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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[MMObility: Why a tablet version of RuneScape is so important]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/mmobility-why-a-tablet-version-of-runescape-is-so-important/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/mmobility-why-a-tablet-version-of-runescape-is-so-important/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/mmobility-why-a-tablet-version-of-runescape-is-so-important/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

RuneScape 3 screenshot
If you have heard the news about RuneScape 3, you fall into one of two camps. You're either really excited and cannot wait for this new version of one of your favorite games or you really don't see what the fuss is all about. It's possible there is a third category for those who are interested but have played the game only once or twice. I easily fall into the first category, and I think the announcement of RuneScape 3 isn't important because it represents a new version of a long-running and very successful browser-based title; it's important because it will represent a massive shift in mobile technology and in how people perceive MMO gaming on a mobile device.

So many people seem to think that tablet or smartphone gaming is different from gaming on any other device. It is different in the way we interact with the game, in the way that we actually hold the tablet or touch the screen, but the device itself is just a smaller version of the ever-familiar PC, the personal computer. RuneScape 3 could prove that a tablet or smartphone is just as good as any other delivery system -- and in many ways, it might be superior.

Continue reading MMObility: Why a tablet version of RuneScape is so important

MassivelyMMObility: Why a tablet version of RuneScape is so important originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedIOSjagexmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonerunescaperunescape-3smartphonetablettabletsFri, 24 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: What needs to happen to make the mobile market shine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/mmobility-what-needs-to-happen-to-make-the-mobile-market-shine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/mmobility-what-needs-to-happen-to-make-the-mobile-market-shine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/mmobility-what-needs-to-happen-to-make-the-mobile-market-shine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Life is Magic screenshot
I've recently written about what the MMO future might look like, but in case you haven't read that piece yet, I can sum it up for you. Essentially I see the new generation being so used to gaming and communicating on portable yet powerful devices that the sit-down keyboard and mouse setup might very well be doomed. Even major PC manufacturers and sellers are noticing the trend. Take a visit to your local Gamestop or equivalent game shop and you will notice that the chains have started to sell tablets as well.

All of this tablet gaming might wound the current style of MMOs. I suspect that within the next decade or two it will all come full circle back to massive three-dimensional worlds on tech that becomes even more powerful and common, so we have to look at what the mobile market can do currently to keep MMOs in the lineup.

Continue reading MMObility: What needs to happen to make the mobile market shine

MassivelyMMObility: What needs to happen to make the mobile market shine originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angry birdsAngryBirdsbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedgoogleGPSingresslocation-basedmidgard-risingmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionorder-and-chaos-onlinephonesecond-lifesmartphoneVendetta-Onlinewords-with-friendsFri, 17 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Exploring a tiny universe in Pocket Galaxy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/mmobility-exploring-a-tiny-universe-in-pocket-galaxy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/mmobility-exploring-a-tiny-universe-in-pocket-galaxy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/mmobility-exploring-a-tiny-universe-in-pocket-galaxy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pocket Galaxy screenshot
Pocket Galaxy, a new sci-fi mobile MMO, is relatively impressive at first. It's a nice looking game that feels like a cross between Dark Orbit, Asteroids, and EVE Online and seems to be pretty casual and cheap to play. These things make me happy. I've adopted a casual playstyle because of my need to be the guy who plays every single game he sees, and that has had the side effect of making casual gaming perfect for me.

For example, a Pocket Galaxy player who wants to craft more ammo for one of her guns needs to create the items by waiting a certain amount of real time that can be shortened by using cash. Many players might see this as some sort of money-grab. I see it as a casual game with the option to speed up build times, but then again... I'm patient.

Gallery: Pocket Galaxy screenshots

Continue reading MMObility: Exploring a tiny universe in Pocket Galaxy

MassivelyMMObility: Exploring a tiny universe in Pocket Galaxy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddual-stick-shooterfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonepocket-galaxysci-fiscience-fictionsmartphoneFri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Vendetta Online on the iPad is a familiar experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/mmobility-vendetta-online-on-the-ipad-is-a-familiar-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/mmobility-vendetta-online-on-the-ipad-is-a-familiar-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/mmobility-vendetta-online-on-the-ipad-is-a-familiar-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Vendetta Online iPad screenshot
Vendetta Online has a long history. You can play the game across many platforms and access the same universe as all other players no matter which device you are on. That's right, you can jump on your Android device and kill a few enemies while on a lunch break and then go home to switch to the PC, for example. I looked at the game for Rise and Shiny last year, and we got our hands on it again at this year's GDC Online. It's always been an impressive enough experience for the most part, but the game is definitely aging. It's still not a newbie-friendly title, and the smaller playerbase makes the game seem like a ghost town a lot of the time.

I have been poking around the game for a bit now only to encounter mostly the same experience I found before. That's not a bad thing, but it's not exactly a good thing, either, because if there is one thing I do not like, it's bumping into a rough newbie experience. Sure, there are tutorials and missions to help you get started, but once you make your way into the greater universe, you might find yourself a bit lost, or worse -- bored.

Continue reading MMObility: Vendetta Online on the iPad is a familiar experience

MassivelyMMObility: Vendetta Online on the iPad is a familiar experience originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 May 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedguild-softwareipadmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphoneSandboxsci-fiscience-fictionsmartphoneVendetta-OnlineFri, 03 May 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Revisiting The Lost Titans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/mmobility-revisiting-the-lost-titans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/mmobility-revisiting-the-lost-titans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/mmobility-revisiting-the-lost-titans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Lost Titans screenshot
It's pretty impressive that The Lost Titans, a new browser-based MMO by ZQGame, launched in China and was supporting 600 servers within six months, but China is a unique, browser-eating beast. I've talked about the foreign browser market before and often marvel at how so many players in the West scoff at browser games. It's not as though "browser" is a genre; it's a delivery system. But here we are, getting ready to scroll through comments to read about how "browser games" suck. That's like saying, "MP3s are bad music."

Still, I cannot deny that some browser-based games do indeed suck. In fact, the last time I played The Lost Titans live, I found myself so bored I almost could not finish the stream, but I thought I'd try again with a fresh perspective. Despite finding many of the same issues I had before, I was surprised at how much further the game has come. I sat down with ZQGame's Laura Stephens during this latest livestream to talk about the game.

Continue reading MMObility: Revisiting The Lost Titans

MassivelyMMObility: Revisiting The Lost Titans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcash-shopfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonepvpsmartphoneThe-Lost-TitanszqgameFri, 26 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Hailan Rising is a lesson in confusion and miscommunication]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/mmobility-hailan-rising-is-a-lesson-in-confusion-and-miscommuni/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/mmobility-hailan-rising-is-a-lesson-in-confusion-and-miscommuni/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/mmobility-hailan-rising-is-a-lesson-in-confusion-and-miscommuni/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Hailan Rising screenshot
I was excited to try out Hailan Rising, a new PvP-centric MMO being published by GamersFirst. It looks sort of primitive but has an old-school appeal that I thought would suit my tastes. For a long time I also thought it was a browser-based game, perhaps because it was being built in Unity, but at this point I'm confused about pretty much everything connected with the title. To make matters worse, the forums are filled with similarly confused players who just want some answers. Many of them cannot log in, but I was able to. But then all I found was an empty server, literally.

I did some research and read up on some of the information we posted on this site as recently as February of this year. I checked the forums and mailed off an inquiry to GamersFirst that as of press time has not been answered. So what is Hailan Rising and what has happened to it?

Continue reading MMObility: Hailan Rising is a lesson in confusion and miscommunication

MassivelyMMObility: Hailan Rising is a lesson in confusion and miscommunication originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-smithbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedeverquestfeaturedgamersfirsthailan-risingmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphoneplayer-versus-playerpvpsmartphoneUltima-OnlineFri, 19 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/mmobility-dragon-eternity-shines-on-the-ipad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/mmobility-dragon-eternity-shines-on-the-ipad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/mmobility-dragon-eternity-shines-on-the-ipad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Eternity iPad version screenshot
Dragon Eternity has always been a pretty neat browser-based game that drew me in more with its mechanics and UI design than with its actual gameplay. Frankly, the game is a grind. You'll be sent on quest after quest that is basically kill-ten-whatever, with the occasional gather quest thrown in for good measure. I wasn't terribly thrilled with it before, but I did find myself occasionally enjoying it. The artwork in the game is beautiful. That alone is a reason to poke my head into the title once in a while.

Now that a new iPad version has been released, I just had to give it another go to see if it felt the same as before. I have to say, how you interface with a game can really make a difference. Sure, the grind is still there, and the quests are generally the same at higher levels as they are at level one, but the iPad works awesome.

That's not all, however. I also participated in PvP combat for the first time and found out exactly where the game shines.

Continue reading MMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad

MassivelyMMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddragon-eternityfeaturedipadmagic-the-gatheringmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmomobile-versionopinionphonesmartphoneFri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: How the mobile market is trying to change MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/mmobility-how-the-mobile-market-is-trying-to-change-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/mmobility-how-the-mobile-market-is-trying-to-change-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/mmobility-how-the-mobile-market-is-trying-to-change-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Real Racing 3 screenshot
My brother called me the other day to tell me that he had just beaten me in Real Racing 3, an EA title that has drawn some criticism for its use of microtransactions. I enjoyed the heck out of the game, and it seems that EA is not worried about the criticism thanks to the overall positive response to the title. I asked my brother about the in-game purchases and he didn't really know what I was talking about. It was only more evidence that the rest of the market -- especially the huge mobile market -- doesn't really appear to care about persistent worlds or immersive lore. The fact is that pseudo-MMOs or games that are barely on the edge of MMO are MMO enough for many people, even people like my brother, who is no stranger to MMO gaming and has spent years in and out of World of Warcraft raiding and leveling.

I was going to write about a game called Raft Pirates for this column, but when I started to look at it, I realized that it didn't quite seem like a "real" MMO, and so I asked the developer to define the game for me. The response I got back only added to my confusion about where the mobile market is going. So in today's MMObility, I want to continue the discussion I started last week, but this time I'll like to look at how the mobile market is keeping things muddy.

Continue reading MMObility: How the mobile market is trying to change MMOs

MassivelyMMObility: How the mobile market is trying to change MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddefining-mmosEAfeaturedMicrotransactionsmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphoneraft-piratesreal-racing-3smartphoneWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 05 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Avabel Online is almost everything I dislike about mobile MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/mmobility-avabel-online-is-almost-everything-i-dislike-about-mo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/mmobility-avabel-online-is-almost-everything-i-dislike-about-mo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/mmobility-avabel-online-is-almost-everything-i-dislike-about-mo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Avabel Online screenshot
The mobile MMO market is still so young and underdeveloped that it seems unfair to judge it too harshly. Calling it devoid of quality content is sort of like describing the dark days of early graphical MMOs, a time filled with games that were nothing but a grind wrapped in what we thought was a pretty package. In hindsight, those three-day waits and incredibly tedious levels were "fun" only when we consider that they were all we had to choose from.

The mobile market is about 80% crap as it is right now; this is true. I say that as someone who is a massive fan of the platform. For what it's worth, the rest of the standard MMO market is around 80% crap as well, but there are a lot more titles to choose from. Mobile has its star titles and wonderful developers, but when a game like Avabel Online pops up, I cringe at the possibility that an entire generation of gamers might grow up on such tedium.

Continue reading MMObility: Avabel Online is almost everything I dislike about mobile MMOs

MassivelyMMObility: Avabel Online is almost everything I dislike about mobile MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane-legendsavabelavabel-onlinebeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionorder-and-chaos-onlinephonesmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendsFri, 29 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Fifteen fun free MMORPGs for your tablet or smartphone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/mmobility-fifteen-fun-free-mmorpgs-for-your-tablet-or-smartphon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/mmobility-fifteen-fun-free-mmorpgs-for-your-tablet-or-smartphon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/mmobility-fifteen-fun-free-mmorpgs-for-your-tablet-or-smartphon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Avabel screenshot
Mobile MMORPGs are still hard to come by. Sure, there are a ton of pseudo-MMOs and developers who claim to have created an MMO, but the fact is that persistence -- a key to defining what an MMO is -- is often gone from many of these games. I want to be able to log out of the game while the rest of the digital world goes on without me. Or better yet, and in the case of most MMORTS titles, I want to log out of the game and continue to have an effect on the world through trades, wars, or the fallout of diplomacy.

Even though the market is often bare, there are still quite a few MMOs out there. Many of them are fun as well! I know, I know, I am making it seem as though the smartphone or tablet MMO market is empty of all content, but the truth is that for its age, it's doing very well. There are more and more coming out all of the time, and hopefully I'll be there to cover them. In the meanwhile, enjoy a list of the specific titles that rest on my Nexus 7 3G tablet, just waiting to be played anywhere and any time!

Continue reading MMObility: Fifteen fun free MMORPGs for your tablet or smartphone

MassivelyMMObility: Fifteen fun free MMORPGs for your tablet or smartphone originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane-legendsavabelbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddark-legendsfeaturedgoogleingresskabamlife-is-magiclocation-basedmidgard-risingmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmonexus-7opinionorder-and-chaos-onlineparallel-kingdomparallel-mafiaparallel-zombiesperbluephonepocket-legendsRed-Robot-Labssmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendstabletthe-hobbit-kingdoms-of-middle-earthtibiaMEwarspear-onlineFri, 22 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The community portal of Grepolis might just be a model for the industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/mmobility-the-community-portal-of-grepolis-might-just-be-a-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/mmobility-the-community-portal-of-grepolis-might-just-be-a-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/mmobility-the-community-portal-of-grepolis-might-just-be-a-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Grepolis community screenshot
Innogames' hit browser-based game Grepolis has been receiving some pretty exciting updates lately. It's one of my favorite MMORTS titles because it's simple to learn and can be played on practically any schedule, so I've really been enjoying the updates that have added music and sound effects, holiday mechanics, and more animations. There's a lot more to come, however, according to Grepolis' developer crew.

What sort of things? Well, besides the usual updates and additions to gameplay, the team is promising that how players interact with the community will change as well. Sure, plenty of developers have promised better communication and more interaction, but what Grepolis is promising might just be some of the coolest community tools yet. If they work, of course.

Continue reading MMObility: The community portal of Grepolis might just be a model for the industry

MassivelyMMObility: The community portal of Grepolis might just be a model for the industry originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcommunityDavid-Biedermannfeaturedgrepolisinnogamesmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonepromisessmartphoneFri, 15 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Google's Ingress shines light on the good and bad of ARGs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/mmobility-googles-ingress-shines-light-on-the-good-and-bad-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/mmobility-googles-ingress-shines-light-on-the-good-and-bad-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/mmobility-googles-ingress-shines-light-on-the-good-and-bad-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Ingress screenshot
If you're turned on by augmented reality gaming or games that occur at least in some part within the real world, then you have probably heard about Google's latest experiment, Ingress. Google has been in the MMO game before. Years ago the company created a sort of social sandbox called Google Lively. It was a very interesting project, but its disappearance did not exactly fill me with confidence that Google could pull off another one. Still, this is one of the country's largest experimentation-driven companies with some of the smartest people and greatest access to information, so an ARG might just be the perfect fit.

I was just given access to the current stage of the game; be aware that everything I talk about or show you is most likely going to change over time.

Continue reading MMObility: Google's Ingress shines light on the good and bad of ARGs

MassivelyMMObility: Google's Ingress shines light on the good and bad of ARGs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argaugmented-reality-gamebeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedgoogleingressingress-mmolife-is-magicmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoNianticLabsopinionparallel-kingdomperbluephoneRed-Robot-LabssmartphoneFri, 08 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Remanum's trade wars stump this chump]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/mmobility-remanums-trade-wars-stump-this-chump/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/mmobility-remanums-trade-wars-stump-this-chump/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/mmobility-remanums-trade-wars-stump-this-chump/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Remanum screenshot
It's been a while since I visited Remanum, an interesting trade-based MMO brought to us by Travian Games, the same studio that brought us Travian and other interesting titles. I was initially turned on to the game's non-combat options simply because combat is used so much that many of the current combat systems are outdated or just plain boring. Non-combat, or optional systems for play like trade and exploration, are the hope for gamers like yours truly who cannot stand to play a game as though they're clocking in to work.

The only problem with Remanum? I suck at, well, trading. I know that I can grasp the principles of "buy low, sell high" and other market staples, but I simply can't grasp the finer nuances of buying and selling. I have a brother who seems to have a natural way with numbers, but I've always been more of an artist. Numbers and me just sort of stare at each other from across the table.

So why do I like Remanum so much?

Continue reading MMObility: Remanum's trade wars stump this chump

MassivelyMMObility: Remanum's trade wars stump this chump originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedinnogamesmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphoneremanumsmartphonetradingtraviantravian-gamesFri, 22 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Innogames' Fabio Lo Zito on cash shops, quality, and PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/mmobility-innogames-fabio-lo-zito-on-cash-shops-quality-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/mmobility-innogames-fabio-lo-zito-on-cash-shops-quality-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/mmobility-innogames-fabio-lo-zito-on-cash-shops-quality-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Innogames lineup screenshot
One of the greatest parts of my job is having the ability to take a peek into the minds of some of the industry's most creative developers. If an interview goes really well, I come away from it with not only a deeper understanding of mechanics or policies but some knowledge about the creative process. For me, MMOs represent a perfect storm of writing, music, art, and math; they click my creativity into hyperdrive. I couldn't write about MMOs if I didn't love them so much.

I'm not sure why I didn't notice German-based developer Innogames until relatively recently, but its lineup is more varied, challenging, and immersive than many of its rivals. It makes titles that offer a variety not only of gameplay but of accessibility. All of its titles can be played in a browser, and now a handful are available even on mobile.

I sat down with Innogames' Fabio Lo Zito during a livestream earlier this week to discuss what makes it all work.

Continue reading MMObility: Innogames' Fabio Lo Zito on cash shops, quality, and PvP

MassivelyMMObility: Innogames' Fabio Lo Zito on cash shops, quality, and PvP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfabio-lo-zitofeaturedforge-of-empiresgrepolisinnogameskartugalagooniammobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphonesocialsocial-gamingthe-westtribal-warsUltima-OnlineFri, 15 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Modern War almost gets it, but only almost]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/mmobility-modern-war-almost-gets-it-but-only-almost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/mmobility-modern-war-almost-gets-it-but-only-almost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/mmobility-modern-war-almost-gets-it-but-only-almost/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Modern War screenshot
Modern War by Gree has some pretty neat things going for it. A lot of the gameplay is not really state-of-the-art, and most of it we've seen before in many social-style games, but it allows for some cool and relatively persistent play on your mobile device. It's hard to find MMOs in today's mobile market. A lot of the time I'll download a new one only to find out that it's not really an MMO at all. There are some really great titles in the mobile/smartphone market, but it takes work to find them.

Modern War is a sneaky one. It's more of a pseudo-MMO but does a few cool things that more MMORTS titles should. It also works nicely on my Nexus 7 tablet, for the most part, except for a few odd problems that I'll cover in a minute. After I'm done, you might understand how mixed up the game feels as it's pretty close to becoming a good game.

Continue reading MMObility: Modern War almost gets it, but only almost

MassivelyMMObility: Modern War almost gets it, but only almost originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedGameloftgreemmobilitymmortsmobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmomodern-waropinionphonesmartphonewar-gamesworld-at-armsFri, 08 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The Chromebook 'All-In-One' project - The pros and cons wrap-up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-the-pros-and-co/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-the-pros-and-co/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-the-pros-and-co/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

All In One project screenshot
Well, it's been pretty much a month since I first got my hands on this Samsung Chromebook. In that time they have become a very successful product, and I've witnessed a lot of new 'Bookers falling in love with the device. I wanted to set out to see if I could use one device for pretty much every aspect of my digital life, from work to play. I've had help from my wife along the way, as she quickly got used to how easily the device worked. I've pushed it in every way that I could think of. I've watched videos on it, plugged things into it, written on it and used it to play games.

So, what do I think now? Does this little notebook fill every need? Well, yes and no. It's definitely able to do what I want it to do, but I want it to do some pretty specific things. I also wanted to show that gaming, especially massively multiplayer gaming, is accessible from the 'Book. Why? The truth is that I wanted to illustrate how MMO games not only come in all shapes and sizes, but that there are many different communities all over the world that enjoy very successful browser-based, "low-tech" MMOs. As far as Massively is concerned, this experiment was an attempt to sneak in some very cool MMOs under the guise of "cool new gadget."

Continue reading MMObility: The Chromebook 'All-In-One' project - The pros and cons wrap-up

MassivelyMMObility: The Chromebook 'All-In-One' project - The pros and cons wrap-up originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acer-chromebookall-in-one-projectbeau-hindmanbookersbrowserbrowser-basedchromebookchromebook-all-in-one-projectdc-universe-onlinedcuodragons-of-atlantisfeaturedgooglegoogle-chromebookGuild-Wars-2innogameskabammmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesamsungsamsung-chromebooksmartphoneSOEthe-westyoutubeFri, 01 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Ten pseudo-MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-ten-pseudo-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-ten-pseudo-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-ten-pseudo-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WarMage Battlegrounds banner
So here we are at the second-to-last installment of my Chromebook All-In-One experiment. This will be the last time I give you a list of games that work well on the Samsung Chromebook, but always keep in mind that some of the other Chromebooks, especially the Samsung 5 550, have more power and do not use an ARM-based chip. What does that mean? Well, some services like NetFlix will not work on an ARM-based machine yet. Spacetime Studios' cache of browser-based titles will not work on this Chromebook yet as well. Don't worry, it's coming soon. Imagine the ARM Chromebook as a tablet with a keyboard attached... it's not a normal netbook or notebook.

I also wrote up my wife's take on the Chromebook over at my personal blog. Be sure to check that out. She has been the perfect guinea pig as she pushes devices to their limits, and so the Chromebook has been getting heavy use from her and working wonderfully. Next week, my last installment of this series will be a video and article combo that covers the good and bad of the device, along with my final thoughts.

Until then, though, click past the cut and enjoy my list of pseudo-MMOs. These are games that don't quite fit into the MMO category but have a multiplayer aspect to them!

Continue reading MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Ten pseudo-MMOs

MassivelyMMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Ten pseudo-MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-in-oneall-in-one-projectbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedchromebookChromeBookschromiumdie2nitefallen-londonfallen-swordfarm-kingdomfeaturedforge-of-empiresgoogleinnogamesjupiters-follylagooniammobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonepoptropicapseudo-MMOpseudo-mmossmartphonestardrift-empiressyfySyFy-GamesTurn-basedwarmage-battlegroundsFri, 25 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Ten standard MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-ten-standard-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-ten-standard-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-ten-standard-mm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

War of Dragons artwork
It's time for another installment of my month-long look at the Samsung Chromebook, the newest in the line of all-in-one devices brought to us by Google. Everything has worked pretty well so far, but the light notebook does have its issues. I'm so used to using my Google Nexus 7 tablet for reading emails and now reading articles and magazines that I am having a hard time without the pinch-to-zoom. I love the instant zooming; it's much easier when I am reading or surfing the net. (Wait, do we still say "surfing the net"?) In fact, the main issue with the Samsung Chromebook is its size. I have to hit ctrl-+ to zoom in pages often.

Other than the smaller fonts, few other issues have cropped up -- I've found gaming has been really fun on this little guy. I've noticed that everyone who reads of gaming on the device is sort of perplexed. Why would I want to game on such a non-gaming machine? It's simple, really. As the title says, this is another attempt of mine to find the perfect device for doing all that I do using only the browser: writing, gaming, gaming, writing, watching videos, writing, and playing games.

This week, I have 10 "standard" MMOs for you. These are games that act more like a common, client-based MMOs than the MMORTS titles I covered last week, but with some exceptions. The desktop browser can handle amazing, 3-D graphics, but a Chromebook does not allow downloads like Unity or Java. Keep that in mind.

Continue reading MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Ten standard MMOs

MassivelyMMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Ten standard MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-in-one-projectbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedchrome-oschromebookchromiumclub-penguindragon-eternityfeaturedhabbo-hotelkidslegend-legacy-of-the-dragonsmirimagiammobilitymmortsmobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionparallel-kingdomperbluephonepride-of-taernRTSsagramoreserenia-fantasysmartphonetraviantravian-gamestravianswar-of-dragonsFri, 18 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Ten MMORTS titles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-ten-mmorts-titl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-ten-mmorts-titl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-ten-mmorts-titl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chromebook picture
Last week I introduced you to my newest device, the Samsung Chromebook. Yes, that's the official way to refer to the newest $249.00 Chromebook, according to my contact at Google. I have pined after one for a while, but the price point finally became too tempting and I nabbed one at my local Best Buy. Why? Why didn't I just spit out a few more bucks and get a "real" laptop or netbook, one that runs Windows 7 or 8? Well, it runs silently and almost without heat. It's essentially a keyboard attached to an 11-inch tablet that runs Flash. The Chromium OS is very secure, and it auto-updates every six weeks.

But you're here to read about games. This week I am going to talk about the MMORTS genre and why it works so well on the Chromebook. I'll list 10 of my favorites -- a drop in the bucket for all the MMORTS games out there, but these are easily some of the best and run well on the Chromebook. Stay tuned for future columns, where we'll look at even more Chromebook-friendly MMOs and pseudo-MMOs as well.

Continue reading MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Ten MMORTS titles

MassivelyMMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Ten MMORTS titles originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-in-one-projectbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcastlotchromebookchromebook-all-in-one-projectchromiumchromium-oscommand-and-conquer-tiberium-alliancesdragons-of-atlantisEAfeaturedgoogleillyriadillyriad-gamesinnogameskabamlight-of-novalord-of-ultimaministry-of-warmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphonesnail-gamessnail-games-usathe-settlers-onlinetribal-warsUbisoftFri, 11 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Introduction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-introduction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-introduction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-project-introduction/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chromebook page screenshot
For the next five MMObility columns, I'll be taking a look at my new Chromebook, a device I have dreamed of owning since it was first announced some time ago. I've decided to name it the "All In One" project, representing the ability of a Chromebook to do almost anything, all within the confines of a browser. Today's Chromebooks are much different beasts than the first CR-48s that were sent out for testing and reviews. The current flagship Chromebook, the Samsung Series 3 XE303C12 model that utilizes an SSD and a processor that you would normally find within a tablet, is well-built, instantly and silently updated, fun to use, and best of all, pretty darn inexpensive at $249.00 US.

Over the course of these columns, I will cover gaming on the device. Yes, gaming, as in MMORPGs. I've been a massive browser fan for a long time, so I already have access to a list of at least 100 different MMOs that run on very basic tech. I will be listing these games over the next few weeks while explaining how they work.

Don't worry, techies; I'm covering the guts and tweaky stuff on my personal blog at Beauhindman.com. This will be a two-pronged attempt at using the Chromebook in real scenarios, something that is often missing from tech reviews. So let's get started!

Continue reading MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Introduction

MassivelyMMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Introduction originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acer-c7all-in-one-projectbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-gamingbrowser-mmobrowser-mmoschromebookfeaturedgooglemmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesamsungsamsung-chromebooksmartphoneFri, 04 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: A look at the location based MMO Life is Magic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/mmobility-a-look-at-the-location-based-mmo-life-is-magic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/mmobility-a-look-at-the-location-based-mmo-life-is-magic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/mmobility-a-look-at-the-location-based-mmo-life-is-magic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Life is Magic screenshot
I've been looking forward to checking out Life is Magic since I first took a peek at it during GDC Online 2012. The art style, slick presentation, and location-based gameplay drew me in, but I've had it for only a short while since then. I've now been able to snag enough time to get a great idea about what the game holds for players, and so far I can say that there's definitely a polish to the game that I haven't found in many mobile MMOs.

So what is so special about this one, especially compared to other location-based MMOs like Fleck or Parallel Kingdom? There are several differences, most of them focused on the art style, unique world map, and cool collectible card game-ish system that ends up being the best part of the game.

Gallery: Life is Magic screenshots

Continue reading MMObility: A look at the location based MMO Life is Magic

MassivelyMMObility: A look at the location based MMO Life is Magic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedFinal-FantasyfleckIOSlife-is-magiclocation-basedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionparallel-kingdomperbluePete-HawleyphoneRed-Robot-Labsshadow-citiessmartphoneSquare-EnixTurn-basedFri, 21 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: How Facebook's recent changes affect MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/mmobility-facebooks-recent-changes-and-how-it-affects-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/mmobility-facebooks-recent-changes-and-how-it-affects-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/mmobility-facebooks-recent-changes-and-how-it-affects-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Facebook logo
As you might be aware, Facebook is officially changing its policy on how an embedded MMO interacts with the famous social network. I'm no fan of reading through lines of policy changes and attempting to interpret them exactly, namely because reading about changes and fully experiencing them are two different things. Both can lead to different conclusions, as well. I want to know how these changes affect MMO developers.

I would also like to clear up what Facebook is. I've covered it many times before, but there is always a section of players and readers who have no idea or have only heard what Facebook is and what it does. To many of them, Facebook is FarmVille and spam, period. While I will not deny the existence of either of those things, I'd rather take this week to break down what Facebook is to developers, how it actually works, and how recent changes might affect players like yours truly who enjoy playing games through, on, or by utilizing Facebook.

Continue reading MMObility: How Facebook's recent changes affect MMOs

MassivelyMMObility: How Facebook's recent changes affect MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfacebookfeaturedikariammmobilitymmortsmobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphonesocial-gamingsocial-mmosocial-networkFri, 14 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: How RuneScape's Evolution of Combat changed my game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/mmobility-how-runescapes-evolution-of-combat-changed-my-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/mmobility-how-runescapes-evolution-of-combat-changed-my-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/mmobility-how-runescapes-evolution-of-combat-changed-my-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

RuneScape screenshot
RuneScape has long been a favorite of mine, but I have to admit to being more of an explorer than anything. Combat was always sort of sluggish and tedious. It just wasn't very exciting. I see so many comments from players who AFK, watch television, or play a second game while simultaneously grinding in RuneScape. Luckily RuneScape is a living, breathing, open MMO that comes from the olden times of MMOs but still adds on new bits of design and updated systems. There aren't many other MMOs that are updated as often as RuneScape, and hardly any of them provides as much to do.

Along comes The Evolution of Combat. Jagex has called it the biggest thing to happen to RuneScape, probably ever, and after playing with it for a few day, I tend to agree. What does it change, though, and why do I enjoy it so much? Let me tell you.

Continue reading MMObility: How RuneScape's Evolution of Combat changed my game

MassivelyMMObility: How RuneScape's Evolution of Combat changed my game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedclassic-mmoevolution-of-combatf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhotbarjagexjagex-games-studiommobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionrsrunescapesandboxsmartphonethe-evolution-of-combatFri, 30 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Why the closing of Glitch matters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/mmobility-why-the-closing-of-glitch-matters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/mmobility-why-the-closing-of-glitch-matters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/mmobility-why-the-closing-of-glitch-matters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Glitch screenshot
When it was announced that Glitch was closing, I felt a blend of shock and sadness. Glitch is one of my favorite MMOs, but it's special for a number of reasons. The game achieved a lot in a crowded market that is filled with the same gameplay, same lore, and same stock characters that we have seen for years, and it achieved all of this within a Flash-based browser environment.

The official announcement gave us a lot of clues as to what happened, but it looks like the money was just not enough to keep the game afloat. It's also very possible that the money was enough, but just barely. Running a business is hard, and running an MMO that is so unique and unusual can be the same as living paycheck to paycheck. It's stressful and scary when the future is never certain... sometimes it's easier to call it quits.

Continue reading MMObility: Why the closing of Glitch matters

MassivelyMMObility: Why the closing of Glitch matters originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-to-betabeau-hindmanbetabrowserbrowser-basedcasualclosuref2pfantasyfeaturedflashfree-to-playglitchhipsterinnovationmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphoneSandboxsandbox-gamesmartphonesunsettiny-specktinyspeckunlauncheningFri, 23 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: A deeper look at Fleck and its adorable zombies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/mmobility-a-deeper-look-at-fleck-and-its-adorable-zombies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/mmobility-a-deeper-look-at-fleck-and-its-adorable-zombies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/mmobility-a-deeper-look-at-fleck-and-its-adorable-zombies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fleck screenshot at the Statue of Liberty
Fleck is a very interesting title that has quietly been doing some great things in the location-based MMO space. A location-based MMO is essentially an MMO that utilizes the real world via Google maps or real-life landmarks as a background for an MMO. Imagine that you are at your favorite eatery and you take out your phone and are instantly shown a world built on top of the world you're in now; that's location-based gaming. Fleck works like many other location-based MMOs but doesn't link itself to the real world as much as some of the others. Instead, it allows players to build and explore freely all while attempting to avoid (or defeat) zombies of varying strengths. Yes, zombies!

There are some really cool features in Fleck, one of the them being real weather updates like rain, snow, or fog that changes according to the player's location. If a player wants to, she can build a house literally on the spot where she lives in real life or anywhere else in the world -- on top of a Google map.

There's much more to the game, and this week I want to share a recent video I made and look into just how unique this game is.

Continue reading MMObility: A deeper look at Fleck and its adorable zombies

MassivelyMMObility: A deeper look at Fleck and its adorable zombies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedflecklocation-basedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonereal-lifeself-aware-gamesseppo-helavasmartphoneFri, 16 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Windows 8 and gaming in the Metro browser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mmobility-windows-8-and-gaming-in-the-metro-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mmobility-windows-8-and-gaming-in-the-metro-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mmobility-windows-8-and-gaming-in-the-metro-browser/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Java Warning on Windows 8
So, you've heard about the recent Windows 8 release but aren't sure whether or not you should upgrade? How will the operating system affect your gaming, and are you going to go with any of the Microsoft Surface products? All of these questions can be answered in numerous ways, but I wanted to answer it from the standpoint of a mobile gaming fan. After all, it is my belief that mobile gaming will soon dominate gaming in the world... might as well be prepared!

But how does Windows 8 affect a mobile MMO fan like yours truly? Well, Windows 8 does a heckuva lot. It offers a ton of flexibility and fun new ways to interact with your PC. But it can also be a very confusing new addition. I sat down to figure out some of these issues with the help of Ben Adams, CTO of Illyriad Games. He knows more about mobile tech than I do and was able to sort out the differences between the Windows 8 browsers for me. Let's get to it.

Continue reading MMObility: Windows 8 and gaming in the Metro browser

MassivelyMMObility: Windows 8 and gaming in the Metro browser originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanben-adamsbrowserbrowser-basedCommand-and-Conquercommand-and-conquer-tiberium-alliancesdell-inspiron-duodungeon-blitzEAevonyfeaturedforge-of-empiresglitchgrepolisillyriadillyriad-gamesinnogameslagooniaMicrosoft-Surfaceministry-of-warmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmonadirimopinionphonerunescapesmartphonesurfacetiny-speckwindows-8Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Are Glitch's Feats smart design or mindless grind?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/mmobility-are-glitchs-feats-smart-design-or-mindless-grind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/mmobility-are-glitchs-feats-smart-design-or-mindless-grind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/mmobility-are-glitchs-feats-smart-design-or-mindless-grind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Glitch Feats information screenshot
Live events are a funny thing. They can be some of the most exciting content and can possibly cost developers very little. Sure, there are massive big-budget events like anything building up to a World of Warcraft expansion, but there are also wonderful smaller events like welcoming new characters to Ryzom or tournaments in Illyriad. Live events can be very, very simple but can also be absolutely thrilling to players. We don't need much to make us happy, and live events are a great way to do it.

Glitch has been mad about live events for a while, although developer Tiny Speck and the players might refer to them as something else. The example I want to talk about today is Glitch's Feats, great events that not only pull parameters from lore but give almost every player from every experience level something to do.

Some see live events like Glitch's Feats as nothing more than excuses for overly passionate players to grind their way into virtual glory. While there is definitely some of that going on, I have to ask whether it's possible to have a live event that gives grinders something to shoot for while allowing casual players like yours truly something to do as well. We all want to feel included, and Feats do a pretty good job of that.

Continue reading MMObility: Are Glitch's Feats smart design or mindless grind?

MassivelyMMObility: Are Glitch's Feats smart design or mindless grind? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanBlizzardbrowserbrowser-basedfeatsfeaturedglitchlive-eventsmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphonetiny-speckWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 02 Nov 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Find yourself in this updated list of location-based MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/mmobility-find-yourself-in-this-updated-list-of-location-based/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/mmobility-find-yourself-in-this-updated-list-of-location-based/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/mmobility-find-yourself-in-this-updated-list-of-location-based/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Life is Crime screenshot
Location-based MMOs have a long way to go. I can only imagine how the genre will appear in 10 or 15 years and how common it will be to load up a virtual world on our mobile devices. Even with the advances that still need to be made, location-based gaming is pretty darned impressive. Think about it: These are games that use the real world as a playing field. While most do not employ the literal square mileage of the Earth in exact scale, most of these games can boast a very large map. These titles can also utilize the weather and other events that happen on it at any given time, blending them with our real world so that it appears there is a secret, veiled world right beside us.

I wanted to recap some of my favorite location-based MMOs for those who might need some advice on which ones to try. My favorites are marked with a "latest update" marker, but all of them are worth checking out. So pull out your phone or tablet and get to it!

Continue reading MMObility: Find yourself in this updated list of location-based MMOs

MassivelyMMObility: Find yourself in this updated list of location-based MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedfleckFourSquareLife-is-Crimelife-is-magiclocation-basedlocation-based-mmommobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionparallel-kingdomparallel-mafiaparallel-zombiesperbluephonesmartphoneFri, 26 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Free-to-play and mobile at GDC Online, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/mmobility-free-to-play-and-mobile-at-gdc-online-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/mmobility-free-to-play-and-mobile-at-gdc-online-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/mmobility-free-to-play-and-mobile-at-gdc-online-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

World is Magic screenshot
Let's continue my look at how free-to-play and mobile gaming showed at GDC Online this year. If you missed the first part, you can check it out in my last Free for All column. There was so much to cover that I had to wrap it into a two-parter. I truly think this was the best mobile showing since I first went to GDC Online four years ago, so be sure to check out all of the games I mention. Mobile is growing, as is free-to-play, and it couldn't be more obvious than when we get to witness so many good games being developed.

If I have anything to do with it, I will be playing these games ASAP. That means that you get to read what I think about them, and you get to play along as well!

Continue reading MMObility: Free-to-play and mobile at GDC Online, part 2

MassivelyMMObility: Free-to-play and mobile at GDC Online, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew-madlocharcane-legendsbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddeepworldeverquestfeaturedFernando-BlancoLife-is-Crimelife-is-magicmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionpete-howleyphoneRed-Robot-Labssmartphonespacetime-studiosworld-of-midgardWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 19 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Finding the fun within the browser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/mmobility-finding-the-fun-within-the-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/mmobility-finding-the-fun-within-the-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/mmobility-finding-the-fun-within-the-browser/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

RuneScape screenshot
Fun is an odd thing to define. I have to be honest and say that I don't often have fun when playing MMOs. I don't. I enjoy myself, sometimes to an amazing degree, but I don't have what I would call "fun." When I play a game like Wurm Online or Parallel Kingdom, I am not having fun but am having something closer to the feeling you get when you read a good book. You know the feeling: You're breathing deep, lying on the bed, possibly, very relaxed. OK, I understand how dirty that sounds, but you know what I mean. Playing a good MMO is often like playing chess. It's not really fun, but it is still a very good thing.

Browser-based titles can often be enjoyable, but the normally limited graphics and sometimes click-and-wait gameplay means that I get more of a scratch-my-chin sort of feeling when I leap into Illyriad or other games. Of course, in-browser graphics are changing and becoming more and more like standard client-based MMOs. Thanks to Unity and other engines, we can play in immersive, three-dimensional worlds in our browser. Smartphones are becoming more tablet-like, and mobile games are quickly becoming more like standard gaming as well.

So what do we play when we want to have simple fun?

Continue reading MMObility: Finding the fun within the browser

MassivelyMMObility: Finding the fun within the browser originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanBigpointbrowserbrowser-basedcash-shopfeaturedglitchjagexmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonerunescapesmartphonetiny-speckFri, 05 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Mobile devices might breathe new life into older MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/28/mmobility-mobile-devices-might-breathe-new-life-into-older-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/28/mmobility-mobile-devices-might-breathe-new-life-into-older-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/28/mmobility-mobile-devices-might-breathe-new-life-into-older-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Conquer Online screenshots
One of the greatest things about the mobile market is the reappearance of older, single-player titles that are now being introduced to a new generation. Tablets and smartphones are quickly becoming go-to gaming devices offering not only more powerful processors and bigger screens but access to the internet and huge stores of digital goodies. Recently, I've been playing through titles I've missed, like Broken Sword, a point-and-click adventure game from 1996. Touch devices are proving to be perfect for many older-style games. We're simply replacing the mouse with the finger, and the move feels natural.

When I interviewed the Ultima Online team during a livestream this week, I asked Producer Bonnie Armstrong about a mobile version of the game. After all, I've played games, like Conquer Online, that look almost identical to Ultima Online, so I know it can be done. Her answer?
I would love to, personally. I think it would be pretty cool. I think somebody kind of joked around and said you know when somebody's 90 years old, they're going to be in an old folk's home playing UO on their phone. [...] That kind of sums us up.
There are many MMOs that I could see offering a mobile version. Would it be better or worse for these classic titles?

Continue reading MMObility: Mobile devices might breathe new life into older MMOs

MassivelyMMObility: Mobile devices might breathe new life into older MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asherons-callbeau-hindmanBlizzardbonnie-armstrongbrowserbrowser-basedconquer-onlinedark-age-of-cameloteverquestfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoMythic-EntertainmentopinionphonesmartphoneSOEturbineUltima-OnlineWorld-of-WarcraftwowFri, 28 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Data caps, throttled signals, and blocked sites]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/21/mmobility-data-caps-throttled-signals-and-blocked-sites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/21/mmobility-data-caps-throttled-signals-and-blocked-sites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/21/mmobility-data-caps-throttled-signals-and-blocked-sites/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

RuneScape screenshot
One of the main reasons I enjoy covering mobile MMOs is the fact that many gamers have access to a poor connection at best, and my articles might offer these fellow geeks a selection of games to play. I often take some of the things in my life for granted, like my healthy dogs or the one cup of coffee I have in the morning, but I never take my internet connection for granted, especially when I'm reminded every time I pay the bill just how much it costs me. It's an awesome 150/65 Mb/s, and I tend to get speeds pretty close to that. I often tell people that because my wife works at home with me, our internet connection is our "work vehicle."

But many of my friends complain about having a really bad connection to the internet. Some of it is the result of location, but a lot is because companies can actually throttle the signal, providing unlimited yet barely workable internet. While there are several titles out there that are playable on almost any connection, throttling can kill gaming for many of us. So just how bad is it?

Continue reading MMObility: Data caps, throttled signals, and blocked sites

MassivelyMMObility: Data caps, throttled signals, and blocked sites originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedconnectiondata-capfeaturedFiOSGM-Cerberusillyriadillyriad-gamesjagexmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionparallel-kingdomperbluephonerogersrunescapesmartphonestargracestephanie-morrowthrottledVerizonFri, 21 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Glitch's change log describes a very busy Tiny Speck]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/14/mmobility-glitchs-change-log-describes-a-very-busy-tiny-speck/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/14/mmobility-glitchs-change-log-describes-a-very-busy-tiny-speck/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/14/mmobility-glitchs-change-log-describes-a-very-busy-tiny-speck/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Glitch screenshot
Glitch has quietly been working its way through beta, adding new content and tweaking exisiting content while many wanna-be players await their turn in the world of Ur. I love the fact that I can log out of the game for several days or a week and log back in to find some newer, better way to play. I'm a bit shocked that the game is taking as long as it has to "re-launch" because it has been a very wonderful and airtight experience for a while. I have a feeling the team at Tiny Speck is a bit on the obsessive side.

How many updates have there been? If you aren't following @PlayGlitch (or @GlitchLog) on Twitter or reading up on the official blog or forums, now is as good a time as any. But I thought it'd be a good idea to round up some of the best for you.

Continue reading MMObility: Glitch's change log describes a very busy Tiny Speck

MassivelyMMObility: Glitch's change log describes a very busy Tiny Speck originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-to-betabeau-hindmanbetabrowserbrowser-basedcasualchange-logsf2pfantasyfeaturedflashfree-to-playglitchhipstermmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesandboxsmartphonetiny-specktinyspeckunlauncheningFri, 14 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Project Theralon puts players deep in the browser sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/mmobility-project-theralon-puts-players-deep-in-the-browser-san/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/mmobility-project-theralon-puts-players-deep-in-the-browser-san/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/mmobility-project-theralon-puts-players-deep-in-the-browser-san/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Project: Theralon screenshot
If you're a sandbox fan who's not familiar with the browser-based sandbox called Project: Theralon, become familiar with it. For sandboxers as well as browser-based MMO fans, this game will nudge the genre up in quality and help undermine the notion that browser-based gaming is limited, linear, and boring. In Project: Theralon, players will be able to make characters how they want and can eventually become dragon-riders, powerful characters who can fly through the environment causing havoc as they go.

During my interview with the game's Associate Creative Director Sven Ehrentraut and Public Relations Director Piotr Pilich, I watched live as the game was loaded in a browser and a character mounted a dragon, flew through the landscape, and hopped off into a fight. The game has been in development for only six months, but there's already plenty to get excited about. Click past the cut and I'll give you all the details!

Continue reading MMObility: Project Theralon puts players deep in the browser sandbox

MassivelyMMObility: Project Theralon puts players deep in the browser sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanBlizzardbrowserbrowser-basedcryenginecryengine-3f2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpinfernummmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonePiotr-Pilichproject-theralonsandboxsmartphonespellbornSven-Ehrentrautthe-chronicles-of-spellborntheralonWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 07 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Holding on to Arcane Empires]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/mmobility-holding-on-to-arcane-empires/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/mmobility-holding-on-to-arcane-empires/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/mmobility-holding-on-to-arcane-empires/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Arcane Empires logo
Kabam, maker of MMORTS titles like Thirst of Night and Dragons of Atlantis, is back with a portable title that can be found only on the Google Play market. I stumbled upon one night, installed it for free, and soon found myself recognizing those old Kabam earmarks. It's hard to find high-quality MMOs for mobile devices. They're out there, and there are more coming into the market every day, but I wonder exactly how Kabam intended on spreading the word about Arcane Empires without featuring it on the official homepage. The MMORTS publisher has always seemed pretty savvy about the genre's formulas and how to make a successful game, so I have a feeling it must know what it's doing with the first mobile-only title in the lineup.

When I check out mobile titles, I keep in mind that I might be mistaking convenience for fun. How many of us log into a game every day or every week only because the shortcut is sitting right there on our desktop or because the game rests on our phone or tablet just waiting to be touched?

Continue reading MMObility: Holding on to Arcane Empires

MassivelyMMObility: Holding on to Arcane Empires originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane-empiresbeau-hindmanBlizzardbrowserbrowser-basedeverquestfeaturedgoogle-playkabammmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphoneSOEWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 31 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Trying to find real MMOs on the app market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/mmobility-trying-to-find-real-mmos-on-the-app-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/mmobility-trying-to-find-real-mmos-on-the-app-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/mmobility-trying-to-find-real-mmos-on-the-app-market/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Nexus 7 games list screenshot
If you spend as much time as I do scouring your favorite app marketplace, you know just how frustrating it can be to quickly download a new "MMORPG" only to find out it's not really an MMORPG. Luckily, the Play Store makes it relatively easy to get a refund on a newly purchased games, and uninstalling is easy enough. It can still be very frustrating to become excited for a title only to find out it's nothing like its description.

The fact is that there are a lot of great MMOs on the mobile markets. Most are available on both Android or iOS as well. I also search on Google a lot, but the results from the search giant can sometimes be more unreliable. When it comes down to it, the only way to know whether a game is a true MMO is to download it and try it out.

Or, of course, keep an eye on columns like mine.

Continue reading MMObility: Trying to find real MMOs on the app market

MassivelyMMObility: Trying to find real MMOs on the app market originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidarenas-trial-of-valorbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddie2nitefeaturedgoogle-playIOSlittle-empiresminecraftmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphoneFri, 24 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: How mobile devices avoid the PC upgrade curse]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/mmobility-how-mobile-devices-avoid-the-pc-upgrade-curse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/mmobility-how-mobile-devices-avoid-the-pc-upgrade-curse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/mmobility-how-mobile-devices-avoid-the-pc-upgrade-curse/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

HTC One X banner
In a few weeks, I will drive to the official AT&T store, talk to someone behind the counter for 30 or 40 minutes, pay a small fee of 50 to 100 dollars, and walk out with a newer, shinier, faster smartphone than I came in with. Then I'll wait two years, pay the difference between the brand-new phone in my example and an even newer new phone of the future and go home to repeat the process. If you're a customer of AT&T or another large carrier, you are probably very familiar with the situation I am describing. Is it much different from upgrading a desktop gaming machine every two years?

Well, it is and it is not. I've been thinking a lot about the way we spend money on electronics. In the room where I'm writing this, I have at least nine different devices that allow me to get online, check emails, communicate, and play MMOs. Have I spent too much money, or was I smart in my decisions? What happens to all of these devices after I'm done with them? Is the gaming PC the smarter path?

Continue reading MMObility: How mobile devices avoid the PC upgrade curse

MassivelyMMObility: How mobile devices avoid the PC upgrade curse originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddesktop-gamingdesktop-pcfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphonetwo-year-contracttwo-year-plantwo-year-upgradeFri, 17 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: MMO streaming services have a long way to go]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/10/mmobility-mmo-streaming-services-have-a-long-way-to-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/10/mmobility-mmo-streaming-services-have-a-long-way-to-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/10/mmobility-mmo-streaming-services-have-a-long-way-to-go/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Splashtop screenshot
I've been a huge fan of streaming technology for a while mainly because it gives players an opportunity to access more powerful and flexible devices from the convenient location of their hand-held tablets or phones. The tech has come a long way even since I started reporting on it, and it continues to impress me. What's the point, you might ask? Why not just sit down at a desktop to play MMOs like everyone else? Well, the truth is that moving around is sometimes more relaxing and can definitely be better for your health.

Being able to get up, walk around, check in on a game from different locations, and just be mobile isn't just a neat gimmick. Some MMOs also work much better with a touchscreen device, especially MMORTS titles and games that require only a button press to perform an action. There are options for those who need a fully functioning joystick or control scheme, but they are not yet available to everyone. Let's go over the options we do have. Be sure to try out one or two on your tablet... you just might find that playing on a smaller screen is really fun.

Continue reading MMObility: MMO streaming services have a long way to go

MassivelyMMObility: MMO streaming services have a long way to go originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedmmo-streamingmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoOnLiveopinionphonesmartphonesplashtopSplashtop-remote-desktopstreamed-mmostreamingstreaming-desktopstreaming-servicetechnologyFri, 10 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Stomping around the world of The Missing Ink]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/mmobility-stomping-around-the-world-of-the-missing-ink/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/mmobility-stomping-around-the-world-of-the-missing-ink/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/mmobility-stomping-around-the-world-of-the-missing-ink/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Missing Ink screenshot
If there's one phrase that gets me excited for a new MMO, it's "cross-platform." I know that's not very slick-sounding, but when I hear those words, I envision playing the same game across multiple devices. I can sit at my PC, move over to my bar, take a seat on my patio, sit down in the bath (with the tablet carefully held over the side) and finish off a dungeon while I'm lying in bed.

The Missing Ink is not only attempting to be a unique title by offering the type of access that we normally see only from Spacetime Studios or HTML5 browser MMOs but presenting a very unique-looking game, one of paper cutout figures and Burton-esque curly trees dotting a wavy landscape. There's also a building mode promised, although I haven't experienced it yet. But will this multi-platform approach work? Well, I took a look at the alpha and have enjoyed what I've seen so far, but I must warn you: This is not a review. It's hardly even a preview. It's just a peek into a strange, new game. The following opinions and gameplay bits are subject to massive, sweeping changes.

Continue reading MMObility: Stomping around the world of The Missing Ink

MassivelyMMObility: Stomping around the world of The Missing Ink originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcross-platformfeaturedhtml5missing-inkmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmomulti-platformopinionpaper-cutpaper-dollpapercutphonepocket-legendsquestquestingRedBedlamsmartphonespacetime-studiosthe-missing-inktmiFri, 03 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Parallel Zombies is PerBlue's best game yet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/mmobility-parallel-zombies-is-perblues-best-game-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/mmobility-parallel-zombies-is-perblues-best-game-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/mmobility-parallel-zombies-is-perblues-best-game-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Parallel Zombie screenshot
I have to be honest: I'm sick of zombies. I know, I know, it's the cool genre that's sweeping even the evening news, but I'm as excited about new zombie games as I am about a pop in the nose. It's probably just a light case of burnout, though, because there are still some frightening (and fun!) zombie games, movies and stories cropping up occasionally. I will always reference my Western example: In a movie set in the old West, you can expect to see some guns, a few horses, and possibly a large hat or three. These common props do not always distract us from a good story. Zombies are props too. What the writer or developer does with the story or game is really what matters.

PerBlue, maker of Parallel Kingdom, Parallel Mafia, and now Parallel Zombies, has steadily increased the production value of each one of its titles. This new one takes the design in an entirely unique direction, combining standard location-based gameplay with non-stop action.

Continue reading MMObility: Parallel Zombies is PerBlue's best game yet

MassivelyMMObility: Parallel Zombies is PerBlue's best game yet originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arrrgghhhbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionparallel-zombiesperbluephonesmartphonezombiezombiesFri, 27 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST