https://massivelyop.com MMORPG news and opinions Wed, 13 Dec 2023 18:29:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/13/the-survivalist-a-toast-to-conan-exiles-new-taverns-launching-this-weeks-age-of-war-chapter-iii/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/13/the-survivalist-a-toast-to-conan-exiles-new-taverns-launching-this-weeks-age-of-war-chapter-iii/#comments Wed, 13 Dec 2023 20:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=467987 You know that feeling when you get something you really want? Something you’ve been waiting for? Conan Exiles is giving that to me — times two! Wait, make that three. It’s like Christmas is coming early for me. The only difference here is that thanks to a preview with Funcom’s Lead Designer Dennis Douthett, Senior […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/13/the-survivalist-a-toast-to-conan-exiles-new-taverns-launching-this-weeks-age-of-war-chapter-iii/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/21/the-survivalist-conan-exiles-isle-of-siptah-expands-tomorrow-with-sunshine-and-a-spitting-spider-god/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/21/the-survivalist-conan-exiles-isle-of-siptah-expands-tomorrow-with-sunshine-and-a-spitting-spider-god/#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=331589 The Isle of Siptah, Conan Exiles’ first major expansion, is now itself expanding — in size, scope, sunshine, and spiders! Sorry arachnophobes! If you thought the large list of improvements in patch 2.3 was all that we’d be getting before the upcoming official launch set for June, you’d be mistaken. And it’s nice to be […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/21/the-survivalist-conan-exiles-isle-of-siptah-expands-tomorrow-with-sunshine-and-a-spitting-spider-god/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/17/the-survivalist-first-impressions-of-conan-exiles-isle-of-siptah-expansion/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/17/the-survivalist-first-impressions-of-conan-exiles-isle-of-siptah-expansion/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2020 18:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=300799 Framed. Convicted. Exiled. Now, shipwrecked? What do the fates have in store for me next? Perhaps this Isle of Siptah will be my redress. Wait, what was that sound… Say what you will of Funcom, but after my first taste of the shipwrecked survival life, I think it got something right with Isle of Siptah. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/17/the-survivalist-first-impressions-of-conan-exiles-isle-of-siptah-expansion/feed/ 18 https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/31/the-survivalist-astroneers-worst-mistake-was-using-nitrado-servers/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/31/the-survivalist-astroneers-worst-mistake-was-using-nitrado-servers/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=291985 Wonder rant powers, activate! It’s been a long while since I have been pushed to the point of activating rant mode. I can be chill and forgiving about quite a bit. But here I am — knit brows, frustrated growls, and all. What could possibly have frustrated me to this point, especially regarding Astroneer, a game […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/31/the-survivalist-astroneers-worst-mistake-was-using-nitrado-servers/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/13/the-survivalist-astroneer-adds-automation-and-its-awesome/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/13/the-survivalist-astroneer-adds-automation-and-its-awesome/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=288620 Astroneer is already an awesome game. Even as a survival game, it is my go-to for chill fun. It scratches the mega harvesting or terraforming itch like no other — all in the most adorable way possible. And it’s very hands-on: If you want something, you’ve got to make it yourself; very little is found […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/13/the-survivalist-astroneer-adds-automation-and-its-awesome/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/30/the-survivalist-astroneer-launches-persistent-multiplayer-servers/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/30/the-survivalist-astroneer-launches-persistent-multiplayer-servers/#comments Sat, 30 May 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=284659 Sometimes the gaming gods do listen! Sometimes you do get your wish. Sometimes your heart’s desires are granted. And that sometime is now! From day one, I — and many others — have clamored for dedicated persistent multiplayer servers for Astroneer. Originally the focus was as a single-player game (and it’s good at that!), but […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/30/the-survivalist-astroneer-launches-persistent-multiplayer-servers/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/23/the-survivalist-last-oasis-virtual-dev-tour-highlights-nomadic-life-and-offline-safety/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/23/the-survivalist-last-oasis-virtual-dev-tour-highlights-nomadic-life-and-offline-safety/#comments Mon, 23 Mar 2020 16:00:55 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=273887 At this stage of the survival genre game, you need more than just a novel idea for the setting. You need unique features to draw attention — and subsequently players — to your game. And you really need to have a good plan for dealing with the toxic pitfalls that plague many titles. Last Oasis […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/23/the-survivalist-last-oasis-virtual-dev-tour-highlights-nomadic-life-and-offline-safety/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/17/the-survivalist-is-conan-exiles-done-with-free-dlc-or-are-we-getting-a-true-expansion/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/17/the-survivalist-is-conan-exiles-done-with-free-dlc-or-are-we-getting-a-true-expansion/#comments Mon, 17 Feb 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=265308 While Funcom’s latest investor note focused mainly on DUNE, there was a little tidbit of big import nestled in there about the current IP-based survival game, Conan Exiles. Trust me, that little aside did not slip past me; I saved it to discuss more fully now because that one little line can have big implications […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/17/the-survivalist-is-conan-exiles-done-with-free-dlc-or-are-we-getting-a-true-expansion/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/27/the-survivalist-so-funcoms-dune-will-be-a-survival-game-not-an-mmo/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/27/the-survivalist-so-funcoms-dune-will-be-a-survival-game-not-an-mmo/#comments Mon, 27 Jan 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=265293 Remember back in February of last year when we learned that Funcom inked an exclusive deal for at least three games based on Frank Herbert’s DUNE universe? One of those was touted as an “open world multiplayer” title set to enter into pre-production sometime last year at Funcom’s Oslo studio. There was some hopeful optimism […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/27/the-survivalist-so-funcoms-dune-will-be-a-survival-game-not-an-mmo/feed/ 93 https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/16/the-survivalist-my-top-20-survival-game-goals-for-2020-part-the-second/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/16/the-survivalist-my-top-20-survival-game-goals-for-2020-part-the-second/#comments Thu, 16 Jan 2020 18:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=263555 With so many survival titles out there, it’s no wonder I couldn’t contain my full list of new year goals in a single Survivalist! It makes sense, seeing as we can’t even fit all the games in a single guide; the genre is so robust that we have three separate survival game guides — and […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/16/the-survivalist-my-top-20-survival-game-goals-for-2020-part-the-second/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/14/the-survivalist-my-top-20-survival-game-goals-for-2020-part-the-first/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/14/the-survivalist-my-top-20-survival-game-goals-for-2020-part-the-first/#comments Tue, 14 Jan 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=262870 You might say that I like survival games. You should say it because I really, really do. Especially games that let me explore and build… it is nirvana. (Is there a survival game called Nirvana yet?) But as much as I love the genre and many of the titles within it, life and piles of […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/14/the-survivalist-my-top-20-survival-game-goals-for-2020-part-the-first/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2019/07/31/the-survivalist-astroneers-moon-landing-update-is-a-time-limited-online-event-done-right/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/07/31/the-survivalist-astroneers-moon-landing-update-is-a-time-limited-online-event-done-right/#comments Wed, 31 Jul 2019 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=235804 I could definitely write a Why I Play on Astroneer (and maybe I still will!) because there are so many reasons this game just captivates me and brings me back. But right now I want to extol the virtues of the special summer event happening through August 31st. In honor of the Apollo 11 moon […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/07/31/the-survivalist-astroneers-moon-landing-update-is-a-time-limited-online-event-done-right/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/27/the-survivalist-conan-exiles-underwater-dungeon-rises-above-expectations/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/27/the-survivalist-conan-exiles-underwater-dungeon-rises-above-expectations/#comments Thu, 27 Jun 2019 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=230863 A dungeon is a dungeon, right? And adding a single dungeon to a game is not really a big deal. In most cases, that would be right. Not with Conan Exiles. I am not sure what I was expecting, but the Sunken City — introduced last month for the one-year anniversary of launch — was […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/27/the-survivalist-conan-exiles-underwater-dungeon-rises-above-expectations/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/17/the-survivalist-the-perils-of-breeding-pets-in-pixark-chapter-two/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/17/the-survivalist-the-perils-of-breeding-pets-in-pixark-chapter-two/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:00:42 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=229473 There is wrong, and then there is perilously wrong. The kind of wrong so dangerous that the odds of your heart finally recovering are as infinitesimal as learning literatue through osmosis. When we last left off in The perils of breeding pets in PixARK, the newest pachy egg had just hatched. After all that