n3rfed

HEIGH-HO, SILVER

As spied on The Cesspit, first details about the next DAoC expansion have emerged. What we can glean from this information is that players will apparently be able to compete in both PvE and RvR to achieve new "Champion" levels (Helpful tip: Take a look at your Master Level system, and then don't do that) which thereby open access to better equipment (Helpful tip: Take a look at the WoW Honor System, and then don't do that).

DAoC will also join the growing legion of MMOs that offer mounts to its players. Of course, the real question is - will I be able to skewer people in the face from the top of my steed?

THE WHAT NOW?

SOE head lollipop kid, one John Smedley, let's loose plans for two more web portals dressed up as games - a MMORTS and a MMOSG.

And why does Smed believe you should buy the MMORTS? Because apparently SOE has stopped fucking around, bumping into things in the darkness, and believe they now know how to make a MMORTS.

"We know what we're doing now and we're going to take it to the next level," said Smedley, who declined to give any firm details on the game at this point.

Sucks to be a Planetside subscriber right about now.

Further chest pumping proceeded;

"On the other hand, we're still very strong and remain the market leader..."

Um, don't you have to be, you know, the actual market leader to say that? NCSoft's stable currently has more subscribers than SOE. Hell, even if the number of SOE subscribers listed in this article is correct (800,000), Blizzard beats that with a single game.

Oh well, who am I to argue? We're above that stuff here at n3rfed - the MMO blog market leader. Be sure to check back here tomorrow for access to the new /pr0n command.

 

LOST AND FOUND

Jessica Mulligan has been found here.

Computerized amusement park ride cashcow has been found here.

PWNING INCLUDED

So, Guild Wars is now live. Some people like it. Some became disenchanted with it. Others don't know what the hell to do.

Meanwhile, I'll wait until Australia catches up with the rest of the world on May 3. Now's the time to tell me to cancel my order or buy 4 boxes.

I WIN THE INTERNET

Typing "hardcore sex sites" into Google apparently lists this site as a result.

BUT WHAT WOULD THE SWEDISH CHEF SAY?

This is why Sweden doesn't have a MMO.

When told about this incident and asked for a comment, Funcom laughed.

AN SOE_EMPLOYEE_1 SAYS "THIS IS THE COMBAT UPGRADE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR"

Word comes to me today of a protest on the SWG Bria server regarding the impending combat upgrade. For, you see, regardless of how much SOE is saying players are loving the new combat upgrade -

(from an SOE generated email)

Don’t take our word on how much fun these changes add to combat – try it yourself!

Player Comments from Test Center About Combat Upgrade:
“I love the combat upgrade .”
“I enjoy the new look of the hot keys, adding images was a great idea....”
“The new cooldown timers are much easier to understand.”

(Thanks for the words about the smaller, less controversial changes. Here's your free month of play)

- there are still quite a few of players who would rather see the existing combat system rebalanced rather than playing the proposed system that has been eloquently described as "OMG. suxxorz!!1!". And by "quite a few" I mean many. Many many.

So, today saw the creation of a last ditch effort from the unhappy players for their pleas of reconsideration to be heard and answered. Unexpectedly, SOE did answer. However, it was not the happy words of care that was the response. Nor was it the time-tested acknowledgment then refusal to budge. Instead SOE GMs responded by spawning a bunch of droidekas and sending them into the crowd to help disperse it (read: kill people).

Of course, if it wasn't for a helpful chap (thanks, Tale) I wouldn't have known about this protest. For, you see, SOE is currently doing is damndest to delete any threads pertaining to the protest on the Bria boards.

Instead one opponent to the CU asked if SOE would try to buy off unhappy players with something shiny.

Answer: Yes.

Which is just great if what I'm hearing about xp being cut by more than half in the CU publish proves to be true.

BUSTED

Alan Crosby. I know you're googling your name again.

NO MEO. LOTRO. OK?

It seems Turbine Marketing has woken up and smelled the movie franchise coffee. Spied over at Kill Ten Rats, Middle-Earth Online is now undergoing a name change.

Lord of the Rings Online is the new name chosen to rule players because supposedly the Vivendi train of thought was old hat and dull.

However, a team combat move system borrowed from FFXI and EQ2 is apparently new and exciting. Um, yay?

Seems Tabula Rasa isn't the only MMO second-guessing their work these days in the wake of a larger playerbase and more discerning players.

I'M HONORABLE BECAUSE I DO IT WITH LOVE

Tired of bored level 60s pludering and pillaging your n00b experience-stuck level 49 character?

Annoyed and upset at the amount of rampant zerging and town camping that has occured since the WoW Honor patch went live?

Feel PvP in WoW has now gone to the shits? Throwing a tantrum over server and class imbalances?

Are you one of those players that has moved to a different server or even quit WoW altogether?

Have no fear! Blizzard now has the solution to help you enjoy your game once again!

Ahh, fuck it.

Here's some more level 60s to gank your honorable arse.