tutorial
Latest
CCP releases EVE Online planetary interaction video tutorial
EVE Online's learning curve is somewhat notorious (if not downright legendary) and may even be part of the reason the game's hardcore fans are so hardcore. There is truly nothing like it in the MMO space (and not much in gaming period aside from Elite and the X series). Getting into the ebb and flow of New Eden is challenging even for seasoned video game vets, and that was before CCP added a new wrinkle in the form of planetary interaction. Luckily, the Icelandic development firm is also producing some spiffy video tutorials to help capsuleers wrap their brains around everything from scanning to harvesting resources from planets. A new planetary interaction video covers the basics including required modules, skills, and the successful manipulation of the new interface additions, all of it presented with in-game footage and voiceover narration. Check it after the cut or via CCP's YouTube portal.
BlackBerry Bold Touch previewed in leaked tutorials: prepare to pinch-to-zoom (updated)
A slew of leaked video tutorials for upcoming BlackBerry devices is finally giving us a glimpse into what RIM has in store to keep its diehard fans from ditching the platform. Among some more video of the all-touchscreen BlackBerry Monaco / Touch, we're finally seeing how the popular Bold form factor will benefit from some touchscreen magic in the aptly named Bold Touch. We're longtime fans of the traditional form factor, but if anything, the addition looks to be more trouble than it's worth. Like its sliding cousin, the Torch, touch input seems even more gimmicky given that all the same functions can be performed using the familiar (and beloved) optical trackpad -- which doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Sure, touchscreens are all the rage these days and pinch-to-zoom is nice, but we can't help but wonder if RIM is simply killing time until its dual-core QNX-equipped phones hit unsuspecting BBM'ers. Of course, the company has been impressing us with its use of touch on the Playbook, so there's no telling what it might have in store come BlackBerry World. You can peep the Monaco action after the break, or check out a torrent of others at the source link as well. [Thanks, Reagan M.] Update: Uh oh, looks like the original Monaco video got yanked, but fret not, as Crackberry has just posted some more clips -- we got one of the new ones after the break as well.
Breaking 'Dawn': Mortal Online announces expansion
It's the dawn of a new era -- and considering all of the bloodshed that goes on in Mortal Online, you may even call this a... Red Dawn? Wolverines? OK, sorry, but we had to get past the obvious puns. Mortal Online's been on the down-low ever since last year's launch, but that doesn't mean that the Star Vault devs were sipping piña coladas on a gore-soaked beach. On the contrary, as the team's been hard at work on a new expansion that was revealed in its full glory earlier this week: Mortal Online: Dawn. Instead of focusing on a new continent or a higher level cap, Dawn's adding several quality-of-life features to the game. These include an updated mount system that will eventually let you breed your ideal stud or mare, a cooking profession for the gourmet chefs out there, health reserves, a mail system, and a new player tutorial. Henrik Nyström was on hand for a forum interview about the expansion and the meaning behind the title: "Dawn feels like it's the 'beginning' of us being able to deliver content without struggling with the core mechanics due to the network solution. We can finally enjoy the development in full and start passing the benefits of that onto the community." [Thanks to everyone who sent in this tip!]
World of Tanks game modes and grouping discussed in fourth tutorial video
Curious about the game modes in Wargaming.net's World of Tanks MMO? Look no further than the ongoing series of video tutorials detailing various aspects of the free-to-play title. The series covers everything from newbie acclimation, to fighting techniques, to progression systems, and today's fourth installment adds grouping and game modes to that list. The default game mode in World of Tanks is called random battle mode, and just like the name suggests, it throws together random players on one of the game's extensive battle maps. Players can opt to join the fray solo, or form up into platoons or companies. Platoons are groups of three players that function as a traditional "pre-made," and, depending on your skill and coordination, vastly improve your chances of walking away from the random battle mode on the winning side. Companies are groups of up to 15 tank drivers that enable a player to enter stand-alone battles against evenly matched companies for practice and profit. Forming platoons and companies requires a premium World of Tanks account, and you can learn more on the game's official site. Don't forget to watch the video after the cut!
Snowballs piling up in Hell: Faxion Online enters its second closed beta test
"Free to pray, free to prey, free to play," the tagline goes. While Faxion Online continues to milk all of the religious-themed puns the team can think of (and it's hard not to add your own!), this afterlife MMO continues to charge ahead with the second phase of its beta process. UTV True Games announced that Faxion Online has entered its second closed beta test, which has been expanded to include new players and a number of improvements implemented after the first test. Faxion now has an improved starter tutorial that invites players to learn about heavenly living or hellish confluct, depending on the class chosen. Other improvements include class reballancing, new areas and teleportation stones that help warriors get to the conflicts even faster than before. UTV's Frank Lucero credits the players for shaping the game's development: "The responses to the first closed beta have been incredible in helping us determine updates for this second phase." You can check out this tongue-in-cheek PvP MMO by signing up for the beta test or by vicariously experiencing the spiritual planes in our Faxion Online first impressions.
World of Tanks progression detailed in third video tutorial
The video tutorial series for World of Tanks is rolling right along, as Wargaming.net has just released the third installment of its ongoing series. The latest update is called Progress, and it's all about unlocking your tank's potential and acquiring bigger and badder equipment. As each World of Tanks battle comes to a close, the game presents your personal achievements in the form of tanks destroyed, vehicles damaged, and vehicles spotted. These numbers are used to calculate your experience and credit gains, which in turn go toward researching modules and upgrading armor. All tanks have five basic module slots, which are accessed when you click research and select from a list of available upgrades. Advancement takes the form of progressing through research tiers and unlocking new tiers by participating in battles. World of Tanks also features an experience curve for your NPC tank crew. Leveling your crew members up enhances their overall performance, and once they've reached 100% in their basic skills, the advanced skills of repair, firefighting, and camouflage become available. Click past the cut for more details courtesy of the new video.
World of Tanks deploys its second video tutorial
All right, listen here, soldier! You learned all about the garage in the first World of Tanks tutorial. Now it's time to get into the action. Wargaming.net just released its latest lesson about playing this unique MMO. There is a lot to learn, and although the controls may seem familiar at first there are a few twists that may throw you for a loop. This is where the actual fighting starts. By the end of this second World of Tanks tutorial, you should have all the basics down on how to engage an enemy. The step-by-step instructions will teach you how to read the mini-map, target enemies at specific ranges, lock on targets for close ranged battles, and maneuvering your monstrous vehicle. If you are into strategy and war gaming or if you just like to blow stuff up, check out the video after the break, then march on over to the official World of Tanks website to sign up for beta testing. Ten hut! Forward march!
Elaborate Arduino tutorial explains the nuts and bolts of communicating over GSM
If you're looking to make yourself somewhat more productive on this lazy weekend, and you've got an Arduino or two collecting dust, we've got just the thing to add line after line to your dwindling to-do list. Tronixstuff has a borderline insane tutorial series going, and as of now, 27 chapters have been published. It's essentially the Arduino Bible, but the two most recent additions in particular have piqued our interest. With the explosion in mobile broadband, even hackers are looking to get their creations online. If you've mastered the art of Arduino, but haven't yet been brave enough to toss in a bit of GSM communication, the how-to guides linked below definitely deserve your attention. Just be careful how you write that code -- one wrong line with a SIM card installed could lead to text overages that'll take two lifetimes to pay off.
World of Tanks launches video tutorial series
Are you a fresh-faced rookie looking to get a leg up on the competition in Wargaming.net's World of Tanks open beta? If so, you'll want to check out the game's newly launched video tutorials. The first entry in the ongoing series introduces the level system, upgrade options, crew training, and economic aspects of the armor-based action MMO, and it is aimed at newbs who might otherwise be unsure of how to proceed at the controls of a World War II-era tank. "We saw a lot of new recruits joining World of Tanks with the open beta start. These new videos are designed to make their life a little bit easier and help them adapt quicker to the harsh reality of the armored world we are creating," said Wargaming.net producer Nick Katselapov. World of Tanks features over 150 historically accurate armored vehicles from America, Germany, and the Soviet Union. The title boasts 15v15 PvP action, global clan wars, and a mixture of action, strategy, and simulation. Learn more about the game and the open beta at the official website, and be sure to watch the tutorial video after the jump.
The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: My expedition
Today I feel a little like Jake from The Blues Brothers, the Jake who, while on the defensive when confronted with his failings, comes up with a laundry list of excuses including earthquakes, flat tires, a lost tuxedo, a stolen car, floods and locusts: "It wasn't my fault, I swear to God!" Yup, Jake, I empathize. After going through an excellent month of EverQuest on The Game Archaeologist here, I had every intention to marinate in old-fashioned EQ goodness for the very first time in my life. I set several evenings aside, put on my chainmail bikini and Viking hat, and told the computer to, I quote, "Bring it on." Then the floods and locusts happened, in the form of a number of personal crises compounded by an unexpectedly difficult time just getting into the EverQuest Escape to Norrath unlimited trial. I don't know what's going on over at SOE, but the signup for this trial simply doesn't work. I followed the directions and downloaded the client, but the next screen (which contained the activation key) never appeared. It appears that I'm not alone dealing with this frustrating experience, but long story short, I eventually created a second account to just get the 14-day trial (instead of the unlimited one) to get in the game. By then I was down to just a mere two evenings of EverQuest trompings, which I knew would not be enough to satisfy the fans looking for an in-depth impressions of their favorite game. So I have to throw myself on your mercy and tell you that I played it, but not nearly as much as I should've. That said, it definitely was an intriguing expedition from which I took away quite a few notes and during which I at least had the opportunity to get my feet wet. What is EverQuest like to an experienced MMO player who's coming to the game for the first time over a decade after it released? Hit the jump and let's see how far down this rabbit hole goes!
SOE shows off DC Universe Online newbie video
For those of you who haven't run through DC Universe Online's tutorial instance 36,000 times by now, SOE has posted a new video to its Facebook page previewing a bit of the goings on aboard Brainiac's prison/invasion/newbie ship. The one-minute clip is full of furious fists, physics-based combat and flying containers -- and in a bit of a spoiler -- the Man of Steel himself shows up to lend newbs a helping hand. Curiously, Superman's video voiceover isn't performed by Adam Baldwin, but other than that, the footage is exactly what you'll experience after you've fired up DCUO's character creator and taken your first steps into a larger world. Check it out after the cut and visit the game's official website for more details.
HTC HD2 can now dual-boot Windows Phone 7 and Android, promises to love them equally
You've seen Windows Phone 7 and Android both ported to the stately HTC HD2, now how about having them on the same device at the same time? Well, not literally at the same time, that'd be all sorts of confusing, but the restless souls over at xda-developers have figured out multiple ways to install both WP7 and Android on the HD2 while using the same SD card. We've looked at them and none of the methods seem particularly trivial or, you know, easy, but then what would be the point of a dual-boot solution if everyone could just up and do it? Detailed instructions await at the source link. [Thanks, engadgeteer]
Reader UI of the Week: 2010 roundup
Each week, WoW Insider brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots, along with info on what mods you're using, to readerui@wow.com. Happy 2011, everyone! I hope your New Year's was an excellent one. Reader UI of the Week is going to do things a bit differently today, as I return to where I began, so many months ago, and talk about the evolution of my own user interface as well as wrap up 2010 with a little review of the biggest things to take away from the column last year. In addition, we have a very generous offering from Vhei, last week's Reader UI of the Week, with a video describing how to achieve his setup and some links for the artwork. If you're an adventurous user, you may want to check that out.
Tutorial guides Kinect hackers into iRobot territory
Impressed by some of the Kinect hacks using a Roomba or iRobot Create but don't know where to start? Well, the folks at ROS have now provided just that in the form of a tutorial that guides you through the process of combining two of the most hackable devices of recent years. Of course, that's hardly just a plug-and-play process (hence the need for a lengthy tutorial), but ROS does give it a "beginner" rating, and it should be relatively straightforward for anyone with some basic hardware hacking skills. As for what you do once you get the two connected, well, you're on your own there -- but we're sure there will be plenty more tutorials where this one came from before too long.
Android Gingerbread officially teases you in Google's voice search video tutorial
Sure, we've already gorged ourselves on plenty of Gingerbread by way of Mr. Blurrycam and even Eric Schmidt himself, but it's only now that Google's officially (or accidentally) given us a tour around the next Android release. In a recent voice search video tutorial from Google Hong Kong, eagle-eyed peeps have spotted many tell-tale signs of Gingerbread on what appears to be a Nexus One. As you can see above, said firmware sports the previously-seen black status tray with its new icons, along with a subtly tweaked launcher bar at the bottom of the home screen. A quick peek in Settings also reveals the restyled buttons, as well as a new tab called "Related" or "Similar" on Market's app description page. Help yourself to some more spicy goodness before it's too late -- the video's right after the break (from 0:47). [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: Surprise surprise! Google's pulled the offending video, but fear not -- we've got a backup posted after the break. %Gallery-108671%
Wurm Online adds new tutorial, hybrid F2P/P2P server
Wurm Online, the Java-based sandbox MMORPG from OneTwoFree AB, has undergone a bit of a Thanksgiving makeover. The game itself features a shiny new tutorial, while players now have access to the new Freedom server, a shard that integrates both paying customers and F2P types into a single space. Wurm features two account types, basic and premium, both of which may be created for free at the game's official website. Basic accounts function as an extended trial and feature limits on characteristics and skills (20) as well as faith and fervor (30). Basic accounts also cannot access The Wilds PvP server. "We think that it is best for the game if new players can play with the more experienced ones to learn the game and see the possibilities, and we have been taking a lot of precautions in order for this to work," says CEO and designer Rolf Jannson.
Zentia shows off pet and mount videos
Pay attention, MMO pet and mount fans. ChangYou.com has some new videos focusing on Zentia's furry (and scaly) companions that you might want to check out. Over the course of the two-part video series, producer David Markowitz discusses everything from how to obtain your first pet, to basics about the interface, to the care and feeding of your pets and mounts. You can even use your pet as an automatic route to your destination in the game world, and the vids will show you how. You'll also learn about pet storage slots, battle vs. travel mounts, and pet upgrade items. Oh, and over half of the creatures you see in the Zentia game world can be captured and trained as pets or mounts, offering a ton of visual variety. All in all, the videos are pretty invaluable for both Zentia and MMO pet fans. Check them out after the break or on the official forums.
The Road to Mordor: Do-over! Do-over!
This past week I took a break from kowtowing to the haughty elves of Lothlórien and their super-secret elf club to start up a couple alts. It was ultimately a good decision, as I ended up both digging my new lore-master and getting to sample first-hand the many changes that Turbine made to the new player experience. In mega-patches like this recent one, revamping the starter experience tends to be overlooked by all. Unless they're itching to roll an alt -- like I am -- current players won't be on hand to witness the changes, and completely new players to the game lack the knowledge of how it used to be in order to appreciate how it's been improved. But unsung improvements or no, Turbine's done an excellent job of smoothing out an already-engaging lowbie journey with a startling number of tweaks. I certainly didn't expect there to be so many, but since I have done the 1-20 run umpteen times in the past few years, it felt like a breath of fresh air to me. So what's all sparkly and different? Is the road to Mordor paved with good decisions (see what I did there)? Reroll a baby-faced adventurer with me and hit the jump!
How To: Add contact information to your Mac's login screen
If you believe in the kindness of strangers, this tip might be for you. Most laptop users fear that their computer will be lost or stolen. Assuming that the right sort of person finds your laptop, however, they might be willing to return it to its rightful owner, if they knew how to contact you. It is possible to add a short message to the login screen of your Mac. The easiest way to do that is by using Onyx; click on the Parameters tab, and then type your message into the area shown above. I suggest including your name, phone number, and whatever else you think increases your chances of getting it back. This won't help if a thief has ripped off your MacBook while you weren't looking, but it just might help if you accidentally leave it in a cab and someone trustworthy gets in next. Hey, it could happen! Note that "certain special characters" includes ( ), so if you want to include a phone number, I suggest using a format such as xxx-xxx-xxxx.
Wasteland Diaries: New paint job
The Fallen Earth 1.6 patch is a couple days old now, and I've had a chance to check out some of its features. I've painted more vehicles than Earl Scheib this week. I was able to test the respec injectors on the Public Test Server (PTS). I haven't tried them on the live server yet, but I have a few misallocated points that aren't serving much of a purpose. I was able to run through the new, extended tutorial with a brand-new clone. And the Fallen Earth team has given us the ability to flag ourselves for PvP anywhere, anytime. This should prove interesting. If you have been waiting on the sidelines for the next patch or are wondering what new things are in store for us, I will give you a breakdown of the new stuff I have been able to check out myself after the cut. The patch is only a few days old, but I have been trying to experience the new features to the fullest in that short time.
