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See: Frontier Developments

The Daily Grind: Do you tilt toward sci-fi or fantasy in your MMOs?

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I always found it weird that bookstores always shoved science fiction and fantasy subgenres together, kind of like a “here’s a general section for geeks but we’re not going to try to differentiate between any of it.” I’ll acknowledge that there is a lot of crossover and flow between the two, even when it comes to MMORPGs.

Recently I’ve been searching for a sci-fi title to scratch that spacefaring burning in my soul. Elite: Dangerous has proved problematic without a joystick, and EVE Online is far too hardcore for my tastes. Maybe No Man’s Sky is finally ready to check out? Perhaps. At least there are more space sims and futuristic MMOs on the way!

Do you find that your tastes tilt toward sci-fi or fantasy in your MMO gaming, or are you balanced right in the middle?

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Massively OP Podcast Episode 179: MMO parenting fails

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On this week’s show, Bree and Justin celebrate MMORPG communities with how fantastic and passionate they can be (when they’re not complaining, that is!) and how disturbing children can be (when they’re not cuddling with you, that is!). There’s a lot of praise in this episode for the redemption of No Man’s Sky, better subscription values, and plenty of MMO updates.

It’s the Massively OP Podcast, an action-packed hour of news, tales, opinions, and gamer emails! And remember, if you’d like to send in your own letter to the show, use the “Tips” button in the top-right corner of the site to do so.

Listen to the show right now:


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The Cycle is a PvEvP ‘shooter with a twist’ that bucks the battle royale trend

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Berlin-based studio YAGER recently took the wraps off The Cycle, a “first-person shooter with a twist” that somehow looks a lot like a survival sandbox with Fortnite’s graphics and some of Monster Hunter World’s and The Division’s mechanics, but with some persistence between matches.

“The Cycle is match based FPS where players complete quests while making and breaking temporary alliances. Anyone can attack anyone, and anyone can ally with anyone. In The Cycle the explored galaxy is controlled by massive Factions, but the mysterious outer reaches are still up for grabs. In their race to control these frontier resources, the Factions need contractors to do their dirty work. You are one of these contractors, competing for objectives such as collecting minerals or hunting wildlife while being careful to avoid or take down the competition.”

Kotaku UK’s interview with YAGER sheds more light on some of The Cycle’s more unusual mechanics, such as the fact that evacuation from the planet is just as important as everything else and that it’s aiming for a PvEvP scenario. And while it’s not a battle royale and has plenty of PvE ways to “win,” the devs do say they’re hoping to use matchmaking to put the shoot-first-ask-questions-later types together away from more cooperatively minded hunters.

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TennoCon 2018: Deep-diving Warframe’s Fortuna and Railjack

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Many fans, including me, are talking about still riding high after Warframe’s amazing TennoCon 2018 announcements this past weekend. That was some pretty epic stuff (I have to admit I  wonder how on earth they will manage to top themselves next year!). I was excited to share the news about Fortuna and Railjack with you as fast as I could; the only downside of that was it was too brief to add in many of the deeper details. I couldn’t include the insights and commentary that Game Director Steve Sinclair and Live Operations and Community Producer Rebecca Ford offered when I chatted with them. If only there were a way to impart that extra goodness to you and add in my own impressions. Oh wait!

While there’s certainly more to learn about the upcoming expansion/updates, here’s a bit more information about the underground all that cool stuff we can’t wait to experience for ourselves.

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One Shots: Better virtual homes and gardens

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Lately I’ve been overdosing on some serious Sims 4 time (blame the Seasons expansion announcement for this!) and indulging in my long-standing passion for player housing. I don’t always get that fix in every MMO I play — looking sideways at you, Blizzard — but I do enjoy expressing myself and seeing what other players have come up in their own living spaces.

Let’s take a tour of some excellent virtual abodes today! We’ll start with Rees Racer: “I’ve been a Elder Scrolls Online plus player for… a long time. I don’t buy much, so I had some crowns to spend. I eventually purchased the Alinor Crest Townhouse in Summerset. I’m a Bosmer, and it’s technically Altmer architecture, but I really like the colours and the courtyard fountain, and I’m fairly certain I saved the rule of Queen Ayrenn a few years ago. It’s more extravagant (like all High Elf accoutrements) than I need (or like), but I earned it.”

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Elite Dangerous’ Beyond: Chapter 2 arrives today; here’s the launch trailer!

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The second chapter in Elite Dangerous’ Beyond content is due to land early this afternoon, with the Alliance Challenger as well as a “selection of new wing missions, installation interactions, new settlements to explore and, to combat the ever-growing and ever-encroaching Thargoid threat, a cache of new Guardian weapons and technology from the Tech Brokers.” The update is a free one and rolls out to PC and console together. Full patch notes just went up on the official forums a few minutes ago!

“Beyond, the third Elite Dangerous season will be free for all players, and will focus on community-requested enhancements to the overall player experience. Alongside those core foundational changes, new in-game content will progress the ever-expanding player-driven storyline and give pilots across the galaxy new tools to shape the ongoing narrative. Chapter Two is a smaller update, but still filled with content. Players will find two new ships – the Krait Mk II and the Alliance Challenger – as well as a selection of new Wing Missions, installation interactions, new settlements to explore and a cache of new Guardian weapons and technology from the Tech Brokers to combat the ever-growing and ever-encroaching Thargoid threat.”

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The Daily Grind: What are your ‘must have’ features for an MMO space sim?

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With Star Citizen on the way (eventually) and smaller efforts like Prosperous Universe, Starfighter Inc, and Dual Universe in the works and titles like Elite: Dangerous already here, the space sim looks to be on the rise in the massively multiplayer space. That’s great news for players who want to leave the fantasy realm and reach for the stars.

Of course, not everyone has the same vision for what they would like to see in a space sim. Me? I don’t want a cold and sterile space environment; I really crave colorful environments and races that are chock-full of personality.

Assuming that you’re interested in playing an online space sim at some point, what are your must-have features that you wouldn’t consider playing without? What features would take it above and beyond mediocrity to make it something special?

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Elite Dangerous drops new cinematic video with tantalizing ‘space legs’ tease

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Two more days until Beyond: Chapter Two arrives in Elite Dangerous, superfluous colons in tow! And other more interesting things, too, as Frontier dropped a new cinematic video for the game this morning.

“It’s a dangerous galaxy out there but the call of the void is strong for Elite Commanders. All they need is a ship,” Frontier quips. “We’re proud to present ‘Lift-Off,’ our latest cinematic short in the Commander Chronicles series.”

And yes, the Krait – a surprise reveal for the game yesterday – is featured in the video. What else is in the video? Space legs – basically, it’s Elite’s Walking in Stations, literally characters walking around with visible leggers, something the playerbase has begged for forever. It’s not coming in this update, but it’s in the video, which has Reddit abuzz anyway. Enjoy!

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Elite Dangerous previews the redesigned Krait ahead of this week’s Beyond: Chapter Two launch

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Elite Dangerous is in the home stretch ahead of the launch of Beyond: Chapter Two later this week, and you know what that means: infodumps and videos!

PCGamesN has a deep-dive focusing on the Krait “design and reissue,” which has apparently been a bit of a surprise for the update. Frontier says the new version is “analogous to modern updates of the real-world Mini Cooper or Volkswagen Beetle […] a reimagining of a classic that connects conceptually and aesthetically with the ship from 1984s Elite, while offering enough innovation and quality to compete with contemporary rivals in Elite Dangerous.” But can I get it in candy pink metallic with a convertible top?

The chapter will also introduce the Alliance Challenger, new wing missions, new settlements, and new anti-Thargoid tech. It drops Thursday. And by the way, Frontier is hiring! The video’s down below.

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EverQuesting: A guide to EverQuest II’s new Oceansfull Festival

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So there was an update in EverQuest II recently. It was major enough it had a real name. But honestly, that barely garnered a blink from me. Then devs announced a new Othmir-centered Norrathian festival, and I am all excited! That’s right, throw a party with otters and I am so there. And that’s exactly what the Othmir are doing: partying. They are shaking their tails, tossing up fireworks, and dancing like nobody’s watching. What they aren’t doing is offering any involved quest hoops for players to jump through to join them. (Yes, the game has officially eschewed its name for this event.). They are just being chill and enjoying themselves, and they invite the rest of Norrath to do so as well.

Wait, what? No quests? This is EverQuest II: How will I know what to do? you may ask. That’s where this guide comes in handy. Find out the what, why, and where right here. Just be sure to jump in before 2:59 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 19th, because that’s when the party stops. If you’d rather see a video guide walkthrough, we also have that too!

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Elite: Dangerous gives a glimpse at its future at Lavecon

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Even as E3 rages on, the recent Lavecon has closed its doors for another year. The player-led gaming and geek convention continues to feature Elite: Dangerous and the rest of the Elite franchise as its tentpole, which means that we got a lot of new information about the MMOPRG out of it.

Panels on the game discussed features and upcoming changes involving mining, exploration, and art. Pilots will be getting new tools to crack open those asteroids for their sweet payout, not to mention new sensor probes to take a look at bodies in space long before a ship gets there. The community also got an opportunity to ask a bunch of pressing questions to the developers.

Take a look at some of the screenshots and the Frontier panel below!

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One Shots: The crane… the crane…

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I love crane machines. Yes, I know they’re a total scam, but I won something in one once, and I can’t help but throwing money at them in the vain home of repeating that epic moment. Of course, I might forswear crane machines altogether if I got one of FFXIV’s creepier races as a prize.

Vincent has no such compunctions: “Only a Lalafell would look this happy being carried around by a Death Claw!”

It’s how all of us at Massively OP get to work every day, actually.

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Chapter two of Elite Dangerous’ Beyond content lands June 28 with new missions and Thargoid developments

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Elite Dangerous fans, hope you got all your grinding in during last weekend’s event because the next big thing is just on the other side of that moon over there as Elite Dangerous: Beyond – Chapter Two launches on June 28th.

“In just under a month, you’ll be able to get your hands on the Alliance’s newest Chieftain variant: the Alliance Challenger. We’ve also got a selection of new wing missions, installation interactions, new settlements to explore and, to combat the ever-growing and ever-encroaching Thargoid threat, a cache of new Guardian weapons and technology from the Tech Brokers.”

Frontier says this is the first of two smallish updates for Beyond, with a much larger one coming out by the end of the year with squadrons and improvements to mining and exploration.” Naturally, the studio has a big ol’ announcement video, tucked down below.

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