Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist salutes Asheron's Call's 12th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-game-archaeologist-salutes-asherons-calls-12th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-game-archaeologist-salutes-asherons-calls-12th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-game-archaeologist-salutes-asherons-calls-12th-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Asheron's Call
Turning 12 is a wake-up call for most people because they realize that next year they will officially be teenagers. We just hope that Turbine's ready for that when Asheron's Call breaks curfew, sasses back, and starts developing a romantic interest in other MMOs.

One of the privileges of writing The Game Archaeologist column here on Massively is that I get to watch over these classic MMOs as they marinate in maturity. Despite new titles being announced or released literally every day, these long-running games are the established old guard that have nothing to prove at this point. It's hard not to be a little in awe of that and gush at it.

So congratulations to Asheron's Call, one of the first batch of 3-D MMOs that hit the scene back in the late '90s, for reaching its 12th anniversary! How bizarre is it to think that Asheron's Call came out the same year that we were freaking out about Y2K, seeing how far George Lucas could fall with The Phantom Menace, and paying about $1.22 a gallon for gas in the U.S.? AC almost seems legendary when you realize how far back it stretches.

Join us as we sing the praises of Dereth and its citizens after the jump!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist salutes Asheron's Call's 12th anniversary

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist salutes Asheron's Call's 12th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12th-anniversary1999acandy-cataldoanniversaryasherons-callderetheqeverquestfeaturedgeorge-lucasretrospectivespecial-editionstatisticstestimoniesthe-game-archaeologistthe-phantom-menacetrailerturbineturbine-entertainmentvideoThu, 03 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Asheron Recall: Player sagas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-asheron-recall-amanda-and-jons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-asheron-recall-amanda-and-jons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-asheron-recall-amanda-and-jons/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's an odd thing to realize how far MMOs have come right in front of our eyes in a relatively short span of time. After all, 1999 wasn't that long ago, despite what Prince and Y2K would have you believe. One day we'll be telling our children -- if we aren't already -- about the primitive MMOs that didn't feature RealGore[TM], motion sensor-linked emotes, and mostly nude elves dancing for tips on mailboxes. They may gasp and sputter in disbelief, but you'll assert that it is true: You experienced an era when polygons were blockier than LEGO pieces, people logged in over dial-up connections, and the community was small enough for GMs to host personal live events.

There's been a lot of love flowing into my email inbox and Twitter since posting the first Game Archaeologist on Asheron's Call, enough to tell me that this title is a dear old friend to many a seasoned gamer out there (including a few on the Massively staff who won't stop writing epic haikus about AC in its honor this month). As a result, I got in touch with two die-hard fans of the game, and they agreed to scribe their memories of this MMO for future generations to discover, generations who will undoubtedly marvel at the hardship and perserverence that such scrappy gamers showed in being part of the first wave of MMO players.

Without further ado, please give a warm round of applause to Amanda and Jon. No, nobody can hear you clap over the internet, but it's the thought that counts.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Asheron Recall: Player sagas

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Asheron Recall: Player sagas originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1999acac2asherons-callasherons-call-2ddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeqeverquestfeaturedkwiplegolord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromeridian-59naked-elvesnatndanetworknetworkingnude-mailbox-dancingparty-like-its-1999princeRealGoresandboxshadow-invasionthe-game-archaeologistturbineTurbine-Entertainmenttwitterultima-onlineuowarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowy2kTue, 12 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ReSubbed Episode 1: Asheron's Call]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/resubbed-episode-1-asherons-call/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/resubbed-episode-1-asherons-call/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/resubbed-episode-1-asherons-call/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


At this point in time, we probably have you intrigued enough to read this paragraph. You're wondering what this new column is, aren't you? Well, wonder no further, dear readers, as you're looking at the second ever weekly Massively video feature -- ReSubbed.

What's this show all about? Simple -- take willing saps, er, participants, and subject them to a random MMO each week while recording the insanity. It's a preview, a review, a revisit, and a drunken raid all recorded live, hosted by Seraphina Brennan. We go inside the game so you don't have to. Plus, you can laugh at our misfortune. What could be better?

This week on ReSubbed, Sera has recruited Kyle Horner as her wing man as she subjects him to Asheron's Call in honor of the game's 10th anniversary. What happens when Kyle figures out that all of his emotes are bound to the keys of the keyboard? Check it out, right after the break.

(The management would like us to inform you that ReSubbed does contain one instance of profanity this week. So, be warned, we're slightly NSFW.)

Continue reading ReSubbed Episode 1: Asheron's Call

MassivelyReSubbed Episode 1: Asheron's Call originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversary1999asherons-callfeaturedglados-has-nothing-on-thishumoropinionportalsresubbedvideoTue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST