Massively Op

On today's show we have a very special guest: the creator of the upcoming Ascent: The Space Game, James Hicks. Hicks has been crafting an ambitious space sandbox and opens up to us on the show about the technical challenges and how this gives him insight into what else might be going on in the industry (Star Citizen, anyone?). 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: Wurm Online, Ultima Online, WildStar Interview with Ascent's James Hicks News: What's Daybreak working on? News: Elite's Xbox One, CQC launch News: RIFT updates to 3.4 News: Funcom continues financial struggle Other info: Podcast theme: "Main Theme" from Ascent Your show hosts: Bree and Justin Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneIn, and Pocket Casts Follow Massively Overpowered: Website, Twitt

WildStar's free-to-play launch began this past week, and the podcasters are in the thick of this wild and wooly mess. On today's show, they talk about what could've been done different, the upcoming demise of an MMO that nobody played, and a controversial SWTOR feature that's coming with the expansion. 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: SWTOR, Ultima Online, Project Gorgon News: WildStar's free-to-play launch stumbles hard News: SWTOR and level sync News: Dragon's Prophet closing in NA News: EverQuest and EverQuest II expansion info News: Camelot Unchained beta test incoming Mailbag: Quarterbacking development Mailbag: Crowfall and whale sales Other info: Podcast theme: "Granok Theme" from WildStar Your show hosts: Bree and Justin Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher

What is this madness? Just when the MMO industry appears to have turned its back on expansions in favor for a "faster release cadence" or what have you, studios are bringing them back with a vengeance. Today on the podcast, Bree and Justin talk expansions, patches that are pretty much expansions, and even more expansions! 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: SWTOR, Divilian, WildStar, Ultima Online News: Return of the expansion (EQ, EQII, EVE) News: RIFT previews Patch 3.4 News: Ultima Online's 18th birthday, expansion launch date News: Camelot Unchained will have 30 classes News: ArchLord 2 goes kaput News: Guild Wars 2 reveals trailer, Druid, Scrapper Mailbag: Guild Wars 2 and expansion worry Mailbag: Thoughts on gambling Other info: Podcast theme: "Buccaneer's Den" from Ultima On

This week Justin and Bree talk about the painful subject of when MMOs go dark for extended downtime and technical issues. Of course, there's a plenty that's going strong, such as Elite's great sales, Otherland's early access, and RIFT's brand-new calling. 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: SWTOR, WildStar, Ultima Online News: ArcheAge goes offline three days for 2.0 and server merges News: Asheron's Call returns after two-week absence News: Otherland starts early access News: Elite Dangerous sells a lot, preps Xbox release News: Guild Wars 2's event bombs News: RIFT previews Primalist calling Mailbag: Our thoughts on early access Other info: Podcast theme: "Andromeda" from Elite Dangerous Your show hosts: Bree and Justin Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player F

When an MMO studio virtually closes overnight, what can that mean for the game in question? This week, Bree and Justin tackle the sad news of Pathfinder Online, WildStar's free-to-play date, and a possible new MMO studio! 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: WildStar, Ultima Online, Little Healer News: Pathfinder lays off almost its whole staff News: WildStar F2P coming this month News: World of Warships gets a launch date News: Elder Scrolls Online opens Imperial City News: New possible MMO studio, QC Games News: EverQuest Next has big internal playtest Discussion: Taking MMOs for granted Other info: Podcast theme: "Chua Theme" from WildStar Your show hosts: Bree and Justin Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneIn, and Pocket Casts Follow Massively Over

This week the news has been dominated by the last great convention of the summer, PAX Prime, and the podcast team has their hands full with the flood of new information. What are the biggest takeaways from this year's show? Find out in this episode! 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: WildStar, Guild Wars 2 News: Guild Wars 2 anniversary, expansion launch date, free-to-play core game News: Trion announces Atlas Reactor News: The Secret World gets single-player spin-off game News: SWTOR talks expansion companions News: Marvel Heroes brings out War Machine and Carnage Mailbag: Why don't we talk about ESO? Mailbag: Theme music and recording dates Mailbag: Guild Wars 2 expansion Other info:   Podcast theme: "The Vigil Goes to War" from Guild Wars 2 Your show hosts: Bree and Justin List

What is John Smedley up to? That's the question of the hour, as Bree and Justin speculate on the news that the former Daybreak president has started up his own company. Other topics in today's show include BIG NUMBERS from two MMOs, a prison server that you must pay for, and a superhero game that's letting you walk on the bad side. 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. Show notes: News: PAX this week! Stay tuned... Adventures in MMOs: Marvel Heroes, WildStar, Project Gorgon News: John Smedley starts his own company News: Big numbers: FFXIV's five million and Trove's one million News: EverQuest II's prison server News: Champions Online's villain mode News: Touring houses in Revival Mailbag: NCsoft's upcoming winner Mailbag: Good MMO, bad visuals Other info: Podcast theme: "A New Hope" from Final Fantasy XIV Your sh

In the lull between conventions, Larry and Justin turn their attention to a hodge-podge of MMO industry news. On the show today, the duo discuss WildStar's F2P patch, Funcom for sale, Darkfall's soft wipe, and the umpteenth iteration of Hellgate: London. 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: WildStar, SWTOR News: WildStar starts testing F2P patch News: Funcom is for sale News: Darkfall performs soft wipe on gear News: Guild Wars 2 reveals Revenant elite spec News: Neverwinter releases Strongholds News: Hellgate, the VR game Other info: Podcast theme: "Main Theme" from Hellgate London Your show hosts: Larry and Justin Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneIn, and Pocket Casts Follow Massively Overpowered: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Twitch I

Today on the podcast we have a very special guest, Project Gorgon Lead Developer Eric Heimburg. Heimburg brings us up to speed on the game's successful Kickstarter campaign and takes us behind the scenes of building an indie MMO.  We also have the new World of Warcraft expansion reveals discuss, so it's going to be a busy show! 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. Show notes: Interview with Project Gorgon's Eric Heimburg Gamescom 2015: World of Warcraft hits 5.6 mil, announces expansion Other info: Podcast theme: "Overture" from Project Gorgon Your show hosts: Justin and Eliot Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneIn, and Pocket Casts Follow Massively Overpowered: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Twitch If you’re having problems seeing or using the web player, please check yo

What will the new World of Warcraft expansion be? We won't find out until later this week, but podcasters Bree and Justin have no shortage of speculation as to what it may be -- and how it might help the free-falling fantasy MMO. 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: Marvel Heroes, Trove, Project Gorgon News: WoW expansion announcement incoming News: Trove gives out freebies News: DDO update 27 News: NCsoft quarterly report News: Neverwinter's Strongholds Mailbag: Emotional investment in MMOs Mailbag: How is Massively OP doing? Other info: Podcast theme: "Totems of the Grizzlemaw" from World of Warcraft Your show hosts: Justin and Bree Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneIn, and Pocket Casts Follow Massively Overpowered: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Go

What will the MMO industry do now that John Smedley isn't part of the day-to-day business? Bree and Justin deal with the fallout of this bombshell announcement before going on to talk about SWTOR's new race, Project Gorgon's crowdfunding revival, a touching DAoC tribute, and more. 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: SWTOR, Marvel Heroes News: John Smedley is no longer Daybreak's CEO News: Project Gorgon's third Kickstarter campaign News: Guild Wars 2 reveals Tempest elite spec News: DAoC's tribute to a sick boy News: SWTOR brings in the Togrutas News: WildStar plans stat refactoring Mailbag: Prestiging in Marvel Heroes Mailbag: Playing Marvel Heroes characters you don't like Mailbag: Lag in Marvel Heroes Other info: Podcast theme: "Secret Garden -- The Rap" from Dark Age of Camel

It's the circle of MMOs: even as one game dies, another is born. And so it went this past week, with RaiderZ heading out even as Trove and Skyforge waves hello. In addition to all of this, the podcast team attempts to unravel all of the vitriol and infodumps concerning Star Citizen. That should fill up the hour, right? 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: SWTOR, WildStar, Trove, Marvel Heroes News: Trove launches News: Skyforge starts early access News: Star Citizen responds to criticism News: RaiderZ gets shutdown notice News: SWTOR spills flashpoint/operations details for expansion News: What's coming to The Secret World? Mailbag: Warlords of Draenor anger Other info: Podcast theme: "Electricity" from Trove Your show hosts: Justin and Bree Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTun

Has Blizzard lost its passion for World of Warcraft? What's going on with RIFT these days? Are there any third gender options in MMOs? And how much patience does MOP have for studios' tendency to do weasley "soft launches?" It's questions like these that need answers, and these two podcasters have been drafted to deal with them. It's a sizzling show of hard words and high tea! 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. Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: Marvel Heroes, Final Fantasy XIV News: RIFT 3.3 will have planar crafting, housing goodies News: WoW's incredibly short patch cycle News: Cabal 2 launches News: Skyforge soft launch alert News: TERA's new update, class Mailbag: Marvel Heroes hero pick recommendations Mailbag: Nikki! Mailbag: Third gender characters Other info: Download Episode 21 Podcast theme: "A Savage Be

In today's action-packed episode, we go over Heavensward impressions, the reveal of Devilian, the new World of Warcraft patch, Anarchy Online's visual makeover, and TWO other things! Two! Join us on the podcast as we talk about what we’ve been playing in MMOs, the top news stories from the past week, and topics that listeners have submitted! Show notes: Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward impressions News: Trion imports Devilian News: World of Warcraft patch 6.2 lands News: Anarchy Online upgrades its graphics engine News: A look ahead to WildStar's fall update, Chinese beta News: PlanetSide 2 launches on PS4, hits snags Other info: Podcast theme: "Heroic Moments Theme" from Final Fantasy XIV Your show hosts: Justin and Eliot Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneIn, and Pocket Casts Follow Massively Overpowered: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Twitch If you’re having problems seeing or using the web player, please check your flashblock or scriptblock settings.

We've got MJ on the show to give us a super-special E3 after-action report! Also in this week's episode, Heavensward's launch, Guild Wars 2 expansion marketing errors, and SWTOR expansion details. Join us on the podcast as we talk about what we’ve been playing in MMOs, the top news stories from the past week, and topics that listeners have submitted! Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: Marvel Heroes, The Secret World, Ark, ArcheAge E3: Guild Wars 2's guild halls! E3: The convention got huge this year for MMOs E3: Shroud of the Avatar and Burstball E3: Torchlight Mobile E3: Teasers and hints News: Guild Wars 2 botches pre-purchase announcement News: Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward launches News: SWTOR expansion details Other info: Podcast theme: "Dungeon Boss Theme" from Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward Your show hosts: Justin, MJ Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneIn, and Pocket Casts Follow Massively Overpowered: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Twitch If you’re having

Crazy news week leads to crazy talk on today's podcast, as Justin and Bree talk about Elder Scrolls Online's console launch, SWTOR's expansion reveal, the return of flying to World of Warcraft, and more! Join us on the podcast as we talk about what we’ve been playing in MMOs, the top news stories from the past week, and topics that listeners have submitted! Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: Marvel Heroes, WildStar News: Elder Scrolls Online has a rough console launch News: Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire announced News: World of Warcraft brings back flying after all News: Cabal II coming July 2nd News: Starfighter, Das Tal fail to fund Mailbag: Unnecessary complexity in MMOs Mailbag: What could Turbine do with a new MMO? Other info: Download Episode 18 Podcast theme: "Wolf at the Gates" from World of Warcraft Your show hosts: Bree, Justin Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneIn, and Pocket Casts Follow Massively Overpowered: Website, Twitter, Faceboo

When one game falls, another one rises... or is it the other way around? Today on the podcast, Justin and Bree talk about the unfortunate demise of a superhero MOBA and what that means for the "genre." Happily, there's a lot of positive news to cover as well that may indicate that 2015 is on the rise even so! Join us on the podcast as we talk about what we’ve been playing in MMOs, the top news stories from the past week, and topics that listeners have submitted! Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: Marvel Heroes, WildStar, The Secret World News: Heroes of the Storm launches while Infinite Crisis shuts down News: Marvel Heroes anniversary bash News: TERA getting a new PvE server News: EQ Next development shift News: Release dates for Trove and PS2 PS4 launch News: Aion's upheaval is coming Mailbag: Game metrics Mailbag: Down with rags-to-riches! Other info: Podcast theme: "This Fight is Mine" from Infinite Crisis Your show hosts: Bree, Justin Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneI

Free-to-play: Is it the albatross around the neck of the doomed or the ray of salvation that could spell years of bounty to come? That's but one of many exciting topics that the podcast crew tackles today! Also, ham and milk! Seriously! Join us on the podcast as we talk about what we’ve been playing in MMOs, the top news stories from the past week, and topics that listeners have submitted! Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: Marvel Heroes, WildStar News: WildStar's free-to-play confirmed, birthday News: More details on The Secret World's motorcycles (plus achievement vendor) News: Echo of Souls soft-launches News: Greed Monger bows out News: Marvel Heroes frees retcons, commits to monthly tuning Mailbag: Races that need to get into MMOs and cosmetics Mailbag: Multiboxing and milk Mailbag: How small can a MMO be and keep going Other info: Podcast theme: "Protostar Theme" from WildStar Your show hosts: Bree, Justin Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneIn, and Pocket Casts Follow

Is the world ending? Is hell freezing over? It must be, because Blade & Soul is actually coming to the west! On this week's podcast, the hosts talk about this incredible development as well as progression servers, launch dates, and flying in Draenor. Get out your Bree Topic Bingo cards, as you're guaranteed to be a big winner! Join us on the podcast as we talk about what we’ve been playing in MMOs, the top news stories from the past week, and topics that listeners have submitted! Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: Marvel Heroes, WildStar News: Blade & Soul is finally coming to the west! News: No more flying in World of Warcraft News: The Repopulation gets a launch window News: EverQuest's progression server has a false start, relaunches News: Pay for anniversary content in Age of Conan News: Guild Wars 2 begins reconstruction of Lion's Arch Mailbag: Has an IP ever repelled you from an MMO? Other info: Podcast theme: "The Dreaming Anew: Memories of Cimmeria" from Age of Conan Your show hosts: Bree,

When a studio is scooped by rumors, confessions, and scanty evidence, there's no putting that cat back in the bag for a formal announcement. This week Justin and Bree talk about a business model shift, a cancelation, a delay, and a success story... although not necessarily in that order. Also, there's a brief PSA about the dangers of monitor cords, so pay attention! Join us on the podcast as we talk about what we’ve been playing in MMOs, the top news stories from the past week, and topics that listeners have submitted! Show notes: Adventures in MMOs: The Secret World, Marvel Heroes, Trove News: Mounts coming to TSW? News: NCsoft financials, WildStar going free-to-play, Project HON canceled News: ARK: Survival Evolved revealed News: Neverwinter is doing really well on Xbox One News: The Division delayed... again Mailbag: Reddit gaming culture Mailbag: Escapism vs. lockboxes Other info: Podcast theme: "Smooth" from WildStar Your show hosts: Bree, Justin Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, P