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[MMObility: What needs to happen to make the mobile market shine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/mmobility-what-needs-to-happen-to-make-the-mobile-market-shine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/mmobility-what-needs-to-happen-to-make-the-mobile-market-shine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/mmobility-what-needs-to-happen-to-make-the-mobile-market-shine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Life is Magic screenshot
I've recently written about what the MMO future might look like, but in case you haven't read that piece yet, I can sum it up for you. Essentially I see the new generation being so used to gaming and communicating on portable yet powerful devices that the sit-down keyboard and mouse setup might very well be doomed. Even major PC manufacturers and sellers are noticing the trend. Take a visit to your local Gamestop or equivalent game shop and you will notice that the chains have started to sell tablets as well.

All of this tablet gaming might wound the current style of MMOs. I suspect that within the next decade or two it will all come full circle back to massive three-dimensional worlds on tech that becomes even more powerful and common, so we have to look at what the mobile market can do currently to keep MMOs in the lineup.

Continue reading MMObility: What needs to happen to make the mobile market shine

MassivelyMMObility: What needs to happen to make the mobile market shine originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angry birdsAngryBirdsbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedgoogleGPSingresslocation-basedmidgard-risingmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionorder-and-chaos-onlinephonesecond-lifesmartphoneVendetta-Onlinewords-with-friendsFri, 17 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RuneScape 3 dev diary gets serious about audio]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/runescape-3-dev-diary-gets-serious-about-audio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/runescape-3-dev-diary-gets-serious-about-audio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/runescape-3-dev-diary-gets-serious-about-audio/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

RuneScape 3 dev diary gets serious about audio
RuneScape 3 is coming soon. To get you all excited about it, the devs have released a new video talking about audio improvements in the game. The team recently recorded an orchestral score, but that's apparently just the beginning of its plans for RuneScape 3's audio. A lot of smaller recordings have been done to provide music for menus, incidentals, and poignant story moments. Audio isn't limited to just music, though. Jagex is focusing on strong, believable voice acting to draw players into the world and narrative. Ambient sound effects are also getting some loving polish.

Skip below the cut to hear (get it?) all about the upcoming improvements.

[Source: Jagex press release]

Continue reading RuneScape 3 dev diary gets serious about audio

MassivelyRuneScape 3 dev diary gets serious about audio originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiobrowserbrowser-basedclassic-mmof2pfantasyfree-to-playjagexjagex-games-studiorsrunescaperunescape-3runescape3sandboxThu, 16 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sid Meier on mobile and the value of hardcore gamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/sid-meier-on-mobile-and-the-value-of-hardcore-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/sid-meier-on-mobile-and-the-value-of-hardcore-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/sid-meier-on-mobile-and-the-value-of-hardcore-gamers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sid Meier on mobile and the value of hardcore gamersYou know you're getting old when legendary PC developer Sid Meier gives interviews about his foray into mobile gaming. It's not as bad as it sounds, though, because the man behind the Civilization series tells GamesIndustry.biz that the core gaming audience is still driving the industry regardless of platform.

"I think we've seen historically that the more casual gaming platforms and markets do have a kind of rise and fall pattern to them, whereas the hardcore gaming market, the serious gamers are much more stable, and they're going to be around for a long time and will keep playing games," Meier said.

Meier also ruminates on his approach to mobile free-to-play, which is basically the same try-the-demo-buy-the-full-game-if-you-like-it model that PC gaming has employed for decades. "It's not something like a constant stream of purchases every day, but it's more just unlocking the rest of the game and then you are done," he explained.

MassivelySid Meier on mobile and the value of hardcore gamers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelscasualf2pfree-to-playgame-industryhardcorehardcore-gamermmo-industrymobilesid-meierTue, 14 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Browser game market in China 'booming']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/browser-game-market-in-china-booming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/browser-game-market-in-china-booming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/browser-game-market-in-china-booming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Browser game market in China 'booming'
If you love to hate on browser-based MMOs and feel as though their time has passed, China might like to have a word or two with you. Sales of browser-based titles in the country have risen substantially in the past two years, increasing 46% in 2011 and 35% in 2012 according to a Taiwanese games company president, whereas client-based MMOs only made a 13% increase in growth in 2012.

XPEC's Aaron Hsu said that the figures showed that browser games are far from finished in the region: "I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but the browser game market in mainland China is just booming. It's just like the MMORPG market in 2003, for China. I feel like the Chinese developers have created a new business model for browser games there."

Due to the success of several lucrative browser games, Chinese developers are actively pursuing the browser -- not mobile -- platform. Hsu recommended that Western developers should concentrate on finding a Chinese publisher or partner to help ease into this different market instead of trying to break in solo.

MassivelyBrowser game market in China 'booming' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-hsubrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-mmosbusiness-modelchinachinese-marketgrowthmobilemobile-gamesmobile-platformplatformworld-of-warcraftxpecMon, 13 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RuneScape coming to tablets this year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/runescape-coming-to-tablets-this-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/runescape-coming-to-tablets-this-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/runescape-coming-to-tablets-this-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

RuneScape coming to tablets this year
RuneScape 3 is an ambitious project, especially for an MMO series as old as RuneScape's, but Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard told IGN in a recent interview that they're ready to take the wildly popular MMO to the next level. This not only means the previously announced change from a Java-based platform to HTML5, but it also means that the game will be coming to tablets by Q4 of this year.

Gerhard also added that the possibility of a smartphone connection is there as well, but only as an addition to the overall game experience. Where else can Jagex go from here? Smart TVs? Consoles? Both are possibilities, according to Gerhard.

MassivelyRuneScape coming to tablets this year originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedclassic-mmof2pfantasyfree-to-playjagexjagex-games-studiomark-gerhardmobilersrunescapesandboxtabletsThu, 09 May 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Vendetta Online on the iPad is a familiar experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/mmobility-vendetta-online-on-the-ipad-is-a-familiar-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/mmobility-vendetta-online-on-the-ipad-is-a-familiar-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/mmobility-vendetta-online-on-the-ipad-is-a-familiar-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Vendetta Online iPad screenshot
Vendetta Online has a long history. You can play the game across many platforms and access the same universe as all other players no matter which device you are on. That's right, you can jump on your Android device and kill a few enemies while on a lunch break and then go home to switch to the PC, for example. I looked at the game for Rise and Shiny last year, and we got our hands on it again at this year's GDC Online. It's always been an impressive enough experience for the most part, but the game is definitely aging. It's still not a newbie-friendly title, and the smaller playerbase makes the game seem like a ghost town a lot of the time.

I have been poking around the game for a bit now only to encounter mostly the same experience I found before. That's not a bad thing, but it's not exactly a good thing, either, because if there is one thing I do not like, it's bumping into a rough newbie experience. Sure, there are tutorials and missions to help you get started, but once you make your way into the greater universe, you might find yourself a bit lost, or worse -- bored.

Continue reading MMObility: Vendetta Online on the iPad is a familiar experience

MassivelyMMObility: Vendetta Online on the iPad is a familiar experience originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 May 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedguild-softwareipadmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphoneSandboxsci-fiscience-fictionsmartphoneVendetta-OnlineFri, 03 May 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA suffers additional layoffs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/ea-goes-through-additional-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/ea-goes-through-additional-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/ea-goes-through-additional-layoffs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

EA goes through additional layoffs
Citing a reorganization to focus on new technologies and mobile development, EA announced that it has let another round of its employees go. No firm numbers or estimates on how many were fired have been officially released, however.

The publisher released the following statement on its blog:
In recent weeks, EA has aligned all elements of its organizational structure behind priorities in new technologies and mobile. This has led to some difficult decisions to reduce the workforce in some locations. We are extremely grateful for the contributions made by each of our employees - those that are leaving EA will be missed by their colleagues and friends.

These are hard but essential changes as we focus on delivering great games and showing players around the world why to spend their time with us.
A Gamasutra source said that the EA Partners publishing label has been abolished in the reorganization, although the games it was handling are still in the works.

MassivelyEA suffers additional layoffs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaea-partnerselectronic-artsfiringlayofflayoffsmmo-industrymobilepink-slipsThu, 25 Apr 2013 15:30:00 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[War Thunder opens US beta server, starts development on mobile version]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/war-thunder-opens-us-beta-server-starts-development-on-mobile-v/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/war-thunder-opens-us-beta-server-starts-development-on-mobile-v/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/war-thunder-opens-us-beta-server-starts-development-on-mobile-v/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

War Thunder opens US beta server, starts development on mobile version
War Thunder, formerly World of Planes, has been soaring through open beta for several months now. Gaijin Entertainment decided that it's time to make a few flight adjustments, however, and announced that it has opened up a separate US gaming cluster to improve latency times for North American players.

The developer also let slip that it has begun development on a mobile version of the game for both iOS and Android platforms.

Gaijin said that War Thunder has attracted 1.5 million active users who have flown a total of 224 million missions since the start of beta. The developer recently put out version 1.29 for the flight sim; the patch makes a number of significant improvements such as four new aircraft, improved damage models, and a new economy.

[Source: Gaijin Entertainment press release]

MassivelyWar Thunder opens US beta server, starts development on mobile version originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerial-combatandroidaviationbetadamage-modelsf2pflight-simflight-simulatorfree-to-playgaijingaijin-entertainmentiosmobileopen-betapatchupdateversion-1.29war-thunderwar-thunder-betawar-thunder-open-betaworld-of-planesworld-war-2Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with Arena of Heroes' turn-based gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/hands-on-with-arena-of-heroes-turn-based-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/hands-on-with-arena-of-heroes-turn-based-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/hands-on-with-arena-of-heroes-turn-based-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Handson with Arena of Heroes' turnbased gameplay
During the last week, I've witnessed two excellent unions: My good friend married his college sweetheart, and a MOBA reached out to the ranks of turn-based gaming. Sure, the former had an open bar, but no amount of free booze can quench my desire for something new within the MOBA genre. Enter Arena of Heroes, a new turn-based free-to-play MOBA that can be played on PC, Mac, iPad, and eventually, on Ouya, iOS, and Android.

I spent the morning with Sneaky Games CEO David Godwin and Zattikka Director of Product Alexandra Tinsman to find out why this game will make me bring my iPad everywhere I go.

Continue reading Hands-on with Arena of Heroes' turn-based gameplay

MassivelyHands-on with Arena of Heroes' turn-based gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexandra-tinsmanandroidarena-of-heroesdavid-godwinfeaturedhands-onMOBAouyapcpreviewpreviewssneaky-gameszattikkaFri, 19 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch Might and Magic: Duel of Champions' producer destroy Massively]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/watch-might-and-magic-duel-of-champions-producer-destroy-massi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/watch-might-and-magic-duel-of-champions-producer-destroy-massi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/watch-might-and-magic-duel-of-champions-producer-destroy-massi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Might and Magic Duel of Champions screenshot
Might and Magic: Duel of Champions is a new collectible card game brought to us by Ubisoft Quebec. Some folks might say that trading card games are a dime a dozen and that once you've played one, you've played them all. But I think the genre is always moving forward and expanding, introducing new designs and interesting ways to play, which is true of Might and Magic's latest go at the TCG market. During my tour, I found myself up against producer Stephane Jankowski. Unfortunately for me, he is no stranger to the game. He takes it quite seriously, going so far as to "go easy" on me so that I was not embarrassed. Little did he know that I am a noob at every game out there, so no harm was done.

Might and Magic: Duel of Champions is a great game for those who want not only more strategy but also a faster pace. The tutorial walked me through some of the basics, but I learned more in the hour I played with Stephane than I had playing during the previous week. Click past the cut to watch the livestream and read up on what makes this one stand out.

