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Not So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts

Brendan Drain — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Game mechanics, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Not So Massively, MOBA

It's Christmas time, and what better way is there to celebrate than to smash some internet people to bits in your favourite MOBA? League of Legends leads the charge with a gift of 450 RP delivered to every nice player who hasn't been banned in the past two months, and it shows off upcoming champion Victor the Machine Herald. Heroes of Newerth gives all players two free Christmas alt avatars and has a limited-time offer to buy a pack containing every previously released hero for just $10.

Rise of Immortals takes part in Steam's Great Gift Pile promotion that gives you the chance to win discount coupons or free Steam games, and it releases an immortal spotlight on Kavashiir. CrimeCraft: Gang Wars also offers players a Steam prize for playing its festive Snow Brawl game mode. Firefall clarifies the beta process and reminds fans that the game will be "done when it's done," and Torchlight developer Runic Games announces a new armour design contest. Finally, of all the intellectual properties to be made into an online game, did you ever think Doctor Who would make the list? BBC Worldwide has released an open preview of Doctor Who: Worlds in Time, a team-based puzzle game by the makers of Puzzle Pirates and Spiral Knights.

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other big online games that aren't quite MMOs.

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Not So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC assembles experts to comment on Sony crisis

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, MMO industry, News items, Opinion, Miscellaneous

The fact that it's been one of the worst couple of weeks for Sony -- and its customers -- cannot be disputed. However, the future of this crisis, which started a couple of weeks ago when Sony's network was hacked and user information was stolen, is anybody's guess. As such, BBC News assembled a panel of four industry experts to comment on the situation and speculate where Sony might go from here.

Richard Merrin, a PR director, said that Sony demonstrated both the worst and best ways to respond to a crisis: "In the first instance, Sony waited ten days before telling users what was happening, which is a classic error in terms of communications. It knocked consumer [confidence] and damaged Sony's reputation. But with the second incident, it has acted extremely quickly and seems to be following the four golden rules in crisis PR -- to be open, honest, transparent and fast."

"In terms of PR, I think Sony can turn it around," said ComputerandVideoGames.com's Tim Ingham. "Consumers are often quickly outraged by this sort of wobble from a global corporation -- but we tend to have short memories if we're not personally damaged by a given incident."

The security expert, Sophos' Graham Cluley, said this doesn't change how users should protect themselves: "People need to be more careful with their passwords and make sure that they have different passwords for different online accounts."

You can read the rest of the comments at BBC News.

BBC assembles experts to comment on Sony crisis originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 May 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC suggests gold farming may bolster poorer economies

Jef Reahard — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Culture, Economy, MMO industry, News items

Who says gold farmers are devilspawn and deserving of a fate worse than death? Well, a lot of MMO gamers say that, but a news blurb on the BBC's website suggests that some virtual currency farmers may have a higher purpose after all.

Citing a report at InfoDev.org, the BBC posits that gold farmers are simply filling a role in the global supply and demand economy. "Western players who have limited time for gaming are buying game cash, gear and high level characters from people in China and Vietnam that are paid to play as a job," the article states.

The BBC also notes that the most recent global virtual sales estimates put the total market worth in the neighborhood of $3 billion. Approximately 30% of that is generated by legit players, 50% comes from bot farms, and the remaining 20% is pilfered from compromised accounts. Whether or not you tremble in anger at the thought of MMO gold farming or dismiss it as a modern-day reality, it seems as if it's here to stay, and according to the BBC, it might even provide economic aid to poor nations. "The virtual economy can have a significant impact on local economies despite its modest size," according to the article.

BBC suggests gold farming may bolster poorer economies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC and Three Rings readying Doctor Who online multiplayer title

Jef Reahard — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

Doctor Who is the latest in a long line of intellectual properties that have made the transition from the TV screen to the computer screen. BBC Worldwide has just announced a new partnership with developer Three Rings that will result in a free-to-play online multiplayer title set in the good doctor's strange and popular universe. While we're not quite sure of the upcoming game's MMO pedigree, we are pretty confident that series fans will dig it regardless.

Players will follow in the iconic character's footsteps by exploring new worlds, traveling through space and time, and befriending (and battling) various alien races. Gameplay revolves around the TARDIS and enables fans to accept challenges from the Time Lord and "defend civilized culture against infamous Doctor Who enemies."

Doctor Who: Worlds in Time has been in development for some time now and is "expected to launch later this year."

BBC and Three Rings readying Doctor Who online multiplayer title originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard comments on video games addiction documentary

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, Miscellaneous

Video game addiction is hardly a new subject around these here parts, but it still remains a much-discussed and controversial topic even so. Today, BBC investigative journalism program Panorama will add to the conversation with an in-depth look into the causes of gaming addiction and the consequences of players who become a little too hooked. The episode, titled "Addicted to gaming?", is expected to come down harshly against the practices of video game studios.

According to CVG, it's no surprise that the documentary is airing the very night that World of Warcraft: Cataclysm launches, as Panorama uses WoW as one of its key examples. One of the stories follows the tale of Chris Dandos, a teenager who stopped going to school to play WoW for up to 20 hours a day.

