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[Leaderboard: Is an MMO's title important to you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/19/leaderboard-is-an-mmos-title-important-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/19/leaderboard-is-an-mmos-title-important-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/19/leaderboard-is-an-mmos-title-important-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Leaderboard - Is an MMO's title important to you?
So, EverQuest Next is officially called EverQuest Next. At least until SOE comes to its senses. OK, OK, I'm only half kidding. It's not the worst name ever, but for a game that's already carrying the burden of substantial expectation before it's even been publicly unveiled, EQN seems a little bit vanilla to me.

Titles can be important, too, particularly in terms of first impressions and roping in those yummy casuals. So, how about it Massively readers? Is an MMO's title important to you? Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Is an MMO's title important to you?

MassivelyLeaderboard: Is an MMO's title important to you? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royaleqeq-nexteqneverquesteverquest-nextfantasyleaderboardone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollssoesony-online-entertainmentversusvotevotesvotingvsWed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Marvel Heroes' character customization - Good deal or deal-breaker?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Marvel Heroes - X-Men and Spider-man
Every once in a while I get intrigued by Marvel Heroes, and then I do a bit of research and I remember that it forces me to play as a pre-existing comic book character rather than an avatar of my own creation. I love superhero MMOs, see, but dude, that's a complete deal-breaker. Half the fun of my favorite superhero MMO -- DC Universe Online -- is coming up with both character concepts and superheroic costumes.

The other half of the fun is the IP, but that's neither here nor there, at least for this edition of Leaderboard. What about you, Massively voters? Does MH's lack of original avatar options turn you off or is the rest of the game enjoyable enough even with that restriction? Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Marvel Heroes' character customization - Good deal or deal-breaker?

MassivelyLeaderboard: Marvel Heroes' character customization - Good deal or deal-breaker? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionaction-mmobattle-royalcustomizationf2pfree-to-playgazilliongazillion-entertainmentleaderboardmarvelmarvel-heroesmarvel-universemarvel-universe-onlinemuoone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollssecret-identitysuperherosuperheroesversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 10 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: What's your favorite MMO platform?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-mmo-platform/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-mmo-platform/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-mmo-platform/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We have used this header image a lot, haven't we?
OK, this morning's Daily Grind got me thinking about gaming platforms, and given the rising popularity of smart phones, tablets, laptops and possibly even consoles for MMO playing in recent years, a Leaderboard focused on your favorite MMO platform might be a fun exercise.

It might also result in PCs winning by a landslide, but hey. Who can tell until we actually do it, right? So, I'll see you in the voting booth after the cut.

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: What's your favorite MMO platform?

MassivelyLeaderboard: What's your favorite MMO platform? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalconsolegaming-platformleaderboardmobileone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpcphoneplatformpollpollstabletversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 03 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: What kind of crafting do you prefer?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/leaderboard-what-kind-of-crafting-do-you-prefer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/leaderboard-what-kind-of-crafting-do-you-prefer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/leaderboard-what-kind-of-crafting-do-you-prefer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Kaliyo crafting
Today I'd like to talk about crafting. I like crafting, hence my wanting to talk about it. You may not like crafting, but don't worry, you'll get a chance to bash it -- or at least make known your displeasure -- in the traditional poll choice after the cut.

This poll will be pretty simple, because, hey. It's Memorial Day and I'd rather not be working. So. Do you prefer complex MMO crafting systems where you're actively involved in the fabrication process or do you prefer simpler systems where you combine a couple of items with a button press (or even have an NPC do it for you)? For the special snowflakes who choose the "neither" option, tell us how you'd do crafting differently.

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: What kind of crafting do you prefer?

MassivelyLeaderboard: What kind of crafting do you prefer? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalcraftingleaderboardone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollstradeskillsversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 27 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Which upcoming fantasy MMO are you looking forward to the most?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/leaderboard-which-upcoming-fantasy-mmo-are-you-looking-forward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/leaderboard-which-upcoming-fantasy-mmo-are-you-looking-forward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/leaderboard-which-upcoming-fantasy-mmo-are-you-looking-forward/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Leaderboard Which upcoming fantasy MMO are you looking forward to the most
Since last week's Leaderboard went over so well, I figured, why not put up another semi-controversial poll in the hopes that fans of the choices I inadvertently leave off will pepper my inbox with hate mail? Snarkiness aside, I am curious to see the results of today's vote, which pits the big three fantasy MMOs releasing over the next year against one another in a grueling duel to the death.

The prize? The coveted title of Most Anticipated 2013/14 Fantasy MMO in the Massively Comments Section, which is going to be really hard to cram onto the trophy. In any case, vote for your favorite after the break.

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Which upcoming fantasy MMO are you looking forward to the most?

MassivelyLeaderboard: Which upcoming fantasy MMO are you looking forward to the most? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalleaderboardmost-anticipated-mmoone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollsversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 20 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Who's your favorite MMO music composer?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/leaderboard-whos-your-favorite-mmo-music-composer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/leaderboard-whos-your-favorite-mmo-music-composer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/leaderboard-whos-your-favorite-mmo-music-composer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Knut Haugen is the best, and if you don't agree with me then YOU ARE WRONG!
I've got MMO music on the brain today, and with apologies to our dedicated music column, I'm going to devote this episode of Leaderboard to some of my favorite massively multiplayer composers. If you're not already aware, video game music has ceased to be cheesy, synth-dominated midi riffs and now sounds as good, if not better, than many of the orchestral marches composed for epic films and television.

With all that said, let's keep it simple. Who's your favorite MMO music composer? Vote after the cut!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Who's your favorite MMO music composer?

MassivelyLeaderboard: Who's your favorite MMO music composer? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalcomposersleaderboardmmo-musicmmo-soundtracksmusicone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollssoundtrackversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 13 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: What's your favorite player-generated content tool?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-player-generated-content-tool/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Leaderboard - What's your favorite player-generated content tool?
Neverwinter recently launched, and Cryptic's Forgotten Realms MMO brought with it a substantial player-generated content toolset called the Foundry. The Foundry isn't the first of its kind, however, or even the first of its name. Star Trek Online boasts an earlier version of Cryptic's Foundry, and other games going back a decade or more have also tried their hand at user content suites.

Assuming you've played around with a few of these tools, which one is your favorite? Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: What's your favorite player-generated content tool?

MassivelyLeaderboard: What's your favorite player-generated content tool? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmobattle-royalcrypticcryptic-studiosdndf2pfantasyfree-to-playleaderboardneverwinterone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpollpollspwesandboxuser-generated-contentversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: What was your favorite EVE Fanfest reveal?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/leaderboard-what-was-your-favorite-eve-fanfest-reveal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/leaderboard-what-was-your-favorite-eve-fanfest-reveal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/leaderboard-what-was-your-favorite-eve-fanfest-reveal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Online - Mining barges
This year's CCP fan festival featured a bunch of interesting news items including DUST 514's official release date, more info on EVE's upcoming Odyssey expansion, and even a glimpse of the progress being made on World of Darkness.

There was also talk of EVE tales being immortalized in more traditional media formats, a ginormous 10-year collector's edition, and an early look at EVR, a new virtual reality EVE game designed for the Oculus Rift. Now that you've had a chance to digest all of the details, what was your favorite Fanfest 2013 reveal? Vote after the cut!

Continue reading Leaderboard: What was your favorite EVE Fanfest reveal?

MassivelyLeaderboard: What was your favorite EVE Fanfest reveal? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Bless vs. Black Desert vs. Blade & Soul vs. ArcheAge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/leaderboard-bless-vs-black-desert-vs-blade-and-soul-vs-archeag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/leaderboard-bless-vs-black-desert-vs-blade-and-soul-vs-archeag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/leaderboard-bless-vs-black-desert-vs-blade-and-soul-vs-archeag/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

ArcheAge - Long Plains Coast
There are plenty of interesting MMOs coming out of Korea these days, and whether we're talking sandboxes like Black Desert, themeparks like Bless, or hybrids like ArcheAge, I'm pretty excited to try all of them. Let's not forget Blade & Soul, either, and even Aion has a new expansion on the way that's introducing a couple of game-changing classes.

For today's Leaderboard, let's pit these games against one another and see which one will claim the title of Massively's most anticipated Korean import. Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Bless vs. Black Desert vs. Blade & Soul vs. ArcheAge

MassivelyLeaderboard: Bless vs. Black Desert vs. Blade & Soul vs. ArcheAge originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarche-agearcheagebattle-royalblack-desertblade-and-soulblessepic-games-koreafantasyhousingimportkoreakorean-importkorean-mmoleaderboardmartial-artsmartial-arts-mmoncsoftncsoft-koreaneowizone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpearl-abysspollpollspvpsandboxsandparkversusvotevotesvotingvsxl-gamesxlgamesMon, 22 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: What's your favorite MMO archetype?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-mmo-archetype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-mmo-archetype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/leaderboard-whats-your-favorite-mmo-archetype/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aion Sorceror
There have been a lot of MMO classes thrown our way over the years, and if you add in a handful of skill-based games that let you create your own class, you end up with a decent variety of combat gameplay styles.

The vast majority of these styles fall under several broad archetypes, though, and whether we're talking about ranged DPS or crowd-control, we all have our favorites. For today's Leaderboard, let's see which archetype wins the title of Massively comment section favorite. Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: What's your favorite MMO archetype?

MassivelyLeaderboard: What's your favorite MMO archetype? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypesbattle-royalclassesleaderboardone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollsversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 15 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Which Kickstarter project will be the most successful post-launch?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/leaderboard-which-kickstarter-project-will-be-the-most-successf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/leaderboard-which-kickstarter-project-will-be-the-most-successf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/leaderboard-which-kickstarter-project-will-be-the-most-successf/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Star Citizen Hornet
There are a lot of game developers on Kickstarter these days, several of which are aiming to make MMOs or MMO-like persistent virtual worlds. Star Citizen's crowd-funding success has been well-documented, and both Shroud of the Avatar and Elite Dangerous are now go for full-scale development as well.

And let's not forget Pathfinder or Camelot Unchained, the former of which has been fully funded and the latter of which is well on its way. For today's Leaderboard, tell us which of these five titles you think will be the most successful post-launch. Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Which Kickstarter project will be the most successful post-launch?

MassivelyLeaderboard: Which Kickstarter project will be the most successful post-launch? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalcrowdfundingkickstarterleaderboardone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollsversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 08 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Which convention reveal excited you the most?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/leaderboard-which-convention-reveal-excited-you-the-most/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/leaderboard-which-convention-reveal-excited-you-the-most/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/leaderboard-which-convention-reveal-excited-you-the-most/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Online concept art
So March's gaming convention madness is in our rearview mirror (although some coverage is still trickling in during the early part of this week). There were plenty of big reveals and plenty of smaller details, too, and chances are there was something that caught your eye from our GDC and PAX East coverage over the past two weeks.

For today's Leaderboard, let's pit a few of the noteworthy reveals against one another to see which game excited the Massively commentariat the most. Vote after the cut.

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Which convention reveal excited you the most?

MassivelyLeaderboard: Which convention reveal excited you the most? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconferenceconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpogame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013massively-event-coveragepaxpax-2013pax-eastpax-east-2013penny-arcade-expoMon, 01 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Clicking vs. keybinding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/leaderboard-clicking-vs-keybinding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/leaderboard-clicking-vs-keybinding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/leaderboard-clicking-vs-keybinding/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Keybinding diagram
Yes, today's Leaderboard is all about your MMO input habits, and we'd like to know whether you prefer clicking, keybinding, or some sort of combination.

If you're not familiar with keybinding, googling the term in concert with the name of your favorite MMO will provide plenty of examples. The long and short of it is the practice of using efficient and easy-to-reach keyboard shortcuts for all of your avatar's primary functions.

The conventional wisdom says that keybinders are generally able to react faster than those who click their UI with the mouse to fire off abilities, buffs, consumables, or what have you, and this extra speed leads to a theoretical advantage in PvP and competitive PvE situations. Exceptions exist, though, so vote for your preferred method after the cut.

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Clicking vs. keybinding

MassivelyLeaderboard: Clicking vs. keybinding originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalclickerclickersclickers-vs-keybindersclicking-vs-keybindinginputkeybinderkeybindingleaderboardmmo-inputone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollsversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 25 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Defiance vs. DUST 514]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/leaderboard-defiance-vs-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/leaderboard-defiance-vs-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/leaderboard-defiance-vs-dust-514/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

DUST 514 remote vehicle repair
Shooter gameplay is on the rise in the MMO space, as titles like PlanetSide 2, Firefall, DUST 514, and Defiance are all marrying twitch-based running and gunning with some sort of persistent open-world progression component.

Defiance and DUST are particularly interesting, to me at least, because they're part of a larger IP. IN DUST's case, the title shares a game world and a server back-end with long-running sci-fi MMO EVE Online. Defiance, of course, is joined at the hip with the upcoming television show of the same name, though just how joined remains to be seen. For today's Leaderboard, let's pit these two titles against one another and see which is more anticipated amongst Massively readers. Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Defiance vs. DUST 514

MassivelyLeaderboard: Defiance vs. DUST 514 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkark-hunterarkfallbattle-royalccpccp-gamesconsoledefiancedustdust-514eveeve-onlinefpsleaderboardmmofpsone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionplaystationplaystation-3pollpollsps3pvpsandboxsci-fishootersyfytransmedia-synergytriontrion-worldstvversusvotevotesvotingvsxboxMon, 18 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: What's your feeling on Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/leaderboard-whats-your-feeling-on-garriotts-shroud-of-the-ava/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/leaderboard-whats-your-feeling-on-garriotts-shroud-of-the-ava/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/leaderboard-whats-your-feeling-on-garriotts-shroud-of-the-ava/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Shroud of the Avatar prototype screenshot
Richard Garriott's recent Shroud of the Avatar announcement was greeted with both huzzahs and catcalls (though the former seem to outnumber the latter if the project's current Kickstarter numbers are any indication).

Now that Lord British has spent the weekend answering questions via livestream and elaborating on game mechanics in the press, what do you think about the new project? Are you backing Shroud's Kickstarter, or are you taking a wait-and-see approach? Or do you not care one whit? Let us know via the voting booth after the cut.

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: What's your feeling on Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar?

MassivelyLeaderboard: What's your feeling on Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalleaderboardlord-britishone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollsportalariumrichard-garriottsandboxshroud-of-the-avatarversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 11 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: What's the best Star Wars MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/leaderboard-whats-the-best-star-wars-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/leaderboard-whats-the-best-star-wars-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/leaderboard-whats-the-best-star-wars-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

SWG is the best Star Wars MMO regardless of this poll result!
Star Wars has gotten the MMO treatment not once, not twice, but three times. This is assuming that you count SOE's Clone Wars Adventures browser title, which I do since it features extensive progression, non-combat activities, and a slew of other MMO-like features in spite of its heavy use of instancing.

Then there's Star Wars Galaxies, of course, followed by Star Wars: The Old Republic. For today's Leaderboard, help us pick the best Star Wars MMO (or at least, the most popular according to Massively commenters). Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: What's the best Star Wars MMO?

MassivelyLeaderboard: What's the best Star Wars MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalbiowarebrowserbrowser-basedclassic-mmoclone-warsclone-wars-adventurescwaeaelectronic-artsf2pfamilyfree-to-playgalaxieskid-friendlykidsleaderboardlobbylucasartsminigameone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollssandboxsci-fantasysci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 04 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: DDO vs. Neverwinter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/leaderboard-ddo-vs-neverwinter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/leaderboard-ddo-vs-neverwinter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/leaderboard-ddo-vs-neverwinter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Dungeons and Dragons Online - Beholder
By now you've probably had a chance to sample the new Neverwinter MMO, and if not then you've surely availed yourself of all our excellent textual and video coverage during the ongoing beta. You probably also know that Neverwinter marks the second official Dungeons and Dragons-based MMO to grace our favorite genre, the first being 2006's Dungeons and Dragons Online.

While it may not seem fair to pit a seven-year-old game against the new shiny, we're going to do it anyway because there's something to be said for age and experience. So, how about it? DDO vs. Neverwinter, 3.5 vs. 4th edition, Eberron vs. the Forgotten Realms, and Turbine vs. Cryptic. What say you Massively readers? Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: DDO vs. Neverwinter

MassivelyLeaderboard: DDO vs. Neverwinter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmobattle-royalcrypticcryptic-studiosddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfantasyfree-to-playleaderboardneverwinterone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpollpollspweturbineturbine-entertainmentversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 25 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Guild vs. no guild]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/18/leaderboard-guild-vs-no-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/18/leaderboard-guild-vs-no-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/18/leaderboard-guild-vs-no-guild/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies' coolest guild
Game-hopping in MMOs is probably more of the rule than the exception nowadays. With so many titles to choose from, and few financial barriers to entry, players can change virtual worlds as often as they change socks.

Guild-hopping isn't as easy, though, and one of the things that's put a damper on my multi-MMO enjoyment lately is the fact that I'm always playing by myself. Game-hopping guilds would seem to be the answer, but there's the small matter of both logistics and personal taste, as not everyone burns out at the same rate nor does everyone have the same sort of wandering eye.

My wanderlust has gotten so bad that I've taken to skipping the whole guild thing entirely in recent games, whereas looking for a suitable guild used to be one of the first things I did after logging into a fresh MMO. So, how about you? Guild or no guild? Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Guild vs. no guild

MassivelyLeaderboard: Guild vs. no guild originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalguildguildsleaderboardone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollsversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 18 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Community-driven development vs. company-driven development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/leaderboard-community-driven-development-vs-company-driven-dev/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/leaderboard-community-driven-development-vs-company-driven-dev/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/leaderboard-community-driven-development-vs-company-driven-dev/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2 roadmap
SOE's Roadmap initiative for PlanetSide 2 is an interesting beast. If you're unfamiliar with it, it's basically a public polling system wherein proposed game features are upvoted or downvoted by the community.

While there are no guarantees that the dev team will actually bend to the will of the people (it is SOE's game, after all), it's a fairly unprecedented setup in large-scale game development. It's also got plenty of naysayers, though, some of whom are concerned about the potential for the game to be affected by those who don't play it.

What do you think of Roadmap and potential systems like it? Do you welcome community-influenced development decisions in your MMO of choice, or do you prefer to leave it to the pros? Vote after the break!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Community-driven development vs. company-driven development

MassivelyLeaderboard: Community-driven development vs. company-driven development originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalcommunity-developmentfpsleaderboardmmo-shootermmofpsone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionplanetsideplanetside-2planetside-2-roadmappollpollsps2ps2-roadmaproadmapsandboxsci-fishootersoesoe-roadmapsonysony-online-entertainmentversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 11 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: PvP power vs. PvP specialization]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/leaderboard-pvp-power-vs-pvp-specialization/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/leaderboard-pvp-power-vs-pvp-specialization/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/leaderboard-pvp-power-vs-pvp-specialization/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Firefall PvP
One of an MMO designer's biggest challenges seems to be reconciling PvP and PvE in a game with gear progression. Another example of such comes courtesy of Red 5 Studios latest Firefall dev blog, where the team basically says that it's doing away with both PvP gear and tiers because of balance concerns.

While the approach that Red 5 is taking is certainly valid, another alternative would be to parcel out PvP progression as a series of specialization choices instead of across-the-board power boosts. For today's Leaderboard, we'd like to know which of these paths you'd prefer, or if you think that MMO PvP is simply a lost cause. Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: PvP power vs. PvP specialization

MassivelyLeaderboard: PvP power vs. PvP specialization originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebattle-royalf2pfirefallfpsfree-to-playleaderboardmmo-shooterone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollspvppvp-balancepvp-power-vs-pvp-specializationpvp-progressionred-5red-5-studiossci-fishooterthird-person-shooterversusvotevotesvotingvswarMon, 04 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST