https://massivelyop.com MMORPG news and opinions Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:09:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/15/vitae-aeternum-the-ups-and-downs-of-new-worlds-revamped-story/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/15/vitae-aeternum-the-ups-and-downs-of-new-worlds-revamped-story/#comments Mon, 15 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=474925 In the early days, I made the argument that New World‘s narrative, while minimal, deserved more credit than it was getting. Since then, however, Amazon Games has poured an immense amount of time and effort into overhauling the game’s story. With the completion of the main story revamp on the horizon, plus two post-launch zones […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/15/vitae-aeternum-the-ups-and-downs-of-new-worlds-revamped-story/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/18/vitae-aeternum-predicting-new-worlds-2024-roadmap/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/18/vitae-aeternum-predicting-new-worlds-2024-roadmap/#comments Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=471955 Every year, the Massively Overpowered staff gathers to make predictions for the year to come in MMORPGs. But I have so many thoughts on what story beats and gameplay features New World‘s 2024 roadmap may hold that I’m devoting an entire column to them. Please note that this column will contain spoilers for the entire […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/18/vitae-aeternum-predicting-new-worlds-2024-roadmap/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/07/vitae-aeternum-five-mmo-tips-for-new-world-rise-of-the-angry-earth-newbies/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/07/vitae-aeternum-five-mmo-tips-for-new-world-rise-of-the-angry-earth-newbies/#comments Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=465113 With the hype around Rise of the Angry Earth, a lot of players are starting or restarting their journey in New World. In my two years of play, I’ve noticed a lot of common mistakes or misunderstandings new players tend to fall prey to, some of which even tripped me back in the day. Today, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/07/vitae-aeternum-five-mmo-tips-for-new-world-rise-of-the-angry-earth-newbies/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/25/vitae-aeternum-rise-of-the-angry-earths-generous-endgame-and-season-three/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/25/vitae-aeternum-rise-of-the-angry-earths-generous-endgame-and-season-three/#respond Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=463217 We have now arrived at the final installment of my impressions of New World‘s first paid expansion, Rise of the Angry Earth. Having already covered new features like mounts and the flail weapon, as well as the new zone and main storyline, I will now be taking a look at the updated endgame, as well […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/25/vitae-aeternum-rise-of-the-angry-earths-generous-endgame-and-season-three/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/23/vitae-aeternum-new-world-rise-of-the-angry-earths-uneven-elysian-wilds-and-main-story/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/23/vitae-aeternum-new-world-rise-of-the-angry-earths-uneven-elysian-wilds-and-main-story/#respond Mon, 23 Oct 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=463210 In my first post covering New World‘s Rise of the Angry Earth expansion, I laid praise upon the new mounts and riding skill, as well as the flail. Today, I’m going to look at another headline feature for the expansion, the zone that was once First Light but is now the Elysian Wilds, as well […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/23/vitae-aeternum-new-world-rise-of-the-angry-earths-uneven-elysian-wilds-and-main-story/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/09/vitae-aeternum-rise-of-the-angry-earth-mounts-and-flail-are-the-lift-new-world-needed/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/09/vitae-aeternum-rise-of-the-angry-earth-mounts-and-flail-are-the-lift-new-world-needed/#comments Mon, 09 Oct 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=461123 New World’s first expansion is here, although if I’m being honest it feels more like the second expansion, considering the scale of the Brimstone Sands update. Still, Rise of the Angry Earth is the first time Amazon charged a box price for an update, so that raised an obvious question: Is it worth the money? […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/09/vitae-aeternum-rise-of-the-angry-earth-mounts-and-flail-are-the-lift-new-world-needed/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/28/interview-new-worlds-scot-lane-on-edengrove-housing-transmog-tokens-and-more/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/28/interview-new-worlds-scot-lane-on-edengrove-housing-transmog-tokens-and-more/#comments Thu, 28 Sep 2023 16:05:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=458800 In part one of my interview with New World‘s game director Scot Lane, we covered topics such as the game’s past, future plans, and the upcoming dungeon finder feature. But that’s just the beginning of what we covered, so without further ado, I present the second half of our conversation. In this part, we cover topics […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/28/interview-new-worlds-scot-lane-on-edengrove-housing-transmog-tokens-and-more/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/28/interview-new-worlds-scot-lane-on-the-mmos-past-future-and-upcoming-dungeon-finder/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/28/interview-new-worlds-scot-lane-on-the-mmos-past-future-and-upcoming-dungeon-finder/#comments Thu, 28 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=458791 New World launched two years ago today. While it may have stumbled out of the gate, I believe it has since evolved into one of the best games in our genre. To celebrate the anniversary, game director Scot Lane kindly agreed to an interview him about the game’s past, present, and future. We covered a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/28/interview-new-worlds-scot-lane-on-the-mmos-past-future-and-upcoming-dungeon-finder/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/11/vitae-aeternum-the-pros-and-cons-of-new-worlds-transmog/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/11/vitae-aeternum-the-pros-and-cons-of-new-worlds-transmog/#comments Mon, 11 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=457012 In my very first Vitae Aeternum two years ago, I criticized some of the ways New World lacks character customization. It took a while, but one of my key criticisms from that has now finally been addressed: Transmog is here. Like a lot of things New World does, transmog’s implementation has been a little divisive, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/11/vitae-aeternum-the-pros-and-cons-of-new-worlds-transmog/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/30/previewing-new-worlds-rise-of-the-angry-earth-expansion-artifact-gear-endgame-crafting-and-onward/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/30/previewing-new-worlds-rise-of-the-angry-earth-expansion-artifact-gear-endgame-crafting-and-onward/#comments Wed, 30 Aug 2023 15:01:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=454711 In my previous Vitae Aeternum column, I covered the big tentpole features of New World‘s first paid expansion, Rise of the Angry Earth, including the updated zone, new weapon, new housing, and mounts. But there was a lot more discussed at the press briefing where Amazon Games unveiled the expansion. Aside from new content, Rise […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/30/previewing-new-worlds-rise-of-the-angry-earth-expansion-artifact-gear-endgame-crafting-and-onward/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/30/new-worlds-first-expansion-rise-of-the-angry-earth-launches-october-3-with-mounts-flails-new-housing-and-more/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/30/new-worlds-first-expansion-rise-of-the-angry-earth-launches-october-3-with-mounts-flails-new-housing-and-more/#comments Wed, 30 Aug 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=454703 New World‘s 2023 roadmap promised its first expansion, but until now, we had few details on what that meant. Recently the folks at Amazon Games invited members of the press to a special event where the veil was lifted on the expansion. Titled Rise of the Angry Earth, it will launch on October 3rd and […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/30/new-worlds-first-expansion-rise-of-the-angry-earth-launches-october-3-with-mounts-flails-new-housing-and-more/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2023/07/17/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-second-season-improves-on-the-first/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/07/17/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-second-season-improves-on-the-first/#comments Mon, 17 Jul 2023 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=449003 New World‘s first attempt at seasonal content didn’t exactly impress, but in typical New World fashion, the developers at Amazon Games have already made rapid progress on improving things. New World‘s second season, titled Blood of the Sands, may not be the most amazing MMO content I’ve seen, but it’s solid, and it improves on […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/07/17/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-second-season-improves-on-the-first/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2023/06/19/vitae-aeternum-touring-new-worlds-housing-system/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/06/19/vitae-aeternum-touring-new-worlds-housing-system/#comments Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=444605 Whenever I’ve talked about player housing in New World, my coworkers have requested tours of my in-game homes. Being a lazy worker looking to fill my column quota a generous writer who cares about the fans, I decided to turn this into a whole column so I can also share my creations with the community. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/06/19/vitae-aeternum-touring-new-worlds-housing-system/feed/ 2 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/2023/06/05/vitae-aeternum-what-amazons-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-should-and-shouldnt-take-from-new-world/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/06/05/vitae-aeternum-what-amazons-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-should-and-shouldnt-take-from-new-world/#comments Mon, 05 Jun 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=442823 We’ve had one, yes, but what about second attempt by Amazon to deliver a Lord of the Rings MMO? During the last run at this, I did a piece outlining my hopes for Amazon‘s LOTR MMO, and my thoughts on the matter remain largely the same, but something big has changed since then: Amazon launched […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/06/05/vitae-aeternum-what-amazons-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-should-and-shouldnt-take-from-new-world/feed/ 27 https://massivelyop.com/2023/05/08/vitae-aeternum-a-love-letter-to-all-that-new-world-does-well/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/05/08/vitae-aeternum-a-love-letter-to-all-that-new-world-does-well/#comments Mon, 08 May 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=437935 When you spend a lot of time in an MMORPG, it can be easy to become bogged down in all of the game’s foibles. Even minor hiccups can be amplified into infuriating grievances after hundreds of hours. This holds doubly true for a game with a rocky history like New World, and even more so […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/05/08/vitae-aeternum-a-love-letter-to-all-that-new-world-does-well/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/24/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-disappointing-first-season/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/24/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-disappointing-first-season/#comments Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=435940 It’s now been a few weeks since the launch of New World‘s first season, Fellowship and Fire. I wanted to give it some time to settle, but I think I’ve now had enough experience of it all for my opinions to crystallize, and overall, I am sorry to report I do feel more underwhelmed than […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/24/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-disappointing-first-season/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/22/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-first-season-and-updated-2023-roadmap/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/22/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-first-season-and-updated-2023-roadmap/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=427765 Last week, Amazon Games invited members of the press to a presentation where it unveiled its plans for a new seasonal content model for New World. Season one will launch next month, and new seasons are planned to roll around every three months, delivering new content and a seasonal pass for additional rewards. The inaugural […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/22/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-first-season-and-updated-2023-roadmap/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/30/vitae-aeternum-obsessing-over-new-worlds-population-numbers-is-a-waste-of-time/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/30/vitae-aeternum-obsessing-over-new-worlds-population-numbers-is-a-waste-of-time/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=424288 New World is a bit unique in that it is the only major Western MMORPG that is playable only through Steam. The others are also available through other platforms, such as a developer’s own launcher, or even consoles. This means that we can see what New World‘s population is at any given time with 100% […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/30/vitae-aeternum-obsessing-over-new-worlds-population-numbers-is-a-waste-of-time/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/16/vitae-aeternum-new-world-should-do-more-with-its-housing/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/16/vitae-aeternum-new-world-should-do-more-with-its-housing/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=422241 I find the history of player housing in New World a strange one. Prior to launch, I had the impression housing was being treated as one of the main selling features of the game. Since launch, though, it has received very little attention. Given the game’s post-launch struggles, it makes sense to backburner housing for […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/16/vitae-aeternum-new-world-should-do-more-with-its-housing/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/19/vitae-aeternum-the-uncomfortable-truth-of-new-worlds-lax-monetization/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/19/vitae-aeternum-the-uncomfortable-truth-of-new-worlds-lax-monetization/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=416357 I have a pretty laid back approach to monetization in online games. Bar mandatory subscriptions and a few egregious outliers, I am generally fine with any mainstream monetization systems in online games. But not everyone feels as I do. Monetization remains a deeply controversial topic, and developers often face harsh criticism for how they try […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/19/vitae-aeternum-the-uncomfortable-truth-of-new-worlds-lax-monetization/feed/ 49 https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/05/vitae-aeternum-a-measured-response-to-new-worlds-2023-roadmap/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/05/vitae-aeternum-a-measured-response-to-new-worlds-2023-roadmap/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=417113 When New World released its roadmap for the first half of 2023 a few days back, the initial reaction from fans was… not great. I can sympathize; my own reaction was along the lines, “That’s it?” However, having sat on it for a bit, I find my mood has mellowed somewhat. I think there’s some […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/05/vitae-aeternum-a-measured-response-to-new-worlds-2023-roadmap/feed/ 17 https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/21/vitae-aeternum-the-storm-clouds-on-new-worlds-horizon/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/21/vitae-aeternum-the-storm-clouds-on-new-worlds-horizon/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=415030 New World has improved considerably since launch. I’ve had a lot of praise for the changes Amazon has made, and I’m looking forward to seeing the game continue to evolve. That said, there is still the potential for further stumbles. There are a couple of issues I see within the game or brewing on the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/21/vitae-aeternum-the-storm-clouds-on-new-worlds-horizon/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/07/vitae-aeternum-tackling-new-worlds-endgame-as-a-solo-player/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/07/vitae-aeternum-tackling-new-worlds-endgame-as-a-solo-player/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=413088 After nearly a year of stopping to smell the roses, I finally made it to level cap in New World shortly before the launch of Brimstone Sands. Having now been level 60 for a several weeks, I’ve decided it’s time to take a look at my experience with New World‘s endgame. New World‘s endgame is […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/07/vitae-aeternum-tackling-new-worlds-endgame-as-a-solo-player/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/25/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-greatsword-and-world-revamp/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/25/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-greatsword-and-world-revamp/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=411073 We come now to part two of my early impressions of New World‘s sprawling Brimstone Sands update. Previously in our Vitae Aeternum column, I covered the Halloween event and Brimstone Sands itself. Today, I’ll look at a new weapon and some sweeping changes to the open world experience. The greatsword I’ve only briefly tried the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/25/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-greatsword-and-world-revamp/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/24/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-and-nightveil-hallow/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/24/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-and-nightveil-hallow/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=411065 It’s finally here: New World has launched its fall update, and the Soulwardens of Aeternum now venture into the wastes of Brimstone Sands. This is a massive update, featuring not just the new zone but a new leveling experience, a new weapon, a holiday event, and more. There’s no doubt in my mind that if […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/24/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-and-nightveil-hallow/feed/ 17 https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/26/vitae-aeternum-the-new-secret-world/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/26/vitae-aeternum-the-new-secret-world/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=404886 Comparisons between New World and The Secret World have existed pretty much since the earliest teases of NW. It’s what put the game on my radar in the first place. Now that the game has launched, we know that it is a starkly different sort of game than TSW. And yet… it’s a comparison that […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/26/vitae-aeternum-the-new-secret-world/feed/ 25 https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/13/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-armor-and-magical-weapons-in-new-world/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/13/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-armor-and-magical-weapons-in-new-world/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=402716 I now return to bring you the second part of my analysis of weapon and armor choices for the solo player in New World. If you’re just joining us, know that last time I covered ranged physical weapons and melee weapons. Today, I’ll finish the coverage by discussing magical weapons as well as armor choices. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/13/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-armor-and-magical-weapons-in-new-world/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/30/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-leveling-revamp-greatsword-and-more/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/30/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-leveling-revamp-greatsword-and-more/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=402708 New World is gearing up to unleash its largest patch since launch, and members of the press were recently invited to a virtual event to preview the massive autumn update. We viewed a short video outlining the major strokes of the update and then sat down with the devs for a Q&A session about all […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/30/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-leveling-revamp-greatsword-and-more/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/16/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-ranged-and-melee-builds-in-new-world/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/16/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-ranged-and-melee-builds-in-new-world/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=400627 One of the main things that keeps me coming back to New World despite its many rough edges is the fact it’s one of the few MMOs on the market with a genuinely challenging open world solo experience. But to survive the wilds of Aeternum, you’ll need the right equipment, as in this game your […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/16/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-ranged-and-melee-builds-in-new-world/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/01/vitae-aeternum-the-hits-and-misses-of-new-worlds-summer-update/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/01/vitae-aeternum-the-hits-and-misses-of-new-worlds-summer-update/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=398822 Last week saw the release of New World‘s big summer update, including an extensive music system, the Medleyfaire event, and various endgame tweaks. This update is a mixture of solid wins and significant blunders, which increasingly seems to be just how New World rolls. The bad First, let’s look at the bad news. The patch […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/01/vitae-aeternum-the-hits-and-misses-of-new-worlds-summer-update/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/28/vitae-aeternum-new-world-interview-on-summer-medleyfaire-solo-play-housing-and-more/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/28/vitae-aeternum-new-world-interview-on-summer-medleyfaire-solo-play-housing-and-more/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2022 15:00:34 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=398540 With the launch of New World’s Summer Medleyfaire patch and event this morning, we naturally had questions about the new systems and the future of the game. Multiple developers from Amazon – World Experience Lead Mike Willette, Creative Director David Verfaillie, Senior Game Design Manager Phil Bolus, and Social Experience Lead Daniel Henuber – kindly filled […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/28/vitae-aeternum-new-world-interview-on-summer-medleyfaire-solo-play-housing-and-more/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/28/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-slow-march-to-redemption/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/28/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-slow-march-to-redemption/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=380633 In the rushes of excitement over Lost Ark and End of Dragons, New World seems to have fallen off the radar a bit. As a result, there has been very little discussion around the game’s recent updates and planned roadmap, and that’s a shame because there’s some genuine cause for hope here. It’s not everything […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/28/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-slow-march-to-redemption/feed/ 16 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/03/massively-overthinking-how-would-you-fix-new-world/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/03/massively-overthinking-how-would-you-fix-new-world/#comments Fri, 04 Feb 2022 01:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=372270 Amazon’s New World is one of the biggest, most ambitious, and most beautiful MMORPGs the industry has seen in years, and yet since its launch last fall, it’s been weighed down by endless bugs, messy patches, balance issues, economy problems, confused endgame goals, and a playerbase that’s dwindled as it’s lost faith. If this were […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/03/massively-overthinking-how-would-you-fix-new-world/feed/ 60 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/31/vitae-aeternum-the-rent-in-new-world-is-too-damn-high/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/31/vitae-aeternum-the-rent-in-new-world-is-too-damn-high/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=372836 The wonderful thing about video games is that they let you experience impossible things that could never happen in the real world. Like buying a house as a Millennial. Yes, it may have taken me a while, but I have finally earned my first home in New World. I waited so as to save my […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/31/vitae-aeternum-the-rent-in-new-world-is-too-damn-high/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/03/vitae-aeternum-explaining-new-worlds-level-30-wall/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/03/vitae-aeternum-explaining-new-worlds-level-30-wall/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=369079 If you’ve been paying any amount of attention to New World, you’ve probably heard of the dreaded “level 30 wall” – the idea that people seem to bounce off the game at around the time they hit level 30. It’s quite real; many members of the Massively OP staff fell prey to it, and I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/03/vitae-aeternum-explaining-new-worlds-level-30-wall/feed/ 19 https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/06/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-travel-problem-is-also-a-storage-problem/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/06/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-travel-problem-is-also-a-storage-problem/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=365424 Today, I’d like to discuss the recent change that increased the experience needed to level crafting in New World: It’s terrible, and it should be reversed. In fact, leveling crafting was already too slow before the patch. It should be made faster than it was then. Boom, problem solved, happy players, you’re welcome, Amazon. Hmm? […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/06/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-travel-problem-is-also-a-storage-problem/feed/ 29 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/22/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-storytelling/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/22/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-storytelling/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=363546 I’ve been wanting to write this column for a while, but it’s been a struggle to find the words. I’m never sure of how to talk about New World‘s storytelling. I don’t want to oversell it… but I also don’t want to undersell it. New World‘s story has gotten a lot of criticism, and I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/22/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-storytelling/feed/ 27 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/02/vitae-aeternum-the-cold-water-splash-of-new-worlds-amrine-excavation-and-early-game-dungeon-mechanics/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/02/vitae-aeternum-the-cold-water-splash-of-new-worlds-amrine-excavation-and-early-game-dungeon-mechanics/#comments Tue, 02 Nov 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=359940 Could a single poorly designed dungeon encounter kill a whole-ass MMO for me? I didn’t think it was possible, but then I entered the Amrine Excavation in New World and had my eyes opened up to a whole new universe of disappointment. Up to this point, I was genuinely enjoying myself and was excited to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/02/vitae-aeternum-the-cold-water-splash-of-new-worlds-amrine-excavation-and-early-game-dungeon-mechanics/feed/ 41 https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/18/vitae-aeternum-did-new-worlds-morph-to-full-mmorpg-hamstring-its-pvp/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/18/vitae-aeternum-did-new-worlds-morph-to-full-mmorpg-hamstring-its-pvp/#comments Mon, 18 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=358489 Leading up to New World’s original launch, I had virtually no interest in playing. Even after Amazon Games pulled the ol’ switcheroo and added a bunch of PvE to the game, I still wasn’t sold. Hell, even after playing in a couple of betas, I still wasn’t on board. But then the final launch date […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/18/vitae-aeternum-did-new-worlds-morph-to-full-mmorpg-hamstring-its-pvp/feed/ 65 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/2021/10/12/vitae-aeternum-new-world-excels-and-entertains-despite-uninspired-gameplay-design/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/12/vitae-aeternum-new-world-excels-and-entertains-despite-uninspired-gameplay-design/#comments Tue, 12 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=357335 After more than 20 levels’ worth of time in New World, you’d think I’d have a pretty good handle on why this game has me enthralled, but the more I examine the game at a mechanical level, the more I’m confused about why I’m enjoying myself. Let’s get right down to it: New World, from […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/12/vitae-aeternum-new-world-excels-and-entertains-despite-uninspired-gameplay-design/feed/ 43 https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/11/vitae-aeternum-new-world-lacks-customization-but-that-can-be-fixed/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/11/vitae-aeternum-new-world-lacks-customization-but-that-can-be-fixed/#comments Mon, 11 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=357105 Welcome to our first installment of Vitae Aeternum, an ongoing column in which multiple writers of MassivelyOP plan to bring you coverage, opinions, rants, and more on the topic of the new kid on the MMORPG block, New World. New World is an interesting case. There seems to be recurring refrain among most players of, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/11/vitae-aeternum-new-world-lacks-customization-but-that-can-be-fixed/feed/ 28