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One Shots: Brain Boy
Boy howdy, I do love seeing the wonderfully bizarre superheroes that players can whip up in MMOs. Here's another winner from reader Dynatos, who shows off a rather... unique hero from Champions Online. "Born with an oversized (and over-active!) brain, Alistair Chester Grayson VI was never content with his 'weak' flesh -- so he put his brain to work augmenting his body with cyborg components he created!" Dynatos revealed. "Here he is hovering over the Renaissance Center." Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!
Around Azeroth: I knew we forgot something
"These socks are so cool!" exclaimed guildmistress Gimmlette of Spectacular Death on Llane (US-A), upon receiving her present from Greatfather Winter. "We need a guild photo with our socks. Meet me in Ironforge by the tree in the Explorer's Hall. Wear your sweater and your socks." Five minutes later, Gimmlette deeply regretted not including pants in that order. But they went ahead and entertained bystanders anyway. Want to see your own screenshot here? Send it to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com. We strongly prefer full-sized pictures with no UI or names showing. Include "Azeroth" in the subject line to ensure your submission dodges email spam filters; if you'd like to be credited, also include your name, guild and realm.
Around Azeroth: What's mine is mine
"Having a good day, collecting garrison resources," writes submitter Tomez of Whisperwind (US-A). "Having a good day, collecting herbs. Having a good day, collecting ore -- oh my God. Huh. How did this happen? What the heck did the miners do to my level 3 mine? This is not what was in the blueprint!" Sneaky little thieves, those miners. It''s those damn Molly Maguires again! Someone call in the Pinkertons. We'll have your mine back in a jiffy, boyo. Want to see your own screenshot here? Send it to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com. We strongly prefer full-sized pictures with no UI or names showing. Include "Azeroth" in the subject line to ensure your submission dodges email spam filters; if you'd like to be credited, also include your name, guild and realm.
One Shots: How to taze your dragon
We haven't seen a lot of Phantasy Star Online 2 pictures in these here parts, probably because the game isn't in these here parts (and may never be). Still, it's great to be tantalized by this rocking dragon vs. elemental forces screenshot. I think it could be used as a template for a new line of awesome Trapper Keepers. "It's a pretty sweet shot of me shooting a dragon in the face with lightning -- and it doesn't get much cooler than that!" reader Sean said. I concur. Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!
One Shots: Ignore physics and jump already!
Out of all of the reality-bending game mechanics that we deal with in MMOs on a regular basis, I'd have to say that my immersion is the most broken when I jump from fantastic heights and walk away with nary a crushed spine to show for it. And this particular diving board in Guild Wars 2 that's like 300 feet above the water? Yeah, diving goggles aren't going to help you with squat. But jump anyway! Reader Mike took the plunge: "While playing my Norn Warrior, I found something I never saw before. Just above one of the waypoints in Lion's Arch is a diving platform! The kind people at ArenaNet even had goggles and a swimsuit for you to put on before you take that massive dive into the cold waters below. It was so funny I just had to send it to you." Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!
One Shots: Grim Raider
"Here's my Guild Wars 2 Necromancer haunting the countryside of Divinity's Reach, bleeding and poisoning souls to fuel his demonic rituals and Necromancing zealotry," Russel announced, as if that was the sort of thing that you can say in polite society. Actually, as a fellow Necro, I have to say that I agree with looking the part. You got to have a skulls motif; there's no way around it. Way to commit to the role! Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!
Around Azeroth: Loves me like a rock
Ah, crap. My bad, guys. I honestly thought I'd clicked off the Odd Polished Stone buff before the boss fight. Okay, we can salvage this. Does anyone have an empty plot in their garrison and really want a souvenir of this victory? I figure we can get a couple of warriors to chip away at this thing like a pinata until we can reach our loot. It should only take a couple of months. Oh, come on, a /gkick? That's a little excessive. Everybody makes mistakes. (Thanks to submitter Corvinna of alea iacta est dignitas on Earthen Ring (US-H) for the screenshot!) Want to see your own screenshot here? Send it to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com. We strongly prefer full-sized pictures with no UI or names showing. Include "Azeroth" in the subject line to ensure your submission dodges email spam filters; if you'd like to be credited, also include your name, guild and realm.
One Shots: A prince among men
Trust me, we're getting somewhere with putting out all of these neglected screenshot submissions from earlier this year! Today's attractive One Shot comes from reader Skorry, who can't help but look amazing anywhere he goes. "I took a break from adventuring to admire the artwork inside the Central Plaza in Divinity's Reach with my elementalist, Mirka Wallace," Skorry writes. "I swung my camera around and, through the oddities of Guild Wars 2's third-person view, found I had randomly struck a fantastic view of him standing in front of the Royal Palace. Massive screenshotting ensued. In my opinion, this was the best of the lot, just a pretty noble boy posing regal in the symbol of Krytan majesty." Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!
Around Azeroth: Peace on Draenor and good will towards birds
Submitter Aibelle of BloodOath on Ravencrest (US-A) noticed that her Pepe was getting lonely in her garrison. Also, she was becoming a little tired of constantly cleaning bird mess out of her hairdo. So she was rather pleased when she built her new stables and noticed Sky'reen had taken up residence. Now Pepe has another avian friend, and Aibelle can explore coiffure options beyond "basic night elf ponytail." Want to see your own screenshot here? Send it to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com. We strongly prefer full-sized pictures with no UI or names showing. Include "Azeroth" in the subject line to ensure your submission dodges email spam filters; if you'd like to be credited, also include your name, guild and realm.
One Shots: Mandy the Christmas Whale
Last year in our household we started up a new tradition, the legend of Mandy the Christmas Whale. Mandy, I told my children, was a green-and-red whale with lights on her tail that would swim through the first snow of the year to deliver cookies to the bedsides of good little boys and girls. Sometimes she even brought a snowsuit (an actual suit of snow) when it came to houses in warmer climes. Maybe reader James' Guild Wars 2 picture here isn't of Mandy, but one never knows what she might look like in disguise during the other days of the year. Have you been good enough to deserve cookies lately? Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!
Around Azeroth: And that's why you don't play around in a lumber mill
"Apparently Phylarch the Evergreen didn't have to be worried about 'inhumane' wood processing techniques," writes today's anonymous submitter. "Why, humans can safely sit on top of a circular saw with no ill effects! Trees, on the other hand ..." I think I saw a video about someone who tried this on the first day of middle school shop class. It didn't end well for that kid. Want to see your own screenshot here? Send it to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com. We strongly prefer full-sized pictures with no UI or names showing. Include "Azeroth" in the subject line to ensure your submission dodges email spam filters; if you'd like to be credited, also include your name, guild and realm.
One Shots: The last superhero
I've been holding onto this screenshot for the better part of the year for a time when the world entire would need a jolt of City of Heroes to get it through the next day. I think that today is that day. Behold! A superhero! Reader Michelle said that she was still traumatized by the game shutting down: "This particular screenie was of my last 50. He was a Fire Armor/Electric Melee tank named Demolition Companion. He was a clockwork that the Resistance attempted to reprogram but didn't complete, so he was broken (hence why he was on fire all the time) and very, very dangerous. In this shot he's standing in the sewers ready to wipe out some Resistance scum. (He was one of my only Loyalists.) I wish I'd gotten to RP him more." Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!
One Shots: The frozen sea
It's not too often that I see Final Fantasy XI (yes, XI) screenshots tossed my way, but I have to say that this one is right up there with its MMO successor. This landscape is also very much in line with the current season in the northern hemisphere. "Here is the seemingly serene zone of Al'Taieu in the sea, which is only accessible after doing part of the Promathia storyline," reader Ben submitted. Is it so serene that one might freeze to death while admiring its tranquil beauty? Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!
Around Azeroth: Visit Ye Olde Orgimmar
"So I was doing my daily quest to get my Stolen Present in hopes I would get this year's version of the dagger," writes submitter Magoi of Clan Plaid on Staghelm (US-H). "Being a rogue in need of a main hand upgrade has been my motivation. No luck yet. However I did get a Scroll of Storytelling and thought I would try to take a old-timey photo of Orgrimmar. Turns out it looks like something my character's grandfather might have taken many, many years ago. Hope you enjoy and happy holidays to everyone there!" Want to see your own screenshot here? Send it to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com. We strongly prefer full-sized pictures with no UI or names showing. Include "Azeroth" in the subject line to ensure your submission dodges email spam filters; if you'd like to be credited, also include your name, guild and realm.
