Massively

EA Sports sets up shop on PS Home

Alexis Kassan — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST

EA Sports will be the first Electronic Arts property on PlayStation Home, according to a statement from EA Sports President, Stephen Moore, earlier this month. The Home space will feature online poker and a racing game alongside EA content.

The real-time sports information that dedicated fans crave will be available via in-game video walls. There will also be the inevitable ads and trailers. Does anyone else think it's a little "we're at 'now' now" to watch ads for video games on virtual televisions from our televisions using a video game console?

EA Sports sets up shop on PS Home originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Have your say in FFXI swag design

Alexis Kassan — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI

Square Enix is looking for your help in designing their next round of accessories for Final Fantasy XI. You don't have to submit art or anything, just fill out a brief survey including your purchase habits and favorite NPC characters. There's also a space to write in comments about what merch you want to see.

All surveys must be in by midnight PST on January 28th so head over and fill one out soon. Who knows - there could be a Robel-Akbel plushie or an "I <3 Apururu" t-shirt in your future!

Have your say in FFXI swag design originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kids choose digital entertainment over traditional media

Alexis Kassan — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Consoles, Academic, Kids

A recent survey of moms by NPD shows that kids are more interested in receiving digital content than purchasing physical media such as CDs or DVDs. Though most games still rely on an initial physical purchase of software, there is an increasing trend towards online and on-device delivery.

The study also looked at device usage and activities done on those devices. It found that gaming is the most popular activity with around 85% of kids playing on the devices studied. There has also been an increase in cross-platform usage with videos being watched on consoles and cell phones used to listen to music. With all the talk of MMOs on consoles and the ability of devices to handle more tasks each rather than respecting their traditional, separate roles, it seems this trend is poised to continue.

Kids choose digital entertainment over traditional media originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE expects the PS3 to be half their business

Alexis Kassan — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Free Realms, DC Universe Online

The ways we play are changing and Sony Online Entertainment wants to be a driver of that change. They will be releasing the Free Realms and DC Universe Online titles to PC and PlayStation 3 with expectations of additional MMOGs going to console in the years ahead. Now SOE President John Smedley states in an interview that they expect PS3 to be about half of their business.

It's a bold statement considering the PS3 has been trailing several other systems in usage including its own predecessor. But with Blu-Ray crowned champion of the high-def disc war, an expanding game title selection for the console, online integration and PS Home, the PS3 has a lot to offer gamers. The question that remains in this blogger's mind is, will MMO gamers make the leap to console?

SOE expects the PS3 to be half their business originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

US Age of Conan servers down for the merger of Bloodspire and Hyperborea

Alexis Kassan — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Server downtime

Server mergers have finally come to Age of Conan. ~~Today~~ Tomorrow the US servers will be down starting around 7:00 a.m. EST (or 12 p.m. GMT) for about six hours so that Bloodspire and Hyperborea can be merged. Originally planned for early December, the mergers had been postponed when a data problem was identified that might have caused certain items to disappear in the process.

Additional details around how the mergers will be done are available on the AoC FAQ forum threads. If you have characters on these servers (or really anyone playing), it's definitely worth having a look to determine how you might be impacted. Information on further merges has not yet been released.

Update: Servers will be down tomorrow, January 7th.

US Age of Conan servers down for the merger of Bloodspire and Hyperborea originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Four cheers for Tipa's Spellborn gallery

Alexis Kassan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Chronicles of Spellborn

You've got to admit it - Chronicles of Spellborn has some seriously amazing graphics. And to prove that's true, Tipa at West Karana has posted a great selection of screenies. They include some of the High Houses, cityscapes, temples, and yes, the gratuitous undressed character shot.

As if having Within Temptation do the music for it wasn't enough to tempt you (pun fully intended) into the game, these screen shots provide the additional visual stimulus needed to point you to the beta sign-up. If you're in the EU, you can download the client for free. So hop over, take a look, and commence the ooh-ing... and eagerly awaiting launch day in the States.

Four cheers for Tipa's Spellborn gallery originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

A little more about Wizard101

Alexis Kassan — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trading Card Games, Kids, Wizard101

There have been quite a few releases for magic-themed game Wizard101 of late as well as the preview of the first expansion. Enough so that WhatTheyPlay has posted an overview aimed at parents to explain the basis of the game and what they can expect if their kids play it.

In a nutshell, Wizard101 is a world where players are students of magic. Combat relies on a trading card system and is turn-based. No one ever "dies" in the game. It's free to play in much the same way that Runescape is - meaning that many areas and quests are only available to paid accounts. The options are numerous in terms of membership levels depending upon what the players (or their parents) want to be able to do. For those parents worried about the community, they do discuss the limitations on communication and the average age of players (about 12). Then again, with family plan pricing available, parents could join their kids in the game and find out for themselves what it's all about.

A little more about Wizard101 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kotaku outlines differences between PlayStation Home and Second Life

Alexis Kassan — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Second Life, Consoles, Virtual Worlds, PlayStation Home

There has been plenty of speculation on PlayStation Home and how it compares and contrasts with Second Life as a virtual world. Heck, the creative director spoke about it months ago stating that Second Life players would probably not find much of interest in PS Home. Well, Kotaku has stepped in to explore just that subject.

For those not wanting to get too down and dirty with the full tale, Second Life has much more personal customization. Everything from outfits to dance moves to land masses can be user-generated and added to the world. On the other hand, PlayStation Home allows for minimal add-ons, focusing on creating rich, stable environments - even if that means sacrificing little things like avatar diversity. But with much more content promised, PS Home may well become a better contender for virtual world time.

Kotaku outlines differences between PlayStation Home and Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

World of Warcraft tops most played list of 2008

Alexis Kassan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, RuneScape, Academic

Nielsen Research has published its January through October numbers about the top 10 PC games and top 10 consoles by amount of time played. Once again World of Warcraft tops the charts. In fact, WoW has more time played than the other nine titles listed - combined.

Coming in at position 6 is Runescape, the browser-based game that could. It had just slightly less share than The Sims 2. Numbers for only October are available on the Nielsen website and show a different makeup for numbers 2-10, with WoW still in first. We can only imagine what this data will look like for November 2008 with the added game time of those who bought Wrath of the Lich King.

World of Warcraft tops most played list of 2008 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Increase ROI by training in virtual worlds

Alexis Kassan — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real-Life, Academic, Virtual Worlds

Forterra, makers of OLIVE virtual worlds, along with ACS Learning Services recently conducted a proof of concept in employee training using their customized systems. It's a new approach to corporate dilemmas of training large groups for as little money as possible.

The experiment began with training the users on how to move their avatars to interact, thus pushing past potential problems with people being uncomfortable in the virtual space. They were then brought into the training environment where, rather than merely watching slides go by, they must move around and interact to find the answers to questions. How do they know the info got through? Tremendous feedback.

Increase ROI by training in virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gaming promotes life skills according to IBM exec

Alexis Kassan — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, News Items, Consoles, MMOFPS

Gamers have become something of a stereotype in recent times. In everything from the job market to South Park, players are perceived as nerdy, pimply-faced, basement-dwellers with no social skills who do nothing outside of work other than play the game of their choosing. But now we have some pretty high-level defense of our beloved past-time.

David Laux, head of games and interactive entertainment at IBM, has listed a myriad of positive skills gained by gamers from the problems they must face and overcome. Specifically mentioned is teaming in World of Warcraft as it emphasizes building diverse teams to accomplish tasks. It's certainly a breath of fresh air to hear such reassurances from someone in the capacity to hire.

Gaming promotes life skills according to IBM exec originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

WarCry explores types of game settings

Alexis Kassan — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Academic

Should MMOs try to become to gaming what Rocky is to movies? A series of sequels with the same base setting, familiar characters, and expected outcomes? Or should they create a new world with each release? This is the debate offered in a recent article from WarCry, exploring the types of intellectual property offered by MMORPGs.

In the past year, we have heard announcements from some of the largest MMO companies that AAA titles were being closed and games with tremendous recognition may not be getting sequels. It seems there is a movement towards the new and unfamiliar out there, even as the lists of new titles are filled with the likes of Star Wars: The Old Republic, Star Trek Online, and DC Universe Online. So it begs the question, are the games you're most looking forward to based on what has come before or a fresh new world and lore to explore for the first time?

As a caveat to an example used in Mr. Steinhauer's article, this blogger would point out that the Forgotten Realms setting was originally from Dungeons & Dragons settings and had a rather extensive series of novels behind it.

WarCry explores types of game settings originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Warhammer Online wins X-Play MMO of the Year

Alexis Kassan — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, Warhammer Online

Just days after our own Best of 2008 were announced, G4 TV show X-Play has confirmed Warhammer Online as the best game release of the year. Their reasons mirror many voiced here including the RvR combat system, solo-able character classes, and public quests.

Other contenders mentioned in the segment were World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and Age of Conan. Each brought a new twist to the party, but ultimately could not top Warhammer in originality. So congratulations to Mythic for all that they've achieved in 2008. We can hardly wait for more improvements coming in 2009.

Warhammer Online wins X-Play MMO of the Year originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

It's not an addiction if you don't get withdrawal symptoms

Alexis Kassan — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

For years we've been hearing that if you spend more than X number of hours per week playing video games then you're addicted. It's been blamed for everything from increased college dropout rates to premeditated murder. The Smith & Jones Centre, a medical facility that has a program to treat video game addiction, has come out to say that while frequent gaming may be a social disorder, it is rarely if ever an addiction. And now WhatTheyPlay.com has also taken a stand and done some of their own research on what addiction really means and whether video game addiction actually exists... hint: the answer points to no.

According to the medical definition, habitual use is generally only deemed "addiction" when you have increased tolerance or get cravings or physiological withdrawal symptoms when not using. So from the sounds of things, the video games themselves may not be an addiction - but the caffeine to go with them sure could be!

It's not an addiction if you don't get withdrawal symptoms originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

GamerDNA shows their year in review graphically

Alexis Kassan — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, Consoles

In the spirit of the season, GamerDNA is giving the gift of insight to all its users in the form of a year in review column. Part one of this column describes several interesting metrics about the number of new titles tagged in user profiles by release month, platform, or specific game (no hard numbers given).

Some interesting notes:

The top title added by users was Age of Conan. It was released in May and correlated to a month of lower unique titles being added. No mention is made of how many users subsequently removed titles from their profiles... but maybe they're saving that for part two.
There is a noticeable drop in game titles being added for the months of June and July, around the time of the re-branding effort and subsequent server issues.
The largest uptick in titles added (by release date) was in September, presumably due to Warhammer Online. November is still creeping up on the September numbers with the Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Mines of Moria, and World of Warcraft's Wrath of the Lich King still gaining traction.

We are promised more phat numbers in the next few days so keep your eyes peeled... well, not literally.

GamerDNA shows their year in review graphically originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Red5 sends recruitment messages that won't self-destruct

Alexis Kassan — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Business Models, MMO Industry

The adage usually goes "it's hard to find good help these days." And it's all too true in the gaming industry. While other industries may shun players of MMORPGs, game development companies are actively looking to recruit top-notch talent. Competition is tough to get the best developers, especially when the projects they might be working on cannot be revealed. So to break the monotony of typical recruiter phone calls, Red 5 came up with a unique way to get potential employees interested.

Their Golden Ticket system sent 100 developers an unmarked FedEx box. Inside was another box, labeled 1, that featured art from the game under development and looked vaguely like it might have come from a Mission: Impossible set. Then, in a sort of modern Russian nesting doll manner, the potential employee uncovered the full group of five boxes. Within the fifth box was an iPod, personally engraved for that recipient, along with a code to enter on the Red5 website. The iPod, once hooked up with the site, played a personalized message inviting the developer to the Red5 offices to check out the facility and interview. Quite a unique, if paranoia-inducing, way to get new applicants.

