Massively Speaking http://massively.joystiq.com This is the Massively podcast http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Massively SpeakingJoystiqMassively Speaking<![CDATA[Free for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/free-for-all-an-interview-with-thresholdrpgs-michael-hartman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/free-for-all-an-interview-with-thresholdrpgs-michael-hartman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/free-for-all-an-interview-with-thresholdrpgs-michael-hartman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

ThresholdRPG screenshot
The last time I explored ThresholdRPG, I had a blast. It was one of a batch of MUDs that I used to re-introduce myself to the ancient gaming genre, and I enjoyed its simplicity and friendly community. MUDs can seem to be very similar to each other, so in order to enjoy them, you must be able to pick out the finer details that separate them. In ThresholdRPG, I particularly enjoyed fishing, roleplay, customization, and a free-to-play model that was years ahead of its time when first released 17 years ago.

The game can be a bit odd, like any MUD. During MUD May I've discovered just how confusing many of these titles can be, but I have also grown to enjoy solving the "mystery" of each game's particular set of code-words that unlock actions. ThresholdRPG is like other MUDs and introduces players to basic commands, but once out in the world a player is on her own. The good news is that an out-of-character help chat is always available and sits right on top of the standard roleplay-enforced chat. That juxtaposition of both channels actually helps immerse me in the game, allowing me to see literally where and when I can use out-of-character speech.

I asked Michael Hartman, president and CEO of Frogdice, to talk about MUD development and branching out into other styles of gaming.

Continue reading Free for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman

MassivelyFree for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeabeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiuminterviewmichael-hartmanmudMUD-MayMUDsopinionthresholdrpgvelvet-ropeWed, 22 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Celebrating MUD May with Gemstone IV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/free-for-all-celebrating-mud-may-with-gemstone-iv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/free-for-all-celebrating-mud-may-with-gemstone-iv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/free-for-all-celebrating-mud-may-with-gemstone-iv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

GemStone IV website screenshot
MUD May has been a blast so far, but I won't lie to you and say that I hope to even make a dent in the decades-old history of many of these titles. I decided instead to use some examples from my favorite MUDs that I have come across over the last couple of years. It's admittedly been a challenge to think about what to cover. Do I cover the communities? The in-game mechanics? The publishers?

This week I decided to attempt to kill several birds with a handful of stones (and questions) and snagged Simutronics Producer Eric Latham for an video interview. Simutronics has been in the business for 26 years, and the publisher makes my favorite MUD, Gemstone IV. Latham has been with the company for 15 of those years! Technically I am using the interview and video as part of my Rise and Shiny series, but the questions and answers are more relevant to the general topic of MUDs. You might see it now as well as later, but it will hopefully provide some insight into the world of making MUDs.

Continue reading Free for All: Celebrating MUD May with Gemstone IV

MassivelyFree for All: Celebrating MUD May with Gemstone IV originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmaneric-lathamf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstonegemstone-ivmudMUD-MayMUDsopinionsimutronicsvelvet-ropeWed, 15 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: An intro to basic combat in MUDs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/free-for-all-an-intro-to-basic-combat-in-muds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/free-for-all-an-intro-to-basic-combat-in-muds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/free-for-all-an-intro-to-basic-combat-in-muds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Gemstone IV artwork
Welcome back to the second installment of MUD May! Almost any time I write an article, I try to keep new players in mind. It's fun to see the reaction from readers when I talk about MUDs or other "classic" MMO models and how these games can pull in fresh blood. Many people seem to forget that there are new players coming into MMO gaming all the time, and MUDs should be no different. Over the next few columns, I will be pulling examples from five games: Gemstone IV, Dragonrealms, Threshold RPG, BatMUD, and Achaea to explain how some basic MUD systems work.

With that in mind, I'd like to use this week's installment to explain -- in a very simple way -- how combat might feel in a MUD. One of the biggest hurdles for a new MUD player is often the massive amount of information that is built from decades of development. MUD players often sneer at the thought of simplifying the entry for new players. To be fair, this unwelcoming attitude is common in gaming in general. I feel differently, however, and want to explain some of the basics of these fantastic MMOs -- simply -- in a way that illustrates just how cool MUDs can be.

Continue reading Free for All: An intro to basic combat in MUDs

MassivelyFree for All: An intro to basic combat in MUDs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeaBatMUDbeau-hindmanDragonrealmsf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivmudMUD-MayMUDsopinionsimutronicsthreshold-rpgvelvet-ropeWed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Introduction to MUD May]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/free-for-all-introduction-to-mud-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/free-for-all-introduction-to-mud-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/free-for-all-introduction-to-mud-may/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Gemstone IV character description screenshot
For the month of May, I will be using this column to cover the world of MUDs aka multi-user-domains or dungeons. MUDs are text-based MMORPGs, and playing one is sort of like playing through a choose-your-own-adventure book with potentially thousands of other players. I'm not so arrogant to think that I could cover the decades of MUD development within the span of five articles, but I've had a go at it in the past and want to examine the topic more. Why?

There are many reasons, and to kick off this series, I'd like to talk about them. After today, my columns will concentrate on interviews with developers and players to explain how and why MUDs still work, and I hope that all of this will encourage many of you who have never tried a MUD to pick one out now. The recent buzz surrounding Twine-based games and interactive storytelling is perfect fuel for MUDs to come back into the spotlight. Unless, of course, many of the issues with the insulated community of MUDers sabotage the perfect timing.

Let's get started.

Continue reading Free for All: Introduction to MUD May

MassivelyFree for All: Introduction to MUD May originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeabeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffaforced-rpfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivmudMUD-MayMUDsmulti-user-dungeonopinionroleplayRolePlayingthreshold-rpgvelvet-ropeWed, 01 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: My favorite female armor sets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brienne picture
Of all of the crazy characters from HBO's Game of Thrones, Brienne is easily my favorite. Why is she my favorite? It's not because she's just heroic or brave or any of the things that people often attribute to her; it's because she's a survivor. Much of that survival comes from her armor and the fact that she knows well enough to be able to protect herself! The actress Gwendoline Christie has talked about how uncomfortable the armor is to wear. I've heard the producers say that the metal skin is supposed to look sort of mismatched, and I love that. It only makes it stronger.

I often wish MMOs represented armor in better ways, especially for female characters. Some MMOs do a better job than others, and some MMOs do a decent job some of the time. Here are some of my picks for my favorite armor sets for female humans, orcs, goblins or... well, you get the point.

(Please don't post Game of Thrones spoilers in the comments section.)

Continue reading Free for All: My favorite female armor sets

MassivelyFree for All: My favorite female armor sets originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancostumesdesigneverquestEverQuest-2f2pfeaturedfemale-armorffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivGuild-Wars-2illyriadmudopinionRolePlayingRyzomVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropeWed, 24 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Ecol Tactics Online has a fun story but weak combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/free-for-all-ecol-tactics-online-beta-shows-weak-combat-fun-st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/free-for-all-ecol-tactics-online-beta-shows-weak-combat-fun-st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/free-for-all-ecol-tactics-online-beta-shows-weak-combat-fun-st/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ecol Tactics Online screenshot
I took a look at Ecol Tactics Online not so long ago and mostly enjoyed what I found. When the game recently launched into open beta, I knew I had to check it out again. It's possible that the game I experienced before the open beta would be vastly different from the one I'd find later on, but everything felt familiar even though I was given access to higher-level play and cash shop.

I enjoyed the storyline and quest text much more this time around. Last time, gameplay appeared pretty standard, but now that I know what to expect with combat and performance, I can enjoy the story a bit more. But a player can ignore the story completely and still find the game enjoyable. That's an issue with many MMOs in general. A lot of the time the story has no bearing on a player's character. This time I slowed down and read up most of the quests I came across and discovered some pretty cute tales and toons.

The combat is still fun as well. Of course, turn-based combat is what this game is all about.

Continue reading Free for All: Ecol Tactics Online has a fun story but weak combat

MassivelyFree for All: Ecol Tactics Online has a fun story but weak combat originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancash-shopecol-tacticsecol-tactics-onlinef2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgames-campusopinionTurn-basedvelvet-ropewakfuWed, 17 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: When true live events died]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/free-for-all-when-true-live-events-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/free-for-all-when-true-live-events-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/free-for-all-when-true-live-events-died/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mabinogi live event screenshot
My memory isn't what it used to be. My wife calls me "airheaded," but I like to pretend that the reason I often forget stuff (whether I had already washed my hair or not, for example) is because my brain is filled with amazing, distracting thoughts. One victim of that selective memory is the existence of live events. Feel free to correct me in the comments section -- in fact, I need you to -- but I seem to remember a time when live events were more common than not.

I'm not talking about scripted "random" events like those you'll find in RIFT, and I'm not referring to a quest-giver interaction. Nope, I'm talking about those special events when an employee logs in on a special account and makes things happen. In the game. In real time. Kids, ask your parents (or slightly older, funnier-looking favorite Massively columnist) for details. And no, I do not mean player-run events. Those are fantastic, but not the subject of this column.

I just attended a live event in Ryzom the other night, and it made me wonder: Why did real live events become so rare?

Continue reading Free for All: When true live events died

MassivelyFree for All: When true live events died originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrendan-drainEVE-Evolvedeve-onlinef2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumlive-eventlive-eventsopinionvelvet-ropeWed, 10 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: My five favorite MMOs for exploration]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/free-for-all-my-five-favorite-mmos-for-exploration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/free-for-all-my-five-favorite-mmos-for-exploration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/free-for-all-my-five-favorite-mmos-for-exploration/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vanguard screenshot
There's nothing more important to me than the ability to freely explore MMOs. Heck, exploration is the reason I got into MMOs. I remember grabbing that box of Ultima Online (man, I wish I still had that box!) from a shelf at the local game store and looking in wonder at just how vast this virtual world seemed to be. I'm still the same way, although after years of doing this, I am a bit more cynical about games. I've heard so many promises that never came true, but I know that even the worst of titles offers the chance to explore a brand-new world.

There are a lot of exploration mechanics out there. Free Realms has an adventurer "job," The Secret World needs players to explore to solve mysteries, Guild Wars 2 offers experience based on discovering new areas, EverQuest II entices people to explore by offering collectible items embedded in the ground, and there are so many MMOs that allow players to gain experience just by approaching areas they haven't before.

But I have my favorites. These are games that just make me feel like an explorer.

Continue reading Free for All: My five favorite MMOs for exploration

MassivelyFree for All: My five favorite MMOs for exploration originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atysbeau-hindmanEverQuest-2explorationexploreexplorerf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumlinden-labopinionrolf-janssonRyzomsecond-lifeSOEvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropewurm-onlineWed, 03 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Debating the current state of classic MMORPGs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/free-for-all-debating-the-current-state-of-classic-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/free-for-all-debating-the-current-state-of-classic-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/free-for-all-debating-the-current-state-of-classic-mmorpgs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dark Age of Camelot screenshot
This will not be another column dedicated to deciding the true meaning of "MMORPG." We've covered that plenty on Massively, but it's safe to say that we allow a lot of different styles of multiplayer gaming to be covered on the site. Half the staff are old fuddy-duddies when it comes to these virtual worlds, but even the fogiest of the fogies sees the writing on the wall: The meaning is changing or at least becoming something different to different people. We can fight it like fighting the latest wave of musical styles, or we can search for the good in all of it and keep up a sense of humor.

I tend to cover whatever I feel like covering, as long as my bosses agree that the games I am writing about do not stray too far away from the MMO core. Some of my readers see my writing as supporting games that are not MMOs, promoting developers who want to ruin true MMOs by selling power, or elevating social games that are anything but MMOs. But I believe I have covered and will continue to cover "true" MMOs. I try to recognize the current state of MMOdom, and I want to capture it all at the same time. It has to be possible.

Continue reading Free for All: Debating the current state of classic MMORPGs

MassivelyFree for All: Debating the current state of classic MMORPGs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanBlizzardeverquestf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumGuild-Wars-2opinionsecond-lifeSOEUltima-Onlinevelvet-ropeWorld-of-WarcraftWed, 27 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: The 10 best-looking browser-based MMORPGs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/free-for-all-the-10-best-looking-browser-based-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/free-for-all-the-10-best-looking-browser-based-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/free-for-all-the-10-best-looking-browser-based-mmorpgs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Battlestar Galactica Online screenshot
Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. Keep that in mind before you tell that me the games that fill out the following list of "best-looking browser-based MMORPGs" are ugly as sin. Sure, some of them are an acquired taste, but I wanted to display just how much variety there is now in browser gaming. It's not the delivery system it once was; we have had fancier-looking Flash-based titles for a while, but now with engines like Unity or Silverlight and even HTML5 coding, we have games that look no different from their client-based counterparts.

There are still some ugly-as-sin games out there as well, but they have endearing qualities all the same. So keep that in mind; this is my top 10 list. If you want to suggest your own in the comments section, I would love to hear them!

Now, on to the list, in no particular order...

Continue reading Free for All: The 10 best-looking browser-based MMORPGs

MassivelyFree for All: The 10 best-looking browser-based MMORPGs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landarcane-legendsbattlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanBigpointcity-of-steamdragons-of-atlantisdrakensang-onlineEAf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiuminnogamesjagexkabamkartugalord-of-ultimamad-otter-gamesmilmoopinionrunescapespacetime-studiosvelvet-ropeWed, 20 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: How to be OK with not knowing how to play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/free-for-all-how-to-be-ok-with-not-knowing-how-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/free-for-all-how-to-be-ok-with-not-knowing-how-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/free-for-all-how-to-be-ok-with-not-knowing-how-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Asheron's Call screenshot
I've written before about how to accept your fate as a permanent newbie, international game explorer, or constant PvP victim. It has always come down to accepting the fact that many MMOs require hours of dedication in order to become skilled. Sure, we can break down what "skilled" really means and examine what sort of timetable is realistic for most human beings, but let's just say that we're past that. We're well into the territory of accepting our fate as a digital traveler, someone who simply cannot say no to a new MMO.

This time I thought it would be better to list some lessons on how I learned to love the MMO explorer lifestyle. It worked for me! (Cheesy theme music starts in the background.)

Continue reading Free for All: How to be OK with not knowing how to play

MassivelyFree for All: How to be OK with not knowing how to play originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonbeau-hindmandarkblood-onlinef2pfallen-earthfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiummabinoginewbieNexonnexon-americanoobopinionvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropeWed, 13 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: The continued standardization of selling power]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/06/free-for-all-the-continued-standardization-of-selling-power/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/06/free-for-all-the-continued-standardization-of-selling-power/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/06/free-for-all-the-continued-standardization-of-selling-power/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Online forum screenshot
Selling power is a much quieter controversy than it used to be. I've been in gaming long enough to remember when selling anything desirable at all was taboo. At the same time, it's always been OK to sell some things like subscriptions or special boxed editions, proving that MMO gamers and others are brilliant at segmenting their rage. If it's a cool, special box with a neat virtual item inside, it somehow does not fall under the same umbrella as selling powerful, useful items in game. I think it does. But geeks in general are good at justifying poor behavior if they get what they want; just ask the hackers and file-swappers.

Still, it doesn't matter how we feel about selling power because the industry is already moving in the direction of selling power, lots of power. EA recently announced that every title it produces from now on will feature microtransactions. While that doesn't guarantee the sale of powerful items, I can promise that it will include some. This train ain't stopping. Sure, the console community seems a bit late to the party when it comes to the power-selling controversy, but that's likely because of MMOs' always-on multiplayer mode.

Continue reading Free for All: The continued standardization of selling power

MassivelyFree for All: The continued standardization of selling power originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinallods-onlineapbbattlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanBigpointcliff-bleszinskidead-space-3die2niteeve-onlineeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgamersfirstgears-of-warGears-of-war-2gpotatokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromabinogimass-effect-3mmortsmobileNexonnexon-americaopinionpirate101SOESONYspacetime-studiosTeam-Fortress-2turbinevalvevelvet-ropewakfuwizard101Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Wakfu's bizarre first year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/free-for-all-wakfus-bizarre-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/free-for-all-wakfus-bizarre-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/free-for-all-wakfus-bizarre-first-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wakfu screenshot
Wakfu is not what many would consider a standard MMORPG. Its developer, Ankama, has never pushed out normal products. After all, this is a French company we're talking about. That's right, as in France, the same place that brought us amazing (but unusual) creations like Ryzom's plant-planet and the incredible art of Moebius. There's something going on over there, something that is refreshingly different from the typical game or art design. When I attended GDC Online 2011, I was floored by a session featuring Ankama's David Calvo called Chaos in Motion: Transmedia as a Living Community Experience. The panel implored developers to take a chance on development, to give players something unique to experience and world to have an impact on.

That was a while ago, however. The game launched a year ago, but the studio had an imperfect year. Let's follow the timeline from then to now.

Continue reading Free for All: Wakfu's bizarre first year

MassivelyFree for All: Wakfu's bizarre first year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ankamabeau-hindmancash-shopf2pfeaturedffaffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumopinionpoliticssandboxseSquare-EnixSquareEnixsquenixstrategystrategy-mmosubsubscriptionturn-based-combatvelvet-ropewakfuWed, 27 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Host your own Stanford Prison Experiment thanks to Die2Nite]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/free-for-all-host-your-own-stanford-prison-experiment-thanks-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/free-for-all-host-your-own-stanford-prison-experiment-thanks-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/free-for-all-host-your-own-stanford-prison-experiment-thanks-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Die2Nite screenshot
Whenever I wander into a new town in Die2Nite, I try to be as quiet about it as I can. I walk in, nod my head at a few people, and settle down. I also try to figure out the pecking order of the town as quickly as I can. There is almost always a pecking order. If not, it's a town of chaos and likely won't last longer than a few days of zombie invasions. I've played long enough to recognize players who are trying to lead, those who are willing to follow any instruction (even if wrong), and the fact that most players are content with popping in, making a few moves, and logging out.

The town I am in at the time of this writing is called Plagued Sanitorium. The names seem randomly generated for each town, but they always fit. I am a paid member, so I can choose the town I want to start in. Once a town has 40 members, the invasions begin. At 5:00 p.m. EST every day, the site literally goes down while the zombies come. After 10 minutes of attack, players log in to see what happened and who survived. check out any one of my livestreams on the game to see it all in action.

Sanitorium is a pretty unique experience so far, but in most ways it's as common as basic human psychology.

Continue reading Free for All: Host your own Stanford Prison Experiment thanks to Die2Nite

MassivelyFree for All: Host your own Stanford Prison Experiment thanks to Die2Nite originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddie2nitef2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumopinionpost-apocalypticroleplaysurvivalSurvival-Horrorvelvet-ropezombiesWed, 20 Feb 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Skylancer Battle for Horizon actually displays originality]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/free-for-all-skylancer-battle-for-horizon-actually-displays-ori/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/free-for-all-skylancer-battle-for-horizon-actually-displays-ori/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/free-for-all-skylancer-battle-for-horizon-actually-displays-ori/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Skylancer: Battle for Horizon screenshot
Skylancer: Battle for Horizon is a pretty unique take on the hugely overpopulated MMORTS genre. I play a lot of the popular strategy titles, and I'd estimate that 85% of them are simple repeats of previous titles. To be fair, I must admit that gaming in general is much like other forms of entertainment like movies or music and is mostly full of stuff that we've seen before. It can be a bit disheartening to write about something you love like gaming, only to struggle to find games that are truly unique and give you that same feeling you had when you first played games.

Now, I'm not setting up Skylancer: Battle for Horizon as some sort of paragon of originality. The fact is that there are plenty of mechanics and systems in the game that are familiar to me, but there are also enough twists in the design to remind me that it is still possible to feel unique, even in this overcrowded genre.

Continue reading Free for All: Skylancer Battle for Horizon actually displays originality

MassivelyFree for All: Skylancer Battle for Horizon actually displays originality originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiummmortsopinionRyzomsci-fantasysci-fiskylancerSkylancer-battle-for-horizonvelvet-ropeWed, 13 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: How to survive an attack in your favorite MMORTS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/free-for-all-how-to-survive-an-attack-in-your-favorite-mmorts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/free-for-all-how-to-survive-an-attack-in-your-favorite-mmorts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/free-for-all-how-to-survive-an-attack-in-your-favorite-mmorts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Grepolis screenshot
You know what I love about the MMORTS? It's the massive scale of everything involved. But it's not as though you are hand-crafting every single siege engine or raising armies of monsters one baddie at a time; that would simply take too long. The MMORTS is really a casual genre that is equal to playing with your action figures on a Saturday afternoon when you were nine years old. Don't let its casual nature fool you; just like those battles between plastic toys, the wars that can happen in your favorite MMORTS can suck you in and keep you glued to the screen for hours.

It's going to happen to you at some point. Some bigshot is going to send a round of spies, estimate that you're easy pickings, and throw a fresh batch of hurt your way. What do you do? The good news is that it can be a thrilling experience almost every time if you follow a few basic guidelines.

Continue reading Free for All: How to survive an attack in your favorite MMORTS

MassivelyFree for All: How to survive an attack in your favorite MMORTS originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancommand-and-conquer-tiberium-alliancesdragons-of-atlantisf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgrepolisillyriadillyriad-gameskabamlord-of-ultimaministry-of-warmmortsopinionsnail-gamesSurvival-Guidevelvet-ropeWed, 06 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: The West: The most realistic fantasy MMO yet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/free-for-all-the-west-the-most-realistic-fantasy-mmo-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/free-for-all-the-west-the-most-realistic-fantasy-mmo-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/free-for-all-the-west-the-most-realistic-fantasy-mmo-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The West screenshot
There's something distinctly unfair about being an American fantasy fan. If you enjoy all of the movies or run around in all of the wonderful fantasy landscapes you'll quickly notice how un-American the inhabitants are. Sure, monsters or knights in a fantasy MMO don't really belong to any one nationality or time, but they are more likely to sound like they're from England rather than Long Island. It's not fair. What do Americans have in their past that is anything as cool as knights and swords?

Actually, we've had some pretty cool stuff over here as well. And, if you think about it, a lot of it is pretty much like a more recent middle ages... sort of. The thought sunk in as I was looking at Salem, a hardcore free-for-all PvP MMO by Paradox Interactive. Then the thought really sunk in when I recently fell in love with The West by Innogames, a German publisher.

America has a very primitive, and recent, past that had to feel a lot like a time of magic and wonder to those who were in it. Why aren't we seeing more Western MMOs or games set in the time of the founding of our country?

Continue reading Free for All: The West: The most realistic fantasy MMO yet

MassivelyFree for All: The West: The most realistic fantasy MMO yet originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiuminnogamesopinionsix-shootersthe-westvelvet-ropeWestwesternyeehawWed, 30 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Taking my turn in Ecol Tactics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/free-for-all-taking-my-turn-in-ecol-tactics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/free-for-all-taking-my-turn-in-ecol-tactics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/free-for-all-taking-my-turn-in-ecol-tactics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ecol Tactics screenshot
Last weekend, I spent some time with Ecol Tactics, a new turn-based MMO brought to us by Games Campus. It features a lot of the same mechanics we have seen before, similar art design to other titles, and a browser-based, Flash-based accessibility that is always welcome. Sure, I was able to enjoy it for only several hours, but during that time, I noted just why Anime and turn-based combat is still successful and why Ecol Tactics is wise to take such a successful genre and launch a new title within it.

Anime is easy to digest. The characters on the screen feel chunky but agile. There's something instantly likeable about the characters in Ecol Tactics. They are detailed like an army of miniature soldiers. Wisely, the developers show you some high-level spells and combat before you even get out of the newbie area. I have to admit that I looked forward to the day I would be able to lay waste to a half-dozen monsters with a single swipe of my weapon.

Gallery: Ecol Tactics online beta gameplay

Continue reading Free for All: Taking my turn in Ecol Tactics

MassivelyFree for All: Taking my turn in Ecol Tactics originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedecol-tacticsf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumftpgameplay-trailergames-campusguild-warsinstancedinstancingopinionSquare-Enixvelvet-ropevideowakfuWed, 23 Jan 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Adventure Time's nostalgia is MMO drama done right]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/free-for-all-adventure-times-nostalgia-is-mmo-drama-done-right/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/free-for-all-adventure-times-nostalgia-is-mmo-drama-done-right/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/free-for-all-adventure-times-nostalgia-is-mmo-drama-done-right/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Glitch screenshot
I've tried to explain my love for a bit of melodrama several times over the years. It's sort of a hard thing to explain. I like a good bit of "sad" in my MMOs when I can get it, and I can say that I enjoy some measure of drama as well. Sure, many MMOs have a dramatic storyline quest here or there, but more often than not, the game forgets to be a world and rushes us off into yet another combat assignment.

The fact is that it's very hard to find the balance. We all want a good story, but many of us just want to get to the good stuff. The loot. The treasure. The virtual glory. I've had a hard time explaining my want for a game that makes me feel real emotion and explaining why I enjoy those feelings. Well, the PBS Idea Channel on YouTube did it much better than I ever could, and it used the popular Cartoon Network series Adventure Time as the perfect example of why nostalgia is a powerful and universal thing.

When it comes to video games, I believe nostalgia is even more powerful than loot.

Continue reading Free for All: Adventure Time's nostalgia is MMO drama done right

MassivelyFree for All: Adventure Time's nostalgia is MMO drama done right originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Adventure-Timebeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumice-kingMarcelinenostalgianostalgicopinionpbspbs-idea-channelvelvet-ropeyoutubeWed, 16 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Preparing for battle in Alliance Warfare]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/free-for-all-preparing-for-battle-in-alliance-warfare/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/free-for-all-preparing-for-battle-in-alliance-warfare/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/free-for-all-preparing-for-battle-in-alliance-warfare/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Alliance Warfare screenshot
As I have pointed out before and will likely point out again, the MMORTS represents one of the most common genres in MMOs today -- and one of the worst ones for repetitive design. If you've played one MMORTS, you haven't played them all, but you've played pretty damn near to them all. I love the genre luckily so I am able to wade through literally scores of these games in the hopes of finding those rare gems that make me think that the genre is still very valuable.

There are a lot of reasons the MMORTS is so common, number one being ease of delivery. After all, the gameplay in an MMORTS is more MMO-like than most MMOs out there, thanks to layers of persistence. Creating a series of barely animated images has to be much easier than creating an entire 3-D world; surely that has something to do with the spread of the genre.

I played yet another one over the last several days, this time Alliance Warfare. Is it different? Does it just simply repeat the same designs and mechanics from every other MMORTS? Well, yes and no.

Continue reading Free for All: Preparing for battle in Alliance Warfare

MassivelyFree for All: Preparing for battle in Alliance Warfare originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancealliance-warfarebeau-hindmandigital-experience-studiosf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiummmortsopinionReal-Time-Strategyvelvet-ropewarfareWed, 09 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST