, practicaly and enjoyable. I personally didn't take advantage of the portrait positioning, but if I had two Thunderbolt Displays (wouldn't that be nice!), I would be tempted to try one of them in this position. On the first night I had the Mobile Pro Combo setup, I half expected to hear an almighty crash, while I was in the other room, or come to my desk in the morning to find my display smashed on the floor because the mount had collapsed under the display's wieght. But that didn't happened. In fact, everything about the Mobile Pro Combo reassured me of its sturdiness and durability. I found where I had adjusted things, that's where they stayed. Finally, the Mobile Pro Combo looks the part, too, fitting right in with its gunmetal / silver color, pairing reasonably well with my own Apple gear. Cable management is also catered for, keeping things looking neat and tidy. Conclusion In the past, the idea of mounting my display had always intrigued me, but never enough for me to actually get one. I'd assumed the positioning of my display, and the lost workspace to an external display and a laptop, was the norm. However, now that I've had the chance to use Bretford's Mobile Pro Desk Mount Combo, I have to say that I'm truly won over. I found the Mobile Pro Combo a pleasure to use, freeing up my workspace and adjusting to my personal ergonomic needs as I required. It had a dramatic impact on my work space, and I can easily foresee it having an even greater impact in an office, lab, studio or school environment, too. Having said that, Bretford's Mobile Pro Desk Mount Combo is not cheap, especially if you need the desk clamp, too. However, If you're at your desk all day using two displays, your work space is limited, and you find that your posture could be better, the Mobile Pro Combo is a quality piece of kit that will serve you well for many years to come, enhancing your work environment. Pros Relatively straight forward setup Frees desktop space no-tension adjustment system Numerous ergonomic adjustment options for demanding users and environments Sturdy, strong and durable Easy to use once setup Multi-display or Macbook Pro / Air support Cable management Designed to be used with Apple iMacs and displays Backed by a 12-year Bretford warranty Cons Desk drilling required or the additional purchase of a desk clamp Depending on your Mac / display model, you may need to purchase Apple's VESA Mount adapter kit
Breakfast Topic: Today, the Sky Golems invade Azeroth
I did it! I managed to complete my engineering cooldown every single day since patch 5.4 was launched. My dedication has paid off and I'll finally be able to fly around in my shiny new Sky Golem mount. If you're not an engineer, you should start seeing Sky Golems flooding the market today (tomorrow for EU). I haven't looked forward to a new mount this much since the Flying Machine mounts were introduced in Burning Crusade. If you're an engineer, will you be keeping your first Sky Golem for yourself or selling it? Non-engineers, will you be spending the gold to get your hands on one? With it costing 30 days of profession cooldowns and 30 Living Steel to craft, I wouldn't expect the first batch of these to be very cheap. If you haven't seen this mount in action yet, be sure to check it out in all of its glory in MMO Champion's video. %Poll-84991%
The Daily Grind: How much do mounts matter to you?
Do you know how much mounts matter in Star Wars: The Old Republic? Here's a hint: they do not. They are mounts. They make you go faster. There is no reason to spend hours agonizing over which character has which sort of mount. There is definitely no reason to try and ensure that no two characters have the same style of mount except when one character is directly related to another. And there's really no reason to construct elaborate in-character reasons for a given character using one mount over another. Do you know what I have done? All of that. For some players, mounts are just a tool in MMOs to make your characters go faster. For others, mounts are unexpectedly serious business that require a lot of consideration. In some games, specific mounts do matter, like the various modes of transport in Fallen Earth. So how much do mounts matter to you? Are mounts just a tool to you, or are they serious business? Do you spend time and effort getting just the right mount or do you just ride whatever is either cheapest or offers the most bragging rights? 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!
Blizzard teases new mount reward
Blizzard just posted this image of a new hippogryph mount and refers to it as a "reward" which means we can probably rule out it being a purchasable pet store item. There are absolutely no hints on what it will be rewarded from, but I've got a few ideas. World of Warcraft's 9th anniversary is on November 23. Could we be looking at a reward for logging in during the anniversary? The last time we saw a reward like this was for the 5th anniversary when everyone received an Onyxian Whelpling pet. The only thing working against this theory is the last 3 anniversaries have just been feat of strength rewards. The more likely possibility is a new Recruit-A-Friend or Scroll of Resurrection mount. It could even be an in-game reward, but for what? Let the speculation begin.
Trion offers up unique RIFT/Defiance crossover loot for new buyers
Trion Worlds has announced a curious new promo deal for folks who haven't yet picked up a copy of MMO-television hybrid Defiance. Purchasing a physical copy of Defiance now rewards gamers with unique loot in both it and Trion's other big online property, RIFT. Transmedia synergy, anyone? For a limited time (how limited is not mentioned in the announcement), players who buy a standard or collector's edition boxed copy of Defiance for PC, Xbox 360, or PS3 will receive a Votan Fragger weapon transmog (in Defiance) and a Ghost Hellbug mount (in RIFT). Buyers will also get $5 in RIFT store credits. It's an interesting strategy designed to pique the curiosity of current RIFT players, and it's not the first time Trion has sent Defiance's creatures into RIFT's fantasy world.
The Daily Grind: How do you choose your mount?
World of Warcraft used to make earning your first mount a pretty big deal. These days, it's less a deal simply because the game has so many mounts it's almost absurd. Almost anything large enough for a player character to fit on top is a mount... and if it's not big enough, a bigger version will be found for players to ride just the same. That's not the only game to do this, of course. Final Fantasy XIV now offers multiple mounts and multiple ways to dress up your mount. Dragon's Prophet offers you a variety of draconic options. Many games love to give players promotional mounts or special mounts for pre-order bonuses, subscriber bonuses, microtransaction items... you get the idea. So in this field of variety, how do you choose your mount? Do you plan for the cheapest option and aim for form over function? Do you display a special promotional mount with pride? Is your favorite mount a rare reward from in-game content? Or do you pick your mount based on character personality? 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!
Officers' Quarters: Loot system for mounts
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook. One situation that officers and raid leaders are frequently unprepared for is a rare mount dropping from a boss. Many times, players aren't even aware that specific bosses drop mounts, because they drop so rarely. Without a specific policy in place, you have to make one up on the spot -- which is not a great idea. One guild just ran into this problem, and they want to know the best system for mounts. Hi Scott, Last night the officers of our 25-man raid group encountered a bit of a dilemma. Heroic Ji-Kun dropped the Clutch of Ji-Kun mount and we, the officers, had to decide how to deal with it. We use the EPGP lootmaster system, but didn't have any rules in place for how our raiders should roll on the mount. After a brief discussion we decided that we would just put a free roll for all players of Raider status and it would go to the highest roller. Other officers began to bring up valid points for the future, the next time a rare mount drops. What sort of requirements should we put on who is allowed to roll on mounts the next time one drops from a boss? Most of the other officers are saying "Raider" status, at least 1 month with the guild, and 90% attendance should be required before we roll. I felt the attendance clause was a bit strict, because it's not a combat item and it doesn't enhance the raid's performance in any way. The others feel that we should be rewarding people for having good attendance, which I feel is a valid point.
Gorgeous new Black Desert screens feature mounts, housing
MMO Culture has posted some gorgeous screenshots from Black Desert, the new sandbox MMO currently being developed by Korea's Pearl Abyss. Most of the images focus on mounts and player housing. Earlier this year Pearl Abyss showed off portions of the title's housing system, and MMO Culture has included a cam-quality video that we've embedded for you after the break. The site notes that it is unclear how much the housing system has changed from the functionality shown in the video to the current build which is reflected in the new screenshots. [Thanks Dengar!]
New ArcheAge video showcases new outfits and riding shotgun
What's better than owning a hot rod to show off to your friends? Why, taking those friends for a spin in it, of course -- even if for no other reason than to increase their envy factor! If there was any question about whether folks could bum a ride on the land like they can the sea in ArcheAge, the newest video sets the record straight. And if you are the type who really pushes your rig to its limits, be prepared to spend some time under the hood for repairs. Also highlighted are new outfits, including French maid and butler ensembles as well as leopard-print swimsuits. See them all modeled in the clip after the break. But don't say we didn't warn you about those last few moments.