Red5 sends recruitment messages that won't self-destruct originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Allakhazam editor rages at SOE Station Cash

Alexis Kassan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest, EverQuest II, Business Models, Opinion

There has been much unpleasantness following last week's announcement by SOE that they would be introducing Station Cash to Everquest and Everquest II. But few write-ups have been so frequented (or adamant) as that of Allakhazam editor Tamat. The main gist of the argument is that this change was forced upon all servers, rather than providing the option to choose switching to a server offering these transactions. There are also concerns over how the items, available only by microtransactions, change the dynamic of play in the games.

We invite all of you, readers, to tell us what your experience of the Station Cash items has been thus far. Have you used the system? Are you excited or annoyed by the gear available for money? In short, is it more fun or just funds?

Allakhazam editor rages at SOE Station Cash originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kids try to get around Wizard101 language restrictions

Alexis Kassan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Kids, Wizard101

Player 1: What can you see out your window?
Player 2: A large fruit. You?
Player 1: Uhh, OK... I can see Russia from my house.
Player 2: What?

Usually the language restrictions in MMOs consist of vulgarities and, less frequently, racial or sexual slurs. But Wizard101, a game targeted to a younger demographic, goes beyond that and disallows revealing location to other players. In fact, players under the age of 13 are not allowed to use the full chat function at all. This is to prevent kids from detailing where they are just in case.

The problem is that kids get curious and ask other players where they live regardless - mind you, it has to be in a roundabout sort of way. Since many cannot answer directly, they have been trying to use features of the state or nicknames to describe their location. They may not get very far in actually depicting their state, but the effort surely must be a learning experience in speaking indirectly. With this type of skill, these players may just have futures in politics.

Kids try to get around Wizard101 language restrictions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

zOMG! beta reaches half a million players

Alexis Kassan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Free-to-Play, Browser, Gaia Online

Gaia Online's latest title, zOMG!, has attracted over half a million beta users, according to Worlds in Motion. This cutesy, anime-looking game was named by the players back in July of this year and has enjoyed tremendous success even this early in its life cycle.

zOMG! is a Flash-based browser game marketed primarily to children and teens. Players earn Gaia Gold by interacting with the Gaia website and can then spend said gold to customize their avatar. If you're interested in trying the beta or just looking for more information on what it's all about, check out our First Impression of zOMG!.

Gallery: First Impressions: zOMG!

zOMG! beta reaches half a million players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Square Enix will differentiate its next effort from FFXI

Alexis Kassan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: New Titles

Details are still not released about the next project from Square Enix, makers of Final Fantasy XI but rumors abound that it will debut at E3 in June 2009. So far, all that has been said is that the new game will be "different from Final Fantasy XI." Gee. Thanks. Helpful.

This is not terribly different from what they said about six months ago now regarding the new game. And according to Hiromichi Tanaka, Senior VP of Software Development, the same team that worked on FFXI will be on this next project. Given the resounding and lasting success of the Final Fantasy franchise, it may be hard to give up the name recognition.

Square Enix will differentiate its next effort from FFXI originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Enhancements announced to Jumpgate Evolution guild beta sign-up form

Alexis Kassan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Jumpgate Evolution

For all those space pilots anxiously awaiting the chance to enter your guild Jumpgate Evolution, there have been updates made to the guild beta sign-up form. Basically, the enhancements allow you to manage your guild members more actively. You can remove members, list additional e-mail addresses, and check to see who has filled out and confirmed their information.

Any changes made will note effect the odds of getting into beta. In fact, it's probably best to have the cleanest list possible of your members before the official launch date to avoid hassles later on. So whether you've been waiting to add your friend who just built a new system or trying to remove someone who's too busy with other betas, head in and adjust.

Enhancements announced to Jumpgate Evolution guild beta sign-up form originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Turbine announces bi-coastal layoffs

Alexis Kassan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, News Items

It's been going around. Last week saw Sony dropping staff (again), though not from SOE. Now Turbine has announced an undisclosed number of staff cutbacks from their QA and Account Management divisions. Both the Massachusetts and California locations have been impacted by this. The company has specified that they are not looking to outsource these functions, merely reduce redundancies.

Turbine has stated that there are no plans to reduce efforts going forward on Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons and Dragons Online or any other projects. This is especially important considering the recent launch of Mines of Moria, the first expansion to LotRO. In fact, they are currently hiring - just in other departments.