Continue reading Watch Might and Magic: Duel of Champions' producer destroy Massively

MassivelyWatch Might and Magic: Duel of Champions' producer destroy Massively originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanccgCollectible-Card-Gamefeaturedhands-onLiveStreammight-and-magicmight-and-magic-duel-of-championspreviewpreviewsstephane-jankowskistreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamtcgtrading-card-gametrailertrailerstwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosFri, 19 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlanetSide 2 mobile app guns down office productivity]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/planetside-2-mobile-app-guns-down-office-productivity/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/planetside-2-mobile-app-guns-down-office-productivity/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/planetside-2-mobile-app-guns-down-office-productivity/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2 mobile app screenshot
Developing a mobile app to go along with your MMO is so in right now. Sure, not every developer can afford such a luxury, but it's always good to see three-dimensional developers include our mobile devices in the fun. These apps are also a good way to suck players into a game and keep them there thanks to the word of the day: accessibility. While some player is at her office, theoretically working for a living, she is also busily checking in on her favorite game. Brilliant! Even if the application offers just information without much interaction, it can be a great way to keep players plugged in.

SOE has just published a mobile app for Planetside 2, and we thought it would be great to check out how the apps worked alongside the game and how it performs across different devices.

Gallery: PlanetSide 2 app screenshots

Continue reading PlanetSide 2 mobile app guns down office productivity

MassivelyPlanetSide 2 mobile app guns down office productivity originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappapp-storefeaturedfpsgalleriesgallerygoogle-playIOSmmofpsmobileplanetsideplanetside-2screenshotscreenshotsSOESony-Online-EntertainmentTue, 16 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/mmobility-dragon-eternity-shines-on-the-ipad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/mmobility-dragon-eternity-shines-on-the-ipad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/mmobility-dragon-eternity-shines-on-the-ipad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Eternity iPad version screenshot
Dragon Eternity has always been a pretty neat browser-based game that drew me in more with its mechanics and UI design than with its actual gameplay. Frankly, the game is a grind. You'll be sent on quest after quest that is basically kill-ten-whatever, with the occasional gather quest thrown in for good measure. I wasn't terribly thrilled with it before, but I did find myself occasionally enjoying it. The artwork in the game is beautiful. That alone is a reason to poke my head into the title once in a while.

Now that a new iPad version has been released, I just had to give it another go to see if it felt the same as before. I have to say, how you interface with a game can really make a difference. Sure, the grind is still there, and the quests are generally the same at higher levels as they are at level one, but the iPad works awesome.

That's not all, however. I also participated in PvP combat for the first time and found out exactly where the game shines.

Continue reading MMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad

MassivelyMMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddragon-eternityfeaturedipadmagic-the-gatheringmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmomobile-versionopinionphonesmartphoneFri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA hit with layoffs, specific teams not disclosed [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/ea-hit-with-layoffs-specific-teams-not-disclosed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/ea-hit-with-layoffs-specific-teams-not-disclosed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/ea-hit-with-layoffs-specific-teams-not-disclosed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

ea layoffs
Electronic Arts has laid off an undisclosed number of staff. The company tells Joystiq that it is "sharpening its focus to provide games for new platforms and mobile. In some cases, this involves reducing team sizes as we evolve into a more efficient organization."

Joystiq says that 60 to 70 permanent employees were let go from the EA Mobile Montreal office, with over 100 contractors also affected. "If you walk through the office all you see is a bunch of already cleared-out desks, and people cleaning out their desks," a source told the website.

Update: As to the rumors and tips we've received about the layoff impact on EA's MMO lineup, we contacted EA for a response, but EA declined to comment specifically on Mythic or BioWare, providing us instead with the same statement given Joystiq.

MassivelyEA hit with layoffs, specific teams not disclosed [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaea-layoffselectronic-artslayoffsmmo-industrymobileThu, 11 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order & Chaos Online shakes things up with a major patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/order-and-chaos-online-shakes-things-up-with-a-major-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/order-and-chaos-online-shakes-things-up-with-a-major-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/order-and-chaos-online-shakes-things-up-with-a-major-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Go ahead and make a joke about whether or not this would qualify as some sort of crusade related to immolation.
Order & Chaos Online is definitely trending a bit closer to the chaos side today. Gameloft's mobile MMO is getting a major patch to shake up a number of the game's systems, starting with the level cap rising to 70. That alone will shake up player expectations, but the addition of two new areas for players to explore is going to give fans plenty of new options on their way to that expanded level cap.

