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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[iOS MMO commercials draw attention]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://www.gameloft.com/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/03/orderchaos.jpg" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmobility">As our own Beau Hindman knows well</a>, mobile MMOs are on the verge of taking off in a big way, and now they have the commercials to prove it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pocketlegends.com/"><em>Pocket Legends</em></a>, the hit iOS and Android MMO from last year, may be the first mobile online RPG to release a nation-wide commercial. The ad, which features a high-schooler with a not-so-embarrassing secret in his pocket, will air on <a href="http://www.g4tv.com/">G4</a>, <a href="http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/">Cartoon Network</a> and <a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/">Comedy Central</a>, to name just a few venues.<br />
<br />
As <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/pocket-legends/"><em>Pocket Legends</em></a> is often described as "<a href="http://us.battle.net/wow/en/"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a> in your hand," it's kind of ironic that developer <a href="http://www.gameloft.com/">Gameloft</a> is also making pretty much that. Gameloft is renowned for releasing thinly disguised copies of hit games, so it stands to reason that it would take a crack at the reigning champion. The studio just released an online teaser for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/order-and-chaos-online/"><em>Order &amp; Chaos Online</em></a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gameloft">on its Facebook page</a>, and it's hard not to see the inspiration-slash-knockoff.<br />
<br />
You can check out both commercials after the jump!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>iOS MMO commercials draw attention</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/">iOS MMO commercials draw attention</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19887589/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>comedy-central</category><category>commercial</category><category>commercials</category><category>g4</category><category>gameloft</category><category>ios</category><category>iphone</category><category>ipod</category><category>ipod-touch</category><category>mobile-mmo</category><category>mtv</category><category>order-and-chaos-online</category><category>pocket-legends</category><category>spacetime-studios</category><category>teaser</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[SpongeBob SquarePants to head for MMO waters]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/spongebob-squarepants-to-head-for-mmo-waters/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/spongebob-squarepants-to-head-for-mmo-waters/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/spongebob-squarepants-to-head-for-mmo-waters/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/kids/" rel="tag">Kids</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://spongebob.nick.com/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/06/spongebobbubbles580kv.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">In "news we didn't see coming" we have a new IP that's going to be joining the MMO landscape -- <a href="http://spongebob.nick.com/">SpongeBob SquarePants</a>. That's right, soon players everywhere will <a href="http://pc.ign.com/articles/109/1095824p1.html">have a chance to wander around Bikini Bottom</a>, perhaps even grabbing their own Krabby Patty to nosh on, as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/MTV/">MTV</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/GigaMediaLimited/">GigaMedia Limited</a> are partnering up to produce the first MMO based on one of Nickelodeon's titles. <br />
<br />
Now, as to the bad news: The game is being developed primarily for the Asian markets first. It will launch in 2011 to players in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and India. That's right -- no Western client, despite SpongeBob being popular over here. However, with as fast as things are seemingly localized for our market from the Asian side of the MMO house, one could expect a fairly quick port if one of the Western outlets picks it up and gets the ball rolling. <br />
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As to details on how the game itself will play, there's no real news on that beyond the statement that it will be a free-to-play game. <a href="http://pc.ign.com/articles/109/1095824p1.html">The release</a> states that they will be utilizing "<em>a wide range of video and simple Flash-based games allowing users of all skill-levels and ages to interact and share their SpongeBob SquarePants experiences online</em>." Whether it will wind up more a Facebook-type MMO, a web-embedded suite of games with a thin virtual world veneer, or a true Western-styled client, we'll have to wait and see. Still, it might be worth playing just to smack Squidward, or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlB_uhhsqT8">cruise around on David Hasselhoff</a>.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/spongebob-squarepants-to-head-for-mmo-waters/">SpongeBob SquarePants to head for MMO waters</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://pc.ign.com/articles/109/1095824p1.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/spongebob-squarepants-to-head-for-mmo-waters/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19509570/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/spongebob-squarepants-to-head-for-mmo-waters/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gigamedia-limited</category><category>mtv</category><category>nickelodeon</category><category>spongebob-squarepants</category><category>spongebob-squarepants-mmo</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Krystalle Voecks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bigpoint is poised and ready to invade US markets]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/bigpoint-is-poised-and-ready-to-invade-us-markets/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/bigpoint-is-poised-and-ready-to-invade-us-markets/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/bigpoint-is-poised-and-ready-to-invade-us-markets/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a></p><a href="http://www.worldsinmotion.biz/2008/12/german_mmo_publisher_bigpoint.php"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/12/c432.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br />USA Network and the SCI FI Channel are getting ready for <a href="http://www.worldsinmotion.biz/2008/12/german_mmo_publisher_bigpoint.php">a blitz of online games coming</a> their way from Bigpoint. Peacock Equity Fund, which includes NBC Universal, recently bought a majority stake in the German game producer and are planning to distribute their browser-based, free-to-play titles on network sites.<br /><br />Previously planned titles, including a game based on the hit series <a href="http://www.tv.com/america-s-next-top-model/show/14888/summary.html"><em>Next Top Model</em></a>, are still in the works. Bigpoint is also expanding across Europe through <a href="http://www.bigpoint.net/index.es?action=press&amp;subpage=press_archiv&amp;newsID=167&amp;lang=en">partnerships with MTV Networks International</a> to promote their 26 browser games to users in nearly a dozen countries. They also offer a <a href="http://us.bigpoint.com/download-games/">handful of downloadable games</a> and a veritable <a href="http://us.bigpoint.com/mini-games/">plethora of mini games</a> to over 43 million registered users.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/bigpoint-is-poised-and-ready-to-invade-us-markets/">Bigpoint is poised and ready to invade US markets</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.worldsinmotion.biz/2008/12/german_mmo_publisher_bigpoint.php>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/bigpoint-is-poised-and-ready-to-invade-us-markets/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1397854/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/bigpoint-is-poised-and-ready-to-invade-us-markets/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bigpoint</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-game</category><category>mtv</category><category>nbc</category><category>nbc universal</category><category>NbcUniversal</category><category>peacock-equity</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexis Kassan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A story of in-game animosity crossing from World of Warcraft to real life]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/a-story-of-in-game-animosity-crossing-from-world-of-warcraft-to/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/a-story-of-in-game-animosity-crossing-from-world-of-warcraft-to/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/a-story-of-in-game-animosity-crossing-from-world-of-warcraft-to/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_173/5415-Aggro-Management"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/10/wsrye45yhr432564768.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
A new feature <a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_173/5415-Aggro-Management">over at The Escapist</a> takes a look at the phenomenon of <em><a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com">World of Warcraft</a></em> faction hostilities crossing over from the game into real life. Anyone who's played <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Blizzard">Blizzard's</a> MMO and has more than a couple of friends that do the same has probably experienced it: getting the evil eye for playing on the other side. The story itself is a strange travel through various <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/a-critical-look-at-wows-zombie-issues/">experiences of social rejection</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/player-reactions-to-wow-zombie-plague-are-both-positive-and-nega/">acceptance that are</a> based primarily on whether or not people roll Alliance or Horde. It's things like this that make massively multiplayer online games so interesting to many fans of the genre. It wasn't until something as successful as <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/World-of-Warcraft/">World of Warcraft</a></em> came along that we've been able to see the pop-culture effects of the genre on the general populace. <br /><br />We're just wondering how long it takes MTV to catch on and make a reality show where five Horde players have to share one house with five other Alliance players. What happens when people stop being nice <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/world-of-warcraft-meets-guitar-hero/">and start being nerdy</a>?<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/a-story-of-in-game-animosity-crossing-from-world-of-warcraft-to/">A story of in-game animosity crossing from World of Warcraft to real life</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_173/5415-Aggro-Management>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/a-story-of-in-game-animosity-crossing-from-world-of-warcraft-to/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1355191/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/a-story-of-in-game-animosity-crossing-from-world-of-warcraft-to/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>activision-blizzard</category><category>alliance</category><category>blizzard</category><category>horde</category><category>mtv</category><category>the-escapist</category><category>warcraft</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A video tour of the Blizzard Entertainment campus]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/a-video-tour-of-the-blizzard-entertainment-campus/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/a-video-tour-of-the-blizzard-entertainment-campus/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/a-video-tour-of-the-blizzard-entertainment-campus/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a></p><a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/15/mtv-video-tour-of-blizzard-headquarters"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/10/robpardoblizztour225.jpg" /></a>Tracey John from <a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com ">MTV Multiplayer</a> was recently given a tour of <a href="http://www.blizzard.com">Blizzard Entertainment's</a> Headquarters in Irvine, California, just before <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/blizzcon-2008/ ">BlizzCon 2008.</a> <br /><br />Executive VP of Game Design <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/rob-pardo">Rob Pardo</a> led them on the tour of the campus as they filmed the whole thing, from the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/blizzard">Blizzard</a> Museum (with a signed script of Make Love Not Warcraft) to a dedicated theater for the staff. It's an interesting look at some of the perks employees get for putting in all those hours, and the campus itself seems like a great place to work. Check out the video below the cut.<hr />
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            <td><em>One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft">World of Warcraft</a>, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/wrath-of-the-lich-king/">all your Lich King needs!</a></em> </td>
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</table><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/a-video-tour-of-the-blizzard-entertainment-campus/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A video tour of the Blizzard Entertainment campus</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/a-video-tour-of-the-blizzard-entertainment-campus/">A video tour of the Blizzard Entertainment campus</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/15/mtv-video-tour-of-blizzard-headquarters>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/a-video-tour-of-the-blizzard-entertainment-campus/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1346143/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/a-video-tour-of-the-blizzard-entertainment-campus/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzcon</category><category>blizzcon-2008</category><category>campus</category><category>fantasy</category><category>irvine</category><category>make-love-not-warcraft</category><category>mmo-industry</category><category>mtv</category><category>mtv-multiplayer</category><category>rob-pardo</category><category>south-park</category><category>video</category><category>video-tour</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Egan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MTV previews Warhammer Online, finds five things interesting]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/geek-previews-warhammer-online-finds-five-things-interesting/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/geek-previews-warhammer-online-finds-five-things-interesting/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/geek-previews-warhammer-online-finds-five-things-interesting/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/warhammer-online/" rel="tag">Warhammer Online</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/27/warhammer-online-fan-preview"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/mtv_war_425.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/">MTV's Multiplayer blog</a> sent its resident <em>Warhammer</em> geek (Joe DeShano) into the <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com"><em>Warhammer Online</em></a> beta. He came out with five key observations and <a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/27/warhammer-online-fan-preview">published them on the blog.</a> The observations: the game's world is at war, PvP is constant, the Tome of Knowledge should please <em>Warhammer</em> fanboys, the Empire's capital city is both cool and big, and applying dyes to armor is an awesome reminder of nerdy miniature-painting sessions.<br /><br />He wrote up a general preview around those five key points (and a number of screenshots), and while you're not likely to learn anything totally new from it if you've been following the game, it can't hurt to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/comic-con-08-hands-on-with-warhammer-online/">read someone's hands-on impressions.</a> At the end of it all, he seemed to have a high-ish opinion of the game, calling it "<em>World of Warcraft 2.0</em>."<hr />
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            <td><em>Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/warhammer-online/">Warhammer Online</a></em> features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/massively-goes-to-war">Massively goes to WAR</a>!</em> </td>
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</table><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/geek-previews-warhammer-online-finds-five-things-interesting/">MTV previews Warhammer Online, finds five things interesting</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/27/warhammer-online-fan-preview>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/geek-previews-warhammer-online-finds-five-things-interesting/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1297506/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/geek-previews-warhammer-online-finds-five-things-interesting/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>ea-mythic</category><category>mtv</category><category>mtv-multiplayer</category><category>mythic</category><category>mythic-entertainment</category><category>preview</category><category>screenshots</category><category>top-5</category><category>warhammer</category><category>warhammer-fantasy</category><category>warhammer-online</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MTV's weekend with Lich King]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/mtvs-weekend-with-lich-king/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/mtvs-weekend-with-lich-king/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/mtvs-weekend-with-lich-king/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/at-a-glance/" rel="tag">At a glance</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/25/massive-weekend-world-of-warcraft-wrath-of-the-lich-king"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/lich-king-and-me-sms-0808.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
In a sea of <em><a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath">Wrath of the Lich King</a></em> beta reviews, it's nice to occasionally get some that aren't aimed towards the hardest of the hardcore, consisting of flavor-of-the-week buzzwords and catchy acronyms. Over at the <a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/25/massive-weekend-world-of-warcraft-wrath-of-the-lich-king">MTV Multiplayer blog</a>, we get treated to a casual review of the <em>Wrath</em> beta, focusing on the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/death-knight/">Death Knight</a> and the character carry-over experience.<br /><br />In this review, we're told of this player's thoughts on how <em>WotLK</em> is "more of the same - but better." They're particularly happy with how the Death Knight isn't just a new class thrown into the mix, but it has its own storyline and unique set of skills that combine elements of the other classes. The achievement system is also discussed (and praised) in detail, but just enough to interest people who may be looking at <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a> for the first time. Yes, there are people like that out there somewhere.<hr />
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            <td><em>One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft">World of Warcraft</a>, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/wrath-of-the-lich-king/">all your Lich King needs!</a></em> </td>
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</table><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/mtvs-weekend-with-lich-king/">MTV's weekend with Lich King</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/25/massive-weekend-world-of-warcraft-wrath-of-the-lich-king>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/mtvs-weekend-with-lich-king/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1294309/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/mtvs-weekend-with-lich-king/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>blizzard</category><category>casual</category><category>death-knight</category><category>mtv</category><category>mtv-multiplayer</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wotlk</category><category>wotlk-beta</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[World of Warcraft achievements will expand to other Blizzard titles]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/world-of-warcraft-achievements-will-expand-to-other-blizzard-tit/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/world-of-warcraft-achievements-will-expand-to-other-blizzard-tit/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/world-of-warcraft-achievements-will-expand-to-other-blizzard-tit/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/wow055425.jpg" /></a><br />It's no secret that <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a> will feature an <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/19/flip-through-wows-achievement-ui/">achievement system</a> that will roll out with the <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/"><em>Wrath of the Lich King</em></a> expansion. The <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/wow-player-achievements-have-been-announced-for-wrath/">writing's been on the wall</a> for a little while now. New details have emerged, revealing that the achievement system will not be limited to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a> alone. Ultimately, the achievements will connect <em>WoW</em> with <a href="http://www.blizzard.com/us/">Blizzard's</a> other major titles, namely<em> <a href="http://www.starcraft2.com/">Starcraft II</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/">Diablo III. </a></em><br /><br />MTV Multiplayer's Tracey John recently spoke with <em>WoW</em> Lead Designer Jeff Kaplan about the impending first incarnation of this system, which will be character-specific, as well as Blizzard's plans for account-level achievements that focus more on classes and professions. <a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/01/blizzard-accounts-achievements/">Hit MTV Multiplayer</a> for more details on account-based achievements, <em>WoW</em> points, and the 'Blizzard Level' -- that all-important ranking which will soon command the attention of most Blizzard fans.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/world-of-warcraft-achievements-will-expand-to-other-blizzard-tit/">World of Warcraft achievements will expand to other Blizzard titles</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/01/blizzard-accounts-achievements/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/world-of-warcraft-achievements-will-expand-to-other-blizzard-tit/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1272948/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/world-of-warcraft-achievements-will-expand-to-other-blizzard-tit/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>achievement</category><category>achievements</category><category>blizzard</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo3</category><category>expansion</category><category>gamerscore</category><category>jeff-kaplan</category><category>mtv</category><category>mtv-multiplayer</category><category>starcraft</category><category>starcraft2</category><category>wow</category><category>wow-points</category><category>wrath</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Egan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The potential of advertising alliances in virtual worlds]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/the-potential-of-advertising-alliances-in-virtual-worlds/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/the-potential-of-advertising-alliances-in-virtual-worlds/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/the-potential-of-advertising-alliances-in-virtual-worlds/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual Worlds</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/05/case-study-vmtv.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt=""  src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/vmtvbeach.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
Forget scenery-blocking billboards and <a href="http://www.nascar.com/">ad-saturated sporting events</a>, the virtual world is the newest venture into successful marketing, according to <a href="http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/05/case-study-vmtv.html">a recent study by Pepsi and MTV</a>. In this study, <a href="http://www.pepsi.com/">Pepsi</a> discovered that users averaged 28-minutes per interaction with Pepsi's presence in <a href="http://www.vmtv.com/">Virtual MTV</a> compared to its 30-second interaction in the televised version.<br /><br />More importantly, the associated advertising is where this method shines the brightest. Over 90% of users said that Pepsi promoted music and artists through the vMTV survey, yet only 30% said the same thing in regards to the <a href="http://www.mtv.com">traditional televised version</a>. This specialized audience is key to the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/virtual-world/">virtual world</a>'s advertising potential with associate programs such as Pepsi advertising through vMTV. It can certainly make for some interesting alliances or potential buy-outs from the major businesses. Monopoly anyone?<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/the-potential-of-advertising-alliances-in-virtual-worlds/">The potential of advertising alliances in virtual worlds</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 07 May 2008 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/05/case-study-vmtv.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/the-potential-of-advertising-alliances-in-virtual-worlds/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1188465/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/the-potential-of-advertising-alliances-in-virtual-worlds/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>advertising</category><category>mtv</category><category>pepsi</category><category>virtual-mtv</category><category>virtual-worlds</category><category>vw</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2008 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cinemassively: Thrall's Crib]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/cinemassively-thralls-crib/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/cinemassively-thralls-crib/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/cinemassively-thralls-crib/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/cinemassively/" rel="tag">Cinemassively</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/machinima/" rel="tag">Machinima</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a></p><center><embed width="425" height="319" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://static.filefront.com/ffv6/player/vp_embed.swf?v=609006&amp;autorun=false"></embed></center><a href="http://www.warcraftmovies.com/pv.php?l=lagspikefilm">Lagspikefilm</a> must watch a lot of <a href="http://mtv.com">MTV</a>. Not only did he parody <a href="http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/cribs/series.jhtml">MTV Cribs</a> in this <a href="http://worldofwarcraft.com"><span style="font-style: italic;">World of Warcraft</span></a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/machinima/">machinima</a>, but we're embarassed to admit that he got it down to the letter. Not that we watch MTV or anything. We're too busy playing and reviewing MMOs!<br /><br />There are too many great parts in this video to mention them all, but some highlights from <a href="http://files.filefront.com/thrallscribwmv/;10098676;/fileinfo.html">Thrall's Crib</a> include epic mounts, embarassing hair, and the mature manner in which he faces problems. Next time we're ready to upgrade our pad in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/"><span style="font-style: italic;">WoW</span></a>, we'll be sure to consult this <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/">video</a> for ideas. In the meantime, enjoy the tour and the perfect camera work!<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.warcraftmovies.com/movieview.php?id=73113">Warcraftmovies.com</a>]<br /><br />If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/cinemassively-thralls-crib/">Cinemassively: Thrall's Crib</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://files.filefront.com/thrallscribwmv/;10098676;/fileinfo.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/cinemassively-thralls-crib/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1182000/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/cinemassively-thralls-crib/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cinemassively</category><category>lagspikefilm</category><category>machinima</category><category>mtv</category><category>mtv-cribs</category><category>parody</category><category>spoof</category><category>thralls-crib</category><category>warcraftmovies</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Moo Money]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kids are the focus at VW08]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/kids-are-the-focus-at-vw08/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/kids-are-the-focus-at-vw08/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/kids-are-the-focus-at-vw08/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual Worlds</a></p><a href="http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2008/04/04/at-vw08-kids-are-the-focus/" style=""><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/dora.jpg" /></a>Businesses have tried marketing to adults in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life/"><em>Second Life</em></a>. It's not working out for them. Instead, adults are gravitating toward casual games, while it's children who have shown themselves to be most receptive to marketing in virtual worlds. <a href="http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2008/04/04/at-vw08-kids-are-the-focus/">Such is the feeling</a> at the <a href="http://www.virtualworlds2008.com/">Virtual Worlds 2008 conference</a> in New York City, where aside from a single booth promoting <a href="http://massively.com/tag/linden-lab/">Linden Lab</a>'s <em>Second Life </em>Grid, the place seemed like a toy fair. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/barbie-girls/"><em>Barbie Girls Online</em></a>, Nickelodeon, <a href="http://massively.com/tag/neopets/"><em>Neopets</em></a> and <a href="http://massively.com/tag/dino-kids/"><em>Dino Kids</em></a> are getting the big buzz at VW08. Teen-oriented sites like MTV's vLES are mature by comparison.<br /><br /><a href="http://massively.com/tag/electric-sheep-company/">Electric Sheep</a>'s Giff Constable says over the last three years, while he feels more people know what avatars are, he doesn't know any people over the time who have gotten one of their own. Part of that may be just what your definition of avatar is -- if it's meant to be an avatar on <em>Second Life</em>, that's one thing. An avatar in a social space like <a href="http://massively.com/tag/facebook/">Facebook</a>, perhaps something else.<br /><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/kids-are-the-focus-at-vw08/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Kids are the focus at VW08</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/kids-are-the-focus-at-vw08/">Kids are the focus at VW08</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2008/04/04/at-vw08-kids-are-the-focus>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/kids-are-the-focus-at-vw08/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1160013/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/kids-are-the-focus-at-vw08/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>barbie</category><category>barbie-girls</category><category>barbie-girls-online</category><category>dino-kids</category><category>electric-sheep</category><category>electric-sheep-company</category><category>facebook</category><category>giff-constable</category><category>linden</category><category>linden-lab</category><category>mmo-industry</category><category>mtv</category><category>neopets</category><category>second-life</category><category>sl</category><category>virtual-worlds-2008</category><category>vles</category><category>vw08</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brenda Holloway]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel MMO officially put to rest]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/marvel-mmo-officially-put-to-rest/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/marvel-mmo-officially-put-to-rest/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/marvel-mmo-officially-put-to-rest/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/02/11/microsofts-shane-kim-on-fable-2-why-marvel-mmo-was-canceled-and-more/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/muocancelled.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
I have to confess, I had been holding out hope over the last couple months that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/rumormill-marvel-universe-online-canceled/">the rumors circulating</a> of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-universe-online"><em>Marvel Universe Online's</em></a> imminent cancellation would prove to be unfounded. The very idea of a Marvel-endorsed super-hero game being developed by the guys at Cryptic to be released on the Xbox 360 platform was almost too much for my fanboy heart to handle. Alas, it was not to be. <a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/02/11/microsofts-shane-kim-on-fable-2-why-marvel-mmo-was-canceled-and-more/">Steven Totilo of MTV's multiplayer blog sat down with Microsoft's Shane Kim</a> to talk, among other things, about the cancellation.<br /><br />Kim first confirmed that the cancellation rumor was true, and stressed that the decision to cease development was amicable on all sides. He cited the competitiveness of the MMO market as the primary reason for cancellation. Evidently, Microsoft felt that they couldn't make a sufficient profit to justify the costs of development using a traditional subscription-based model. He also said the game was too far along in development to switch to another business model, like an ad-supported or <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/rmt">RMT</a> model. Perhaps the only silver lining in this story is that Cryptic is now free to develop new IPs. Those, of course, will have to wait until <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/19/the-digital-continuum-a-cryptic-future/">Cryptic's media blackout</a> ends.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/marvel-mmo-officially-put-to-rest/">Marvel MMO officially put to rest</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/02/11/microsofts-shane-kim-on-fable-2-why-marvel-mmo-was-canceled-and-more/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/marvel-mmo-officially-put-to-rest/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1111862/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/marvel-mmo-officially-put-to-rest/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>breaking</category><category>cancellation</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mtv</category><category>multiplayer-blog</category><category>muo</category><category>shane-kim</category><category>xbox-360</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Chester]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cinemassively: Keiko Takamura takes a Sugar Pill]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/cinemassively-keiko-takamura-takes-a-sugar-pill/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/cinemassively-keiko-takamura-takes-a-sugar-pill/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/cinemassively-keiko-takamura-takes-a-sugar-pill/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life/" rel="tag">Second Life</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/cinemassively/" rel="tag">Cinemassively</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/machinima/" rel="tag">Machinima</a></p><center><embed width="425" height="343" flashvars="tag=Sugar_Pill_Keiko_Takamura" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.wegame.com/static/flash/player2.swf"></embed></center><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life/"><em>Second Life</em></a> music darling <a href="http://www.keikotakamura.com/">Keiko Takamura</a> has performed frequently in-world for years. Her charming personality and her performance style have built her a solid fanbase. She arrives to her locations and sets up a table full of free goodies, such as a Keiko doll, for fans to take as souvenirs. This even led to an <a href="http://www.secondlifeinsider.com/2006/10/11/mtv-to-air-sl-musicians/">appearance on MTV</a>!<br /><br />Now she's taking her craft to another level, with music videos. French Machinimator <a href="http://www.dbweb.fr/">Dav Barbosa</a> has created a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=davbarbosa">series</a> of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/machinima/">Machinima</a>s for Keiko. Be sure to check out the <a href="http://www.dbweb.fr/#Ancrepictures">behind the scenes pictures</a> of the shoot on Dav's website!<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/cinemassively-keiko-takamura-takes-a-sugar-pill/">Cinemassively: Keiko Takamura takes a Sugar Pill</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.wegame.com/watch/Sugar_Pill_Keiko_Takamura/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/cinemassively-keiko-takamura-takes-a-sugar-pill/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1105224/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/cinemassively-keiko-takamura-takes-a-sugar-pill/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cinemassively</category><category>dav-barbosa</category><category>keiko-takamura</category><category>linden-lab</category><category>live-music</category><category>machinima</category><category>mtv</category><category>second-life</category><category>sl</category><category>sugar-pill</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Moo Money]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Conan Product Developer interview, with gameplay video]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/anarchy-online/" rel="tag">Anarchy Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a></p><center><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/age-of-conan-artwork/529924/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/aoc-guardian-425.jpg" alt="" /></a></center><span style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 7px;"> <script> var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Age_of_Conan_interview_and_video'; </script> <script src="http://digg.com/api/diggthis.js"></script></span>
<div align="left">On December 5th, I was invited to the Eidos/Funcom <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan">Age of Conan</a></em> press event, where I was privileged enough to be granted access to both the game itself and the development team. I was able to play the opening area, leading into the first town. I sussed out the combat and the conversation interface. I spoke with J&oslash;rgen Tharaldsen, the Product Developer, and he let drop a metric ton of knowledge upon my fevered noggin. I reprint here our conversation, interspersed with my handheld-shot video pieces, the first of which is shown above, which is where the game starts, with you as a survivor of a shipwrecked slaver ship. I'd like to thank J&oslash;rgen and the entire Eidos/Funcom team, all of whom I found to be gracious, witty, and enthusiastic about their game, which is refreshing to see. My take? The game looks incredible, and it's extremely immersive from the get-go. They say they're on schedule for an early 2008 release, so this is something to anticipate indeed.<br /><br /> <center><embed width="425" height="319" src="http://static4.filefront.com/ffv6/player/vp_embed.swf?v=455230&amp;autorun=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></center><br /> More videos and the interview after the jump!</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Age of Conan Product Developer interview, with gameplay video</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/">Age of Conan Product Developer interview, with gameplay video</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1061787/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>5.1-surround</category><category>age-of-conan</category><category>anarchy-online</category><category>aquilonia</category><category>archer</category><category>architect</category><category>arnold-schwarzenegger</category><category>barbarian</category><category>breaking</category><category>cimmeria</category><category>commander</category><category>crom</category><category>dark-templar</category><category>didrik-tollefsen</category><category>eidos</category><category>featured</category><category>funcom</category><category>gameplay-video</category><category>germany</category><category>guardian</category><category>hour-of-the-dragon</category><category>hyboria</category><category>interview</category><category>jorgen-tharaldsen</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>kushites</category><category>mage</category><category>mammoth</category><category>marvel-comcs</category><category>massively</category><category>mitra</category><category>mtv</category><category>norway</category><category>picts</category><category>prestige</category><category>priest</category><category>robert-e-howard</category><category>shadowlands</category><category>siege</category><category>stygia</category><category>the-longest-journey</category><category>thoth-amon</category><category>vanir</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Akela Talamasca]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cinemassively: Frogg Marlowe and Jaycatt Nico in concert]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/cinemassively-frogg-marlowe-and-jaycatt-nico-in-concert/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/cinemassively-frogg-marlowe-and-jaycatt-nico-in-concert/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/cinemassively-frogg-marlowe-and-jaycatt-nico-in-concert/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life/" rel="tag">Second Life</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/cinemassively/" rel="tag">Cinemassively</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/machinima/" rel="tag">Machinima</a></p><center><embed width="425" height="355" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WxG1KjrFKs8&amp;rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></center>There's something to be said about being plucked from obscurity and ending up on MTV, which is exactly what happened to Frogg Marlowe. <a href="http://ontohollywood.com/">ONTOHOLLYWOOD</a> recently blogged about <a href="http://ontohollywood.com/2007/11/13/forget-youtube-become-famous-on-second-life/">forgetting YouTube</a> and becoming famous in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Second Life</span></a>. They mention how Frogg, aka Jeremy Works, wasn't able to get gigs in real life, but plays to sold out crowds in <span style="font-style: italic;">SL</span>.<br /><br />In this <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/machinima/">Machinima</a>, by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Kivanca">Code Tracer</a>, we see Frogg, and Jaycatt Nico, performing live. You can see that the audience is pretty populated and there's even a <strike>mouse</strike> cat playing the piano! Couples are dancing, amphibian feet are tapping, and it's all in a virtual world! If you haven't checked out the live music scene in <span style="font-style: italic;">SL</span>, it's a must-see.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://ontohollywood.com/2007/11/13/forget-youtube-become-famous-on-second-life/">ONTOHOLLYWOOD</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/cinemassively-frogg-marlowe-and-jaycatt-nico-in-concert/">Cinemassively: Frogg Marlowe and Jaycatt Nico in concert</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxG1KjrFKs8>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/cinemassively-frogg-marlowe-and-jaycatt-nico-in-concert/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1041838/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/cinemassively-frogg-marlowe-and-jaycatt-nico-in-concert/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>code-tracer</category><category>frogg-marlowe</category><category>jaycatt-nico</category><category>jeremy-works</category><category>linden-lab</category><category>mtv</category><category>ontohollywood</category><category>sl</category><category>youtube</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Moo Money]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reveal your virtual life - on MTV]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/reveal-your-virtual-life-on-mtv/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/reveal-your-virtual-life-on-mtv/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/reveal-your-virtual-life-on-mtv/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life/" rel="tag">Second Life</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/11/verdinoeviltwin-1.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
<p>MTV are looking for virtual worlders for their (perhaps not entirely appropriately named - but people still get the Web mixed up with the Internet) "I Live Another Life on the Web" part of <a href="http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/truelife/series.jhtml" target="_blank">MTV's <em>True Life</em></a>. Not just any virtual worlders, either. Ones who are willing to put their real selves on display.</p>
<p>What they <em>are</em> after, particularly, is people aged between 16 and 28 (obviously 16-17 would be the province of <em>Teen Second Life</em>), and 18-28 is one of the smaller grid demographics (most <em><a target="_blank" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/second-life">Second Life</a></em> users are older than that). This is MTV, though, and they're supposed to be hip and cool, I understand.</p><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/reveal-your-virtual-life-on-mtv/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Reveal your virtual life - on MTV</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/reveal-your-virtual-life-on-mtv/">Reveal your virtual life - on MTV</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/reveal-your-virtual-life-on-mtv/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1030008/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/reveal-your-virtual-life-on-mtv/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>mtv</category><category>second-life</category><category>statistics</category><category>teen-second-life</category><category>true-life</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Tateru Nino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>