In response to the episode's focus, Blizzard released the following comment: "Our games are designed to be fun... but like all forms of entertainment... day-to-day life should always take precedence. World of Warcraft contains practical tools that assist players and parents in monitoring playing time."

Blizzard comments on video games addiction documentary originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Epic Games in talks to buy APB

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Legal, All Points Bulletin, Crime, MMOFPS, Rumors

Could the Gears of War folks be the knight in shining armor that doomed APB desperately needs? According to BBC, Epic Games is possibly interested in scooping up Realtime Worlds' MMO, although nothing is confirmed at this point. Realtime Worlds abruptly announced yesterday that APB was to be shut down today, sending shockwaves through the community.

While Epic Games is not commenting on any possible negotiations, a spokesperson confirmed that Epic's CEO, Mark Rein, is a fan of the game. "Mark absolutely loves APB, and everyone here loved what they saw. We've got our hands full of Gears of War 3, Bullet Storm and the recently announced Project Sword. If any talks like that are going on, then they would be confidential," Dana Cowley, Epic's spokesperson, said. Rein was outspoken about his enjoyment of the game at PAX last year.

Epic Games may also have a vested interest in the technology powering APB. We'll be keeping our ears to the ground on this one if anything further develops.

Rumor: Epic Games in talks to buy APB originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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BBC: Virtual worlds beneficial for children

James Egan — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Free-to-play, Virtual worlds, Kids

The BBC recently sponsored a study on how children interact in virtual worlds, and its findings are promising. Their research reveals that virtual worlds provide a safe environment where children can try new things, largely free of real world consequences. According to the BBC, "Virtual worlds can be a powerful, engaging and interactive alternative to more passive media."

The BBC tapped Belgian game maker Larian Studios to create Adventure Rock, a virtual world filled with 'creative studios' aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 12. The research was carried out by Professor David Gauntlett and Lizzie Jackson of the University of Westminster, who looked at the ways children used the world as new explorers in Adventure Rock.

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BBC: Virtual worlds beneficial for children originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tanya Byron addresses addiction, walks a fine line on TV

Samuel Axon — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Culture, News items, Opinion

Some members of the gaming community were offended by the content of a BBC TV special written by psychologist Tanya Byron. The special spent a fair amount of time addressing the issue of game addiction. Among other things, it suggested that World of Warcraft addicts have some things in common with heroin or cocaine junkies, and even called WoW "a childish fantasy game."

Gaming addiction is a real problem that needs to be addressed, but it's difficult not to cringe when comparisons like that are made in a society still rampant with misconceptions and prejudices about the medium. That said, don't start demonizing Tanya Byron just yet.

Continue reading Tanya Byron addresses addiction, walks a fine line on TV

Tanya Byron addresses addiction, walks a fine line on TV originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cinemassively: Wonderland documentary focuses on virtual adultery in cyberspace

Moo Money — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Video, Second Life, Cinemassively, Machinima

The BBC recently aired a documentary about Second Life that focuses on a much darker side of it. A husband, Lee, starts to notice that his wife of nine years, Caroline, is spending more time online and less time with the kids. When he tries to come into their bedroom, she'll shove him out and dodge questions about what she was doing.

This leads to heartbreaking revelations by her kids, who feel that she doesn't care as much about them as she does SL. Caroline ends up risking everything to meet her lover, who lives on another continent! Will she come to her senses and realize that she has a family at home? You'll just have to watch this sad tale to find out.

[Thanks, Fenlock!]

Cinemassively: Wonderland documentary focuses on virtual adultery in cyberspace originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Life: BBC documentary about virtual adultery

Eloise Pasteur — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Opinion, Second Life

Well, it's been said often enough before, but Second Life is all about sex. That, at least, would be the impression you would gain from the documentary that has just finished (2:30 SL Time) on BBC2. The programme dealt with 2 Second Life couples. One couple were both in a RL relationship with others, in the other couple she was married, he was single.

The first couple were both unhappy, have separated from their former partners, married in Second Life, Real Life and are expecting a baby. The other couple, she was depressed (not necessarily about her marriage), he agitated for her to come and visit in RL. She wouldn't, he left her and so she went to visit. Whether or not it would have been different if she'd gone earlier, who will know. They're now separated in SL, not interested in RL, and she is working with her husband in therapy to make her marriage work.

In that sense, a fairly balanced programme I guess. And there are definitely people I know where this describes their SL relationships well. Then there are couples where they meet in SL as single people, get together in SL, get together in RL and get married. The whole gamut of human relationships (and some others too) are expressed, because the thing that is so often forgotten is that it's people doing this, bringing their human strengths and weaknesses to the world. An interesting programme though, even if it feels a bit like they needed the spice of adultery to sell it... shame really. Oh, I had a chuckle, if you've seen the programme and remember the lighthouse, it's one of my lighthouse lights that's all over the BBC.

I've tried, I can't find any links on BBC pages but it has shown up on iPlayer. Thanks Andy.

[EDIT: added link to iPlayer to allow you to watch it]

Second Life: BBC documentary about virtual adultery originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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