I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/17/the-survivalist-the-perils-of-breeding-pets-in-pixark-chapter-two/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/14/the-survivalist-the-perils-of-breeding-pets-in-pixark-chapter-one/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/14/the-survivalist-the-perils-of-breeding-pets-in-pixark-chapter-one/#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2019 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=228275 It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. I am going to share a story with you. At it’s core, it’s a tale of two games — the ARK I left and the PixARK I went to. It’s a tale of hope and heartbreak, of great expectations and hard times. It’s […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/14/the-survivalist-the-perils-of-breeding-pets-in-pixark-chapter-one/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/24/the-survivalist-what-ever-happened-to-the-smaller-survival-sandbox-mmos-part-two/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/24/the-survivalist-what-ever-happened-to-the-smaller-survival-sandbox-mmos-part-two/#comments Fri, 24 May 2019 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=225629 Last week we learned what was up with a number of the smaller survival sandbox MMOs. Sadly, some have faded away, but others are going pretty strong. However, you already know that no single list can contain such a prolific genre! That guide only made it part-way through the long list of games we’ve covered […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/24/the-survivalist-what-ever-happened-to-the-smaller-survival-sandbox-mmos-part-two/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/12/the-survivalist-the-highs-and-lows-of-conan-exiles-one-year-after-launch/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/12/the-survivalist-the-highs-and-lows-of-conan-exiles-one-year-after-launch/#comments Sun, 12 May 2019 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=224072 In an industry that never seems to see games move out of early access, it feels strange to get to celebrate the first launch anniversary of one. And yet, here we are! Conan Exiles left early access behind on May 8th, 2018. That alone sets this survival sandbox apart from so many other titles, but […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/12/the-survivalist-the-highs-and-lows-of-conan-exiles-one-year-after-launch/feed/ 19 https://massivelyop.com/2019/04/14/the-survivalist-why-i-love-survival-games-but-refuse-to-touch-atlas/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/04/14/the-survivalist-why-i-love-survival-games-but-refuse-to-touch-atlas/#comments Sun, 14 Apr 2019 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=216238 I love survival sandboxes. They give me that virtual world experience I’m missing from most MMOs. And I can build! So, why won’t I touch Atlas, the recent pirate-filled addition to genre? It’s not because I am afraid I would like the game; with only one exception, I have found something positive in every game […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/04/14/the-survivalist-why-i-love-survival-games-but-refuse-to-touch-atlas/feed/ 36 https://massivelyop.com/2019/03/29/the-survivalist-surprise-rend-launches-today-with-a-9-99-sale-as-frostkeep-teases-new-game/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/03/29/the-survivalist-surprise-rend-launches-today-with-a-9-99-sale-as-frostkeep-teases-new-game/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2019 19:20:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=217402 Earlier today we heard the news of Rend servers consolidating, and that definitely raised a few eyebrows. In fact, we noted, “It’s not exactly a good sign that the game is already downsizing before it’s even left early access.” So about that… Rend isn’t an early access game anymore! I just sat down this afternoon with […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/03/29/the-survivalist-surprise-rend-launches-today-with-a-9-99-sale-as-frostkeep-teases-new-game/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2019/03/25/the-survivalist-arks-homestead-update-builds-on-disappointment/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/03/25/the-survivalist-arks-homestead-update-builds-on-disappointment/#comments Mon, 25 Mar 2019 17:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=213313 After all the time waiting for Studio Wildcard to deliver on its promise of integrating the super popular S+ building mod into the core of ARK: Survival Evolved, it finally happened! Few players were left believing it actually would, especially after the deployment of the studio’s newest pet project, Atlas. Perhaps against better judgment, I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/03/25/the-survivalist-arks-homestead-update-builds-on-disappointment/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2019/03/07/the-survivalist-space-engineers-sloughs-off-early-access-and-launches-with-revamped-survival/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/03/07/the-survivalist-space-engineers-sloughs-off-early-access-and-launches-with-revamped-survival/#comments Thu, 07 Mar 2019 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=213071 Wouldn’t you know it: One survival game has a big week and others want to follow suit! Space Engineers sheds its early access coil and then Conan Exiles and ARK also let loose with some pretty big updates. While this is certainly good for the genre, it’s not so good for me. How exactly am […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/03/07/the-survivalist-space-engineers-sloughs-off-early-access-and-launches-with-revamped-survival/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2019/02/28/the-survivalist-when-survival-sandboxes-are-more-mmo-than-actual-mmorpgs/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/02/28/the-survivalist-when-survival-sandboxes-are-more-mmo-than-actual-mmorpgs/#comments Thu, 28 Feb 2019 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=209005 Ever since Life is Feudal announced at the end of last month its dedication to developing a deep roleplay-focused server, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how much we’ve lost from MMORPGs over the years (roleplay servers being at the top!). For a fan, it is disheartening to see the genre I loved […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/02/28/the-survivalist-when-survival-sandboxes-are-more-mmo-than-actual-mmorpgs/feed/ 52 https://massivelyop.com/2019/02/18/the-survivalist-astroneer-adds-whimsy-to-the-enjoyable-terrors-of-space-survival/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/02/18/the-survivalist-astroneer-adds-whimsy-to-the-enjoyable-terrors-of-space-survival/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2019 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=210312 Ever feel like you can’t keep up with all the survival sandboxes coming out? With so many, it can be hard to keep them straight much less find time to play them all. My Survivalist plate gets so full some have to go on a back burner as I think, I can check that out […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/02/18/the-survivalist-astroneer-adds-whimsy-to-the-enjoyable-terrors-of-space-survival/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2019/01/28/the-survivalist-outpost-zero-improvements-have-really-increased-its-fun-factor/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/01/28/the-survivalist-outpost-zero-improvements-have-really-increased-its-fun-factor/#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2019 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=207141 Sitting back and loosely following the development of an early access game, then hopping in here and there to check out a score of updates in person, definitely seems to be the way to go. It is certainly a winning combination for Outpost Zero! With last month’s big engine upgrade to UE4.19 and a few […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/01/28/the-survivalist-outpost-zero-improvements-have-really-increased-its-fun-factor/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2019/01/15/the-survivalist-seven-survival-game-features-i-want-to-see-in-2019/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/01/15/the-survivalist-seven-survival-game-features-i-want-to-see-in-2019/#comments Tue, 15 Jan 2019 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=204685 A new year is all about new hopes, new goals, and — hopefully — new features and content. I am talking about games, of course! (Although I might go for a new third-arm feature to hold cats while still being able to game with a keyboard and mouse.) And with 2019 here, there are 12 […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/01/15/the-survivalist-seven-survival-game-features-i-want-to-see-in-2019/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2018/11/26/the-survivalist-arks-extinction-makes-bases-extinct/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/11/26/the-survivalist-arks-extinction-makes-bases-extinct/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2018 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=195509 It had to be too good to last! We were all pretty shocked when Studio WildCard actually launched ARK’s newest expansion on the right date (as opposed to weeks or months and multiple new launch dates later). Folks dived into Extinction and began experiencing the robots meet dinosaurs of the new landscape. And then it […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/11/26/the-survivalist-arks-extinction-makes-bases-extinct/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2018/11/22/the-survivalist-giving-thanks-for-survival-from-the-genre-to-conan-exiles/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/11/22/the-survivalist-giving-thanks-for-survival-from-the-genre-to-conan-exiles/#comments Thu, 22 Nov 2018 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=197454 Since my column falls on Thursday, I always have the honor of sharing in the spirit of Thanksgiving by discussing what I am grateful for. Every other year this column has been dedicated to EverQuest II, The Secret World/Secret World Legends, or both. This year, however, is different. That doesn’t mean I am not thankful […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/11/22/the-survivalist-giving-thanks-for-survival-from-the-genre-to-conan-exiles/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2018/11/06/the-survivalist-conan-exiles-picts-pets-and-pokey-arrows/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/11/06/the-survivalist-conan-exiles-picts-pets-and-pokey-arrows/#comments Tue, 06 Nov 2018 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=190928 In a world where no game is perfect, I continue to be pleased with the progress Conan Exiles keeps making. I’m also happy that Funcom has been sticking to its promise to keep all content that was expected in alpha free to players. Both of these points were demonstrated in the survival game’s latest major […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/11/06/the-survivalist-conan-exiles-picts-pets-and-pokey-arrows/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2018/09/30/the-survivalist-will-ark-survival-evolveds-conquest-be-pvp-salvation-or-ultimately-a-clustercluck/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/09/30/the-survivalist-will-ark-survival-evolveds-conquest-be-pvp-salvation-or-ultimately-a-clustercluck/#comments Sun, 30 Sep 2018 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=188006 If you want to get into ARK: Survival Evolved’s PvP scene, aren’t willing to deal with the mega tribes and rampant cheating found on official servers, and still want more permanency than Survival of the Fittest, the new Conquest cluster may be for you. The survival sandbox game launched this new mode of 36 connected […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/09/30/the-survivalist-will-ark-survival-evolveds-conquest-be-pvp-salvation-or-ultimately-a-clustercluck/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2018/09/27/the-survivalist-can-rokhs-transparency-help-it-survive/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/09/27/the-survivalist-can-rokhs-transparency-help-it-survive/#comments Thu, 27 Sep 2018 18:00:59 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=187314 Is it too late for ROKH? The Mars-based survival game has definitely been having a rough go of things for a while. And now, development is stalled, the studio is working on something else, and players are unhappy. Or probably more accurately, ex-players: There don’t even seem to be any actually playing, at least on […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/09/27/the-survivalist-can-rokhs-transparency-help-it-survive/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2018/08/31/the-survivalist-a-new-dawn-for-osiris/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/08/31/the-survivalist-a-new-dawn-for-osiris/#comments Fri, 31 Aug 2018 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=182928 Such is the circle of space life: As one survival sandbox shuts down development indefinitely, another powers up. I mentioned last week that ROKH admitted it hit a barrier it can’t break and will be going quiet until funding is acquired, whereas Osiris: New Dawn has really taken off. The latter wasn’t relatively silent due […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/08/31/the-survivalist-a-new-dawn-for-osiris/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2018/08/24/the-survivalist-which-sci-fi-crash-site-survival-sandbox-should-you-play/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/08/24/the-survivalist-which-sci-fi-crash-site-survival-sandbox-should-you-play/#comments Fri, 24 Aug 2018 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=181539 Survival sandboxes have certainly come a long way in the last couple of years. Not only has the number of new genres exploded (as evidenced by our three different guides!), but the number of titles within each genre has grown as well. Players really have quite a selection of games to choose from. And all […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/08/24/the-survivalist-which-sci-fi-crash-site-survival-sandbox-should-you-play/feed/ 22 https://massivelyop.com/2018/08/13/the-survivalist-excited-for-arks-extinction/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/08/13/the-survivalist-excited-for-arks-extinction/#comments Mon, 13 Aug 2018 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=180229 I finally broke down and watched ARK: Survival Evolved’s Extinction trailer. It’s not that I didn’t want to! On the contrary, I was very interested to get that glimpse; I just wanted to wait until we had even more info about it so I could really delve into it. But since that doesn’t seem to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/08/13/the-survivalist-excited-for-arks-extinction/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2018/07/17/the-survivalist-using-conan-exiles-for-a-virtual-tabletop-campaign/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/07/17/the-survivalist-using-conan-exiles-for-a-virtual-tabletop-campaign/#comments Tue, 17 Jul 2018 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=175225 So I’ve been thinking. (A dangerous pastime, I know!) And I have actually been formulating an idea. And that is using a survival game like Conan Exiles to run a guided player campaign. You see, way back when as I was first playing D&D and other tabletop campaigns, I dreamed of the ability to play […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/07/17/the-survivalist-using-conan-exiles-for-a-virtual-tabletop-campaign/feed/ 26 https://massivelyop.com/2018/07/05/the-survivalist-yes-ark-survival-evolved-actually-does-have-a-story/ Thu, 05 Jul 2018 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=174470 Survival — or more? You might be surprised. When I first started playing ARK: Survival Evolved at the launch of its early access, it was an all-out dinoriffic survival game. And those of us who played in the beginning knew it just as that. As development moved on, more futuristic additions joined the primitive survival […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/06/07/the-survivalist-eight-ways-to-give-just-survive-a-fighting-chance/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/06/07/the-survivalist-eight-ways-to-give-just-survive-a-fighting-chance/#comments Thu, 07 Jun 2018 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=170381 Do you remember at the beginning of May when Just Survive was talking about “working on a plan to go forward”? I understand if you don’t: It almost seems as if Daybreak itself has forgotten about the game, so how can it expect players to remember. Well, with H1Z1 doing so well on the PlayStation 4, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/06/07/the-survivalist-eight-ways-to-give-just-survive-a-fighting-chance/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2018/05/29/the-survivalist-how-aberration-saved-ark/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/05/29/the-survivalist-how-aberration-saved-ark/#comments Tue, 29 May 2018 18:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=168491 It’s no secret that plenty of people have felt disappointed by Studio Wildcard, disillusioned by decisions and direction. I was among that crowd. It reached a point where I had to give thought as to whether or not I felt I could continue to support the company. Added to that was the feeling of been there, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/05/29/the-survivalist-how-aberration-saved-ark/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2018/05/10/the-survivalist-the-good-the-bad-and-the-barbaric-of-conan-exiles-launch/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/05/10/the-survivalist-the-good-the-bad-and-the-barbaric-of-conan-exiles-launch/#comments Thu, 10 May 2018 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=166678 If the survival genre is any indication, Early Access is a nigh indestructable beast! Time and time again we’ve seen where so many have failed to defeat this end boss. But that all changed when one mighty barbarian came along and did just that. Conan Exiles strangled the last breath out of the Early Access […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/05/10/the-survivalist-the-good-the-bad-and-the-barbaric-of-conan-exiles-launch/feed/ 20 https://massivelyop.com/2018/05/03/the-survivalist-seven-survival-games-i-want-to-love-but-cant-yet/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/05/03/the-survivalist-seven-survival-games-i-want-to-love-but-cant-yet/#comments Thu, 03 May 2018 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=162613 Well that didn’t take long! There are a plethora of survival sandboxes out there for fans to play (as you can see from our multiple guides!), enough that there might be some worry that the market for this genre is getting pretty saturated. Perhaps there is room still, but anyone entering that crowded market needs […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/05/03/the-survivalist-seven-survival-games-i-want-to-love-but-cant-yet/feed/ 16 https://massivelyop.com/2018/04/22/the-survivalist-four-hopes-for-the-future-of-ark-survival-evolved/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/04/22/the-survivalist-four-hopes-for-the-future-of-ark-survival-evolved/#comments Sun, 22 Apr 2018 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=162653 As we explored last week, game development isn’t always an upward trajectory. Some things soar, and some things crash. Our last Survivalist conversation was about four ways that the ARK: Survival Evolved that launched was better than the early early access build and four ways that it was worse. Since launch, development has continued, some on […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/04/22/the-survivalist-four-hopes-for-the-future-of-ark-survival-evolved/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2018/04/12/the-survivalist-ark-survival-evolveds-early-early-access-vs-launch/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/04/12/the-survivalist-ark-survival-evolveds-early-early-access-vs-launch/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2018 18:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=147409 When a game is being created, you usually expect that development to move the title in a positive direction and make it better, right? The state of the game when it launches should be much better than when it started. Well, sometimes that doesn’t quite happen. In ARK: Survival Evolved’s case, I think there are […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/04/12/the-survivalist-ark-survival-evolveds-early-early-access-vs-launch/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2018/02/22/the-survivalist-a-tale-of-two-early-accesses-and-why-conan-exiles-comes-out-on-top/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/02/22/the-survivalist-a-tale-of-two-early-accesses-and-why-conan-exiles-comes-out-on-top/#comments Thu, 22 Feb 2018 18:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=154995 It was the best of early access, it was the worst of early access. We needn’t even stop there: It was the age of wisdom and it was the age of foolishness as well! I venture to say that Dickens didn’t know he would be so on point in relation to video games. As much […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/02/22/the-survivalist-a-tale-of-two-early-accesses-and-why-conan-exiles-comes-out-on-top/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2018/02/08/the-survivalist-arks-latest-exploit-highlights-how-cheaters-ruin-official-servers/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/02/08/the-survivalist-arks-latest-exploit-highlights-how-cheaters-ruin-official-servers/#comments Thu, 08 Feb 2018 19:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=153050 Let’s talk exploits. And no, this is definitely not a how-to guide! For shame! If you are a person who exploits, a pox on you. No, we are going to discuss how exploits — and more importantly, how those exploits are handled — can seriously harm, if not irreparably damage, a survival game. This exact […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/02/08/the-survivalist-arks-latest-exploit-highlights-how-cheaters-ruin-official-servers/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2018/01/26/the-survivalist-the-downside-of-hosting-custom-servers-for-survival-games-and-why-we-dont-do-it/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/01/26/the-survivalist-the-downside-of-hosting-custom-servers-for-survival-games-and-why-we-dont-do-it/#comments Fri, 26 Jan 2018 18:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=150919 After the latest guide introduced even more possible games to sink our survival teeth into, it is understandable that the question cropped up again asking whether Massively OP would be officially hosting any servers for any of these titles. Think of it, life and death alongside your fellow MOP fans! Of course, we think it […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/01/26/the-survivalist-the-downside-of-hosting-custom-servers-for-survival-games-and-why-we-dont-do-it/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2018/01/16/the-survivalist-another-year-another-survival-game-guide/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/01/16/the-survivalist-another-year-another-survival-game-guide/#comments Tue, 16 Jan 2018 17:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=143603 A new year, a new batch of survival games! Yes, the genre has become so popular that one guide, no not even two guides could contain all of the survival goodness. More keep cropping up. I certainly can’t say as I mind, since this is the style of game that has been giving me the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/01/16/the-survivalist-another-year-another-survival-game-guide/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2017/11/16/the-survivalist-ark-survival-evolveds-sequel-tease-is-an-insult-to-its-fans/ https://massivelyop.com/2017/11/16/the-survivalist-ark-survival-evolveds-sequel-tease-is-an-insult-to-its-fans/#comments Thu, 16 Nov 2017 17:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=141076 You know that moment when you just can’t take it anymore? I am there, right on the cusp. I know many folks have gotten to their “I can no longer support <insert name here>” phases for various games and studios for a variety of reasons, but I had never yet reached such a point in […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2017/11/16/the-survivalist-ark-survival-evolveds-sequel-tease-is-an-insult-to-its-fans/feed/ 108 https://massivelyop.com/2017/10/26/the-survivalist-ark-aberration-has-already-been-delayed-but-heres-what-to-expect/ https://massivelyop.com/2017/10/26/the-survivalist-ark-aberration-has-already-been-delayed-but-heres-what-to-expect/#comments Thu, 26 Oct 2017 19:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=137709 Surprise! ARK: Aberration, the survival sandbox’s next expansion that was slated to launch this month, is delayed. Shocking, I know. Actually, if any fans were actually surprised, they obviously haven’t been following ARK: Survival Evolved very long. The delay, along with a other news, was announced during Twitch Con 2017; Studio WildCard showed off the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2017/10/26/the-survivalist-ark-aberration-has-already-been-delayed-but-heres-what-to-expect/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2017/09/28/the-survivalist-how-procedurally-generated-maps-stretch-the-life-of-survival-mmos/ https://massivelyop.com/2017/09/28/the-survivalist-how-procedurally-generated-maps-stretch-the-life-of-survival-mmos/#comments Thu, 28 Sep 2017 18:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=127262 It’s no secret that I love to explore. And exploring the dangerous new worlds of survival games has been something I have really been enjoying this past couple of years. But there is dark cloud looming over each of these experiences: They end too quickly. These games, most of which are still in early access, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2017/09/28/the-survivalist-how-procedurally-generated-maps-stretch-the-life-of-survival-mmos/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2017/09/18/pax-west-2017-ark-survival-evolved-on-optimization-the-aberration-expansion-and-future-development/ https://massivelyop.com/2017/09/18/pax-west-2017-ark-survival-evolved-on-optimization-the-aberration-expansion-and-future-development/#comments Mon, 18 Sep 2017 15:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=130345 This past summer, ARK: Survival Evolved finally officially launched, ending its stint as an early access game just three days before PAX West, then promptly announced its second expansion on the first day of the convention. There wasn’t even a week between launch and the second expansion’s unveiling, and there will be fewer than two months between […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2017/09/18/pax-west-2017-ark-survival-evolved-on-optimization-the-aberration-expansion-and-future-development/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2017/07/13/the-survivalist-osiris-new-dawn-racks-up-disappointments-and-detractors-but-its-doing-early-access-right/ https://massivelyop.com/2017/07/13/the-survivalist-osiris-new-dawn-racks-up-disappointments-and-detractors-but-its-doing-early-access-right/#comments Thu, 13 Jul 2017 18:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=120748 A couple of weeks ago, when Osiris: New Dawn introduced new classes, I’d delved back into the sci-fi survival sandbox after a bit of a break to check out the state of development in. I was pleased as I perused the new skill tree, doubly so when I saw all the new items that could […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2017/07/13/the-survivalist-osiris-new-dawn-racks-up-disappointments-and-detractors-but-its-doing-early-access-right/feed/ 12