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 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Free for All: Will there ever be another setting like Ryzom's Atys?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/29/free-for-all-will-there-ever-be-another-setting-like-ryzoms-at/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/29/free-for-all-will-there-ever-be-another-setting-like-ryzoms-at/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/29/free-for-all-will-there-ever-be-another-setting-like-ryzoms-at/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ryzom map
Ah, Ryzom. To this day it remains one of my favorite MMORPGs for several reasons. I was reminded just how much I still enjoy the game when I logged in to witness a storm rolling through the land, lightning sizzling from the sky, rain falling straight down on my character's head. The planet that Ryzom players find themselves on is called Atys, and it's no ordinary planet. In fact, it's not a planet at all. Instead, it's a giant rootball that floats in space.

Yes, a rootball.

I'm no scientist, but I'm pretty sure that a massive rootball is an impossible thing, but it doesn't matter. The game's original designers were French, and if you follow French MMOs, you know they always seem to come up with something completely unique. In this case, Atys is literally made up of a wad of giant roots and bark. I have to wonder: Why aren't there more unique settings like Atys in gaming today?

Continue reading Free for All: Will there ever be another setting like Ryzom's Atys?

MassivelyFree for All: Will there ever be another setting like Ryzom's Atys? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atysbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumfyrosmatisopinionpost-apocalypticRyzomtrykervelvet-ropezoraiSat, 29 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: How a smaller workload affects my MMO playstyle]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/15/free-for-all-how-a-smaller-workload-affects-my-mmo-playstyle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/15/free-for-all-how-a-smaller-workload-affects-my-mmo-playstyle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/15/free-for-all-how-a-smaller-workload-affects-my-mmo-playstyle/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Genia Brain Storm screenshot
As I'm sure you have all heard, we recently went through some budget and workflow changes here at Massively. For me, the revamp meant that I went from three columns, several livestreams, and the occasional news post down to a single column and an occasional stream or feature.

A strange thing has happened, but I can't say that it's uncommon in the industry: Once my workload decreased, my gaming MMO habits changed. I have been sort of reset to the position I was in before I worked so much for this site, back to when I was a silly blogger who wrote and played just for fun.

Allow me to explain.

Continue reading Free for All: How a smaller workload affects my MMO playstyle

MassivelyFree for All: How a smaller workload affects my MMO playstyle originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancity-of-heroesf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumopinionstar-wars-galaxiesUltima-Onlinevelvet-ropeWorld-of-WarcraftSat, 15 Mar 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Breaking a world record with Age of Ascent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/14/the-stream-team-breaking-a-world-record-with-age-of-ascent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/14/the-stream-team-breaking-a-world-record-with-age-of-ascent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/14/the-stream-team-breaking-a-world-record-with-age-of-ascent/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Age of Ascent screenshot
If you've ever wanted to be part of gaming history, check out this livestream with Massively's Beau Hindman and members of the Age of Ascent developer team. They'll be attempting to literally break a Guinness World Record for the largest videogame PvP battle, currently standing at 4,075 players! Age of Ascent launched its Kickstarter yesterday and is offering pledge rewards from special in-game ships to dinner with the devs. Join us live at 3 p.m. EDT.

Game: Age of Ascent
Host: Beau Hindman
Date: Friday, March 14th, 2014
Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Breaking a world record with Age of Ascent

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Breaking a world record with Age of Ascent originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-ascentbeau-hindmanbrowser-basedcrowdfundingf2pfree-to-playftpillyriad-gamesjames-niesewandkickstarterlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmv-tvmvtvsci-fistreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvFri, 14 Mar 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Why developers need to stop apologizing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/08/free-for-all-why-developers-need-to-stop-apologizing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/08/free-for-all-why-developers-need-to-stop-apologizing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/08/free-for-all-why-developers-need-to-stop-apologizing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RuneScape screenshot
Remember the old saying "confidence is attractive"? Well, it is. It's possible that we've all been the victim of a confident person at one time or another, whether we're buying that extra add-on for our cable package or "investing" money into a Kickstarter. This is exactly why an MMO developer needs to be confident and keep the apologizing to a minimum.

Apologies come in many different forms. Over the course of our lives, we spend a lot of time giving and receiving apologies. It's not as sinister as it sounds; saying "sorry" helps cut down on confrontation and can even help to form new relationships. Unfortunately it's also very easy to apologize too much. In this age of indie development and crowd-funding, developers need to be aware of when they are saying sorry too much, and players need to watch out for overly apologetic people.

Continue reading Free for All: Why developers need to stop apologizing

MassivelyFree for All: Why developers need to stop apologizing originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmandc-universe-onlinedcuof2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumjens-andersenopinionvelvet-ropeSat, 08 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Five reasons to continue loving MMORPGs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/02/free-for-all-five-reasons-to-continue-loving-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/02/free-for-all-five-reasons-to-continue-loving-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/02/free-for-all-five-reasons-to-continue-loving-mmorpgs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

RuneScape screenshot
It's been all gloomy around here lately, hasn't it? Well there's a good reason for that, as you might know. Luckily I have survived the cuts that affected much of the AOL Tech network, although that means that Rise and Shiny and MMObility, my two other regular columns, will be consolidated into this one. While it might seem like less work for me, in actuality it means that I have less room to tell you, fair reader, about all of the fantastic MMOs that continue to come out.

Yes, I said continue to come out. It's easy to become a Seymour ("I hate my interests!") in these days of non-stop hype, but the truth is that the MMO genre has continuously pumped out content for many, many years and will keep doing so for some time. So to celebrate the fact that three of my columns are now coming to you in one megacolumn, I thought it'd be fun to remind ourselves just why we enjoy this hobby.

Continue reading Free for All: Five reasons to continue loving MMORPGs

MassivelyFree for All: Five reasons to continue loving MMORPGs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanchromebookf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiummmofpsmmortsopinionplanetside-2pvpsecond-lifesocialsocial-gamesSOESony-Online-Entertainmentvelvet-ropeSun, 02 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Age of Ascent hopes to beat EVE Online's battle concurrency record]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/mmobility-age-of-ascent-hopes-to-beat-eve-onlines-battle-concu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/mmobility-age-of-ascent-hopes-to-beat-eve-onlines-battle-concu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/mmobility-age-of-ascent-hopes-to-beat-eve-onlines-battle-concu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Age of Ascent screenshot
Age of Ascent is the new work-in-progress from Illyriad Games, the maker of one of my current favorite MMORTS titles, Illyriad. I've written about Illyriad before and have always enjoyed its epic scale and massive numbers, but with this new project, the team is promising something that is not only larger than anything it has ever done but larger than anything that has been done before... by anyone.

The studio is working closely with Microsoft in the hopes of achieving massive numbers in a twitch-based sandbox MMO that runs in your browser. I've gone through a few test runs with tons of other players and had no issues whatsoever, even while running it on a $200 Chromebook! It's an exciting prospect, but I had to ask some more questions about the upcoming title.

I asked James Niesewand, CEO of Illyriad Games, to clear up some of my confusion.

Continue reading MMObility: Age of Ascent hopes to beat EVE Online's battle concurrency record

MassivelyMMObility: Age of Ascent hopes to beat EVE Online's battle concurrency record originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-ascentAOAbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedillyriadillyriad-gamesinterviewjames-niesewandmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphoneFri, 28 Feb 2014 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Villagers and Heroes adds bells, whistles, and more sand]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/26/free-for-all-villagers-and-heroes-adds-bells-whistles-and-mor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/26/free-for-all-villagers-and-heroes-adds-bells-whistles-and-mor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/26/free-for-all-villagers-and-heroes-adds-bells-whistles-and-mor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Villagers and Heroes screenshot
Villagers and Heroes is a favorite of mine, but let's be honest: The game looks old. When talking to Damon Slye, President of Mad Otter Games, I found that many people agree. According to Slye, it's one of the most frequent concerns he hears from potential new players. The engine that the game currently uses is old and needs to be upgraded big time. And that's just what the developers are doing with this large patch and expansion that should be due in early March.

I sat down with Slye, Associate Designer Cameron England, Head Writer Sarah Skibinski, and Head Artist Adam Alexander to discuss just how different the game will be once the patch goes live. I was given access to a test account loaded up on gear, cash, and other goodies. Even though I found my backpacks full, I mainly wanted to look around the game and explore. Fortunately, the difference between the original client and the new one is literally night and day.

Continue reading Free for All: Villagers and Heroes adds bells, whistles, and more sand

MassivelyFree for All: Villagers and Heroes adds bells, whistles, and more sand originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landadam-alexanderbeau-hindmanbrowsercameron-englandcraftingdamon-slyef2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiummad-ottermad-otter-gamesopinionsarah-skibinskivelvet-ropevillagers-and-heroesWed, 26 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Checking out Villagers and Heroes' new client]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/24/the-stream-team-checking-out-villagers-and-heroes-new-client/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/24/the-stream-team-checking-out-villagers-and-heroes-new-client/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/24/the-stream-team-checking-out-villagers-and-heroes-new-client/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Villagers and Heroes screenshot
Massively's Beau Hindman and members of the Mad Otter team are on hand to show off some of the new test features and the new client (with better graphics) of Villagers and Heroes. If you like sandbox gameplay, crafting, and combat, check it out.

Game: Villagers and Heroes
Host: Beau Hindman
Date: Monday, February 24th, 2014
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Checking out Villagers and Heroes' new client

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Checking out Villagers and Heroes' new client originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmad-ottermad-otter-gamesmassively-metamassively-tvmv-tvmvtvstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvvillagers-and-heroesMon, 24 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny revisit: Stronghold Kingdoms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/23/rise-and-shiny-revisit-stronghold-kingdoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/23/rise-and-shiny-revisit-stronghold-kingdoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/23/rise-and-shiny-revisit-stronghold-kingdoms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stronghold Kingdoms screenshot
Stronghold Kingdoms is probably one of my top favorite MMORTS titles out there. There are many reasons it holds a special place in my slightly crumpled gamer heart, and I will be sure to get to those, but there are also many gameplay elements that could use some improvement. It's a pretty typical MMORTS in most ways; players build up a town, trade goods, fight each other, and swear loyalty to others. In fact, the genre is quite bloated with games that perform in largely the same way, many of them being delivered to us within the browser.

For many players, these defining characteristics are exactly why they are attracted to the genre. In the same way, shooter fans appreciate many of the same basic mechanics from game to game, and trading card players need specific systems in place in order to feel satisfaction. So the existence of these repeated designs is not a problem for me.

It's especially not a problem in Stronghold Kingdoms.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny revisit: Stronghold Kingdoms

MassivelyRise and Shiny revisit: Stronghold Kingdoms originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedFirefly-Studiosfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammad-ottermad-otter-gamesmassively-tvrise-and-shinystreamstronghold-kingdomstwitchtwitch-tvvideovillagers-and-heroesSun, 23 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: A newbie's look at the fantastic Therian Saga]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/21/mmobility-a-newbies-look-at-the-fantastic-therian-saga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/21/mmobility-a-newbies-look-at-the-fantastic-therian-saga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/21/mmobility-a-newbies-look-at-the-fantastic-therian-saga/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Therian Saga screenshot
I'm tired today. I was up too late playing The Therian Saga, a new browser-based MMO by Studio Virtys. It's a seemingly simple game and might even appear to be easier than it is, but I have found these last several hours of play to be more immersive and satisfying than much of what I have played over the last several months. Essentially, the game is an in-depth representational game, meaning that most of the time you will spend your time giving commands and watching -- or waiting for long periods -- for the commands to work out. Think of the gameplay sort of like Words With Friends with some real-time combat. No, you won't be spelling against your enemies, but the pace is definitely casual with optional, faster combat.

Continue reading MMObility: A newbie's look at the fantastic Therian Saga

MassivelyMMObility: A newbie's look at the fantastic Therian Saga originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Feb 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcash-shopcraftingeve-onlinefeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphoneSandboxsmartphonestudio-virtysthe-therian-sagatherian-sagaFri, 21 Feb 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[February will be a big month for PlanetSide 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/21/february-will-be-a-big-month-for-planetside-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/21/february-will-be-a-big-month-for-planetside-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/21/february-will-be-a-big-month-for-planetside-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2 screenshot
PlanetSide 2 continues to gain updates and new content. It's still pushing itself to be the best place to find massive battles with the most players, and a recent host of tweaks, fixes, updates and changes have made many MMOFPS fans very excited for the rest of the year. So what's happening to the MMOFPS in the month of February?

We asked Matt Higby, Creative Director for PlanetSide 2, to explain just that.

Continue reading February will be a big month for PlanetSide 2

MassivelyFebruary will be a big month for PlanetSide 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Feb 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanfeaturedfpsinterviewinterviewsmatt-higbymatt-higby-interviewmmo-shootermmofpspatchesplanetsideplanetside-2ps2sandboxsci-fishootersoesonysony-online-entertainmentupdatesFri, 21 Feb 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: What my Raptr stats say about my gaming style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/19/free-for-all-what-my-raptr-stats-say-about-my-gaming-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/19/free-for-all-what-my-raptr-stats-say-about-my-gaming-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/19/free-for-all-what-my-raptr-stats-say-about-my-gaming-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Raptr stats screenshot
I've had a love/hate relationship with Raptr, the free game tracking service and social network. I used it much of the time when it first came out but then fell out of love with it when it stopped detecting many of the indie and browser-based MMOs that I played. I picked it up again recently and have been attempting to keep it going any time I game. I like being able to communicate with people through the network, but I mainly enjoy looking over my stats as a gamer to see just how flighty I can be.

The system isn't perfect, of course. Either I need to set the app to start when my PC does, or I just need to get better at remembering to start it when I begin a gaming session. And even though I play many, many different types of games and MMOs, the network still doesn't automatically recognize many of the smaller titles I like to play.

So even though there are some gaps in my wall, I thought it'd be interesting to look at the info there to see just how much gaming I am doing.

Continue reading Free for All: What my Raptr stats say about my gaming style

MassivelyFree for All: What my Raptr stats say about my gaming style originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumopinionraptrraptr-rewardsservicessocial-networksocial-networkingvelvet-ropeWed, 19 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Revisiting Stronghold Kingdoms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/17/the-stream-team-revisiting-stronghold-kingdoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/17/the-stream-team-revisiting-stronghold-kingdoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/17/the-stream-team-revisiting-stronghold-kingdoms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Stronghold Kingdoms screenshot
Beau is revisiting Stronghold Kingdoms, a game that he really liked before. Will he like it again, even with all of its changes? Come check out this stream if you like MMORTS games and strategy!

Game: Stronghold Kingdoms
Host: Beau Hindman
Date: Monday, February 17th, 2014
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Revisiting Stronghold Kingdoms

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Revisiting Stronghold Kingdoms originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanFirefly-Studioslivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmmortsmv-tvmvtvstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamstronghold-kingdomsthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 17 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Inferno Legend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/16/rise-and-shiny-inferno-legend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/16/rise-and-shiny-inferno-legend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/16/rise-and-shiny-inferno-legend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Inferno Legend screenshot
This week's game was a giant gamble, one that I should have known would not have worked out at all. The problem is that I have this crazy inborn optimism that tells me that even though many MMOs look and play the same way, you never know how they truly play until you actually play them. I've literally played hundreds of MMOs for this job and probably a hundred or so before that, so I've seen my share of games that look one way and play the other.

So this week I decided to go ahead and roll in Inferno Legend, a new MMO by GameBox, even though it appeared to be an auto-player like League of Angels from a few weeks ago and other titles before that. I picked my character from five different classes: the Cyclops, Vampire, Samurai, Faerie, and Mummy. I barely got past the incredibly bad voice-acting that was presumably supposed to add life to the characters and popped into the game.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Inferno Legend

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Inferno Legend originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedFirefly-Studiosfree-to-playhands-onhorrible-voiceactinginferno-legendlivestreammassively-tvrise-and-shinystreamstronghold-kingdomstwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 16 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Line of Defense Tactics is a fun start for an IP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/mmobility-line-of-defense-tactics-is-a-fun-start-for-an-ip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/mmobility-line-of-defense-tactics-is-a-fun-start-for-an-ip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/mmobility-line-of-defense-tactics-is-a-fun-start-for-an-ip/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Line of Defense Tactics screenshot
Line of Defense is an upcoming MMOFPS created by 3000AD. It looks like an interesting twist on the shooter genre, complete with large battles and vehicles to control. It offers only a beta sign-up right now, so if you are interested in diving into the LoD universe, you can download the newly released Line of Defense Tactics standalone game. It's not an MMO, but it still introduces players to the IP. If you're a fan of real-time turn-based combat and challenging gameplay, you might want to give it a go on your portable device or PC.

I downloaded a version of Tactics from Steam and tried it on my Android tablet as well. Both experiences felt pretty much the same, and my game save synced between both devices easily. Today I am going to cover the mobile version mostly, but it should be noted that the PC version looks and acts pretty much identically.

Continue reading MMObility: Line of Defense Tactics is a fun start for an IP

MassivelyMMObility: Line of Defense Tactics is a fun start for an IP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedderek-smartfeaturedline-of-defenseline-of-defense-tactics-tactical-advantageLodmmobilitymmofpsmmortsmobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphonesquad-basedFri, 14 Feb 2014 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Can roleplay rise above the sexy stuff?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/12/free-for-all-can-roleplay-rise-above-the-sexy-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/12/free-for-all-can-roleplay-rise-above-the-sexy-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/12/free-for-all-can-roleplay-rise-above-the-sexy-stuff/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Velvet Sundown screenshot
Recently I logged some time in Velvet Sundown, a new pseudo-MMO that places players into small, instanced roleplay groups of 11 characters aboard a ship in order to solve a mystery or to otherwise "win" a roleplay session. It sounds strange, but it really is a very interesting idea. Each character has a different angle on the game, and depending on how that character interacts with the others, he or she also has many different ways of achieving goals. The game also offer a decent text-to-speech tool that gives more life to the characters.

I logged in and was assigned to play the character Malik, who was something of a wise man. My apparent goal was to find a spy, hire a thief to steal secrets, and look for other players who were from the same background. I was also assigned the task of blessing people in the hopes of gaining new disciples.

Excited, I logged in and approached a group of players. Almost as soon as I did, I was disappointed. Within minutes several players were talking non-stop about women's underwear. At first I thought it was part of the story, but then I realized it was simply another great roleplay opportunity taken down by a few jerks.

Continue reading Free for All: Can roleplay rise above the sexy stuff?

MassivelyFree for All: Can roleplay rise above the sexy stuff? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Feb 2014 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumImmersionMOBAmobasopinionraidingroleplayRolePlayingsecond-lifevelvet-ropevelvet-sundownWed, 12 Feb 2014 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Braving Inferno Legend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/10/the-stream-team-inferno-legend-with-beau/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/10/the-stream-team-inferno-legend-with-beau/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/10/the-stream-team-inferno-legend-with-beau/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Inferno Legend screenshot
Inferno Legend is a new title from ChangYou, the former publisher of Zentia and many other current games. Will this game have the same magic that Zentia did? Beau's about to find out. Join him in the chat room to ask about the game!

Game: Inferno Legend
Host: Beau Hindman
Date: Monday, February 10th, 2014
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Braving Inferno Legend

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Braving Inferno Legend originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserChangyouf2pfree-to-playftpinferno-legendlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmv-tvmvtvstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 10 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Neverwinter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/05/why-i-play-neverwinter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/05/why-i-play-neverwinter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/05/why-i-play-neverwinter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Neverwinter screenshot
I have to say that for all of my yapping about needing to play MMOs that allow me to freely roam and to explore a virtual world and live a virtual life, I sure am a fan of linear themeparks. Who isn't? In fact, show me someone who now claims to be the enemy of all things themed, and I'll show you someone who at some point enjoyed the benefits of a good themepark, most likely World of Warcraft. I'm not sure why there's any shame in admitting that one enjoys a good romp through a virtual storybook, but I sure do. In fact, I often depend on it in order to get me over lazy sandbox slumps.

Neverwinter is one of my favorite themeparks out there. There are quite a few reasons it works so well, many of them obvious. I'd like also to point out some of the reasons Neverwinter might work so well for certain types of players.

Continue reading Why I Play: Neverwinter

MassivelyWhy I Play: Neverwinter originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmaneditorialf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgraphicsmassively-metametaneverwinternostalgiaop-edopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentvideowhy-i-playWed, 05 Feb 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny revisit: Alganon's new expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/02/rise-and-shiny-revisit-alganons-new-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/02/rise-and-shiny-revisit-alganons-new-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/02/rise-and-shiny-revisit-alganons-new-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Alganon screenshot
It's been quite a while since I dived into Alganon, the indie MMO by Quest Online. The game has had a bit of an up and down development cycle, but I always found it to be a pretty unique game with a nice mix of mechanics. Granted, according to many readers, the game is nothing but a World of Warcraft ripoff thanks to its similar avatar graphics, but the game is only as similar to World of Warcraft as most other themepark titles are. There are quests, skill trees, and other things in Alganon that you'll find in a score of titles, but Alganon also offers a few things that together make for a pretty unique combination of gameplay in spite of superficial similarities to other games.

The game is still rough around the edges, however, and needs some patching and tweaking in order to be nearly as polished as many other titles. The team is small, and I tend to forgive small teams for the these oversights as long as the game runs smoothly for the most part. Alganon does run smoothly and offers quite a few interesting and immersive systems.

Let's go over what was added with this expansion as well as what's still missing.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny revisit: Alganon's new expansion

MassivelyRise and Shiny revisit: Alganon's new expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonbeau-hindmanderek-smartf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammassively-tvquest-onlinerise-and-shinystreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 02 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Exploring the confusing world of mobile MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/31/mmobility-exploring-the-confusing-world-of-mobile-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/31/mmobility-exploring-the-confusing-world-of-mobile-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/31/mmobility-exploring-the-confusing-world-of-mobile-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mobile MMO screenshot
The mobile MMO market has sort of come to a standstill, at least in the Western market. There are always new or incoming mobile titles that are MMO-like and even a handful of new fully fledged MMOs, but most of the ones I come across are either relative copies of current games or blatant repeats of current designs. There's just not much that is new coming to the table right now. It's a bit depressing because mobile devices are perfect delivery systems for massively multiplayer gaming, and yet so many developers are cutting down standard MMO design to fit into the mobile world.

What I would like to suggest is a rethinking of MMOs for mobile. I'd like to see developers stop with the idea that mobile players are gaming the same way they do on a console or PC. Instead, I'd like to suggest that developers get to know how players interact with mobile devices and how that affects how and how long they play. Mobile MMOs should behave differently, but not so differently that they are no longer MMOs.

There are many different types of games you will find when you search for "MMORPG" on Google Play or the App market. Most of them are not MMORPGs, however.

Continue reading MMObility: Exploring the confusing world of mobile MMOs

MassivelyMMObility: Exploring the confusing world of mobile MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane-legendsbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedmmobilitymmortsmobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphonespacetime-gamesspacetime-studiosFri, 31 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Defining sandparks within the MMORPG space]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/defining-sandparks-within-the-mmorpg-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/defining-sandparks-within-the-mmorpg-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/defining-sandparks-within-the-mmorpg-space/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

MMO screenshots
One of the most common subjects of debate and conversation on Massively focuses on sub-genres. While I think we can all agree on what the letters in "MMORPG" superficially mean, things become a little muddier when we talk about the different types of MMOs and what falls where on the MMO spectrum. There are MMORTS titles, MMOs that offer city-building and massive strategy, and MMOFPS titles, shooters that host thousands of players, for example. We even talk about MMO-like games, or games that are multiplayer but not massively concurrently multiplayer, like MOBAs.

And what about games that toe the line between sandbox and themepark, games that offer a bit of sand in their parks or linear questing in their virtual, open worlds? Themeboxes? Sandparks? Let's talk about what makes these MMO mutts so important and so fun to play. I'll list some examples of games that could fit the hybrid definition, but feel free to chime in with more.

Continue reading Defining sandparks within the MMORPG space

MassivelyDefining sandparks within the MMORPG space originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanBlizzarddefiancefeaturedffaffa-pvpfree-realmshardcoremmofpsopinionpvpriftrunescapeSandboxsandparkthemeboxThemeParktriontrion-worldsWorld-of-WarcraftThu, 30 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Thoughts on SOE's mass MMO sunset]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/29/free-for-all-thoughts-on-soes-mass-mmo-sunset/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/29/free-for-all-thoughts-on-soes-mass-mmo-sunset/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/29/free-for-all-thoughts-on-soes-mass-mmo-sunset/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Free Realms screenshot
Sony Online Entertainment recently announced the upcoming closure of not one or two but four of its titles. Those titles are Free Realms, Clone Wars Adventures, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, and Wizardry Online. The announcement hit most of us pretty hard, even those who weren't active or interested players. Four titles just feels much more like a move of desperation than one or even two games. And for players like yours truly, MMOs like Free Realms and especially Vanguard hold a very special place in our hearts.

Having said that, I will never wager solely on perception. It's my guess that SOE does indeed know what it is doing and that some of this is due to licensing issues, new games from similar developers, or an attempt to streamline an already fat lineup in order to get ready for one or two massive new titles. In other words, there is no conspiracy. It's most likely that this decision was due to boring old business.

I decided to break down what each game meant to me in the hopes that the confessional will get me ready for the upcoming sunsets. Here's to hoping.

Continue reading Free for All: Thoughts on SOE's mass MMO sunset

MassivelyFree for All: Thoughts on SOE's mass MMO sunset originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanClone-Wars-Adventuresclosingsf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-realmsfree-to-playfreemiumftpjohn-smedleyopinionSOESony-Online-EntertainmentvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropewizardry-onlineWed, 29 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Alganon's new expansion with Beau and the devs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/27/the-stream-team-alganons-new-expansion-with-beau-and-the-devs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/27/the-stream-team-alganons-new-expansion-with-beau-and-the-devs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/27/the-stream-team-alganons-new-expansion-with-beau-and-the-devs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Alganon screenshot
Join Beau Hindman and members of the Alganon team as they explore some of the features of the brand-new and long-awaited expansion. Come ask questions, or if you've never seen it before, check out the gameplay during our livestream!

Game: Alganon
Host: Beau Hindman
Date: Monday, January 27th, 2014
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Alganon's new expansion with Beau and the devs

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Alganon's new expansion with Beau and the devs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonbeau-hindmanderek-smartexpansionf2pfree-to-playftplivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmv-tvmvtvstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 27 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: League of Angels]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/26/rise-and-shiny-league-of-angels/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/26/rise-and-shiny-league-of-angels/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/26/rise-and-shiny-league-of-angels/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

League of Angels screenshot
I do not enjoy writing guide-like articles. I am no fan of reading walls of text that detail how to "properly" perform in an MMO, and I will not break my policy this week. It wouldn't really matter, anyway, because this week's Rise and Shiny game comes from the mind-bogglingly strange genre of hands-off browser-based MMOing. I've discussed the massive, massive success that browser-based gaming has seen in China and other places, but I always preface that discussion with a warning: It is not going away. There are plenty of players in the West who will (and do) gladly participate in this hands-off gaming. There is nothing so special about Western gamers -- and their tastes -- to prevent our MMOs from becoming single-click level races, and nothing more.

I should have known as soon as I saw League of Angels that the game would ask nothing of me but to babysit the mouse and keyboard, making sure that neither ran out of juice. Sure, a player will occasionally need to look up from his Wyatt Earp biography to read two or three words of text on the screen, but generally the game does all of the work.

That leads me to the two questions that always pop up when I play a game like this: Who does enjoy such a title, and why make such a title in the first place?

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: League of Angels

MassivelyRise and Shiny: League of Angels originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonbeau-hindmanderek-smartf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onleague-of-angelslivestreammassively-tvquest-onlinerise-and-shinyslot-machinesstreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 26 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: My three favorite MMOFPS games have a shoot-out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/22/free-for-all-my-three-favorite-mmofps-games-have-a-shoot-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/22/free-for-all-my-three-favorite-mmofps-games-have-a-shoot-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/22/free-for-all-my-three-favorite-mmofps-games-have-a-shoot-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MMOFPS screenshots
I love a good MMOFPS or MMOTPS. A good one. Currently, I have three favorites: PlanetSide 2, Defiance, and Firefall. I have enjoyed other shooters in the past, games like Mechwarrior Online and APB: Reloaded and even a handful of standalone titles. There's something in a shooter that satisfies on a primitive level, some sort of textural quality that when done right can generate a good gaming session of zoned-out, open-mouthed pleasure. There's something even cooler about a multiplayer version of the same genre. I don't mind killing baddies alone, but blasting the face off of a monster is a lot more fun with dozens of other players around.

As you can see, I have a problem. Let's forget the fact that I play way too many MMOs as it is because between these three games I can easily kill a weekend and leave no room for games that I need to write about. That means I need to pick a favorite. Let this be a shootout to determine which MMOFPS will be my home. My awesome, loud, deadly home.

I've nominated three categories and will pick a winner for each. May the best shooter win!

Continue reading Free for All: My three favorite MMOFPS games have a shoot-out

MassivelyFree for All: My three favorite MMOFPS games have a shoot-out originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmandefiancef2pfeaturedffafirefallfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumftpopinionplanetside-2red-5-studiosSOESONYSony-Online-Entertainmenttriontrion-worldsvelvet-ropeWed, 22 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: DC Universe Online anniversary interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/21/the-stream-team-dc-universe-online-anniversary-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/21/the-stream-team-dc-universe-online-anniversary-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/21/the-stream-team-dc-universe-online-anniversary-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

DC Universe Online screenshot
Join Massively's Beau Hindman as he sits down with Jens Andersen from Sony Online Entertainment to discuss the upcoming DC Universe Online DLC, and the three-year anniversary (yes, three years!) that was celebrated earlier this month! This would be a great time to come out, ask questions, and watch Beau destroy everything with his mighty superheroicish powers!

Game: DC Universe Online
Host: Beau Hindman
Date: Tuesday, January 21st, 2014
Time: 2:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: DC Universe Online anniversary interview

MassivelyThe Stream Team: DC Universe Online anniversary interview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmandc-universe-onlinedcuoDLCjens-andersenlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmv-tvmvtvSOESONYSony-Online-Entertainmentstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvTue, 21 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: League of Angels with Beau]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/the-stream-team-league-of-angels-with-beau/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/the-stream-team-league-of-angels-with-beau/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/the-stream-team-league-of-angels-with-beau/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

League of Angels screenshot
Join Massively's Beau Hindman as he attempts to discover gameplay and strategy behind League of Angels, a new browser-based game that appears to combine MMORTS features with side-scrolling combat. Jump in the chat room to ask any questions or to give him advice!

Game: League of Angels
Host: Beau Hindman
Date: Monday, January 20th, 2014
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: League of Angels with Beau

MassivelyThe Stream Team: League of Angels with Beau originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedleague-of-angelslivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmv-tvmvtvstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 20 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First impressions of Archeblade]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/first-impressions-of-archeblade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/first-impressions-of-archeblade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/first-impressions-of-archeblade/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Archeblade screenshot
Archeblade is a new action-based, arena-based, multiplayer game by Codebrush games. I've been told that fans who enjoy fighting games like Street Fighter or MOBAs should enjoy this title. Even though I'm not a huge fan of these genres, I enjoyed the game more than I thought I would, but what it offers is not that surprising or unique.

Players will find mostly standard gameplay in Archeblade. There are a dozen or more characters to choose from, each one offering a unique way to play inside the sometimes claustrophobic maps. Each character has a basic attack on his left mouse button and special attack on his right and will build up rage as he fights and take damage. Once the rage meter fills up, a special attack can be released; the special attacks range from valuable heals to damage buffs. And as is often the case in MOBA-styled games, the large number of character types does not stop the usual character roles from being featured. Players can choose to melee, assassinate, or kill from a range.

Continue reading First impressions of Archeblade

MassivelyFirst impressions of Archeblade originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-basedaction-based-combatarchebladebeau-hindmancash-shopcodebrushcodebrush-gamesf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftphands-onMOBAstreet-fighterMon, 20 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny revisit: Myst Online: Uru Live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/19/rise-and-shiny-revisit-myst-online-uru-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/19/rise-and-shiny-revisit-myst-online-uru-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/19/rise-and-shiny-revisit-myst-online-uru-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Myst Online Uru Live screenshot
I'm just going to get this out at the beginning: I absolutely adore adventure games, and honesty above all honesty, I think adventure gaming is almost the perfect genre. I wish MMOs would play like adventure games. I wish that adventure games had multimillion dollar budgets so they could go on forever and ever, patch after patch of head-scratching puzzley goodness. I wish that adventure games were not as rare as they are.

But I also wish I were actually good at adventure gaming. I have a hard time with puzzles. Gollum would have had me for lunch. I've been enjoying my time in Lilly Looking Through and Memoria so, so much, all the while becoming extremely depressed each and every time I look up a walkthrough that made me feel like a complete and total three-year-old who could barely assemble one of those funny multi-colored donut toys.

The thing is, I'm smart, right? I was in those funny advanced classes that taught me languages and told me my IQ was high and were separate from the muggles. At one point they even did experiments on me that made me put together odd puzzle-thingies and attempt to control a primitive computer. Yet here I am now playing Words with Friends and trying to spell words like "THURK" or "ZSATS."

Why on earth did I subject myself to the tough puzzles of Myst Online: Uru Live?

Continue reading Rise and Shiny revisit: Myst Online: Uru Live

MassivelyRise and Shiny revisit: Myst Online: Uru Live originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancyanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammassively-tvmystmyst-onlinemyst-online-uru-liverise-and-shinystreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 19 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Innogames' Fabio Lo Zito details Tribal Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/17/mmobility-innogames-fabio-lo-zito-details-tribal-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/17/mmobility-innogames-fabio-lo-zito-details-tribal-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/17/mmobility-innogames-fabio-lo-zito-details-tribal-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tribal Wars 2 screenshot
Tribal Wars 2 is the successor to Innogames' oldest title, Tribal Wars. The original is (to put it gently) ugly as sin, but that has never stopped it from being one of the most popular titles the German publisher produced. As a matter of fact, 2013 was the biggest year for the original game... after a decade in existence! You might have heard of some of the other titles in the Innogames lineup or watched an advertisement for two of its largest games, Grepolis and Forge of Empires. So how does Tribal Wars 2 compare to these other games?

First of all, it offers much of the same intense gameplay as the publisher's other, larger titles. Grepolis is sort of the spiritual successor to Tribal Wars and features water-based gameplay that makes ships and deities an integral part of play. Grepolis also offers a more wide-ranging playerbase, thanks to television advertising that helped to pull in more casual players.

Tribal Wars is much more hardcore, and Tribal Wars 2 will be no different. It will look a heck of a lot prettier than its earlier sibling, though! I sat down with Fabio Lo Zito of Innogames to talk about the changes.

Continue reading MMObility: Innogames' Fabio Lo Zito details Tribal Wars 2

MassivelyMMObility: Innogames' Fabio Lo Zito details Tribal Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jan 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfabio-lo-zitofeaturedinnogamesmmobilitymmortsmobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphonetribal-warstribal-wars-2Fri, 17 Jan 2014 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: An interview with Ever, Jane's Judy Tyrer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/15/free-for-all-an-interview-with-ever-janes-judy-tyrer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/15/free-for-all-an-interview-with-ever-janes-judy-tyrer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/15/free-for-all-an-interview-with-ever-janes-judy-tyrer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Ever Jane screenshot
Ever, Jane caught my eye as soon as I read about it. I wish we had access to more non-combat MMOs, or MMOs that attempt to do something so different that they are hard to categorize. I have to say that I had never read a word of Jane Austen -- the author whose books Ever, Jane is based on -- but I didn't care. If anything, the interesting gameplay described by Judy Tyrer, the creator of the game, made me want to pick up a book or two.

Of course, the game is barely in a playable state at this time and will likely be in development for a time longer. Still, the MMO genre needs games that takes chances, or we'll all find ourselves stuck on some hamster wheel of grind. I asked Judy a few questions and she surprised me with some of her answers. She's been making games for a long time, so hopefully you'll be hearing more from her here on Massively for a while!

Let's get to the interview.

Continue reading Free for All: An interview with Ever, Jane's Judy Tyrer

MassivelyFree for All: An interview with Ever, Jane's Judy Tyrer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanever-janef2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumindependentIndieinterviewinterviewsjudy-l-tyreropinionvelvet-ropeWed, 15 Jan 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Solving the puzzle that is Myst Online: Uru Live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/13/the-stream-team-solving-the-puzzle-that-is-myst-online-uru-liv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/13/the-stream-team-solving-the-puzzle-that-is-myst-online-uru-liv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/13/the-stream-team-solving-the-puzzle-that-is-myst-online-uru-liv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Myst Online screenshot
Myst Online: Uru Live has been through the ringer, as far as MMOs go. Despite being based on a very successful line of standalone adventure games, this MMO version just seemed to fall flat. Luckily the community and the developers agreed the game should be resurrected! Join Massively's Beau Hindman as he explores the mystery of this puzzle-based MMO.

Game: Myst Online: Uru Live
Host: Beau Hindman
Date: Monday, January 13th, 2014
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Solving the puzzle that is Myst Online: Uru Live

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Solving the puzzle that is Myst Online: Uru Live originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanCyanlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmv-tvmvtvmyst-onlinemyst-online-uru-livestreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 13 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Genia Brain Storm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/12/rise-and-shiny-genia-brain-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/12/rise-and-shiny-genia-brain-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/12/rise-and-shiny-genia-brain-storm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Brain Storm screenshot
I love it when I come across a game that surprises me. I usually load up MMOs well before I commit to writing about them just to test out whether or not it's worthwhile. I've covered too many duds to know that if I don't check the game out, I could be stuck with a game that literally doesn't work.

So I signed up for a free Brain Storm account, picked out where my city should be located (based on a real-world map), and started the tutorial. At first I thought that an MMO that is essentially one part quiz-show, one part MMORTS, and one part SimCity-ish builder would come off as hokey and much too easy.

But I was wrong on a lot of fronts. This game is clever, clean, and a lot of fun.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Genia Brain Storm

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Genia Brain Storm originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrain-stormf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgeniagenia-brain-stormhands-onlivestreammassively-tvmystmyst-onlinemyst-online-uru-liveolivier-simonrise-and-shinystreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 12 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: CES highlights for mobile gaming enthusiasts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/10/mmobility-my-top-5-ces-mobile-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/10/mmobility-my-top-5-ces-mobile-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/10/mmobility-my-top-5-ces-mobile-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

CES logo
Most years, I am unimpressed by CES, the Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas. Sure, I watch the feeds and keep an eye on the latest bits of technical glitter that pop out of the event, but generally I find 4K televisions that cost thousands of dollars to be about as exciting as a bag of dead hamsters. I don't care about the next wave of supercomputers, and I certainly have no interest in technically advanced cars that mostly innovate on ways to make people spend money.

What excites me about almost any trade show is the stuff you find in the corners of the show room: the smaller booths, the indie developers or the hints of up-and-coming tech that will eventually make our lives easier and more fun. And of course, I'm always excited to see tech that might bring mobile MMOs to the place they deserve to be, a place in our everyday lives. CES is exciting to me because it shows the potential and possibly inexpensive future of tech.

Thanks to Engadget, one of our sister sites, I was able to get more than an eyeful of neat mobile tech!

Continue reading MMObility: CES highlights for mobile gaming enthusiasts

MassivelyMMObility: CES highlights for mobile gaming enthusiasts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jan 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-in-one-projectbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedCESces-2014ces2014chromebookconsumer-electronics-showfeaturedhisensehotspotlas-vegasmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphabletsphonesmartphonetabletsFri, 10 Jan 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: The confused state of Firefall's first few hours]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/08/free-for-all-the-confused-state-of-firefalls-first-few-hours/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/08/free-for-all-the-confused-state-of-firefalls-first-few-hours/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/08/free-for-all-the-confused-state-of-firefalls-first-few-hours/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Firefall screenshot
As part of my research for an upcoming article about MMO shooters, I have been playing a lot of Firefall. There are definitely worse assignments in the world. I really, really enjoy the game; I love the fact that I can do almost anything I want even within a short play session and feel as if I accomplished something. Of course, the current enlightened state I am in does not reflect the game's non-newbie-friendly designs. As a matter of fact, the only place I was able to turn for reliable explanations and non-stop answers was a reader of Massively who recognized my name in the chat.

This reader and I have played together several times, and he went out of his way to answer all of the newbie questions that should have been answered by the game. I know that the developers have said (through Tweets to me and in other places) that a better newbie experience is on its way. There are also friendly little helper robots sprinkled throughout the game and a handful of helpful videos that can be found as well.

So why are so many new players still confused about Firefall?

Continue reading Free for All: The confused state of Firefall's first few hours

MassivelyFree for All: The confused state of Firefall's first few hours originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafirefallfirst-person-shooterfpsfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiummmofpsopinionred-5-studiosriftRyzomsci-fishootervelvet-ropeWorld-of-WarcraftWed, 08 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Wracking our brains in Brain Storm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/the-stream-team-wracking-our-brains-in-brain-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/the-stream-team-wracking-our-brains-in-brain-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/the-stream-team-wracking-our-brains-in-brain-storm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brain Storm screenshot
Join us as we explore Brain Storm, an interesting quiz-based, browser-based MMORTS. Yes, it's a real thing and so far looks pretty cool, so join Massively's Beau Hindman in the chat room and ask your curious questions!

Game: Brain Storm
Host: Beau
Date: Monday, January 6th, 2013
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Wracking our brains in Brain Storm

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Wracking our brains in Brain Storm originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrain-stormbrowserf2pfree-to-playftpgenialivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmv-tvmvtvpuzzlequizquiz-showstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 06 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny revisit: Istaria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/05/rise-and-shiny-revisit-istaria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/05/rise-and-shiny-revisit-istaria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/05/rise-and-shiny-revisit-istaria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Istaria screenshot
At this point it's a sure thing for me to revisit Istaria, the old-school MMO by Virtrium, every single year. I look forward to it each time even though the game always feels basically the same. I don't want to imply that the game doesn't change at all. In fact, the indie developer team that works to run the game should be proud of the frequency of communications and patches. Around seven patches (large and small) were applied to the game in the month of December alone. On the surface, however, the game largely plays the same way and features the same systems that it always has. That doesn't mean I am familiar with them all or have come anywhere near mastering them all, but it's a comfort to know that the game remains familiar to those who are returning after some time away.

The team added a larger patch in December called Crystalshaper. The game also turned 10 years old, a feat in itself. I thought that now would be a perfect time to take another look at it, and I even ran a livestream of the game, co-hosted by Lead Designer Jason Murdick.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny revisit: Istaria

MassivelyRise and Shiny revisit: Istaria originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrain-stormcraftingcrystal-shapercrystalshaperf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onhorizons-empire-of-istariaistariajason-murdicklivestreammassively-tvrise-and-shinystreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 05 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Mobile and browser face off in School of Dragons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/03/mmobility-mobile-and-browser-face-off-in-school-of-dragons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/03/mmobility-mobile-and-browser-face-off-in-school-of-dragons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/03/mmobility-mobile-and-browser-face-off-in-school-of-dragons/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

School of Dragons screenshot
I was excited to learn about a mobile version of School of Dragons, a browser-based, kid-friendly MMO based on the fantastic movie How to Train Your Dragon. I pictured soaring through the skies and interacting with characters from the movie, all while sitting down with my favorite tablet. Unfortunately, I am not able to play on my favorite tablet yet (my Android), but I was able to download it on my wife's iPad Air.

I didn't have much experience with the browser-based version, so I read up on Karen's MMO Family article, made an account, and logged in. I was impressed by the game's visuals even though they are fairly primitive, as they do a good job of giving a sense of scale and accurately recreate many of the movie's characters. The game is very active, even during odd times of the day, and the chat is filled with players discussing the finer points of being a viking.

Unfortunately, the game lacks in polish. Is it be good enough to satisfy younger, less picky fans? Possibly, but after playing the browser-based version, I hoped that the mobile version would somehow feel smoother and more natural.

Continue reading MMObility: Mobile and browser face off in School of Dragons

MassivelyMMObility: Mobile and browser face off in School of Dragons originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfamily-friendlyfeaturedhow-to-train-your-dragonipadkid-friendlymmo-familymmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphoneschool-of-dragonssmartphoneFri, 03 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Third Annual Frindie Awards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/01/massivelys-third-annual-frindie-awards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/01/massivelys-third-annual-frindie-awards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/01/massivelys-third-annual-frindie-awards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Frindie Awards
It's time once again for me to throw out my awards for the best of free-to-play, indie, and oddball MMOs, a real niche-within-a-niche. It might seem that I am assigned many of these titles as though I were some modern day Mikey, but the truth is that I get a huge thrill out of finding a new game but get even more of a thrill when I realize that no one is covering it. I had to really think hard about the criteria for the awards this year, mainly because "indie" is quickly becoming one of those often hard-to-define words, alongside "MMORPG" and "free-to-play." Fortunately, I think I know it when I see it.

I kept my choices to games that I have actually played this year. I wanted to avoid games that appear to be really cool. If you want a more broad batch of prizes, check out Massively's best of awards. (Side note: I voted for Defiance as my game of the year.)

These awards are for games that are being created on a shoestring or independent of massive budgets. Some of them are connected to some money, of course, but instead of trying to define "indie," I will only repeat: You'll know it when you see it.

Continue reading Massively's Third Annual Frindie Awards

MassivelyMassively's Third Annual Frindie Awards originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landachaeaarcane-legendsbeau-hindmanbrowserdeepworldDinostormeldevinever-janef2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumfrindiefrindie-awardsfrindiesgame-of-thronesgame-of-thrones-ascentgrepolisherokon-onlinehunted-cow-studiosinnogamesistariaistaria-chronicles-of-the-giftedlife-is-magiclinden-labmad-otter-gamesmanylandmilmomystmyst-onlinemyst-online-uru-liveopinionparallel-kingdomperbluepocket-legendsRed-Robot-LabsRyzomsecond-lifesocial-mmospacetime-gamesspacetime-studiosStar-Stablethe-westTherethere-mmovelvet-ropevillagers-and-heroeswurm-onlineWed, 01 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Playing Istaria with dev team members]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/30/the-stream-team-playing-istaria-with-dev-team-members/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/30/the-stream-team-playing-istaria-with-dev-team-members/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/30/the-stream-team-playing-istaria-with-dev-team-members/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Istaria screenshot
It's the 10th anniversary of Istaria, the classic MMORPG that allows players to play as dragons! Massively's Beau Hindman is going to dive in with members of the developer team to check out some of the new content and to revisit the old!

Game: Istaria
Host: Beau Hindman
Date: Monday, December 30th, 2013
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Playing Istaria with dev team members

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Playing Istaria with dev team members originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Dec 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybeau-hindmanistarialivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmv-tvmvtvstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 30 Dec 2013 16:00:00 EST