https://massivelyop.com MMORPG news and opinions Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:56:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/21/from-the-depths-world-of-warships-teases-key-mechanics-changes-to-subs-and-aircraft-carriers/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/21/from-the-depths-world-of-warships-teases-key-mechanics-changes-to-subs-and-aircraft-carriers/#respond Thu, 21 Dec 2023 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=472801 World of Warships is a title that seems to be under constant scrutiny for community interactions, aggressive monetization, and the deployment of random mechanics and FOMO to generate revenue instead of thoughtful game design based on player feedback. Still, underneath all the muck and grime is a unique core gameplay style that does not exist […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/21/from-the-depths-world-of-warships-teases-key-mechanics-changes-to-subs-and-aircraft-carriers/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/21/some-assembly-required-grand-theft-online-roleplay-is-a-tough-nut-to-crack/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/21/some-assembly-required-grand-theft-online-roleplay-is-a-tough-nut-to-crack/#comments Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=466811 A few months ago, I discovered the world of Red Dead Online roleplay. The possibility of interacting with other players and discovering mechanics in the world of RDO was an interesting diversion from the more traditional games I normally frequent. Certainly, I enjoyed my time there, but Red Dead RP has one serious problem: Not […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/21/some-assembly-required-grand-theft-online-roleplay-is-a-tough-nut-to-crack/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/01/why-i-play-palia-is-cozy-and-fun-but-why-is-it-multiplayer-and-where-is-it-going/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/01/why-i-play-palia-is-cozy-and-fun-but-why-is-it-multiplayer-and-where-is-it-going/#comments Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=455044 On paper, Palia seems like it wouldn’t interest me. It is a lighthearted jaunt through a bright, cartoonish environment that involves building relationships with villagers and progressing through many tiers of gathering and crafting.  But for some reason, I get a warm, cozy feeling when I click the “login” button, even though I have yet […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/01/why-i-play-palia-is-cozy-and-fun-but-why-is-it-multiplayer-and-where-is-it-going/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/28/player-feedback-and-a-blast-of-review-bombing-forces-world-of-warships-to-overhaul-event-rewards/ Mon, 28 Aug 2023 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=455060 World of Warships players have apparently joined the throngs of gaming review bombers and are taking to Steam reviews to voice their displeasure with the game’s development since the abrupt closure of the official forums last month. The latest dust-up was triggered by an announced nerf to rewards offered for participants of the Warships anniversary […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/06/17/mmo-burnout-dramatic-labs-finds-the-right-tone-for-star-trek-resurgence/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/06/17/mmo-burnout-dramatic-labs-finds-the-right-tone-for-star-trek-resurgence/#comments Sat, 17 Jun 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=444571 As a longtime gamer and observer of the industry, I know it can be tough to get excited about new announcements and releases. We’re bombarded with tweets, press releases, and announcements daily, and seldom does anything new really catch our eye. However, when I saw the announcement that story-game specialists Dramatic Labs were releasing a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/06/17/mmo-burnout-dramatic-labs-finds-the-right-tone-for-star-trek-resurgence/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2023/05/12/some-assembly-required-read-dead-roleplay-servers-succeed-where-red-dead-online-failed/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/05/12/some-assembly-required-read-dead-roleplay-servers-succeed-where-red-dead-online-failed/#comments Fri, 12 May 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=439253 One of my all-time favorite single-player game experiences was Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2. The underserved Western genre is beautifully realized in this open-world classic. Unfortunately for MMO fans, the online version of Red Dead was severely lacking. After pushing through a few weeks with Red Dead Online, I put the franchise away for a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/05/12/some-assembly-required-read-dead-roleplay-servers-succeed-where-red-dead-online-failed/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/25/mmo-burnout-mass-effects-legendary-edition-modernizes-a-classic/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/25/mmo-burnout-mass-effects-legendary-edition-modernizes-a-classic/#comments Sat, 25 Mar 2023 16:00:31 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=431216 Most MMO players will admit to feeling the need to step away from the multiplayer genre from time to time. This seems especially true for those enjoying PvP games, which are typically filled with adrenaline, quick reflexes, and at times toxicity and varied amounts of salt. It recently occurred to me that I’ve been indulging […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/25/mmo-burnout-mass-effects-legendary-edition-modernizes-a-classic/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/16/why-i-play-black-matters-shooter-hell-let-loose-scratches-my-rts-itch/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/16/why-i-play-black-matters-shooter-hell-let-loose-scratches-my-rts-itch/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=426411 I’ve been playing multiplayer shooters since I discovered DOOM 2’s dialup modem DOS commands, and it’s a genre I find myself returning to every so often. Despite the sometimes toxic reputation of PvP shooters, there’s no denying that they’ve come a long way since the days of one-on-one deathmatch. Most recently, I’ve stumbled upon WWII […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/16/why-i-play-black-matters-shooter-hell-let-loose-scratches-my-rts-itch/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/30/from-the-depths-five-things-to-love-about-world-of-warships/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/30/from-the-depths-five-things-to-love-about-world-of-warships/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=419967 I guess it’s time to admit it: After nearly three years of daily play, I have no choice but to come to terms with the fact that World of Warships is my main game. As someone who enjoys MMOs and does not enjoy the way most free-to-play titles are monetized, this is no small thing. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/30/from-the-depths-five-things-to-love-about-world-of-warships/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/30/from-the-depths-free-to-play-world-of-warships-is-an-expensive-journey/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/30/from-the-depths-free-to-play-world-of-warships-is-an-expensive-journey/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=415623 When I first started playing MMO’s back in 2012, the hot debate of the time was subscription vs. free-to-play business models. Over the last 10 years, however, that conversation has mostly disappeared as subscriptions have become – for the most part – a way to get extras like experience and credit-making boosts. Game studios have […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/30/from-the-depths-free-to-play-world-of-warships-is-an-expensive-journey/feed/ 17 https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/03/a-huge-star-just-ruptured-in-eve-online-in-the-lead-up-to-the-uprising-expansion/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/03/a-huge-star-just-ruptured-in-eve-online-in-the-lead-up-to-the-uprising-expansion/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2022 13:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=412867 EVE Online is bringing in the forthcoming Uprising expansion with a bang, quite literally. According to CCP’s event lore, the Amarr empire placed experimental transmuter technology in the New Eden system of Turnur in an attempt to quickly and efficiently harvest stellar energy. But this equipment caused an unforeseen destabilization of the system’s star, resulting […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/03/a-huge-star-just-ruptured-in-eve-online-in-the-lead-up-to-the-uprising-expansion/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/06/world-of-warships-officially-adds-submarines-for-early-access/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/06/world-of-warships-officially-adds-submarines-for-early-access/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=408461 The tale of submarines in World of Warships is a long and twisted affair. According to Wargaming Publishing Director for Americas Artur Plociennik, players started asking about the addition “immediately after [the studio] released the game,” which was 2015. Even so, it wasn’t until a Halloween event in late 2018 that subs made their first […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/06/world-of-warships-officially-adds-submarines-for-early-access/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/29/stick-and-rudder-venturing-into-eve-onlines-nullsec/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/29/stick-and-rudder-venturing-into-eve-onlines-nullsec/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=406903 EVE Online is a game that offers many experiences, from NPC faction warfare to harvesting, refining, and building to market speculation. But the one thing that’s always fascinated me the most about the game is null security – nullsec – space and what EVE players have decided to do there. Those major headline-grabbing space battles? […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/29/stick-and-rudder-venturing-into-eve-onlines-nullsec/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/19/stick-and-rudder-robin-hood-scammer-claims-he-robbed-rich-eve-online-corp-of-100-billion-isk/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/19/stick-and-rudder-robin-hood-scammer-claims-he-robbed-rich-eve-online-corp-of-100-billion-isk/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=405929 EVE Online is a game that will certainly go down in MMO history as one of the most fascinating studies on human behavior to be conducted outside of a formal research environment. Tales of spies, lying, and backstabbing are nearly as legendary as the Guinness record-breaking fleet battles, and much more interesting. If reddit poster […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/19/stick-and-rudder-robin-hood-scammer-claims-he-robbed-rich-eve-online-corp-of-100-billion-isk/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/26/stick-and-rudder-so-youve-completed-the-eve-online-tutorial-now-what/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/26/stick-and-rudder-so-youve-completed-the-eve-online-tutorial-now-what/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=401859 Since rejoining the player ranks of EVE Online, I’ve noticed a common sentiment from fellow newbies: Most agree that the environment is beautiful, the ships are fun, and the prospect of discovering New Eden intriguing, but once the tutorial is completed, new players often feel lost and unsure of what to do next. We’re so […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/26/stick-and-rudder-so-youve-completed-the-eve-online-tutorial-now-what/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/05/stick-and-rudder-giving-eve-online-another-shot/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/05/stick-and-rudder-giving-eve-online-another-shot/#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=399001 I’m not really sure how to break this to you, dear reader, so I’ll just come out and say it. Oh rats, you already read the title of the post, didn’t you? In fact, that’s as far as 85% of you probably got, based on past observations of the comment threads, but here it is: […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/05/stick-and-rudder-giving-eve-online-another-shot/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/06/from-the-depths-fun-world-of-warships-warships-that-actually-existed/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/06/from-the-depths-fun-world-of-warships-warships-that-actually-existed/#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=395180 When World of Warships launched in 2015, the historical significance of the many ships researchable and purchasable within the game was taken into heavy consideration. As the years passed and new nations with smaller navies were introduced, many “paper ships” (as the community refers to them) have made their way into WoWs’ many battle modes. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/06/from-the-depths-fun-world-of-warships-warships-that-actually-existed/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/01/tamriel-infinium-the-elder-scroll-onlines-high-isle-brings-new-story-new-lands-and-a-new-card-game-to-tamriel/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/01/tamriel-infinium-the-elder-scroll-onlines-high-isle-brings-new-story-new-lands-and-a-new-card-game-to-tamriel/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=390315 It’s spring. The birds are chirping, the pollen is flying, and a young person’s thoughts turn to another major chapter release for The Elder Scrolls Online. The yearly ZeniMax release has become as steady and predictable as a city made of clockwork. Ahem, I said, “a city made of clockwork.” *Taps mic* Is this thing […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/01/tamriel-infinium-the-elder-scroll-onlines-high-isle-brings-new-story-new-lands-and-a-new-card-game-to-tamriel/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/11/lord-of-the-rings-actor-billy-boyd-joins-the-elder-scrolls-online-cast-for-high-isle/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/11/lord-of-the-rings-actor-billy-boyd-joins-the-elder-scrolls-online-cast-for-high-isle/#comments Wed, 11 May 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=387573 Iconic actor Billy Boyd is slated to join the cast of The Elder Scrolls Online in the upcoming High Isle chapter. Boyd is a film actor and singer/songwriter best known to geek audiences for portraying the bumbling but lovable hobbit Peregrin “Pippin” Took in Peter Jackson’s early-aughts Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Boyd will […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/11/lord-of-the-rings-actor-billy-boyd-joins-the-elder-scrolls-online-cast-for-high-isle/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/20/from-the-depths-everything-we-know-about-wargamings-exit-from-russia/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/20/from-the-depths-everything-we-know-about-wargamings-exit-from-russia/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=384559 Mixing gaming and politics is rough. Think back to the Blitzchung fiasco for Blizzard back in 2019. Or when Daybreak was (and then wasn’t) owned by Columbus Nova, which itself was owned (and then wasn’t) by Russian megacorp Renova. Understandably, companies steer clear of this kind of attention, but that navigation becomes all the more […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/20/from-the-depths-everything-we-know-about-wargamings-exit-from-russia/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/31/stick-and-rudder-revisiting-12-year-old-mmo-star-trek-online/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/31/stick-and-rudder-revisiting-12-year-old-mmo-star-trek-online/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=380622 Star Trek Online is an MMO released during the height of the “let’s grab an existing IP and make it into an MMO” craze of the early 2010s. While many of that era have since come and gone, STO continues to plod along, propped up by a fanatical base that enjoys sharing starship blueprints on […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/31/stick-and-rudder-revisiting-12-year-old-mmo-star-trek-online/feed/ 22 https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/01/wargaming-pledges-aid-to-ukrainian-red-cross-sacks-pro-invasion-developer/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/01/wargaming-pledges-aid-to-ukrainian-red-cross-sacks-pro-invasion-developer/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:00:44 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=377260 Politics can be a touchy subject, especially for a global company whose customers represent many diverse viewpoints. However, neutrality on the current state of world affairs can be even more difficult when major pieces of your company are located in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Last week, Cyprus-headquartered Wargaming – producer of MMOs World of Tanks, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/01/wargaming-pledges-aid-to-ukrainian-red-cross-sacks-pro-invasion-developer/feed/ 17 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/25/from-the-depths-checking-up-on-world-of-warships-community-promises/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/25/from-the-depths-checking-up-on-world-of-warships-community-promises/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=375880 Wargaming’s World of Warships had its share of controversies in 2021, some of which led to the resignation of many of its most prolific community contributors. In response, Wargaming released a dev blog detailing several areas of improvement they intended to pursue. More recently, a follow-up post has appeared touting some of the changes that […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/25/from-the-depths-checking-up-on-world-of-warships-community-promises/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/03/not-so-massively-shadow-of-war-plays-fast-and-loose-but-hits-the-mark/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/03/not-so-massively-shadow-of-war-plays-fast-and-loose-but-hits-the-mark/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=372672 Like many of you, I suspect, I have myriad games in my backlog. These neglected titles were typically obtained on sale at a point in time when my gaming life was consumed by another game or two. Most times, I even forget about them soon after purchase and only discover them again while auditing my […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/03/not-so-massively-shadow-of-war-plays-fast-and-loose-but-hits-the-mark/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/27/elder-scrolls-online-just-announced-the-high-isle-chapter-and-legacy-of-the-bretons/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/27/elder-scrolls-online-just-announced-the-high-isle-chapter-and-legacy-of-the-bretons/#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2022 20:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=372224 During this afternoon’s big reveal stream, ZeniMax Online Studios announced The Elder Scrolls Online’s major content update for this year’s Legacy of the Bretons year-long theme, as teased, promised, and then leaked. Yes, the next chapter will be called High Isle, and it will take place in an as-yet unexplored region of the Elder Scrolls universe: […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/27/elder-scrolls-online-just-announced-the-high-isle-chapter-and-legacy-of-the-bretons/feed/ 60 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/17/the-elder-scrolls-online-teases-2022-release-theme-with-mysterious-clues/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/17/the-elder-scrolls-online-teases-2022-release-theme-with-mysterious-clues/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=371111 Yesterday, streamers, podcasters, YouTubers, and lowly game journalists began receiving a suspicious package teasing the next year-long theme for The Elder Scrolls Online. The letter appears to have been intended for another (Magus) but was intercepted by someone named Lady Arabelle Davaeux and diverted from its intended destination. The note itself reads: Magus, Our knights […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/17/the-elder-scrolls-online-teases-2022-release-theme-with-mysterious-clues/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/08/from-the-depths-seven-tips-to-improve-the-world-of-warships-experience/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/08/from-the-depths-seven-tips-to-improve-the-world-of-warships-experience/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=365546 It’s no secret that World of Warships has had a rough year thanks to dodgy monetization mechanics and Wargaming’s treatment of employees and players. But the game itself is undeniably one of the most unique war arcade PvP experiences available – and it’s a difficult game to master. Over the past two years, I’ve picked […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/08/from-the-depths-seven-tips-to-improve-the-world-of-warships-experience/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/23/wargaming-has-censored-another-content-creators-world-of-warships-videos/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/23/wargaming-has-censored-another-content-creators-world-of-warships-videos/#comments Tue, 23 Nov 2021 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=363995 It hasn’t been the best year for Wargaming, the game studio behind war arcades World of Tanks and World of Warships, and it seems the bad news may be far from over. Russian language players are pointing out that YouTuber Nomen_Est_Omen saw all his World of Warships videos removed from his channel due to copyright […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/23/wargaming-has-censored-another-content-creators-world-of-warships-videos/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/03/lotro-legendarium-returning-to-lotro-after-seven-years-away/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/03/lotro-legendarium-returning-to-lotro-after-seven-years-away/#comments Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=360567 It’s a strange feeling, returning to a place that holds a special meaning to you after many years have passed. When my high school class celebrated our 20-year reunion, a tour of the school was arranged as part of the festivities. It was a surreal experience. Some parts of the building were exactly as we’d […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/03/lotro-legendarium-returning-to-lotro-after-seven-years-away/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/14/vitae-aeternum-new-world-through-the-eyes-of-eso-eve-player/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/14/vitae-aeternum-new-world-through-the-eyes-of-eso-eve-player/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=357937 When I heard that Amazon Game Studios was releasing an MMO, my plan was to watch from the sidelines until such time that all the bugs were worked out and all the hype had died down. I hadn’t followed the New World pre-release news especially closely, and the early streams I saw did not strike […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/14/vitae-aeternum-new-world-through-the-eyes-of-eso-eve-player/feed/ 24 https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/16/stick-and-rudder-gaining-traction-as-a-newbie-in-eve-online/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/16/stick-and-rudder-gaining-traction-as-a-newbie-in-eve-online/#comments Thu, 16 Sep 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=353689 EVE Online has a reputation for being difficult for new players. The varied, complex systems, some of which are a product of the era when EVE launched and some of which have been accumulated over time, do indeed present a steep learning curve for a pilot attempting to jump right into New Eden. While I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/16/stick-and-rudder-gaining-traction-as-a-newbie-in-eve-online/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/08/world-of-tanks-community-rep-resigns-in-protest-over-firing-of-fellow-wargaming-staffer/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/08/world-of-tanks-community-rep-resigns-in-protest-over-firing-of-fellow-wargaming-staffer/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2021 20:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=353097 Wargaming, the studio behind World of Warships and World of Tanks, is garnering the wrong kind of attention all over again, this time for firing a member of the Tanks community team following weeks of bad press and botched apologies in the wake of a massive influencer exodus. Eagle-eyed players noted yesterday that Elias K. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/08/world-of-tanks-community-rep-resigns-in-protest-over-firing-of-fellow-wargaming-staffer/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/25/world-of-warships-apologizes-for-issuing-promo-code-that-personally-attacked-a-content-creator/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/25/world-of-warships-apologizes-for-issuing-promo-code-that-personally-attacked-a-content-creator/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=351183 Even while under the public microscope for aggressive and possibly predatory monetization schemes and the near-collapse of its influencer program, Wargaming is making few moves to quietly slink out of the spotlight. The latest controversy started when a Russian-language World of Warships community contributor named Turry accused Wargaming developers of not playing the game they […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/25/world-of-warships-apologizes-for-issuing-promo-code-that-personally-attacked-a-content-creator/feed/ 17 https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/16/the-soapbox-world-of-warships-aggressive-monetization-incited-a-mass-exodus-of-content-creators/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/16/the-soapbox-world-of-warships-aggressive-monetization-incited-a-mass-exodus-of-content-creators/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=349787 Gaming monetization has been a topic of intense conversation ever since box copies of software diminished in favor of persistent online experiences. Subscription services entered the scene but presented the problem of a monthly commitment to the unknown. Then we got swarmed with free-to-play titles and the introduction of cash shops and designs intended to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/16/the-soapbox-world-of-warships-aggressive-monetization-incited-a-mass-exodus-of-content-creators/feed/ 34 https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/03/eve-onlines-record-breaking-world-war-bee-2-has-seemingly-come-to-an-end/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/03/eve-onlines-record-breaking-world-war-bee-2-has-seemingly-come-to-an-end/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=348191 In an unexpected twist, one of the largest and longest-running wars in EVE Online came to a close with a fizzle instead of a bang last night. World War Bee 2 (WWB2) ended with The Imperium (aka Goonswarm Federation) declaring victory after all members of the PAPI (PandaFam Alliance Please Ignore) coalition ordered forces to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/03/eve-onlines-record-breaking-world-war-bee-2-has-seemingly-come-to-an-end/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/28/stick-and-rudder-trying-eve-online-as-a-new-player-in-2021/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/28/stick-and-rudder-trying-eve-online-as-a-new-player-in-2021/#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=346507 It’s not often one has the opportunity to step into a bit of MMO history and do so with a fresh set of eyes and no expectations. Luckily, I’ve recently had the opportunity to do just that as a brand-new player in CCP’s classic space sim/sandbox/gankfest EVE Online. Like most fans of the genre, I’ve […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/28/stick-and-rudder-trying-eve-online-as-a-new-player-in-2021/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/07/tamriel-infinium-companions-are-the-star-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/07/tamriel-infinium-companions-are-the-star-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=343360 The Elder Scrolls Online continues to pump out content at an alarming rate, but the update that most players look forward to the most every year is the annual zone/story release. This year, ZeniMax has taken us on a nostalgia tour of Oblivion with the Blackwood chapter. I don’t know whether it’s because my expectations […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/07/tamriel-infinium-companions-are-the-star-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/10/stick-and-rudder-launch-impressions-of-elite-dangerous-odyssey/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/10/stick-and-rudder-launch-impressions-of-elite-dangerous-odyssey/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=339853 On June 3rd, 2020, Frontier Developments made an announcement that had fans of the Elite franchise excited for new possibilities. After decades of being confined to the cockpit of various ships and land rovers, the most recent Elite iteration (Dangerous) would release a mind-blowing expansion that would allow pilots to roam the surfaces of planets, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/10/stick-and-rudder-launch-impressions-of-elite-dangerous-odyssey/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/01/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-rich-lambert-on-blackwood-companions-lore-and-more/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/01/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-rich-lambert-on-blackwood-companions-lore-and-more/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2021 14:00:22 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=338630 Elder Scrolls Online PC fans are in for a treat today as the MMORPG is dropping its biggest content blast of the year in the form of the Blackwood chapter and update 30. The highlight, of course, is the new map and companion system, but there’s loads more to the updates. We had a chance […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/01/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-rich-lambert-on-blackwood-companions-lore-and-more/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/06/world-of-warships-previews-new-submarines-superbattleships-and-netherlands-tech-tree/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/06/world-of-warships-previews-new-submarines-superbattleships-and-netherlands-tech-tree/#comments Thu, 06 May 2021 21:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=334926 World of Warships released a dev blog today containing information on the long-awaited submarine class as well as a new superbattleships event and the Netherlands tech tree line. While submarines have long been on Wargaming’s radar, it seems that the underwater menace is closer than ever to joining surface ships and aircraft carriers in the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/06/world-of-warships-previews-new-submarines-superbattleships-and-netherlands-tech-tree/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/16/tamriel-infinium-previewing-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood-and-companion-system/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/16/tamriel-infinium-previewing-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood-and-companion-system/#comments Fri, 16 Apr 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=331951 While fans of the Elder Scrolls series patiently await any scrap of information pertaining to TES6, players of The Elder Scrolls Online continue to enjoy vast and persistent amounts of content on a highly predictable schedule. Fresh on the heels of the Flames of Ambition dungeon update, ZeniMax Online Studios has begun to release a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/16/tamriel-infinium-previewing-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood-and-companion-system/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/09/world-of-warships-announces-still-more-reworks-to-its-controversial-captain-skills/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/09/world-of-warships-announces-still-more-reworks-to-its-controversial-captain-skills/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=331042 Naval warfare arcade World of Warships has certainly been busy lately, but not all of the recent changes nor announcements have been well-received. The naval MMO is in an interesting position in that Wargaming is trying to continually develop new ships with distinguishing features without completely upsetting the balance of a PvP-centric game. Easier said […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/09/world-of-warships-announces-still-more-reworks-to-its-controversial-captain-skills/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/07/why-i-play-multiplayer-sandbox-eco-is-so-much-more-than-just-an-ecology-simulator/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/07/why-i-play-multiplayer-sandbox-eco-is-so-much-more-than-just-an-ecology-simulator/#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=330095 I’ve been struggling to come up with a succinct way to describe Eco. The game was recently the subject of a Whatever Happened To entry on this very site, an article that coincidently went live the same day I purchased and started playing the game with an established online community. My initial impression of the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/07/why-i-play-multiplayer-sandbox-eco-is-so-much-more-than-just-an-ecology-simulator/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/05/tamriel-infinium-previewing-elder-scrolls-onlines-flames-of-ambition-dlc-and-update-29/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/05/tamriel-infinium-previewing-elder-scrolls-onlines-flames-of-ambition-dlc-and-update-29/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=325800 It’s that time of year again, fans of The Elder Scrolls Online! The new yearlong story is about to kick off with the first quarter dungeon update. This year, the plot centers around the dwelling place of the daedric princes: Oblivion. The first DLC, titled Flames of Ambition, includes two new dungeons and launches alongside […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/05/tamriel-infinium-previewing-elder-scrolls-onlines-flames-of-ambition-dlc-and-update-29/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/24/stick-and-rudder-seven-player-made-elite-dangerous-tools-that-you-should-check-out/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/24/stick-and-rudder-seven-player-made-elite-dangerous-tools-that-you-should-check-out/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=324114 Since beginning my Elite Dangerous journey, I’ve been impressed and delighted to find many community-supported tools available to aid Elite players in navigating the large, complex world of our future galaxy. One might argue that the necessity for such outside resources points to deficiencies in the game, and that is partially true, but the talent […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/24/stick-and-rudder-seven-player-made-elite-dangerous-tools-that-you-should-check-out/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/04/elite-dangerous-players-are-apparently-being-duped-into-indentured-servitude/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/04/elite-dangerous-players-are-apparently-being-duped-into-indentured-servitude/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=321276 An Elite Dangerous player and member of the altruistic Fuel Rats group has uncovered what appears to be an insidious scheme while responding to a seemingly routine call for help. Fans of the MMO will know that the Fuel Rats are a group of players in Elite who volunteer their services to help those who […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/04/elite-dangerous-players-are-apparently-being-duped-into-indentured-servitude/feed/ 19 https://massivelyop.com/2021/01/27/stick-and-rudder-nine-non-combat-activities-to-enjoy-in-elite-dangerous/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/01/27/stick-and-rudder-nine-non-combat-activities-to-enjoy-in-elite-dangerous/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=319601 I’m horrible at combat in Elite Dangerous. It took me several tries to get past the bot in the combat tutorial. Not the advanced combat tutorial, mind you – the basic one. Due to my astounding level of ineptitude, I’ve outfitted my ships to be able to run from trouble, not confront it. It should […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/01/27/stick-and-rudder-nine-non-combat-activities-to-enjoy-in-elite-dangerous/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2021/01/21/world-of-warships-lunar-new-year-update-includes-controversial-captain-skills-rework/ Thu, 21 Jan 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=319281 This week, World of Warships dropped update 0.10.0, which includes events for the Lunar New Year, clan brawls, and a graphical update to the dragon port. The change bringing the biggest buzz, however, is the contentious captain skill system rework. Longtime players will know that captain skills are used for customization of ship abilities, and […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/30/mysterious-letters-and-coins-tease-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-oblivion-chapter/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/30/mysterious-letters-and-coins-tease-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-oblivion-chapter/#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2020 16:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=316613 This morning, mysterious parcels began to show up within The Elder Scrolls Online community hinting at details of the next major chapter release, which we know will anchor a year themed around Oblivion throwbacks. The package sent to me as MassivelyOP’s ESO columnist contains a coin and a letter authored by a dremora named Lyranth, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/30/mysterious-letters-and-coins-tease-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-oblivion-chapter/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/30/why-i-play-elite-dangerous-is-the-space-sandbox-weve-been-looking-for/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/30/why-i-play-elite-dangerous-is-the-space-sandbox-weve-been-looking-for/#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=316194 Elite: Dangerous was not on my radar when it appeared on the scene back in 2014. I had already spent my money buying a spaceship in another yet-to-be-released (incidentally, still yet-to-be-released) title and had little use for more than one sandbox-style space game. I heard a few people talk about how difficult it was to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/30/why-i-play-elite-dangerous-is-the-space-sandbox-weve-been-looking-for/feed/ 38