The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's big fanfest reveals
Christmas came early for the forward-looking Final Fantasy XIV player this year. I know some people are upset at the fact that there were more revelations in the Japanese fan festival than in the ones in Vegas or London, but the timing is different. (I'd also point out that the expansion was announced in Las Vegas.) We've gone from having only a dim view of what's coming to having a pretty clear picture of what awaits through the next few month. One of the things that awaits is, of course, endless yelling about Machinist. Because boy. So let's start unpacking the stuff we learned from Tokyo. I say "start" because there is no way to get everything in one column, certainly not with deadlines and other considerations to take center stage. It's going to be a few months, but there's a lot to chew on just about 2.5, even if we ignore all of the expansion stuff, which I have no intention of doing.
One Shots: Cruising for Borg
We're kicking off our two-week series of daily One Shots with this picture of a pair of Star Trek Online starships getting ready for some serious action. Reader Chris sets the scene: "Futures passing in the night. A Galaxy-X dreadnought from the TNG finale All Good Things dangles in space with a heavily Borg-modified Galaxy-class ship in the background. Borgified Galaxy cruisers always remind me of the chilling moment at the end of the episode Parallels where Riker exclaims, 'You don't know what it's like in our universe. The Federation's gone! The Borg is everywhere! We're one of the last ships left...'" Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!
Around Azeroth: Decorating with dragons
Today's submitter writes, "Professor Excaliblur from Magtheridon (EU-A) loves to mess with arcane forces -- shape shifting, matter entanglement and such -- and often lets the brainstorming blow his mind. Some call him insane. He says he's an artist. So why not make a time-frozen dragon do a very odd limbo dance move trying to eat a wreath ribbon? He quickly found a suitable dragon by rummaging through the portal space. (Unbelievable what stuff mages are dumping there.)" Want to see your own screenshot here? Send it to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com. We strongly prefer full-sized pictures with no UI or names showing. Include "Azeroth" in the subject line to ensure your submission dodges email spam filters; if you'd like to be credited, also include your name, guild and realm.
One Shots: Top 10 best player screenshots of 2014
It's been a pleasure being your tour guide through a sea of player screenshots this year, and I can't wait to see what awesome pics you all will take in 2015. Before we get to the new year, however, I'm going to do something we've never done before here on One Shots: play favorites. Actually, I went back through all of this year's columns and picked out 10 screenshots that I personally liked the best. I don't often comment on what I think of a picture or what makes one stand out over the others, so the end of the year seemed to be a good time to do this. And I have one other special treat for you as well! Starting tomorrow, Massively will be putting out a single One Shots entry each day for the next two weeks. So if you've sent in a picture but have yet to see it posted in its full glory, then it may indeed happen over this holiday season!
War Thunder's Steel Generals expansion beta is live
War Thunder, Gaijin Entertainment's WWII-flavored MMO, updated with its Steel Generals patch this week, just ahead of the holidays. It includes new vehicles, tow cable mechanics, retooled artillery strikes, and new damage modeling. Gamers can also jump into three new maps: White Stone Fortress for air and ground battles, an Eastern Europe map with "varied open ground and urban terrain features," and the massive air-combat Battle for Moscow, which reconstructs the city during the Winter Campaign of 1941-1942. The Steel Generals content, however, "steals" the show: The biggest addition to War Thunder with this update is the beta of the Steel Generals expansion, which includes the first six American tanks available now. By the end of Q1 2015, more than 30 US WWII tanks will be available. This release schedule allows Gaijin Entertainment to test each of the tanks to ensure that they are ready for battle when commercially launched. In honor of the update launch, special packages are available for purchase that contain premium US tanks and other bonuses alongside closed beta access. Players can participate in the Steel Generals beta by entering into contests and in-game events in War Thunder. Check out the new screenshots and walkthrough video below.
Around Azeroth: Because I'm tacky
"Because you can find garrison resources most anywhere, I spend a lot of time poking around in all the buildings," writes submitter Gimmlette of Spectacular Death on Llane (US-A). "(Yes, I know about the maps you can get, but that kind of takes the fun out of 'Oooh. What's in here?') I was questing in Pinchwhistle Point and ran up into the main building. To quote George Takei, 'Oh myyyy.' Complete with door beads, I'm not sure if this is an homage to the 1960s or just bad taste. It does need the addition of a lava lamp and mirror tile to be complete, but this makes me thankful for dwarven decorating tastes." Want to see your own screenshot here? Send it to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com. We strongly prefer full-sized pictures with no UI or names showing. Include "Azeroth" in the subject line to ensure your submission dodges email spam filters; if you'd like to be credited, also include your name, guild and realm.