Turbine announces bi-coastal layoffs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Come and spend a fortnight in Pirates of the Burning Sea

Alexis Kassan — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Pirates of the Burning Sea

Flying Lab games is calling all scurvy knaves back to the ranks of Pirates of the Burning Sea and offering 14 days free for all returning players. If you're new to the game, you can also get two weeks to try it out by visiting their free trial page. They have added lots of new features over the past several months and want to show everyone.

For those of you who previously played and are interested in returning, here are some things to look forward to:

New ships - many were created by players
Dueling - you won't lose durability if your ship gets sunk in a duel
Ship Insurance - get some of your investment back if you lose your ship
Enhanced Ship Battles - changes to reinforcements and improvements to the ad hoc sea battle system

So come on in and take a look around - on the house!

Come and spend a fortnight in Pirates of the Burning Sea originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Warhammer patches patch 1.1a

Alexis Kassan — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Warhammer Online

Patch 1.1a was released yesterday to Warhammer Online and we're already seeing fixes being put in place. Mythic has released updates to the patch to address the increase in travel costs, fix items, adjust quests, and the usual little tweaks to make things run as designed. But the most important fixes, in this writer's humble opinion, are for the oRvR system.

The amount of influence for achieving offensive battlefield objectives has been changed while leaving the influence system the same for defense. The stated reason for this change is for balance - in order to encourage more players to use the system. In addition, high-level players will once again be turned into chickens if they enter lower-ranked RvR areas. Scenarios will also close when too few people are in them.

Warhammer patches patch 1.1a originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Bigpoint is poised and ready to invade US markets

Alexis Kassan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO Industry, Free-to-Play, Browser

USA Network and the SCI FI Channel are getting ready for a blitz of online games coming their way from Bigpoint. Peacock Equity Fund, which includes NBC Universal, recently bought a majority stake in the German game producer and are planning to distribute their browser-based, free-to-play titles on network sites.

Previously planned titles, including a game based on the hit series Next Top Model, are still in the works. Bigpoint is also expanding across Europe through partnerships with MTV Networks International to promote their 26 browser games to users in nearly a dozen countries. They also offer a handful of downloadable games and a veritable plethora of mini games to over 43 million registered users.

Bigpoint is poised and ready to invade US markets originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ubisoft failed at courting Cryptic before the Atari takeover

Alexis Kassan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO Industry, News Items

According to CFO Alain Martinez, Ubisoft was also looking into acquiring Cryptic before Atari stepped in and inked a deal. Though they are disappointed at having missed this opportunity, there seems to be no shortage of acquisition options. Martinez states that they are looking at taking over two to three small companies in the next few months, but details of what products this may involve are unknown.

Ubisoft has been busy advertising their latest console-and-PC title, Prince of Persia, for the holiday season and working on Assassin's Creed 2 - currently expected to be released in fiscal year 2010. CEO Yves Guillemot states they are planning to launch online game products in 2009, but says the experience will be more casual than the expansive Cryptic titles like Champions Online and Star Trek Online. This would have been one giant leap in moving to the MMO model.

Ubisoft failed at courting Cryptic before the Atari takeover originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

World of Warcraft themed restaurant wows Beijing

Alexis Kassan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Real-Life

Unlike the April Fool's joke from Blizzard in 2006, this time there really is a World of Warcraft-themed restaurant open for business in Beijing. The venue boasts a Dark Portal entrance, full wall prints of WoW scenes, an enormous screen that shows action from the game, a tree in the center reminiscent of Raynewood Retreat, and what appears to be the ability to log in from your table.

From the sounds of things you may not be able to order Delicious Chocolate Cake (after all, the cake is a lie), but maybe Gadgetzan Gado-gado or Murloc Mince Pie are on the menu. So if you're in the Beijing area and looking for a great place to host your next guild meeting, check it out and let us know how the food is.

World of Warcraft themed restaurant wows Beijing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

SCE but not SOE included in Sony job cuts

Alexis Kassan — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: News Items

News broke yesterday that Sony is looking to decrease their workforce by about 5 percent, or 8000 jobs, over the next year and a half. These jobs are projected to come primarily from manufacturing plants, with specific targets of the downsizing to include Sony's mobile phone and LCD divisions. We are also hearing that Sony Computer Entertainment will be cutting jobs as well. While Sony is expected to review the PlayStation division of their business, Ten Ton Hammer has confirmed that Sony Online Entertainment will not be involved in the audit for downsizing.

Based on this, we have no reason to believe that any of the current titles or planned releases will be effected by the job cuts. However, we do anticipate more announcements from SOE regarding additional means of generating revenue.

SCE but not SOE included in Sony job cuts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Disney Fantasy Online becoming a reality in Spring 2009

Alexis Kassan — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: New Titles, News Items, Kids

Last we heard, Disney was interested, but not planning, to come up with their own themed MMO. Now we are told that Mickey and friends are heading to China to star in a new game in Spring 2009 - this from the news that NetDragon and Disney have teamed up to launch Disney Fantasy Online. The Disney cast of characters are set to play NPCs in a game of high adventure and romance where players can quest and level their way through campaigns.

The dynamic sounds similar to that of Hello Kitty Online, where players are able to farm, build, and raise pets in a themed environment without actually being the well-known characters. According to NetDragon, additional expansions and content will be released often to keep the game fresh. No word yet on whether/when DFO might be available outside of China, but we will stay on top of it for you.

Disney Fantasy Online becoming a reality in Spring 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE launches Station Cash microtransaction system in EQ and EQII

Alexis Kassan — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Economy, News Items

Sony has announced that Station Cash is now available in EverQuest and EverQuest II. Station Cash is the SOE microtransaction platform allowing players to purchase in-game items from the virtual marketplace for real currency. More information on how to use the marketplace in EQ and EQII is available from the Station Cash website. There's also an extensive FAQ for those looking to partake in these markets.

Items shown on the site include the Seafury Buccaneer Armor Crate and Flask of Achievements. US players can access this feature today and Europe should have it tomorrow. For information on how to fill your wallet, purchase items from the marketplace, and much more, visit the Station knowledge base.

Our Station Cash walkthrough>>

Gallery: Station Cash Announcement

SOE launches Station Cash microtransaction system in EQ and EQII originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Knight of the Blazing Sun and Black Guard careers now available in WAR

Alexis Kassan — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Warhammer Online

The latest updates for Warhammer Online are now live on North American servers (Oceanic servers should be coming back up by noon EST) giving players the Knight of the Blazing Sun and Black Guard career options. In addition, hot fixes for a slew of issues have been put in today's update including problems with ability combinations and incorrect NPCs in RvR.

Access to the KotBS and BG careers has been highly anticipated by those who have not completed the Heavy Metal event. Patch 1.1 is live on the test server for those who want to experience not only the new classes but also the oRvR influence system, chat hyperlinking, and much more. Full patch notes for 1.1 are available on the Warhammer site.

Knight of the Blazing Sun and Black Guard careers now available in WAR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pascal's thoughts on multiplayer games

Alexis Kassan — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Academic

Pascal Luban at Gamasutra is now up to part three in his series on the multiplayer megatrend in the game industry. Part one explored how game creators use multiplayer modes, online distribution, and downloadable content to increase the life span of the game. Microtransactions are also used to increase the money-making potential and also increase the speed at which "fast games" can be consumed. Finally, he explored how more interactive, believable environments enhance the gaming experience and will continue to do so as rendering abilities increase over time.

The second article explored the accessibility of games and the need to play them in smaller bursts rather than long marathon sessions. This stems mainly from the types of players (meaning more casual and older players). The latest discussion is around cooperative games, quality control, mobile gaming. And then, buried on page 4 of the article, is the bit that hits us hard - asking once again if MMOs are a public health risk. There have been claims for years now that gaming addiction is a very real problem - and there have been many answers over that time. For us, we just know that we love the games and are going to continue playing them... and looking forward to the last part of this article series.

Pascal's thoughts on multiplayer games originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Just /dance the night away

Alexis Kassan — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

About how long are you in a new game before you decide to check out the emotes? These gestures have become an integral part of the personalities we ascribe to our characters - and perhaps none more than the /dance emote. Ravious over on KillTenRats recently explored dancing in MMOs since newer games without the dance animations have had to spell out why they opted to step off of the dance floor. Many games have more than one animation for dancing. In fact, RuneScape has moves that can only be accessed by paid members and Lord of the Rings Online has dances that can only be gained after completing festival quests.

It remains to be seen if dancing is what truly brings a sense of community to the city squares as Ravious seems to allude. But one thing's for sure - anything's better than sitting around watching the toy train set that never ends!

Just /dance the night away originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Why you should be playing RuneScape: Free Mad Skillz

Alexis Kassan — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, Why You Should Be Playing

"Why you should be playing ..." is a free form column from Massively.com intended to inform you about our favorite parts of our favorite games. We want you to know why we're playing them, so you can know what to play.

RuneScape is about to celebrate its 8th birthday (January 4th, 2009). It's amazing that in this industry, where high-powered games come and go, a java-based in-browser game has not only lasted but absolutely thrived for this long. Why is that? My personal feeling is that it's got the skills to ... well, you know the rest of that saying.

This is a game for all those who have never tried a MMO before or never thought of themselves as gamers. It offers everything and requires nothing. No fancy system specs. No minimum levels for skill attainment. No epic armor (though it does help a bit if you venture into the dungeons). Not even a credit card. It offers melee, magic, crafting, and cooking all in the same game through the cunning use of skills - twelve of them in the free version, to be exact, and an additional nine if you're willing to pay about $6 US per month. Follow us on a quick tour of the skills you can get for free and what makes them the heart and soul of this game.

Continue reading Why you should be playing RuneScape: Free Mad Skillz

Why you should be playing RuneScape: Free Mad Skillz originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Making Warhammer smoother 1.1 patch at a time

Alexis Kassan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Warhammer Online

The folks over at Mythic have been epically busy on patches and fixes for Warhammer Online of late. On Tuesday, we reported on patch 1.0.6, which brought tons of changes for classes and combat. Now it seems the RvR performance issues are getting some of their previously-promised love in the form of a client update to help boost frame rate and reduce flickering effects... And patch 1.1 is live on the test server with the intention of releasing today.

With a whopping 14 pages of patch notes and development preceding that of 1.0.6, patch 1.1 promises to bring updates to nearly all aspects of the game. There will be new careers available, UI changes, the ability to hyperlink in chat, and most excitingly the new open RvR influence system. You can even get a statue of your character put up in the capital. Strike a pose!

Continue reading Making Warhammer smoother 1.1 patch at a time

Making Warhammer smoother 1.1 patch at a time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Joystiq asks Positron about keeping City of Heroes competitive

Alexis Kassan — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, Interviews, Patches

Yesterday brought us the launch of City of Heroes Issue 13: Power and Responsibility. This is arguably the third major launch in the last month. So the question on Jason Dobson's mind is how is CoH keeping pace with the the largest games on the market? And Positron (a.k.a. Matt Miller, Senior Designer at NCSoft) answers. He sounds proud of the separatist nature CoH seems to enjoy in comparison to what he dubs the monotonous "sword and sorcery" games. Even now, four years in, they have one of the most complex and thoroughly enjoyable character creators around, a loyal player base, and plans for future releases. There's even a Mac version of the game in beta right now, with future boxed releases in the works for 2009.

Coming soon-ish will be the magic Super-Booster pack and Issue 14: Architect. You may recall that Architect was originally going to be Issue 13, but it was pushed back in September to allow more time for development. Last we heard Issue 14 will be released in Q1 2009 and it seems Issue 15 will be released shortly thereafter, in time for the fifth anniversary of the game (April 2009). Or was that a reference to the Fifth Column we spotted...?

Joystiq asks Positron about keeping City of Heroes competitive originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vanguard gets new features & expands race/class combos on test

Alexis Kassan — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Vanguard

The Vanguard test server is hopping with the release of additional classes for most races and a host of other new features including galleons, fishing and a games arena. The lore behind the updated classes is that some races have been trained by others in practices needed for war while others have taken it upon themselves to learn and adapt. The specific new options are:

Goblin - Dreadknight & Ranger
Orc - Rogue
Raki - Bard
Dark Elf - Ranger
Kurashasa - Bloodmage
Mordebi - Necromancer
Dwarf - Ranger
Halfling - Paladin
Vulmane - Monk

Teach a player to fish in one MMO and they can figure it out in the others... but not here. Fishing in Vanguard has been set up as more interactive than in many other games. Instead of just clicking to cast and then waiting for the splash, you actually have to time and aim your cast so that there are fish present and you don't scare them off. Then, once you have a bite, you must fight to get the fish out of the water.

There is also a new Enchantment ability available at level 50, galleon schematics to be had, a games arena, and new events. So if you're so inclined or are just looking for more to do at level 50, head over to the test server to get a sneak peak.

Vanguard gets new features & expands race/class combos on test originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Making/Money: EVE Economic Review Reviewed

Alexis Kassan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: EVE Online, Economy, Making/Money

Each quarter, the economist over at EVE Online, Dr. Eyjolfur Gudmondsson (there are supposed to be accent marks in there but I can't figure out how to make them appear), writes up a review of the in-game economy. There has been a noticeable lag in times past between the schedule for these quarterly newsletters and when they were actually distributed. October saw the release of the Quarterly Economic Newsletter for Q1 of this year and the promise of QENs for quarters 2 and 3 to follow in November and December, respectively.

Today, we'll take a look through what Dr. Gundmondsson has to say about the economy from January to March. I do encourage you to look through the PDF of the QEN for yourself ... and just ignore that they talk about June 2008 in future tense.

Continue reading Making/Money: EVE Economic Review Reviewed

Making/Money: EVE Economic Review Reviewed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Meet the Team: Alexis Kassan

Alexis Kassan — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Meet the Team

Once a week our writers will give you a glimpse into their lives, to let you get to know them and the characters they play a little better. Click here to read more Meet the Team.

What do you do for Massively?
My task is to write a column on in-game economics and crafting. Though I do not cover news about economics, I tend to analyze the aftermath of changes. I analyze a range of games, usually those I play. They include City of Heroes/City of Villains, World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Age of Conan, Runescape, and sometimes EVE Online (though I don't play that one much).

What's your favorite MMO?
I have a long-standing affection for Ultima Online: Renaissance. It was my first MMO (thanks to my then-SO) and drew me in. It also relied on a less structured group mentality for conquering larger challenges, which I thought was fascinating. And there was no end. Because there was no "leveling up" type of dynamic, you could train skills and stats to respec your character and take on enemies without having to worry so much about reaching the endgame content.

One other aspect of UO that I enjoyed was the in-game housing. OK, so there was limited real estate... and housing was terribly expensive... but that housing was worthwhile to hold on to. You could set up crafting stations like forges and anvils in your home. That's something I miss in some of the current MMOs that have housing. The functionality seems to be limited to storage and a place to teleport to.
Gallery: Meet the Team

Continue reading Meet the Team: Alexis Kassan

Meet the Team: Alexis Kassan originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Making/Money: Auctioneer Wishlist

Alexis Kassan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Economy, Making money, Making/Money

WARNING - MATH AHEAD!

A few weeks ago, a reader e-mailed me with questions about some Auctioneer data that they have been collecting. Though the question was regarding trying to determine inflation patterns on their server, it got me to thinking about what Auctioneer actually captures. And what other data points would be most helpful in making evaluations of item pricing or looking into economic trending.

While I'm not about to go through all of Auctioneer's algorithm rules, I would recommend that anyone who uses this mod check them out on Norganna's Wiki. They explain where the recommended prices come from. Basically, it's a comparison of the historical data accumulated from all of your auction house scans and the most recent snapshot data. The market value ends up being either the median of historical or recent data, flavored with the user-set preferences for markup or markdown.

Continue reading Making/Money: Auctioneer Wishlist

Making/Money: Auctioneer Wishlist originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments