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SWTOR Alderaan warzone playable at Gamescom
It's no secret that Star Wars: The Old Republic will be making a big splash at this year's Gamescom. What we didn't know prior to today, however, was the fact that one of the title's PvP warzones will be playable in a dedicated area "away from the rest of the hustle and bustle of the show floor." BioWare's Chris Collins gives us the details on the official SWTOR boards, and you'll need to sign up via email ahead of time if you and your mates want to get in on the action. The warzone matches will feature eight vs. eight teams and will pit Republic forces against their imperial counterparts in the Alderaan Civil War scenario. Whether your taste runs to the clumsy randomness of a blaster or elegant weapons from a more civilized age, you'll need to get your signups in by Monday, August 8th.
Wargaming.net to sponsor European Games Awards
Cologne, Germany is figuring heavily in Wargaming.net's plans this summer. The studio is unveiling its new World of Warplanes MMORPG at the city's Gamescom event on August 17th, and has also signed on to be the primary sponsor of the 2011 European Games Awards (EGA) that will be given out aboard the "event ship" Pure Liner 1 which cruises the Rhine river. The EGA ceremony goes down on August 13th, and is notable for the fact that players nominate games and companies as well as choose the award winners. Wargaming.net released its free-to-play World of Tanks MMO earlier this year, and has been developing strategy warfare titles since 1998.
ArenaNet revealing Guild Wars 2 PvP and customization at Gamescom
Europe's largest game expo is getting ready for plenty of Guild Wars 2 goodness, as ArenaNet will be bringing its highly anticipated fantasy MMO to the Cologne convention that runs from August 17th to August 21st. In a new post on the company blog, Martin Kerstein gives us an idea of what we can expect from the NCsoft demo booth. The playable GW2 build will include all seven professions revealed thus far, the complete Charr starter experience, and a mid-level demo featuring powerful Orrian enemies (and Sylvari and Asura playable characters). Last but not least, gamers will finally get their hands on Guild Wars 2's character customization system as well as its PvP component. Hands-on PvP experiences will be available, and players can also watch exhibition matches between developers and select European players.
New ArcheAge trailer and mobile app at ChinaJoy; Song charts MMO generations
The ArcheAge news floodgates have opened this morning, thanks largely to XL Games' showing at the ChinaJoy Digital Entertainment Expo in Shanghai. First up is an iOS mobile application reveal, and the program will allow players to view character details and message their ArcheAge pals (with more functionality on the way according to an article at MMO Culture). The fan site also has an interesting look at XL founder Jake Song's ChinaJoy speech which outlines the differences between first-, second-, and third-generation MMORPGs. Song charts the evolution of MMO gameplay from the "unorganized freedom" of early titles to the passive playground style popularized by World of Warcraft, and says that third-gen titles like ArcheAge will provide the best of both worlds by re-introducting player creativity and removing restrictions while maintaining a high degree of polish. Finally, XL has created a new trailer for ChinaJoy, and the clip features the usual stunning scenery as well as a few new wrinkles (hang-gliding and castle construction!). Check it out after the break.
World of Warplanes debuting at Gamescom
If you're curious about Wargaming.net's upcoming World of Warplanes MMO, Gamescom 2011 is the place to be. The World War II-based flight simulator's gameplay will be shown for the first time at the convention in Cologne, Germany from August 17th to August 21st. World of Warplanes was initially announced during this year's E3, but no media, gameplay footage, or web presence has been forthcoming as of yet. Wargaming.net will also be holding an open World of Tanks tournament at Gamescom, and the company has plans to announce its newest development project, according to a press release issued this morning.
BioWare talks Star Wars: The Old Republic vehicles and launches
Vehicles are cool. Not that having a trusty steed isn't cool in any game, but Star Wars: The Old Republic is a game emulating films in which every single vehicle was a character unto itself. In the most recent panel for the game at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, it's been made clear that the designers aren't limiting vehicles to simply spaceships for players and for ambient encounters. Landspeeders and speeder bikes will be available for players, with several styles shown off to the attendees. As always, iconic imagery is at the top of the priority list for development, up to and including the opening text crawl following character creation. A firm release date has still not been announced, but the team has once again reiterated that the game will be out for this year's holiday season. Frustratingly vague? Perhaps, but at least there's plenty of tasty information to chew on despite the insistent lack of clarity elsewhere.
