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[Edward Castronova reveals lessons learned from Arden]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/edward-castronova-reveals-lessons-learned-from-arden/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/edward-castronova-reveals-lessons-learned-from-arden/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/edward-castronova-reveals-lessons-learned-from-arden/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

As you may recall, Edward Castronova, professor at Indiana University and researcher of virtual world economics, had been developing a Shakespeare-based MMO, only to close it down because, in his words, 'It's no fun. We failed to design a gripping experience.'

In the current issue of Wired, Castronova offers his '5 tips for making games that don't suck', based on his experience. To summarize:

Continue reading Edward Castronova reveals lessons learned from Arden

MassivelyEdward Castronova reveals lessons learned from Arden originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5-tipsadviceardenedward-castronovashakespearewiredSun, 23 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Curtain falls on "Shakespeare World"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/curtain-falls-on-shakespeare-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/curtain-falls-on-shakespeare-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/curtain-falls-on-shakespeare-world/#commentsFiled under: , ,

shakespeareYou may never have heard of Arden, the brain child of Edward Castronova and now you never really will. The project was ambitious, aiming to create a MMORPG that also educated the players in the world and works of someone regarded by many as the greatest wordsmith the English language has ever seen.

According to this report in Technology Review, the virtual world failed because whilst it was crammed with educational content, no one went there because "it was no fun" and they forgot to include the puzzles and the monsters and the game-play elements. The work was supported by a $250,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation's digital learning programme. Whilst this is pretty big money in educational grant terms, particularly in the humanities, it's a drop in the ocean when compared to the millions of dollars that go into creating the online MMORPGs that we normally review.

It is a lesson well worth remembering for everyone creating educational games, you need the educational content AND the game content. A hard balance to strike - I speak from personal experience here.

MassivelyCurtain falls on "Shakespeare World" originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArdenDigital-LearningeducationEdward-CastronovaMacArthur-FoundationShakespeareTue, 08 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Arden released to the public]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/arden-released-to-the-public/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/arden-released-to-the-public/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/arden-released-to-the-public/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Arden, the MMO supposedly based around "the world of William Shakespeare," has been released... kind of. I've been waiting for this one for a while-- who wouldn't want to walk the halls of Kronborg Castle with Hamlet, or visit Banquo's banquet with MacBeth? But unfortunately, "released" is a little strong a word here-- the "game" consists of a Neverwinter Nights module, so you've got to have the NWN toolset up and running to even check it out, and even then, I'm not sure it quite makes the definition of an MMO.

I'm hesitant to actually call Arden vaporware, but I don't see how a Neverwinter Nights module can help "test political and social theories." Over on Terra Nova, Edward Castronova (who's running the project), admits that they didn't make it fun, and laments that testers wanted "monsters" to turn the thing into a game. So he's planning Arden II: Electric Boogaloo London Burning, a game that is designed to be fun from the beginning.

I take a little issue with the fact that he thinks only "monsters" can make a "gripping game experience," but seeing as I don't have NWN installed at the moment, I'll have to leave my analysis at that. If you get a chance to check out Arden, let us know what it's like. I'm sure there is a lot of interest in a "gripping" virtual world full of references to Shakespeare, but by the creator's own admission, it seems that Arden probably isn't it.

MassivelyArden released to the public originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicardenedward-castronovagrippingmonstersneverwinter-nightsnwnnwn-toolsetshakespeare-mmowilliam-shakespeareTue, 27 Nov 2007 18:26:00 EST