The English-speaking World of Warcraft site WoW Insider was shut down by AOL yesterday. Today it is back under a new name and with its own flag, having reached its first funding goal after 6 hours.
As part of a restructuring at AOL (we reported), the US WoW site WoW Insider, the MMO site Massively, and the general gaming site Joystiq were closed yesterday.
At WoW Insider, it seems they were well prepared for the step. They immediately relaunched as Blizzard Watch. Under a new name and on their own, part of the old guard wants to give it another try: “Free from the chains of the corporation,” as Alex Ziebart writes, who was editor-in-chief at WoW Insider and is now his own boss at Blizzard Watch.
Through Patreon, a crowdfunding site where patrons, known as backers, pledge monthly support, they had already gathered the 8000 dollars a month needed for a “full service” after just 6 hours. Just a few hours later, the extended goal of 10,000 dollars a month was already surpassed. The site will also be supported by advertising.
Blizzard Watch aims to become structurally more open, free from the tight structures and constraints of AOL, to choose topics more freely and perhaps also report on other Blizzard games.
The MMO gaming site “massively” is also set to be revived by former employees on their own. However, they are not yet at the point of presenting a new site.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the expansion Heart of Thorns, Guild Wars 2 aims to tackle the big issues in the MMORPG genre, drawing inspiration from Legend of Zelda.
In an interview with IGN, ArenaNet reveals its plans for Guild Wars 2 and the Heart of Thorns expansion, aiming to creatively solve some of the typical MMORPG problems. Players should not just rush linearly through a zone to the end. And players should not feel stronger just because a number goes up.
The zone should be multi-layered and non-linear
The new zone Heart of Maguuma, the jungle zone, will be designed to be experienced “vertically”. It will grow both upward and downward. It will have three levels:
The canopy – above the jungle, here you can see the remnants of the destroyed airship fleet and many vines and adventures.
The ground – here you get the typical jungle feeling.
The underground – and here players should be able to discover some dark secrets.
Guild Wars 2 does not want a linear zone that a game simply plows through, but rather multiple layers that open progressively.
But how do you ensure that it feels good for players that parts of the zones remain hidden at first and then open up?
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This is where the new “Masteries” come into play, the new progression system of Heart of Thorns. They do not want to make players “stronger” by increasing a number by a few points. A power creep, an increase of the level cap, or new weapon tiers is not an option for ArenaNet.
Players should truly learn new traits through the mastery system.
Just like back in Legend of Zelda, where Link received a new tool and could then eliminate an obstacle to open a new layer of the world.
Something similar is planned with Heart of Thorns. The player will get to know a new jungle tribe, the Itzel, learn their language over time, and see the jungle through their eyes. The player will be able to swing through new heights with the glider to reach extraordinary places.
With these new abilities, fights are also set to become easier. There will be mobs that you just can’t get past, because the counter to certain abilities is still lacking. And when you later receive new “tools”, new “abilities”, it will be immediately clear what you could use them for.
This is the goal they are aiming for: “I am now more powerful! But not because a number went up, but because I have this new tool!”
The team at Red 5 has now welcomed Chinese players to their MMO shooter Firefall in a truly bizarre music video.
Firefall is set to release in China at the end of March, and this video serves, as mmoculture writes, likely as their greeting for the Chinese New Year.
In the intro, someone with a panda as an avatar asks Margery Tran, a video producer at Red 5, if she can tell the colleagues at The9 what it is like to work at Red 5. Tran and the team at Red 5 actually have no time, but then have an idea…
And “What is it like to work at Red 5?” triggers a kind of “rap” attack from the entire development team in the video for Firefall.
The guys and gals are having a great time and the whole thing is filled with a massive amount of self-irony.
By the way, if you’re wondering, isn’t that Tony Rey, the community manager of WildStar, who can be seen at 1:46? Yes, it really is him. He was at Red 5 before Carbine.
After several weeks of beating the ogres of Highmountain in World of Warcraft, the new Patch 6.1 brings some variety. The new instance Blackrock Foundry will confront players with the Iron Horde. Who is expecting the raiders in the new raid content?
Everything new… not quite
Initially, the new instance will only be unlocked for normal and heroic difficulty levels. Long-time WoW players will also find the first boss familiar. While Gruul had his own cave in the Burning Crusade addon, this time he has to share his hideout with 9 other boss companions. By the way, the T17 set awaits brave heroes in the Blackrock Foundry.
Orcs and other creatures
After Gruul, you will face the Ironcrusher. A creature that seems rather cute but likes to throw acid around. With the Smelting Collective, a somewhat different encounter comes next – to be precise – 8 encounters. The raid lead is surely looking forward to explaining every ability of the individual Smelting members. After the orc group, Hans’gar and Franzok await the raid group.
Only the developers know why Blizzard relies on Old High German names here. Following the final boss are more orcs and a living figure like Kologarn from Ulduar. The creativity in designing boss types has once again been limited.
Didn’t I blow him up?
As a high-ranking representative of the Iron Horde, Blackhand awaits as the final boss in the Blackrock Foundry. Yes, Blackhand has, unsurprisingly, survived the explosion in the harbor of Shattrath. In 3 phases, the Grumpy Orc attempts to take you down. If this still seems too difficult on Normal mode, you will have to wait until February 17. Only then will the first LFR wing open. However, you can also pass the time with the new world boss, Rukhmar. Or you can play 100 characters at level 100.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny, a group of Titans has taken on the Crotas End raid – and they did it without firing a single shot.
Gjallarhorn, Icebreaker, Thunderlord, Black Spindle, Word of Crota – and all the deadly instruments that usually spell doom for the Hive in Crota’s End. All the iconic weapons of Destiny stayed holstered this time.
Because a group of wild Titans has faced the “Crotas End” raid now without any of these firearms. The goal was to complete the raid solely with the power of their fists (and some grenades).
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A proper cult has formed around the Titan class. Likely triggered by the Titans themselves. Some refer to themselves as “Punchbro” or “Bubblebro” and have made it their mission to punch everyone and anyone in Destiny at least once. If Bungie were to turn Xur or Rahool into a punching bag for a day, that would surely be Titan’s Paradise.
The role of the gruff front-liner appeals to many players. Among Titans in social networks and forums, there is often a somewhat beer-fueled and casual camaraderie.
They rarely take the spotlight in the game. In the video, in which only two Guardians took on Crota in Hard Mode, the Hunter was the sword-bearer and star, while the Titan set up his Bubble, supported, and stayed more in the background.
A bit of the underdogs in Destiny, they want to prove to Warlocks and Hunters that they can also accomplish everything on their own. Hence, it seemed just a matter of time before these devilish fellows would tackle Crotas End. The simple reason for not having a Warlock or Hunter with them, but sticking together, was: “Why only with Titans? Quite simple… TITANS ARE AWESOME!”
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Fun is the Focus in Unconventional Raid in Destiny
The three videos of the Titans as they brawl through Crotas End serve as a reminder of what video games should be about: The guys are simply having a blast.
Bubbles are being placed, the impossible is attempted in some spots, and surprisingly handled quite skillfully. Again and again, they marvel at the fact that it’s actually working (“Why is this working?”).
And when at the end, even Crota has nothing left to counter the combined Titan power, the joy is immense.
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In South Korea, the addiction to online games is a major problem. The government has released advertisements to raise awareness. However, they went too far. In them, an elderly woman was hit to highlight the reality detachment of gamers.
As Kotaku reports, the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare launched an advertising campaign two weeks ago. The videos targeted video game addiction. Through them, players lose all connection to reality.
Some questions arise in the ad: “Do you hear video game music even when you’re not playing?”, “Can you tell the difference between the real world and the video game world?”, “Do some things look like characters from a video game to you?”
The criticism of the ads was primarily focused on one scene where a delirious video game junkie assaulted a nice grandma because he mistook her for a dark villain. This received so much backlash that they decided to create a toned-down version of the ad without this scene.
Here is the original ad (unfortunately without sound):
http://youtu.be/D7Suuxeqjo4
And here is the now toned-down ad (with sound):
http://youtu.be/Ypy7-2h-2eA
Cover image: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Guild Wars 2, players are now granted a first glimpse into the jungle of Maguuma. The wild trip in the video feels like a journey into Jurassic Park.
One minute and forty-three seconds is the duration of the trip into the jungle of Maguuma, the first glimpse that ArenaNet grants to colleagues from IGN. We have the video for you. It is already clear here what model ArenaNet was inspired by: The aesthetics clearly correspond to Spielberg’s hit “Jurassic Park.”
Untouched nature, wondrous beings, harmonious images repeatedly interrupted by the dynamic processes in this secluded biotope.
It definitely looks like an exciting, wonderful, new zone that is coming to the players of Guild Wars 2 with Heart of Thorns.
In Destiny, Bungie has now commented on the new leak regarding House of Wolves. They welcomed the passion with which players discussed the “information” but pointed out that these are outdated armors and weapons. They referred to them as months-old ghosts.
Yesterday, a Japanese user posted images of a whole bunch of weapons and armors on the English forum reddit. These are supposed to be available with the next DLC “House of Wolves.” We reported on the leak yesterday. Now Bungie has also commented on it.
“Wow, those are really nice pictures of armors and weapons!” said the community manager DeeJ. Everyone loves a “nice leak.” But these images are months-old placeholder items that were designed before the release of Destiny.
In the meantime, they have learned a lot from the players. A dedicated team is working on the expansion “House of Wolves” and they have some surprises up their sleeves. Other than the title, Bungie has not officially said anything about “House of Wolves.” Everything could still change.
Particular excitement was caused by the picture of a vendor, where it was apparent that the new armor would rise to a light level of 39. This would make it stronger than the current armor in the raid Crota’s End. Bungie had recently ruled that out.
The items here are meant to be placeholders, occupying a spot on the players’ hard drives that can later be taken over by the real weapons. DeeJ then ended with a modified Star-Wars quote: “These are not necessarily the wolves you are looking for.”
Regarding the controversially discussed supposed release date of May 19, there was no information or comment. As of now, it was assumed that a release would be on March 10. But that was also based only on speculation.
The biggest (and unfortunately almost the only) change in this patch are the two story-based flashpoints that players have already experienced during “Shadow of Revan” – these are now also available in hard mode. To entice well-equipped veterans into the instances, there are a few very special rewards waiting.
There is one “command walker” as a hovercraft, where one should rather speak of “small tanks”. Fans of the strongholds will also get their money’s worth, as they can acquire some particularly beautiful decorations, such as a crate full of illumination probes or a main computer terminal that has some performances in store. But there is also something new for clothing fetishists (read: role players), the Massassi equipment set is waiting for new owners who want to show it off.
Start of the 4th PvP Season
Simultaneously with the release of the patch on February 12, the 4th PvP season begins, and it has already been announced that it will only last until patch 3.2. Exact details about the associated new equipment items have not been disclosed yet, as some fine-tuning will probably still be done before the patch hits the live servers this Sunday.
All in all, while this is not a substantial patch, the two hard flashpoints with their new rewards should at least sweeten one or the other evening.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A Japanese player seems to have gained access to the next DLC “House of Wolves” in Destiny. At least, some pics of those new weapons and armors that vendors in the Tower will sell are now circulating.
A mysterious post has appeared on the US forum Reddit a few hours ago. A Japanese player claims – in relatively difficult to understand English – that he has gained access to the DLC “House of Wolves”. And he posts Ingame screens as proof of the “new” weapons and armors of the vendors in the Tower. We have summarized them for you in three galleries.
Furthermore, there is a “Announcement” screen showing House of Wolves with a new storyline, a new exclusive raid, three new Crucible maps, and a new strike. So far, this is something one might have already guessed.
However, the screen also shows: Hundreds of new weapons, armors, and gear. Sounds interesting and that was not to be expected.
In principle, you can already see the armors “in-game” on the screens, which data miners have found and which were purchased from the vendors in the Tower.
There are also images of a new Nightfall, which is then probably tuned to level 32.
Release date of House of Wolves on May 19?
It’s not entirely clear from the Reddit post whether and how the user has also obtained a release date. Initially, one assumed after the big leak in early January that it would be in March. The Japanese user mentions something about May 19.
As mentioned, this is all not official, but it looks very “real”. Keep in mind: The weapons on which the screens are based are already “in the game”, but the items are not yet obtainable. And they do not necessarily have to go live like this.
Here are images of the new Warlock armor:
And here are images of a bunch of new weapons that are said to be available from the Vanguard vendors.
And here are more weapons, this time from the Crucible:
The current vendor weapons start at 272 and go up to 331 damage. The House of Wolves weapons here should then, if they start at 300, probably go up to 365.
Today is finally the day, the next big content patch for WildStar, the “Protogames Initiative”, is on the starting blocks, and while you read this, you probably can already download it.
We summarize once more what changes and expansions the patch brings and tell you whether the game is still worth a look.
Itemization
One of the biggest annoyances in WildStar was previously the rather poorly implemented itemization, which is now being addressed, at least in the PvE area. Finally, there is a clearly recognizable progression curve, and you know in which order you can tackle the different content.
As a fresh level 50, you should start with the veteran ship missions, which are also being introduced in this patch. Once equipped there, adventures, then dungeons, and finally raid instances await brave visitors. In summary, character progression should now feel much more logical and comprehensible.
Fragment Zero and Veteran Ship Missions
The new ship mission is accessible from level 6 and is supposed to represent the very first step into the world of group content of WildStar – if you want, you can of course also tackle it alone, as it scales with the number of group members, as usual.
Small cinematics and data cubes are a novelty for these small missions, but the “old” ship missions also receive an overhaul: All can now be visited in veteran mode at max level!
Fresh level 50s should therefore take a detour into the previously often undiscovered mini-instances, which can now also be easily accessed through the group finder and no longer need to be discovered in the world.
The Protostar Academy
WildStar is to become more accessible, and not just since yesterday.With the new instance for level 10, “Protostar Academy”, they are taking this announcement seriously!
Hardly has one set foot on Nexus, one can already face the challenges of this small dungeon and is gradually introduced to the difficulties of a “real” instance.
Unusual mechanics, such as interruption protection (“Interrupt-Armor”), are explained to you in short boss fights. Gradually, other mechanics come into play: environmental effects that must be avoided, additional minions that a boss summons, or different phases of a fight, until at the end of the instance you really feel like you’ve mastered a real challenge.
The academy will not lower the challenging difficulty of the other instances, but will at least better prepare new or inexperienced players. However, there is no heroic version of this dungeon – it is meant to be just a tutorial.
The Ultimate Protogames
If the academy is too boring, you can also grab 4 friends and plunge into the Protostar game show. This dungeon is relatively easy to conquer, but if you want to achieve really good performance, you’ll probably have several days of hard work ahead of you.
Overall, heroes of the Dominion and Exiles can expect 6 rooms to master each time. 3 of these are fixed boss encounters, while the other 3 are randomly selected from a pool of 8 event rooms.
It will thus take a while to experience all possible combinations. Depending on performance in the individual rooms, you receive a score – after all, it is a game show – that will determine bonus loot at the end. Although the instance also drops quite good rewards at low scores, those who really want the best gear should prepare for long evenings, during which they must overcome much proto-football and even more angry vending machines.
Many More Adjustments
In addition to these highlights, there are of course a multitude of changes that are more cosmetic in nature or that enhance the general “quality of life” within the game. Especially in the area of housing, players should take another look, as many more adjustments can now be made to create their dream home – or a stinky dump with plush figures, if that is what they like.
Conclusion: In any case, everyone who still has some CREDD on the high side should take another look at WildStar – and everyone else should at least consider it, as the game is still progressing and improving with each patch.
[pullquote]Less grindy, more fun[/pullquote]
I personally have a pretty good feeling about the patch, which has also been strengthened by an exclusive stream with the developers. If you’ve always wanted to try another class, you’ll be pleased to know: Between levels 16 and 49, you get 15% more experience points through all quests, which will eliminate some dry spells (especially in the far ends). “Less grindy, more fun” was one of the big goals for this patch.
If leveling was “too casual” and instances were “too hardcore”, you should find your way back to Nexus now at the latest – as the development is now significantly more linear, noticeably more thought out. Just better.
In this must-see trailer, you can watch the features of the monster update in moving images:
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For the dark fantasy MMO Rift the new content patch 3.1 has been released last week. The trailer shows a distinct steam-punk orientation.
Steam-punk refers to a genre that leans toward “old-fashioned science fiction”, featuring steam-driven, mechanical robots. A world where everything crashes, hisses, and hums. As if the fever-dream technological fantasies circulating in late 19th century Victorian England had come true, and as if it were no problem to create an artificial intelligence from a tangle of gears, oil, and a lot of metal.
In the quite barren world of Rift, this aesthetic is embraced with patch 3.1. “Storm at Sea”. What awaits players on the new island and especially in the 3-boss raid Tyrannenschmiede, we have already introduced to you here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The fantasy MMO Final Fantasy XIV will support the Heavensward expansion with DX 11, making it look even prettier. Rumors about a possible port to the Xbox are currently unconfirmed. However, there are hints about it.
In the Live Producer Letter, a video letter, the mastermind of FF XIV, Naoki Yoshida, announced that with the expansion Heavensward it will also support DX 11, which will ensure smoother water animations. This is confirmed and certain.
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Yoshida wishes that “all players” can play Final Fantasy in the same world together. Yoshida has spoken on this topic on several occasions. He wants to clearly bring FF XIV to Xbox, is willing to compromise, but it’s up to Microsoft. Officially, there is nothing new on this topic.
However, during the Live Letter, Yoshida clearly and noticeably held an Xbox controller up to the camera. For the site dualshockers , this is a sign that an announcement could be coming soon. In the past, Yoshida has frequently made hints that were followed by announcements shortly after.
Dualshockers lists the following circumstances as evidence that there might be more than mere coincidence behind this: A controller like this has never appeared before, it was prominently placed, was not needed during the presentation, and at the beginning of January Microsoft introduced cross-platform possibilities between PC and Xbox One with Windows 10.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny, the week begins on Tuesday with the Nightfall. This week, the weekly Strike is against the Archon Priest on Venus.
This week’s Nightfall is a surprise. Tagged “Taste the Rainbow,” it is described as somewhat crazy, “A bit of everything,” like in the Skittles commercial.
This week, as in the last, a so-called Triple Burn is active: All three elemental damage types deal significantly increased damage. The target of the weekly Nightfall Strike this week, from February 3rd to February 10th at 10:00 AM, is Aksor, the Archon Priest on Venus in the Strike Winter’s Run.
He hasn’t been in rotation for a while. Since a safe spot under the stairs for the final boss Aksor was fixed, he hasn’t appeared.
The modifiers for the weekly Nightfall Strike in the week of February 3rd.
Nightfall – if the entire fireteam dies in the battle against the Archon Priest, it goes back to orbit
Epic – the enemies are significantly stronger than in the heroic weekly Strike
Solar Burn – solar damage is significantly increased, applies to enemies and Guardians alike
Void Burn – void damage is also increased
Arc Burn – and arc damage is as well, yes, it’s a Triple Burn again
The weekly heroic Strike has the modifier Void Burn active.
What weapons should you bring?
This week, the focus is again on: Elemental damage is key.
Weapons with high range like Black Hammer, Ice Breaker, or even Gjallarhorn could hit hard here. The Strike Winter’s Run has some “higher-up” sniper spots from which you can decimate opposing enemies. This is particularly important for solo runs.
For the primary slot, the goal is: Elemental damage is key. Perhaps Atheon’s Epilogue, Fatebringer, or one of the new Crota weapons. Many want to experiment with Word of Crota to see if they can handle Fatebringer.
Tips and guides for the Nightfall on February 3rd.
The strategies for the Nightfall aren’t set in stone yet; it’s been too long since it was last configured this way. However, a Triple Burn is generally a reason to celebrate because everything flies nicely into the air. And especially when you’re running with three players, it can get explosive. If the enemies die quickly, you can revive losses.
If you are running solo, it looks different. Here, it is crucial to keep your head down and regenerate after each hit.
Throughout the day, we will upload videos and clips from Guardians who have completed the Strike Winter’s Run against the Archon Priest. You’ll usually find good tips and tricks on how to do it efficiently or creatively. Until then, you can read our post from October 8th, as the Nightfall was last active in this combination in Destiny.
In the first video, you can see the experienced three-player team around Nexxos Gaming in action. The Titan’s loadout is exquisite, featuring the solar weapons Black Hammer and Gjallarhorn. The primary slot includes Ir Yût’s Fang, the new scout rifle with arc damage, which is recommended for dealing with Captains. Gjallarhorn is complemented by Ruinenflügel. It is a relatively calm walkthrough with explanations and tips about the individual spots. Special care is required for Hobgoblin snipers. And at the end with Aksor, there is a safe spot, a cheese spot.
http://youtu.be/iRPG1OnYjk4 In a two-player team, these guys are out there. The perspective holder has Fatebringer, Ice Breaker, and either Gjallarhorn or the Void machine gun Zombie Apocalypse. It’s a run without commentary, with a lot of sniping, and at some points, it feels a bit like an Ice Breaker commercial. The Strike just screams for it. For Aksor, you go up onto the hill.
http://youtu.be/CZiwv8rCd0Y And for the really tough players, here’s a solo walkthrough at the end. With Crota’s pulse rifle Corruption of the Soul, Ice Breaker, and a Void machine gun, you’ll quickly pass through the critical spots. Perhaps inspiration for anyone who wishes to try it solo in Destiny this week. As seen in the videos, it is indeed precarious. Because with Triple Burn, one can not only kill easily but also enemies can do so as well. http://youtu.be/Q9OvG0S2BEg
In the survival MMO H1Z1 there will be a first wipe this week. Additionally, they plan to reduce the number of weapons and ammunition in the game soon.
It has been announced for a while, and some have demanded it loudly, to get rid of the dupes in the game: The survival MMO H1Z1 will likely make a fresh start this week, clearing the table and deleting everything. This includes the players’ characters, their names, and the state of the various servers.
No one at DGA knows for sure if everything will work this week, if the wipe will happen, and if the changes will take effect. However, according to producer Steve George, it is “very likely.”
#H1Z1 You can most likely expect a Character/World wipe sometime this week. Get those screenshots while you can!
A patch is expected to be deployed soon that will shift the loot slider in the world of H1Z1 back to the left. Currently, there are too many weapons and too much ammunition in the game. The developers have probably overdone it after the initial scarcity and are now adjusting accordingly. A corresponding patch could still follow during the day today, Tuesday, February 3rd.
we’re toning down guns and ammo you find btw. way too much out there.
A fourth grader in Texas was expelled from elementary school because, in the eyes of the school administration, he threatened a classmate with “the one ring” from Lord of the Rings. He told a friend he could make him disappear. Quite a terrorist act, in a way.
Jason Steward, the father of the fourth grader, shared this bizarre yet true story with a newspaper in Texas last week. His nine-year-old son had watched the third part of The Hobbit over the weekend (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies). The next day, he brought a ring to school and told a classmate he could make him disappear if he put on the ring.
As a result, the student was expelled from school with the announcement from the principal that threatening other children would not be tolerated, regardless of whether those threats were of a magical or other nature.
As the boy’s father assured the newspaper, his son does not possess the necessary magical abilities to make his friend disappear. And if he did make him disappear, he would certainly bring him back right away.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the Racing MMO The Crew, seeing crazy car stunts is not surprising, but this slide between two school buses is still more than worth seeing. A completely different kind of car stunt can be admired in SOE’s H1Z1. Or should we rather say in DBG’s H1Z1?
Every week, there are very special moments in the MMOs we cover, which are sometimes captured on YouTube and are more than worth a look. This week in Ubisoft’s “The Crew,” there is an extraordinary stunt on snowy roads.
In H1Z1, we present a moment when two players in a Battle Royale are surprisingly caught off guard by a speeding police car, but somehow, it does not go according to plan.
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Sony Online Entertainment, the MMO studio behind MMOs like Everquest Next, H1Z1, PlanetSide 2 or DC Universe Online, will no longer belong to Sony, but will continue as Daybreak Game Company.
Sony Online Entertainment has been purchased by the investment firm Columbus Nova, as the studio announces.
All games will remain, for the players nothing will change, as they write in a post to friends, partners, and players. This change means that they will essentially proceed as an “independent software studio” and will now also be able to develop on other platforms: Yes, also for Xbox and mobile.
At SOE, they expect even more resources from the transition.
New Name Daybreak Game Company
As part of the transition process, they will leave the name SOE behind and continue under the name “Daybreak Game Company”.
SOE’s president John Smedley repeatedly posted on Twitter that nothing will change for the players and that he is looking forward to developing for Xbox. Smedley later explicitly mentioned the possibility of H1Z1 and DC Universe Online for Xbox.
All of our games are still here and will continue to be 🙂
As Jason Epstein, one of the senior partners of Columbus Nova, informs, John Smedley will remain president of the studio. They hope for much from the collaboration, considering SOE a valuable addition to the portfolio and citing the successful early access of H1Z1 as one of the many examples of the talent and dedication of SOE employees.
Smedley was one of the founders of Sony Online Entertainment in 1995. The studio established itself as an MMO specialist over the past twenty years with games like Everquest, Everquest 2, Star Wars Galaxies or Vanguard. At the moment, they have two hot projects with the survival MMO H1Z1 and the upcoming MMORPG Everquest Next.
Controversy over H1Z1 early access appears in a new light
Mein MMO says: Oops. How this will affect things remains to be seen in the future. It sounds positive, as it is presented. However, it has often been shown in the past that such extreme changes do not always bring only good things.
Now the repeated accusation of why a “huge corporation like Sony” relies so much on early access as SOE does with H1Z1 appears in a different light. SOE is not the “huge corporation Sony”, but just a studio under this giant roof. Or “was,” as must now be said. Good luck to Daybreak Game Company.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In H1Z1 the fight against cheaters and hackers has been taken up, and with some enjoyment.
Sony Online Entertainment, led by President John Smedley, likes to brag that they are so tough on “hackers” and “cheats” in their games that even the big “black sites” eventually stop developing new cheats for SOE games, as it proves to be unprofitable.
Even in the Early Access game H1Z1, the fight against cheaters is taken up with delight. This is showing results.
There are threads on reddit where “Statements from the Banned” are compiled. They complain that they have been caught again. Some are already on their 4th account. Meanwhile, access to H1Z1 still costs $20.
At SOE, they apparently like such image collections. As combat designer Jimmy Whisenhunt wryly commented on Twitter: “Dear hackers, we’re sorry that some of you can no longer play. Thank you for your tears and donations. More bans are coming.”
Dear #H1Z1 cheaters: Sorry some of you suddenly can’t play anymore, your donation and tears are greatly appreciated. More bans inc.
The building-and-digging game Landmark pays tribute to its players and their creations with a video memorial.
One year has passed since Landmark was released, and what has happened in that year is showcased by SOE in a spectacular video. It emphasizes the great and creative players they have found at Landmark. These served as inspiration and repeatedly showed the Everquest Next developers what is possible with the development tools.
Players’ creations are becoming bigger, prettier, and more innovative. They also want to involve player feedback in other aspects of Everquest Next. For instance, they listen to their suggestions regarding the design of the races.
As mentioned in the video, Landmark is just about to enter an Open Beta.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