Watch SOE Fan Faire address live on Gamebreaker, or listen in-game
Sony Online Entertainment's annual Fan Faire starts this week, but if you can't make it to Las Vegas for the festivities you'll still have a front row seat. Gamebreaker is teaming up with SOE to provide live pre-show coverage beginning July 7th at 6:00 p.m. PDT. SOE bossman John Smedley's community address will happen an hour later and if you can't check it out on Gamebreaker because you're playing EverQuest or EverQuest II, you can listen in by joining the Vivox-powered Station Voice service. For EQ users, it's as easy as enabling voice chat and clicking on the event button in the UI. For EQII, type: /vcjoinuri confctl-3583@e2p.vivox.com Fan Faire. If you're planning to watch the Gamebreaker livestream, you'll need to register and claim your virtual ticket. Head to the official SOE forums for full instructions. [Update: Corrected pre-show coverage time]
BioWare setting up public TOR demo outside San Diego Comic-Con
Star Wars: The Old Republic community coordinator David Bass unleashed a pleasant surprise on unsuspecting BioWare fans earlier today. In a post on the official TOR forums, Bass told of a playable demo at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con. Big deal, I don't have a Comic-Con badge, we hear a few of you saying. Well, take heart. BioWare also recently announced that Mass Effect 3 (as well as downloadable content from Dragon Age II) would be playable at a hotel across the street from the con, and Bass says that The Old Republic will be there as well. "Anyone (yes even you!) can come to the Hilton and wait in line to play any of the BioWare games," Bass wrote. You'd better get there early, though, and plan on packing your patience as well as a slew of your favorite portable Star Wars games to pass the time.
CCP and White Wolf celebrating Vampire's 20th anniversary with new rulebook, fan gala
Vampire: The Masquerade is gearing up to celebrate its 20th birthday (20 years!?), and while two decades may be a drop in the proverbial bucket to your average vampire, it's quite a chunk of time for mere mortals. White Wolf (which MMO aficionados probably know as a subsidiary of CCP) is celebrating the milestone with a limited-run anniversary edition of the RPG's core rulebook. The tome is available via pre-order and will set you back a hefty $99.99. The book's release will coincide with The Grand Masquerade 2011, a fan event scheduled for September 15th to 18th in New Orleans that will feature, among other things, "the next look at the future of the World of Darkness MMO."
Jagex announces RuneFest 2011
If you'll be in the UK on the weekend of October 29th -- and you're a fan of RuneScape -- you might want to drop by Old Billingsgate in central London for the annual RuneFest fan celebration. Jagex is pulling out all the stops for the browser title's 10th anniversary bash, and attendees can look forward to event favorites like the Insider Sessions as well as the Golden Gnome Video Awards. A Halloween after-party is also on the docket, as are plenty of opportunities to score swag and hob-knob with senior developers. Tickets aren't yet on sale, but you can keep up with RuneFest happenings and announcements via the official website and the dedicated forums.
PLAY! Video game symphony will feature music from Guild Wars
Are games art? It's a long-running debate, but one thing that can't really be disputed is the artistic merit of many video game soundtracks. The compositional stylings of Jeremy Soule, in particular, are among the most memorable in the growing catalogue of epic game scores. On June 21st and 22nd, Seattle-area concertgoers can feast their ears on the live sounds of Soule's Guild Wars score (as well as several other seminal game-related works including Soule's instantly recognizable themes for Morrowind and Oblivion). The music is all part of PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, and ArenaNet is highlighting the performance on its official blog. Tickets are available now at the Seattle Symphony website (or by calling 206.215.4747). If you're going, be sure to say hello to the Guild Wars artists on hand for signings in the Benaroya Hall lobby.
City of Heroes heading for San Diego Comic Con
It's understandable that a lot of people might be in convention overload at the moment -- after all, E3 is just now wrapping up with all the information that entails. But for City of Heroes fans, the next big convention is still around the corner. San Diego Comic Con 2011 is taking place at the end of July, and Paragon Studios will be showing off on the show floor, celebrating both the game's four-color roots and the latest developments in gameplay. While the team has given several presentations in recent conventions, this year the game will have a booth on the show floor from July 21st to July 24th, giving players a chance to stop by and talk about the game with both developers and community managers. And if that's not enough, the team will also be giving away a new costume card, transforming characters into the Mk-VI Victoria assassin droid. City of Heroes players should keep their eyes peeled for more news of a meet-and-greet to accompany the gathering.
Hang out with Massively (and Joystiq) at the E3 2011 reader meetup
So E3 is coming up, and you what that means: games booze! If you've done the convention circuit before, you know that listening to PR reps and watching multiple presentations on the greatest-game-in-the-history-of-games pales in comparison to the opportunity to indulge in a bit of pub-crawling with industry types. If you're over 21 and a fan of Massively, Joystiq, or WoW Insider, you'll want to mark Friday, June 10th on your party-going calendar. The Joystiq crew will be taking over the La Cita bar in downtown Los Angeles for a swag-filled shindig sure to please the most discriminating gamer. And if not, hey, you can always drink with us. Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 6-9, bringing you all the best news from E3 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!
Marvel MMO announcing its writer this Thursday
Wakey wakey, Marvel MMO fans: Your favorite company has a big announcement lined up for later this week. It's so big, apparently, that today the legendary comic book publisher released an announcement about its upcoming announcement. On Thursday, April 28th, Marvel will be unveiling... drumroll please... the writer of its upcoming comic book-flavored MMORPG. Who could it possibly be? Is Marvel going to talk about the actual game at some point? Inquiring minds want to know the answers to these and other burning questions, and a blurb on the company's website promises some dialogue after the big info drop. "We'll be taking your questions via Twitter, Facebook and the liveblog below once the action has begun," says the site. There's also a brief preview video featuring Marvel.com's editorial director, which will be replaced by a live video stream of Thursday's event. Check in with Massively later this week as our own Bree Royce reports from the Marvel shindig in San Francisco.
Registration opens for PAX Prime
PAX East 2011 was more than a month ago, more than enough time for the event to have faded into memory even if you were lucky enough to attend. But that's only one part of the PAX conventions, with PAX Prime on deck for August 26th through the 28th. Registration for the Seattle convention has just opened to everyone, allowing gamers of all ages a chance to gather for news and events in the northwest. As per previous events, attendees can register for all three days at a discount rate or for an individual day pass. (Also per previous events, Saturday is likely to be the most active day of the weekend.) It's worth noting that PAX Prime is a very popular convention, so if you're planning on making the trek, registering sooner rather than later is probably a good idea. And going is probably a good idea, if you're able, as the convention traditionally holds a number of demos, events, announcements, and of course, free-range Massively staffers.
Perfect World Entertainment offering E3 passes for what you 'Like'
E3 is no longer quite the gamer promised land that it once was, but it's still an event that a lot of gamers would love to get in to see. Perfect World Entertainment understands that quite well, and so it's going a step beyond just unveiling two new games at the show. The studio is giving away 25 three-day passes to the show floor to fans of the upcoming game Rusty Hearts, which will be unveiled at the show. Entering is a simple procedure -- you just have to navigate over to the game's Facebook page and click "Like" to be entered for the random drawing. Be aware, however, that the prize only includes the show passes, not lodging or travel fees, which might prove to be the bigger hurdles for some. Take a look at the full rules if you're interested, however -- after all, how often do you get a shot to get into E3 without being part of the press?
SOE announces Fan Faire 2011 open registration
Summer is fast approaching, and if you're partial to Sony Online Entertainment's various MMOs, you know that Fan Faire is coming up quickly as well. This year's event is going down at Bally's Hotel in Las Vegas from July 7th through July 9th. Attendees can look forward to developer panels, live game tournaments, live quests, and of course, rubbing elbows with fellow SOE fans and industry luminaries. All-Access passes are currently on sale for $119.00, and the early-bird pricing gets you admission to forums, panels, and round-tables as well as a t-shirt, gift bag, exclusive in-game items, and digital copies of both EverQuest and EverQuest II expansion packs. Single-day passes are also available (they'll set you back $39.00), and you can view all the details at the official Fan Faire website.
The Mog Log: Back in the high life again
The good news is that both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV should be back online as of Friday. (I'm writing this on Thursday, so watch some last-minute wrench get tossed into the works.) The bad news is... well, really, that's all the news over the past couple of weeks. While the team has been working, it seems like improving a video game hasn't been at the top of anyone's priority list in the wake of the earthquake and subsequent devastation. If I hadn't made this clear enough last week, that's pretty much the only reasonable response to what's been happening. It's astonishing that anyone has even been going on and working on the games, much less actively keeping players up to date about the status of the servers. There's the distinct chance that you weren't able to log in as soon as the servers went live again yesterday, and even if you did, it was mostly a matter of checking back in and lounging for a few moments. So let's take a look at some of the ways to re-acquaint yourself with the games.
Official video available for the Guild Wars 2 PAX East panel
If you were attending PAX East a couple of weeks ago, the odds are you wanted a chance to get in on ArenaNet's panel. Unfortunately, Guild Wars 2 fans were lined up outside the panel long before it started, filling the room to capacity and dashing the dreams of several hopeful attendees. Luckily, the fine team behind the games took the time time to record the panel in its entirety and has just made the full video available on the official blog. Posted in two parts and comprising just under an hour of total footage, the panel covers a variety of topics related to the development of Guild Wars 2 and includes a lengthy question-and-answer session from the audience. While it's not quite a substitute for being at the convention itself, the full video should prove interesting whether you weren't able to make it to Boston or just couldn't get inside the jam-packed panel session.
The Daily Grind: What are you hoping to hear at PAX East?
We're just barely out of GDC coverage, but this week kicks off another big convention for the gaming community. PAX has become an event on both coasts, and this year's PAX East promises to be a notable event for all in attendance within the gaming community. With Guild Wars 2 and Star Wars: The Old Republic both promising new playable content, it might seem like the newer games will steal the show, but older games such as City of Heroes and Lord of the Rings Online are on deck with new content and new announcements for fans. Of course, we've got some of our staff on-hand to cover all of the news coming out of Boston this weekend, but the real question is what you're hoping to hear. Do you want to see more of the new Guild Wars 2 demo? Hoping to hear more on Turbine's free-to-play games? Or are you hoping for something unexpected to emerge from the convention, perhaps even (gasp) non-MMO news? 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!