The Daily Grind: Are you a mount collector?
I started dabbling in Lord of the Rings Online again this week, and one of the first things I rediscovered about my character is that he's a mount fiend. I've got seven horses and a goat in my mount window, and while that sounds like more than any one character needs, it's barely a fraction of the number available in LotRO thanks to festivals, quests, and regular ol' vendors. What about you? Are you a mount collector in any games of note? How many do you have and which ones are your favorite? 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!
Tauntaun mounts are migrating to SWTOR
Tired of cold, sterile vehicles toting your Force-using butt all over the galaxy? Star Wars: The Old Republic is about to give you a living, snorting mount in the near future. That's right: Tauntaun mounts are coming to the game. Images were given out of SWTOR's first animal mounts at the San Diego Cantina Tour. Apart from the pictures, we have no specific information concerning the mounts' speed, possible varieties, or release. We're also curious if they'll come with the ability to slice them open with a lightsaber as a makeshift sleeping bag if you're caught out in the cold. [Thanks to Austin for the tip!]
Patch 5.4 PTR: New PvP cloud serpent models
The intrepid folks over at Wowhead have continued to dig up tons of pretty cool new files and models from the patch 5.4 PTR. New mounts have been added to the files -- three new armored cloud serpent models, presumably for PvP participants, and the Stormcrow mount. Along with the now-familiar red and gold varieties of cloud serpents shrouded in intimidating armor, there's also the gorgeous onyx variety pictured above. While there aren't any details yet on how these serpents will be obtained, it's safe to assume that they're PvP related, as pretty much all of the PvP reward mounts have been armored versions of current expansion models. As for the Stormcrow, Adriacraft has a video of this impressive steed in motion. It bears a resemblance to the Reins of the Raven Lord, but unlike poor Anzu, this bird can fly -- and it's got crackling lightning aura to boot. While there is no news at all yet on where this unique mount will be obtained, it doesn't seem to be related to the Siege of Orgrimmar at all. Perhaps a lost relic on the Timeless Isle? A new pet store mount? Only time will tell.
Patch 5.4: In-game store announced
We've been speculating about it since the experience potion was datamined, and now we have an announcement. Yes, Virginia, there will be an in-game store. Bashiok gives us the details on what the current plan for the feature is, including a way to get lesser charms of good fortune, and the big news is that the feature will be rolled out first on Asian realms. Bashiok - 5.4 In Game Store 100% XP buff? First, we'll be testing the in-game store with some new kinds of items we're looking into introducing (in Asian regions, at the outset) based on player feedback: specifically, an experience buff to assist with the leveling process, as well as an alternate way to acquire Lesser Charms of Good Fortune. We've had a lot of requests from players in different regions for convenience-oriented items such as these, and as with other new ideas we've introduced as WoW has evolved-including Pet Store pets, mounts, and more-your feedback plays a hugely important part in determining what we add to the game. source So as we speculated before, the experience buff is going to be region specific, rolling out in Asian realms first. No word on when/if these features will make their way to Europe or North America. It's a move that I have to admit makes sense considering that most of the recent subscriber drop was reported to be in Asia. Asian realms use a different business model where you pay by the hour, and new players are not willing to play hourly in order to catch up with existing players. Whether or not a version of the store with the various mounts and pets available on the website will debut at the same time as the convenience items like lesser charms and the new XP buff is yet to be determined.
The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best vehicle or mount customization?
Star Citizen's latest ship reveal got me to thinking about vehicle and mount customization in MMOs. Or more specifically, the general lack of it. Oh sure, defunct titles like Star Wars: Galaxies and Auto Assault had lots of it, and current games like APB Reloaded and EVE Online have it in some form or fashion, but for the most part, the ability to pimp your ride -- whether that ride is a spaceship, a horse, or something in between -- is fairly limited if it exists at all. Or at least it seems that way to me. But maybe I'm missing something, and that's where you and today's Daily Grind come in. What MMO do you feel has the best vehicle or mount customization? 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!
