new content
Latest
Big updates coming for Skylanders, Real Racing 3
We've got news of two major updates coming to high profile iOS games recently. First up, Activision's Skylanders: Lost Islands (the iOS town-building title based on the very popular toy/game series) just got a new substantial update, featuring Facebook integration, and lots of new companions to place in your town. There's also a new feature called "#1 fans," which will have players finding little extra creatures to add power to their current Skylanders. If you have a little fan in your house, make sure to update the free app soon. And second, EA's Real Racing 3 is getting a big update as well, with new tracks, new cars, and an official version of the Dubai Autodrome, a real racing location over in Dubai. That update, just like the game itself, will also be free, and should be out soon. Both of these games are already very popular, and these updates should make them even more so.
Neverwinter State of the Game announces public test shard, raid content
While still technically beta, Neverwinter joined the rank and file of MMOverse three weeks ago with a soft launch. Since then, the game has experienced its share of issues, bugs, and exploits. To address those, as well as give players a heads-up on what's incoming, Lead Producer Andy Velasquez shared the fantasy game's first State of the Game address. Velasquez jumped right into discussing the bugs and exploits that have affected the game since open beta started and outlined the fixes that were implemented to squash them. He went on to talk about the top issues that the team was working on currently and then reveal what players can expect to see in the next few weeks. A Public Test Shard is coming to Neverwinter (to hopefully catch bugs and exploits before going live), as is new endgame raid PvE/PvP content called Gauntlgrym. Other new content includes updates in the Foundry and new companions, zones, mounts, mechanics, Paragon Paths, and a new "ranged" class.
City of Steam opens beta doors at 10 p.m. tonight
If you've been eagerly awaiting your chance to get into the browser-based steampunk goodness of City of Steam, your wait is nearly over. Clear your Friday night plans because in just a few hours at 10:00 p.m. EDT, the city of Nexus will be welcoming its new residents. And you won't be needing any early access key, as Mechanist Games is throwing the beta doors open wide for any and all! Returning testers will notice many new features have been added since the closed beta runs, like events, a plethora of new cosmetic items, and more streamlined skill, talent, and crafting systems. And jetpacks -- who can forget the jetpacks! Players will also find over 80 dungeons, over 100 quests, new PvP maps, open Wilderness levels, customizable gear, and more... and that's only to start! The devs have an aggressive release schedule plan of adding new features and content on an almost bi-weekly basis throughout the beta. For more details on what you can expect, check out Massively's hands-on experience as well as the official open beta features list. [Source: Mechanist Games press release]
Chaos Theory: Hoppin' TSW's train to Cairo
It doesn't matter one iota what I had planned to talk about today, regardless of how phenomenal it may have been. The fact that The Last Train to Cairo has pulled into the station means I'm hopping on it! Yes, The Secret World's latest update hit this week with barely a day's warning and (thanks to my lifetime membership), I've been sinking my teeth into it since last Thursday. However, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that I have not boarded the actual train part of the adventure. I had no interest in blowing through the new content in just a couple of days; I prefer to savor the new goodies. But I have delved pretty deeply into it and have a experienced a fair share of Issue #6. So how's the ride so far? Keep reading for a test drive, then come watch as Creative Director Joel Bylos joins me for a livestream tour on Thursday, March 21st at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Massively TV.
The Secret World's Last Train to Cairo pulls into the station this March
While Funcom's recent restructuring and relocation put the brakes on The Secret World's content release schedule, it wasn't totally derailed. In fact, the next content update will be hitting servers sooner than many expected; Issue # 6 The Last Train to Cairo is scheduled to go live in the beginning of March. While no exact date has been given yet, paid members will get two days of early access to the content. What awaits denizens of The Secret World in this latest issue? A new storyline, a new foe (of raid proportions), the new veteran reward system, PvP ranking, and a new auxiliary weapon are all a part of this update. A new recruitment system will also be implemented, granting points equal to one month of membership for every new recruit. In an effort to contain the evil spreading through the sands of Egypt, players will delve deeper into the past of the desert land by actually traveling back in time to uncover powerful artifacts. Remember that petrified undead arms dealer, Said? Tap into his wisdom for advice on working against the cultists and their dark prophet Abdel Daoud. And last but certainly not least, fight atop a speeding train to Cairo with the newest auxiliary weapon, the whip, in true Indiana Jones style.
Path of Exile update adds new maps, overhauls audio, and improves art
With Path of Exile's open beta well under way, players can expect changes here and there as issues are addressed and bugs are squashed. Yesterday, Grinding Gear Games rolled out a new update that included reworked audio and updated artwork as well as added 11 new types of maps. Full details can be found in the 0.10.1 patch notes. Although not deployed yet, players can also expect other changes in this patch series including minion targeting, high-level mods in items, and improved livestreaming features. Then the next big patch, 0.10.2, will mark the beginning of the open beta content schedule that promises even more core content. For more on Path of Exile, check out Massively's impressions and hands-on experiences. And be sure to watch the action next Sunday, February 17th at 10:00 p.m. EST on Massively TV.
The Daily Grind: What game do you still hope will be revitalized?
I do not play Warhammer Online any longer, but it holds a special place in my heart. I greatly enjoyed playing the game when it was selected for Choose My Adventure back in the day, and I still hold out hope that the game will emerge from its slow stagnancy to be some sort of WAAAGH-based phoenix. The odds of that happening are low, but I'd love to see it happen just the same. Games have a life cycle, and after a certain point, even the most beloved online title slips into a maintenance mode. But we all have titles that we'd love to see get updates once again, allowing us to relive the glory days. This isn't about games that had been shut down; this is about games that are still running but are no longer at the forefront of the gaming zeitgeist. So what game do you still hope will be revitalized, even if you don't expect it to happen? Would you like to see Ultima Online get another day in the sun, or do you just hope that Champions Online will get a big expansion and some development love? 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 Online dev blog details changes to Drone Regions coming in Retribution
Not all regions are created equally, and that's something EVE Online devs are fixing. No, that doesn't mean all regions will be boring carbon copies. But it does mean that devs are adding content to the eight different areas known collectively as the Drone Regions to bring them more in line with the rest of the New Eden cluster. When the Retribution expansion hits in December, the Drone Regions (so named for the special drone content located within them) will be getting four officer spawns, five officer modules, and hauler spawns scattered throughout the sectors. Salvage from NPCs is also getting a buff to increase it to the levels seen elsewhere in the game, and rogue drones will give sec status. In other EVE news, CCP announced that fans can now subscribe to EON magazine using PLEX.
Champions Online previews the upcoming vehicle system
Being able to fly is all well and good, but why fly through the skies unaided when you could sit safely inside the chassis of a heavily armored warplane? That's the idea behind the new vehicle system coming to Champions Online later this week, which will offer players a variety of new rides and ways to enhance those same rides. After all, you deserve to give your legs a rest. Or your arms. Or whatever muscle you flex to fly with no visible means of propulsion. The vehicle system will start off by offering players just two choices -- jets and hovertanks -- but more will be available in the future. Each vehicle chassis offers a certain set of base stats, which can be further improved by slotting in vehicle equipment from the new vehicle missions. Players can also apply a variety of skins to each vehicle chassis, ensuring that you can make the ride feel unique even around your friends with a similar machine.
SOE Live 2012: EQII's Chains of Eternity adding tradeskill prestige and much more
Players were so excited about some of the announcements made in yesterday's EveryQuest II's panel on mechanics for Chains of Eternity at SOE Live that the room erupted into applause multiple times. What types of goodies brokered this response from attendees? How about new tradeskill specializations (including a separate AA pool and a gathering sidekick that can harvest rares!), new guild amenities, new adornments, and even adornment removers? Of course, those aren't the only incoming changes. Others include increasing in the level cap to 95, alterations to the mentoring system to prevent AFK XP farming, and new prestige abilities.
Star Wars: The Old Republic livestream discusses free-to-play, HK-51, and scaling
The community team behind Star Wars: The Old Republic hosted a livestream, and as you can probably imagine, the whole session has been recorded already by the team from Darth Hater for your viewing pleasure. But if you want to know the highlights and you can't wait for a more detailed take (say, from next week's Hyperspace Beacon), you can always get the rundown of some of the bigger points from the half-hour session. For those currently playing, HK-51 can be expected before the end of the year, with Cathar getting a somewhat more ambiguous release of whenever the species is ready. There will also be other species to be unlocked when the free-to-play conversion goes live, along with moddable gear (without endgame stats), mounts, and pets. The team is also looking into implementing a hood toggle for the Force-using classes of the game and scaling content down in difficulty for smaller groups of players. Check out the full recording past the break, or just take a look at the highlights.
Uncharted Waters Online expands to include The Wild West
Yippee-kai-ya and get along li'l doggies! The Wild West is coming to Uncharted Waters Online, bringing with it the chance to explore and discover national monuments in the prairies, grasslands, and steppes of the North American continent. The Great Plains expansion, the third chapter of the Tierra Americana expansion, also introduces a new colony that is the only place in the world where certain grains can grow, which encourages players to build their own cities in that region. What else can seafaring adventures expect in this expansion? The chance to visit the scholarly city of Oxford, the ability to learn the pirate code, new vessels, and new ways to store stuff are all included. And what better way to celebrate a new expansion than by participating in the Epic Sea Feud from June 28th through the 30th? Hoist the anchors and join the fray! [Source: CJ E&M press release]
Ultima Online rolling out a new installment of the Awakening
Ultima Online is preparing a continuation of the game's latest global arc with tomorrow's patch. Act VI of The Awakening asks players to assist in crafting a number of alchemical preparations, with a number of rewards available for players who actively try to crack the puzzle of the correct ingredients. More information will be available from the official site as well as an in-game NPC. If you need more time to prepare, don't worry -- the quest is going active in July and lasting until mid-August. If you're not willing to wait, the new patch also sees a revamp of the Covetous Dungeon. The first floor remains largely unchanged, but levels two and three both feature a new system for the game in which players accumulate points for defeating monsters that can later be turned in for new rewards. Last but not least, vanilla plants have been added to the game's gardening system, giving players another new thing to explore when not fighting monsters or preparing for the next part of The Awakening.
DC Universe Online shows off the new Shield weapon
Shields generally aren't thought of as a weapon; they're usually seen as the exact opposite of a weapon. But in the superheroic milieu, all that changes. A shield is something to be used offensively, and in DC Universe Online's next major update, players will begin wielding the shield for their own superheroic (or villainous) capers. A recent interview with creative director Jens Andersen discusses the intended role of the shield in combat. Andersen explains that while the new weapon comes along in a very PvP-centered update, it's not meant to be used specifically for PvP; the team just wants to have something new for players to enjoy no matter what. In play, shields are similar to a staff weapon, but unlike most other weapons, the shield can continue to build a combo after a heavy strike by moving back to light strikes. That should make the shield a very aggressive option -- perhaps odd for something that's not generally thought of as a weapon.
Spirit Tales launching Crisis of Jade Forest next week
It's really hard to imagine anything in the saccharine world of Spirit Tales being properly termed a crisis, but the game's newest update is aiming in that direction. The Crisis of Jade Forest goes live on May 23rd, giving players a chance to tackle an extra-difficult version of the normal Jade Forest area with extra boss-enriched goodness. Successful players have plenty of motivation, however, as the reward for completion involves a chest that could contain items normally reserved for the game's item mall. Groups of up to five players can enter the battle once per day, which fills the area with deadly monsters and 10 special bosses. Successfully defeating all of these bosses will grant the chance to earn both rewards that would normally cost real money as well as other little trinkets. it's also meant to be a great way to level up, so if you're already in the open beta, you may want to consider a look at the dungeon.
Star Trek Online posts Ask Cryptic answers for each day of May
Converting a game from a subscription model is hard work. That's the theme throughout the latest installment of Star Trek Online's regular Ask Cryptic feature: The reason that the game has gone for so long without major batches of new content is that the team has been wholly focused on switching models. But there's more coming to the game in the near future, starting with the major Season 6 patch hitting the test server soon. The coming patch will feature new ground and space missions similar to STFs without being quite the same sort of content. The update will also feature a new Fleet Advancement system, which will give player groups a chance to improve themselves and acquire new bonuses. Star Trek Online players will be well-served by taking a look at the full list of answers, which go into further detail about upcoming systems and planned additions for the next patch and beyond.
New preview available for Final Fantasy XIV's Garuda fight
The primals are among the greatest forces within Eorzea, something that Final Fantasy XIV players are no doubt acutely aware of after the clash with Ifrit. The second primal battle is coming, pitting players against Garuda, deity of the Ixali. That means another pitched battle against a superior foe in the Howling Eye, a battle which the official site has just recently previewed with a video of the fight in hard mode and a video preview of the new weapon rewards. According to the lore, the Ixali revere Garuda as the Empress of Birds, a soaring deity who maintains an appetite for the flesh of land-dwelling creatures. She is the incarnate strength of the bird-men as well as a source of great terror. But just as with Ifrit, players who defeat her can expect to have a variety of fantastic weapons, as illustrated in the video just past the break. Just be careful -- if you aren't on the ball when you fight her, you could find yourself completely blown away. [Thanks to Alex for the tip!]
Guided tour of the new SWTOR flashpoint
Yesterday, BioWare invited some members of the press to take part in a guided tour of the latest update for Star Wars: The Old Republic. In recent Hyperspace Beacons, we've covered everything from the user interface changes to the crew skills system. However, the specifics of some of the new story content have been a bit sparse. Thanks to help from BioWare, that's now changed. Beyond the break, we have put together a 15-minute video describing the ins and outs of the latest flashpoint: The Lost Island. Together with a member of the BioWare development team, we explored this new level-50 zone, destroying everything in our path and maybe learning something along the way.
No subtlety to Champions Online's SMASH Alerts, just straight-up brawling
The most basic superhero stories are pretty simple -- a villain is attacking the city and the hero has to go stop him or her. That's the spirit behind the new SMASH Alerts coming to the Champions Online test realm, quick instances that pit players against signature villains in a straight-up brawl. The villain may or may not have any minions, but the real test is to see if the heroes can knock out the villain within the time limit. Players will notice that the new Alert system also has gained a new minimap icon and improved queue functionality, allowing you to sign up for a quick and dirty brawl with your nemesis of choice from anywhere. There are also new team-up GRAB Alerts available for testing against paired villains, which should give every hero a chance to pop in and beat the living daylights out of a villain up to no good. And, really, isn't that all you can ask from a superhero game?
Wings Over Atreia: Ode to 3.0
*cue pitch pipe* Twinkle, twinkle, little patch, How I wonder where you're at? In the East they play with ease, In the West you're just a tease! Twinkle, twinkle, three point oh, Hurry please I want you so! I've tried to be patient. I really have. I even avoided any wayward glances at Aion's Korean patch notes (translated, of course) for 3.0. That way, I could contain my excitement a little better. I mean, we already know I am dying for housing, and I also know mounts are involved. But there is always so much more, and I was trying to make the wait more bearable. I stood firm in my resolve. Then I broke down. I peeked. And oh how the many-tendriled beast of anticipation took hold of me once again! Of course there is always the requisite "fixed this bug" and "changed that appearance" filler, but when mining deeper, you also find some definite valuable nuggets. Aion's next patch has some "how cool," some "oh wow, that's really unexpected," and some "about time!" thrown in as well. From new zones to new instances to new features, there is plenty coming our way. Don't want to tax your scroll wheel and sift through the entire patch notes yourself? Wings Over Atreia delves in to uncover some of the most tantalizing treasures for you.