Not a fan? Well, then, none of that is going to matter to you. But you can get into the game easier than before, with the patch allowing new users to sign in via Facebook accounts. There are also more mounts, pets, and a beauty salon for changing your character's appearance. So there's plenty to enjoy, but if you're playing it on your phone, you should probably pull your car off to one side of the road before downloading. Otherwise you'll be causing entirely the wrong sort of chaos out of the game.

Gallery: Order & Chaos Online gallery



[Source: Gameloft press release]

MassivelyOrder & Chaos Online shakes things up with a major patch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapp-storeappsgameloftiphonemobilemobile-titlesorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlinepatchpatchesportable-gamesportable-mmosportable-titlestabletWed, 10 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: How the mobile market is trying to change MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/mmobility-how-the-mobile-market-is-trying-to-change-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/mmobility-how-the-mobile-market-is-trying-to-change-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/mmobility-how-the-mobile-market-is-trying-to-change-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Real Racing 3 screenshot
My brother called me the other day to tell me that he had just beaten me in Real Racing 3, an EA title that has drawn some criticism for its use of microtransactions. I enjoyed the heck out of the game, and it seems that EA is not worried about the criticism thanks to the overall positive response to the title. I asked my brother about the in-game purchases and he didn't really know what I was talking about. It was only more evidence that the rest of the market -- especially the huge mobile market -- doesn't really appear to care about persistent worlds or immersive lore. The fact is that pseudo-MMOs or games that are barely on the edge of MMO are MMO enough for many people, even people like my brother, who is no stranger to MMO gaming and has spent years in and out of World of Warcraft raiding and leveling.

I was going to write about a game called Raft Pirates for this column, but when I started to look at it, I realized that it didn't quite seem like a "real" MMO, and so I asked the developer to define the game for me. The response I got back only added to my confusion about where the mobile market is going. So in today's MMObility, I want to continue the discussion I started last week, but this time I'll like to look at how the mobile market is keeping things muddy.

Continue reading MMObility: How the mobile market is trying to change MMOs

MassivelyMMObility: How the mobile market is trying to change MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddefining-mmosEAfeaturedMicrotransactionsmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphoneraft-piratesreal-racing-3smartphoneWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 05 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Avabel Online is almost everything I dislike about mobile MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/mmobility-avabel-online-is-almost-everything-i-dislike-about-mo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/mmobility-avabel-online-is-almost-everything-i-dislike-about-mo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/mmobility-avabel-online-is-almost-everything-i-dislike-about-mo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Avabel Online screenshot
The mobile MMO market is still so young and underdeveloped that it seems unfair to judge it too harshly. Calling it devoid of quality content is sort of like describing the dark days of early graphical MMOs, a time filled with games that were nothing but a grind wrapped in what we thought was a pretty package. In hindsight, those three-day waits and incredibly tedious levels were "fun" only when we consider that they were all we had to choose from.

The mobile market is about 80% crap as it is right now; this is true. I say that as someone who is a massive fan of the platform. For what it's worth, the rest of the standard MMO market is around 80% crap as well, but there are a lot more titles to choose from. Mobile has its star titles and wonderful developers, but when a game like Avabel Online pops up, I cringe at the possibility that an entire generation of gamers might grow up on such tedium.

Continue reading MMObility: Avabel Online is almost everything I dislike about mobile MMOs

MassivelyMMObility: Avabel Online is almost everything I dislike about mobile MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane-legendsavabelavabel-onlinebeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionorder-and-chaos-onlinephonesmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendsFri, 29 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArcheVille mobile game hooks into ArcheAge somehow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/archeville-mobile-game-hooks-into-archeage-somehow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/archeville-mobile-game-hooks-into-archeage-somehow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/archeville-mobile-game-hooks-into-archeage-somehow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

ArcheVille and ArcheAge exchange
If you've got a serious craving for ArcheAge and you don't mind cutesy graphics, you might want to check out XLGAMES' ArcheVille. Oh yeah, you'll also need an iOS device (an Android version is in the works).

What exactly is ArcheVille? It's a farming- and minipet-based mobile game that ties into XL's upcoming sandpark title. MMO Culture reports that gift exchanges are possible between ArcheVille and ArcheAge, though we're not sure if that functionality will work for English-speakers just yet due to the latter's Korean-only client.

In any event, ArcheVille is currently available in English and viewable in the App Store. You can view a gameplay video after the break.

[Thanks Dengar!]

Continue reading ArcheVille mobile game hooks into ArcheAge somehow

MassivelyArcheVille mobile game hooks into ArcheAge somehow originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarche-agearcheagearcheage-mobilearchevillefantasymobilepvpsandboxsandparkxl-gamesxlgamesWed, 27 Mar 2013 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Tanks Blitz mobile game to 'rival anything on a console']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/world-of-tanks-blitz-mobile-game-to-rival-anything-on-a-console/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/world-of-tanks-blitz-mobile-game-to-rival-anything-on-a-console/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/world-of-tanks-blitz-mobile-game-to-rival-anything-on-a-console/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

World of Tanks Blitz to 'rival anything on a console'
Want to play World of Tanks on your tablet? You'll soon be able to do something similar thanks to World of Tanks Blitz, an Android and iOS title announced today by Wargaming.net.

The game will feature 7-on-7 PvP matches "inspired by" World of Tanks, and it will allow players to lead American, Russian, and German tanks into battle. "With World of Tanks Blitz we're doing our best to give players a gaming experience that would rival anything they could find on a console," says Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi via press release. "We've always been committed to bringing World of Tanks to new platforms and we're excited to give players a chance to experience the game in a whole new way."

The firm has yet to announce a release date.

MassivelyWorld of Tanks Blitz mobile game to 'rival anything on a console' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blitzf2pfree-to-playhistoricalpvptanktanksvictor-kislyiwarwargaming.networld-of-tanksworld-of-tanks-blitzworld-of-tanks-mobilewotTue, 26 Mar 2013 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Fifteen fun free MMORPGs for your tablet or smartphone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/mmobility-fifteen-fun-free-mmorpgs-for-your-tablet-or-smartphon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/mmobility-fifteen-fun-free-mmorpgs-for-your-tablet-or-smartphon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/mmobility-fifteen-fun-free-mmorpgs-for-your-tablet-or-smartphon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Avabel screenshot
Mobile MMORPGs are still hard to come by. Sure, there are a ton of pseudo-MMOs and developers who claim to have created an MMO, but the fact is that persistence -- a key to defining what an MMO is -- is often gone from many of these games. I want to be able to log out of the game while the rest of the digital world goes on without me. Or better yet, and in the case of most MMORTS titles, I want to log out of the game and continue to have an effect on the world through trades, wars, or the fallout of diplomacy.

Even though the market is often bare, there are still quite a few MMOs out there. Many of them are fun as well! I know, I know, I am making it seem as though the smartphone or tablet MMO market is empty of all content, but the truth is that for its age, it's doing very well. There are more and more coming out all of the time, and hopefully I'll be there to cover them. In the meanwhile, enjoy a list of the specific titles that rest on my Nexus 7 3G tablet, just waiting to be played anywhere and any time!

Continue reading MMObility: Fifteen fun free MMORPGs for your tablet or smartphone

MassivelyMMObility: Fifteen fun free MMORPGs for your tablet or smartphone originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane-legendsavabelbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddark-legendsfeaturedgoogleingresskabamlife-is-magiclocation-basedmidgard-risingmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmonexus-7opinionorder-and-chaos-onlineparallel-kingdomparallel-mafiaparallel-zombiesperbluephonepocket-legendsRed-Robot-Labssmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendstabletthe-hobbit-kingdoms-of-middle-earthtibiaMEwarspear-onlineFri, 22 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST