Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Age of Empires developers talk about free-to-try and free-to-play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Age of Empires Online
Gas Powered Games is aiming to take Age of Empires Online out of DLC-supported free-to-play and into a truly free model. That means moving away from what Systems Design Lead Eric Williamson described as "more of a free to try" model and implementing a system through which players can earn points to unlock anything that could be more quickly bought with money. In anticipation of this change, PC Gamer sat down with Williamson and Design Lead Steve Bauman for a chat about some of the philosophy behind the change.

Williams said that their hope is that people who were previously turned off by the imperative that they spend money for full in-game advantage will be willing to give it another go. Players will now be able to earn enough points to unlock a premium civilization in "as short as two or three weeks of daily play," so those who spend the most time in-game will reap the greatest reward. Empire points, the purchase resource that will be gained by either money or in-game achievement, will be earned by players as they complete specific campaign quests, level up, and participate in Alliance Contests.

MassivelyAge of Empires developers talk about free-to-try and free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanAge-of-EmpiresAppleeric-williamsonf1pfree-to-playfttgas-powered-gamesmicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosrobot-entertainmentsteve-baumantruly-freeFri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fable developer seeking online game designer for 'ambitious new project']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/fable-developer-seeking-online-game-designer-for-ambitious-new/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/fable-developer-seeking-online-game-designer-for-ambitious-new/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/fable-developer-seeking-online-game-designer-for-ambitious-new/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lionhead Studios logo
Hey guys, since long-standing single-player titles' becoming MMOs is all the rage these days, did you know that the folks at Fable developer Lionhead Studios are looking to hire someone with a deep understanding of online multiplayer games to help them "define the multiplayer levels and experience of [their] ambitious new project"? Because according to the official job listing at Microsoft, they totally are.

Of course, the first thing that came to our minds was could this mean a Fable MMO? Well, it could, but we're not sure yet. All we know right now is that Lionhead is looking for help to design a particularly ambitious (cough) online game, and if you take into consideration that late last year the studio was looking for an MMO-oriented programmer... well, fans of the Fable series or the studio itself should definitely keep their eyes on this one.

MassivelyFable developer seeking online game designer for 'ambitious new project' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fablefable-onlinehiringlionheadlionhead-studiosmicrosoftspeculationMon, 14 May 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Studios join forces to form Gamer Safety Alliance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/studios-join-forces-to-form-gamer-safety-alliance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/studios-join-forces-to-form-gamer-safety-alliance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/studios-join-forces-to-form-gamer-safety-alliance/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gamer Safety Alliance logo
This week is Gamer Safety Week, and before you laugh at the thought of getting injured while playing your favorite MMO, we should point out that the safety has more to do with your accounts than your person.

Nine major game companies have joined forces to form the Gamer Safety Alliance, an organization that seeks "to break down traditional competitive barriers and share information and best practices within the computer and video game industry."

Participating firms include Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Turbine, NCsoft, Nexon, Square Enix, Sony Online Entertainment, MindCandy, and En Masse Entertainment. SOE leads things off with a lengthy article on how to protect yourself from account fraud.

MassivelyStudios join forces to form Gamer Safety Alliance originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-safetyaccountseaelectronic-artsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentgamer-safety-alliancemerchant-risk-councilmicrosoftmind-candymindcandyncsoftnexonnexon-americasoeSony-Online-Entertainmentsquare-enixturbineTurbine-EntertainmentTue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Empires Online readying skirmish mode, new booster pack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/age-of-empires-online-readying-skirmish-mode-new-booster-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/age-of-empires-online-readying-skirmish-mode-new-booster-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/age-of-empires-online-readying-skirmish-mode-new-booster-pack/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Age of Empires skirmish video
Age of Empires Online is getting a skirmish mode courtesy of the upcoming Skirmish Hall booster pack. The new gameplay will allow players to team up and fight AI opponents in pursuit of experience and loot.

Skirmish mode will pit you and a friend (or computer ally) against four computer-controlled enemies, and each AI can take on a variety of different playstyles. Each style is represented by a unique leader, and there are eight of these to choose from.

Also of note is the fact that skirmish mode unlocks all of the game's units regardless of your overall level. If you want to preview some powerful Age of Empires units that are hidden away behind hours of advancement gameplay, skirmish mode is the way to go. Check out the skirmish mode trailer after the break for more details.

Continue reading Age of Empires Online readying skirmish mode, new booster pack

MassivelyAge of Empires Online readying skirmish mode, new booster pack originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empiresage-of-empires-onlineaibooster-packcomputer-allycomputer-enemymicrosoftmmortsReal-Time-Strategyrtsskirmishskirmish-hallstrategytrailerunitsvideoWed, 11 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/fable-developer-lionhead-seeking-experienced-mmo-programmer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/fable-developer-lionhead-seeking-experienced-mmo-programmer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/fable-developer-lionhead-seeking-experienced-mmo-programmer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fable III - in-game posters
Is the world of Albion coming to an MMO near you? That's up for speculation thanks to a job advertisement on Microsoft's career board. The software giant, which owns Fable developer Lionhead Studios, is seeking a programmer "who enjoys playing MMO games and has significant experience with the workings of a massive online multiplayer environment."

Further requirements include "a minimum of one shipped MMO as a network programmer."

Lionhead shipped Fable III in October of 2010, and the company is rumored to be developing a "controller-based" Fable IV in 2013, according to Eurogamer.

When contacted by Eurogamer, Lionhead had this to say in an official statement: "Thanks for checking in with us! We're happy to tell you all about what we're working on. Just apply, get hired, and we promise to spill our guts!"

MassivelyFable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fablefable-mmofable-mmorpgfantasyjob-listingslionheadlionhead-studiosmicrosoftMiscellaneousspeculationWed, 14 Dec 2011 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist
Time machines are expensive, and with gas the price it is today, it's not always viable to fuel up your DeLorean and travel back to the early 2000s just to check out some of those long-gone MMOs. Fortunately, jawing about them with former players and developers is the next best method of revisiting canceled MMOs.

It's been a personal treat to spend the month covering a game I never got to see when it was live. Asheron's Call 2 seems like it was a special game that tried hard and resulted in spectacular ideas and flaws alike. We've gotten to hear from former fansite owners and a developer on the team, which leaves just one group to check in with: the players themselves.

So today it's all about reminiscing over AC2 with the players who still carry a torch for this title and perhaps have a poster of it on the ceiling over their beds. I wouldn't be surprised if there's one or two people out there who made "children" out of discarded Asheron's Call 2 boxes and have enrolled them in elementary school only to be declined because they couldn't be authenticated. That's just how much love there is out there for this game.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The community

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The community originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ac2aionasherons-callasherons-call-2classdeloreanfeaturedffafree-for-allhalolord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolugianmicrosoftmr-robotopvpracetime-travelturbineturbine-entertainmentwarner-broswbworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 25 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-former-dev/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-former-dev/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-former-dev/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist -- AC2
I've been a long-time follower of Eric Heimburg on his blog, Elder Game, where he and a friend have spent years delivering insightful commentary about MMOs and supermodels (well, mostly MMOs). Because I'm not that observant a fellow and I assume that most fellow bloggers are mere players like I am, I didn't realize until a little while ago that he and his co-writer were former Turbine developers who had worked on Asheron's Call and Asheron's Call 2.

You can see where this is going.

Once I learned that, I knew I had to get him to contribute to this series. I began a multi-year wooing campaign that involved skywriting, cupcakes, celebrity kiss-o-grams, envelopes stuffed with unmarked bills, and all the tea in China. Of course, this was well after he'd already said "yes" to it, but I like to keep up appearances.

So hit the jump as I talk to a guy who was on the flipside of Asheron's Call 2 as a producer and generally swell fella!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac2asherons-callasherons-call-2asherons-call-2-legionsdaocdark-age-of-camelotdrudgeEric-HeimburgfeaturedinterviewJohn-Lindemuthkingdom-vs-kingdomlegionslive-eventslive-teammicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosmmo-sequelspvpRick-Schmitzsequelsequelstea-in-chinathe-game-archaeologistturbineturbine-entertainmentworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 18 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The fansite managers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-fansite-man/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-fansite-man/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-fansite-man/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Asheron's Call - The Game Archaeologist
Back when I covered Asheron's Call for The Game Archaeologist, I got an impassioned email from a former fansite operator who made me promise that I'd drop her a line when the time came to talk about Asheron's Call 2, as she was not only a huge fan of the title but still in contact with many former players who carry a torch for Turbine's long-departed MMO. One thing led to another, and I ended up talking to both her and a fellow AC2 fansite manager about the ups and downs of covering the second coming of Dereth...

The Game Archaeologist: Please introduce yourself, your current job position, and how you got involved with Asheron's Call 2 back in the day?

Kiersten Samwell: I'm Kiersten Samwell, Community Relations and Social Media Manager for KingsIsle Entertainment, the creator of Wizard101. I used to be the Site Manager for Warcry's Crossroads of Dereth/Asheron's Call site as Ellen Ripley, so it was natural to work with the site manager of their Asheron's Call 2 fansite as well. His name is Roberto, and he was just an incredible site manager. Of course, being an avid AC1 player, I enjoyed AC2 for both its similarities to and its differences from AC1.

Robert Hackett: Hi, I'm Robert Hackett, the Managing MMO Editor of GamersInfo.net. I actually got invited to one of the betas along with a friend of mine. The lag was so bad (the day I logged in may have been a stress test; I can't remember) that I told my friend that there was no way my rig could handle that. Fast forward to the month after release and Ophelea from the old AC Crossroads site begged me to come over to AC2 and be an editor for the database she was trying to build. Logged in and the game was a million percent better. I stayed to work on the database and eventually fell in love with it beyond "work!"

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The fansite managers

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The fansite managers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac-crossroadsac2ac2-warcryasherons-callasherons-call-2atmosphereAubereancraftingddodeja-vuderethdungeons-and-dragons-onlineEllen-Ripleyfallen-kingsfeaturedgamersinfo.netinterviewKiersten-Samwellkingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlegacylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrosoftOpheleapost-apocalypticRobert-Hackettsequelsequelsshutdownstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-game-archeologistturbineturbine-entertainmentwarcrywizard101world-of-warcraftwowTue, 11 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Asheron's Call 2
MMO sequels are funny animals. Sequels (along with prequels and "reimaginings") are ingrained into the entertainment industry so deep that it makes sense that MMO studios would follow suit. And yet these types of games -- with their ever-growing nature and heavy involvement with loyal playerbases -- are not always conducive to such projects. More often than not, a sequel to an online game becomes its ancestor's main competition, which is not a desirable outcome for the studio.

Perhaps back in the early 2000s, studios simply didn't know better. There's good evidence that the typical "hit video games need a sequel" mindset ran rampant across the industry, from the multiple attempts at Ultima Online 2 to the release of the don't-call-it-a-sequel sequel of EverQuest II. Perhaps developers didn't realize that MMO players didn't necessarily want to be uprooted and moved to a new game every few years.

While sequels, spin-offs and remakes are still present, the genre learned a hard lesson with Asheron's Call 2 in the first half of the decade. Asheron's Call was a success on Microsoft and Turbine's behalf, and a sequel -- with vastly improved graphics and deeper gameplay -- seemed like a logical next step. Unfortunately, it was a Greek tragedy in the making, destined for a short but memorable life in our world.

This month we're going to look at the brief shining star of Asheron's Call 2 and get all sorts of misty-eyed romantic over it!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac1ac2asherons-callasherons-call-2asherons-call-2-legionsawardcanceledcancellationclassclassesderetheqiieverquest-iiexpansionfallen-kingsfeaturedgeoff-scottguildshero-2.0hero-systemjonathan-hannakingdom-vs-kingdomkvklegionsmatthew-fordmicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosmmo-sequelsmusicmusic-systemplayer-musicpvpRandy-Spongsequelsequelsthe-game-archaeologistturbineturbine-entertainmentultima-online-2Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Microsoft is 'the MMO graveyard']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/why-microsoft-is-the-mmo-graveyard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/why-microsoft-is-the-mmo-graveyard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/why-microsoft-is-the-mmo-graveyard/#commentsFiled under: , ,

True Fantasy Live Online
Anyone who's been following MMOs for any length of time will have come to the astute conclusion that Microsoft is not a fertile ground for the growth of such projects. In fact, in an opinion piece over at CVG, the author labels the company and Xbox Live as an "MMO graveyard" where good titles go to wither and die.

Citing MMOs such as Mythica and True Fantasy Live Online as evidence, CVG says that Microsoft's "inflexibility" became the company's biggest obstacle to seeing a title through to launch. Instead, MMO after MMO was canceled, transferred to other companies, or promised and forgotten. CVG says that there is enough evidence to suggest that Microsoft is unsure and afraid of the MMO model, and instead of doing its best to be accommodating to such projects, the company made it all but impossible for original projects or PC ports to come to fruition.

The article is a fascinating overview of the games and issues involved in Microsoft's approach to the MMO market, and ends with a handful of "hopefuls" that will prove that console MMOs can be done, and done well.

MassivelyWhy Microsoft is 'the MMO graveyard' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsole-mmoconsolescvgmicrosoftmmo-graveyardmythicaopiniontrue-fantasy-live-onlinexboxxbox-liveWed, 21 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The dangers and allure of real money trading in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/the-dangers-and-allure-of-real-money-trading-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/the-dangers-and-allure-of-real-money-trading-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/the-dangers-and-allure-of-real-money-trading-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EverQuest
It's been one of the longest-running debates in the MMO industry: whether or not real money trading (RMT) helps or hurts players and the game worlds they inhabit. The Ottawa Citizen shed some light on the subject by showing how the games industry at large has dealt with the subject, from players dealing in grey market trades to studios overseeing RMT in the hopes of keeping players' bank accounts safe while lining the studios' pockets with additional income.

Two examples were given of players engaging in illicit -- and ill-advised (Massively disclaimer) -- RMT activities. One player said that he made $7,000 in 2001 by purchasing EverQuest characters from bored players and reselling them to others, even though this was against the game's EULA. He likened it to real-world corporate practices: "It was kind of like buying a company and breaking (it) down and selling off all its assets, and flipping it for more cash."

Another player admitted to spending $50 in hopes of gaining 2,000 gold in World of Warcraft, but the third-party company simply took his cash and never delivered the gold.

The article notes how games like Second Life and companies like Sony and Microsoft are embracing RMT even as the issue remains taboo in many MMOs.

MassivelyThe dangers and allure of real money trading in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeulaeverquestgrey-marketmicrosoftottawa-citizenplaystation-3real-money-tradingrmtsecond-lifesoesonySony-Online-Entertainmenttabooworld-of-warcraftwowXbox-360Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jagex CEO hints at why RuneScape hasn't come to consoles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/jagex-ceo-hints-at-why-runescape-hasnt-come-to-consoles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/jagex-ceo-hints-at-why-runescape-hasnt-come-to-consoles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/jagex-ceo-hints-at-why-runescape-hasnt-come-to-consoles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

RuneScape - concept art
Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard is one of the more quotable head honchos in the gaming business, and he didn't disappoint at the recent Edinburgh Interactive conference. Gerhard spoke in no uncertain terms about the difficulties inherent in bringing Jagex's long-running RuneScape browser MMO to game consoles like the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.

The problem according to Gerhard?

Microsoft and Sony. "They said 'we cannot let the Microsoft community play with the Sony community,''' he explained, before offering his response and an explanation as to why RuneScape has yet to appear on a console. "We're not going to frame our community into boxes just for a few million more customers. Of course I'd love a few million more customers, but I just wouldn't do it [...] you almost become the disease you're trying to solve."

MassivelyJagex CEO hints at why RuneScape hasn't come to consoles originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedbrowser-mmoconferencesconsolesjagexmark-gerhardmicrosoftmmo-industryplaystation-3real-world-eventsrunescapesonyxbox-360Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Empires Online introduces Season Pass, details pricing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/age-of-empires-online-introduces-season-pass-details-pricing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/age-of-empires-online-introduces-season-pass-details-pricing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/age-of-empires-online-introduces-season-pass-details-pricing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Age of Empires Online
Microsoft has released more information on the pricing plans that will soon be available to players of Age of Empires Online, the newest installment in the RTS series that launched just today. On top of the previously established Premium Civilization packs (weighing in at $20 each), the Defense of Crete booster ($9.99), and Empire Extras ($4.99), players will also be able to purchase a Season Pass.

The Season Pass grants players a 30% discount on all cash shop items for six months. The Season Pass itself is reported to set players back a hefty $99.99, so it will likely only be useful for the most hardcore of Age of Empires Online players. But if you're planning on buying up every bit of content the company drops, it may save you a few bucks. In addition to the Season Pass, Microsoft also announced that players who buy the Greek and Egyptian civilizations will receive the Defense of Crete booster for free. For more information on the just-launched online RTS, check out Joystiq's hands-on impressions of the game.

MassivelyAge of Empires Online introduces Season Pass, details pricing originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empiresage-of-empires-onlineaoef2pfree-to-playmicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosmmortspricingreal-time-strategyrtsseason-passTue, 16 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Age of Empires Online monthly content updates in the works]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/new-age-of-empires-online-monthly-content-updates-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/new-age-of-empires-online-monthly-content-updates-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/new-age-of-empires-online-monthly-content-updates-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Launch day is coming up fast for Age of Empires Online, and August 16th can't come fast enough for fans of MMORTS titles. In addition to the game's official kickoff, players can also look forward to new Greek and Egyptian civilizations and the Defense of Crete booster pack. If that's not enough, a new Microsoft press release has announced that Age of Empires Online will be "adding new premium content monthly to further expand your gameplay options in a persistent and evolving world."

Said expanding will take the form of two new civilizations and a new booster pack that will be added to the game by the end of 2011. First up is the Celtic civilization, and these masters of metalwork and crafting will help you earn new gear and rewards. Next are the Persians, and players will take control of units including Immortals, mounted archers, and attack elephants.

Finally, the Skirmish Hall booster pack allows players to control the battlefield by customizing their starting age, forces, resources, difficulty levels, and the number of enemies.

MassivelyNew Age of Empires Online monthly content updates in the works originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empiresage-of-empires-onlineceltic-civilizationceltscraftingimmortalsmetalworkmicrosoftmmortspersian-archerspersianspress-releasereal-time-strategyrtsskirmish-hallskirmish-hall-booster-packTue, 26 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Mythica]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-mythica/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-mythica/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-mythica/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

While Microsoft may be the big cheese when it comes to operating systems and worldwide domination, for whatever reason the company has the absolute worst of luck (or worst of decision-makers) when it comes to MMOs. Microsoft Game Studios has proven remarkably skittish when it approached the swimming pool of online RPGs, choosing to dip a toe into the water, give a girlie scream, and run away without taking the dive.

True Fantasy Live Online had a bumpy ride with the studio, Marvel Universe Online circled the drain faster than my morning shower, and the less said about its relationship with Vanguard's development, the better. But there was yet another aborted project that Microsoft jumped into -- and then back out of -- between 2003 and 2004, and in my opinion, it was the one the company should've stuck out to completion.

I remember when Microsoft first announced Mythica, because I thought "This is gonna be cool." Vikings, Norse mythology, gods made flesh, and a big-name studio funding limitless adventures. In the pre-World of Warcraft era, the field was wide open for a company to come up and rival Sony Online Entertainment for the crown, so why not this one? But... cold water, skittish toes, and another MMO kicked the bucket before it saw the light of its first day.

Take my hand (don't worry, I washed today) and we shall travel back to Ragnarök and beyond!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Mythica

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Mythica originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-waalkesbears-bears-bearsdemi-godfeaturedfourth-pillarghostbustersgodgodhoodmatt-wilsonmicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosmythicmythic-entertainmentmythicamythologynorsenorse-mythologyragnaroksoesony-online-entertainmenttrailertrue-fantasy-live-onlinevanguardvideovikingsworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 19 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Let's begin with a little personal history. Back in 2008, I decided to get into the blogging scene by jumping on board the latest MMO hotness -- in this case, Warhammer Online. As I was growing increasingly tired of World of Warcraft, WAR seemed to offer a refreshing alternative: a darker world full of brutal PvP and awesome new ideas. So I joined the elite ranks of bloggers (hey, stop laughing so hard) and spent the better part of two years jawing about Mythic's latest fantasy project.

And while Warhammer Online was, in my opinion, a solid product, it certainly failed to live up to the extremely high expectations held by both the development team and the players. No matter how it turned out, I really enjoyed talking about WAR, especially in the days leading up to its launch.

One of the first articles I ever wrote for my blog WAAAGH! dealt with the first attempt to bring Warhammer Online into the MMO genre (as a fun aside, it was one of the first times I got my name on Massively!). It's a "what if?" tale that's tantalizing to consider -- an entirely different studio, Climax Online, creating a much darker version of Warhammer than we've ever seen online. The tale of the game's rise and fall (and subsequent rise and fall again) captivated me, and I wanted to expand my old article as part of our recent series into exploring MMOs canceled before their launch.

So what if Climax had brought Warhammer Online to bear? Would it have eclipsed Mythic's vision or been its own animal? Hit the jump and let's dive into the pages of ancient history!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicadventureraltdorfcharacter-designclassclassesclimaxclimax-groupclimax-onlineDavid-Nicholsondwarvese3e3-2003e3-2004ea-mythicelvesfeaturedgames-workshopgamezonehalflingsKarl-Jefferylive-eventsmagicmaster-assassinmicrosoftmythicmythic-entertainmentogresoverlordpaul-barnettplaystationpvpreiklandrobin-dewsrogueseasonssegasilent-hillskill-basedsunglassessypwaaghwarwar-is-everywherewarhammerwarhammer-fantasywarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarriorweatherweather-eventsTue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Empires Online dev diary is all about the goods]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/age-of-empires-online-dev-diary-is-all-about-the-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/age-of-empires-online-dev-diary-is-all-about-the-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/age-of-empires-online-dev-diary-is-all-about-the-goods/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Using tongue-in-cheek stick puppets, the folks at Age of Empires Online have emerged to give us a quick overview of the gear system in a new dev diary. Yes, even empire-building titles rely on good ol' fashioned MMO gear to equip armies.

Once attached to an army, gear changes the appearance and stats of your troops. The more rare the gear, the tougher they become. Gear can be found, purchased, and crafted as you may expect. You have to purchase the civilization with real-world money in order to be able to equip the very best items, however.

And if you're curious about Age of Empires Online's pricing structure, ShackNews has the full skinny. Some of the purchases are merely cosmetic, although it looks like there's bad news for those looking to avoid a "pay to win" scenario: "Unfortunately, Microsoft's approach to monetising Age of Empires Online seems to be one of placing non-paying players at a significant disadvantage."

Age of Empires Online is slated for an August 16th launch. You can watch the dev diary on gear for a chuckle or two after the jump!

Continue reading Age of Empires Online dev diary is all about the goods

MassivelyAge of Empires Online dev diary is all about the goods originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empires-onlineaoeaoeocraftingdev-diarydeveloper-diaryf2pfree-to-playgearlaunchmicrosoftpay-to-winpricing-structurerock-paper-shotgunshacknewsFri, 17 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: True Fantasy Live Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-true-fantasy-live-onlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-true-fantasy-live-onlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-true-fantasy-live-onlin/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As an extremely amateur historian -- and an extremely attractive archaeologist -- I've always been fascinated with the "what ifs" of gaming's timeline. What if Blizzard had pulled the plug on World of Warcraft during development as it did for Warcraft Adventures? What if Hellgate: London had a lot more time and resources before it launched? What if North America had embraced the free-to-play model much earlier instead of the subscription model? What if Shawn came to his senses before he hired me?

Life would've been a lot better. Or worse. That's the problem with counterfactual history: We can make educated guesses, but we'll never really know. While it's sad to see MMOs shut down due to underperformance, it's especially maddening to contemplate MMOs canceled before they even made it to the starting gate. In a new periodic series here at The Game Archaeologist, I'm going to look at a few of the "what ifs" of prematurely terminated MMORPGs.

And to kick us off, I'm tackling probably one of the most frustrating, painful subjects that still linger amongst potential fans. I'm talking, of course, of True Fantasy Live Online, the game that could've shown the true potential of console MMOs. Or, y'know, not.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: True Fantasy Live Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: True Fantasy Live Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akihiro-Hinoblizzardcel-shadedcounterfactual-historydreamcastdust-514eqeverquestevolutionfablefeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-xigamespothellgate-londonkiller-appkiller-applicationlevel-5microsoftmountsnesplayer-evolutionplayer-housingplaystationprofessor-laytonsegasuper-mario-brostflothe-game-archaeologisttokyo-game-showtrue-fantasy-live-onlineundead-labsvoice-chatvoice-communicationwarcraft-adventureswhat-ifwhat-ifsworld-of-warcraftwowxboxxbox-360xbox-liveTue, 14 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Empires Online launching August 16th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/age-of-empires-online-launching-august-16th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/age-of-empires-online-launching-august-16th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/age-of-empires-online-launching-august-16th/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There are just a couple of months yet until you can conquer the world from the comfort of your bedroom, but that's no excuse to let your hygiene slip. Microsoft Game Studios announced that Age of Empires Online will be released on August 16th with two initial civilizations: the Greeks and Egyptians.

As the latest in the long-running civilization sim franchise, Age of Empires Online will allow players to build up persistent towns, establish trade between other players, work on crafting and quests, and even go to war when needed.

While the initial core gameplay will be available for free, Microsoft hopes that players will get so hooked that they'll gladly purchase Age of Empires Online "Premium Content Packs" to enhance their experience. These packs will include new civilizations and game modes. 1UP reports that in addition to the typical digital download, Microsoft will be shipping out retail boxes in order to snag a larger audience -- although these boxes will merely contain instructions how to download the game.

Gallery: Age of Empires Online

MassivelyAge of Empires Online launching August 16th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empiresage-of-empires-onlineaoecivilizationcivilization-simegyptiansf2pfree-to-playgallerygas-powered-gamesgreekslaunchlaunch-datemicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiospremium-content-packretailWed, 01 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft reveals 48-hour 'secret access' to Age of Empires Online beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/microsoft-reveals-48-hour-secret-access-to-age-of-empires-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/microsoft-reveals-48-hour-secret-access-to-age-of-empires-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/microsoft-reveals-48-hour-secret-access-to-age-of-empires-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Yearning for an early look at Age of Empires Online? If so, Microsoft Game Studios has some good news for you. Starting today, you can jump into a 48-hour secret access beta signup session simply by registering for a Windows Live ID (or logging in if you already have one).

This is your last chance to get in on some Age of Empires beta action before MGS closes it to the public, so hurry and visit the signup link before Saturday, May 7th. You'll be able to download the beta client immediately and get started testing shortly thereafter. If you missed our beta key giveaway a couple of weeks ago, don't miss what could be your last opportunity to take part in the upcoming MMORTS' testing phase!

MassivelyMicrosoft reveals 48-hour 'secret access' to Age of Empires Online beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empiresage-of-empires-onlinebetabetasf2pfree-to-playhistoricalmicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosmmortsreal-time-strategyrtssecret-beta-accesswindows-live-idThu, 05 May 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Battle of the browsers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/mmobility-battle-of-the-browsers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/mmobility-battle-of-the-browsers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/mmobility-battle-of-the-browsers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Before I get too far in this new column, I need to take stock of my weaponry. I now have almost everything I need: an iPhone, an iPad, a new HTC Inspire Android phone, one basic laptop of choice, and a pretty decent gaming rig (if a little old). I have everything I need to test out games across different browsers and devices. I am prepared to slug these pieces of hardware wherever I need to; I am ready to walk with them in hand.

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

I could use some advice, though. I have my preferences, but I wonder what my readers think. Which browser do you prefer? Why? For example, I am in love with Chrome for various reasons, but some games have issues with it. Do I weigh the good against the bad and claim it as my default anyway? Lately, I have all the major browsers bookmarked on my desktop, waiting to go. What about security? I'll be honest: I'm not an expert.

Click past the cut and let's discuss. Maybe you can help me.

Continue reading MMObility: Battle of the browsers

MassivelyMMObility: Battle of the browsers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-gamesbrowser-gamingbrowser-securitybrowser-warschromef2pfeaturedfirefoxfree-to-playftpgoogleinternet-explorermicrosoftministry-of-warmozillaoperasafarisecurityTue, 29 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nexon's Dungeon Fighter Online coming to Xbox Live Arcade]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/nexons-dungeon-fighter-online-coming-to-xbox-live-arcade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/nexons-dungeon-fighter-online-coming-to-xbox-live-arcade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/nexons-dungeon-fighter-online-coming-to-xbox-live-arcade/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The MMO console line-up just got a bit bigger thanks to the folks at Nexon and Softmax. The latter is porting the former's Dungeon Fighter Online beat-'em-up to the Xbox Live Arcade delivery platform, where the title will boast a freemium business model (meaning you download the client for free and pay for items and upgrades).

Nexon and Microsoft are splitting localization duties as the game will be released in eight languages worldwide. The console title -- Nexon's first -- will be exclusive to the 360. DFO features six character classes (with subclasses available at level 18) and further advancement possible at level 48 via an awakening quest.

[Thanks to Prime Synergy for the tip!]

MassivelyNexon's Dungeon Fighter Online coming to Xbox Live Arcade originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsole-mmoconsolesdfodungeon-fighterdungeon-fighter-onlinef2pfantasyfree-to-playmicrosoftnexonxblxblaxbox-360xbox-livexbox-live-arcadeThu, 24 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Empires Online posts first dev diary video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/age-of-empires-online-posts-first-dev-diary-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/age-of-empires-online-posts-first-dev-diary-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/age-of-empires-online-posts-first-dev-diary-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Cross an RTS game over to an MMO? Madness! Well, OK, maybe it's not madness at all, but this new video dev blog from the team behind Age of Empires Online is pretty crazy! In it, we're treated to an interesting look behind the scenes of this upcoming MMORTS title under production at Gas Powered Games. However, as we learn from CEO Chris Taylor, Producer Dex Manely, and Marketing Manager Justin Kirby, there's a lot of brainstorming and work that goes on when it comes to creating interesting video dev blogs for a game.

With fun, stylized graphics, vividly colored environments, tons of action and a pedigree spanning several different popular titles, Age of Empires Online looks like it has a good start. For now, check out the video embedded behind the break, and if the game seems like your idea of fun, head over to the Age of Empires Online site to get signed up for a chance to beta test.

Continue reading Age of Empires Online posts first dev diary video

MassivelyAge of Empires Online posts first dev diary video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empires-onlineAOEObetachris-taylordex-manelygas-powered-gamesGasPoweredGamesjustin-kirbymicrosoftmmortssillyvideovideo-blogFri, 04 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2011: Bungie's MMO won't be WoW in space]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/gdc-2011-bungies-mmo-wont-be-wow-in-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/gdc-2011-bungies-mmo-wont-be-wow-in-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/gdc-2011-bungies-mmo-wont-be-wow-in-space/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The top secret MMO project from Bungie continues to raise fan and industry eyebrows despite the absence of any real information about the title. The game, rumored to carry the code name Destiny, will be massively multiplayer, and it will be set against a space/sci-fi backdrop. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess as to what will actually emerge from the Halo-maker's secret laboratory.

Joystiq has unearthed a blurb about the project from this week's GDC, wherein Bungie lead network engineer David Aldridge was overheard referring to the game as "massively multiplayer" as well as the fact that it won't be "WoW in space."

MassivelyGDC 2011: Bungie's MMO won't be WoW in space originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungiebungie-destinybungie-mmobungie-studiosbungivisiondestinyhalohypemicrosoftmmommo-industryrumorssci-fiscience-fictionspace-mmowow-in-spaceFri, 04 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Empires Online gameplay, microtransactions detailed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/age-of-empires-online-gameplay-microtransactions-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/age-of-empires-online-gameplay-microtransactions-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/age-of-empires-online-gameplay-microtransactions-detailed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

New details on Microsoft's Age of Empires Online have surfaced at Gamasutra, with much of the information centered on the game's free-to-play business model and associated microtransaction offerings. The game will feature a Premium Civilization upgrade that unlocks all of a civilization's abilities simultaneously, as well as booster packs that add gameplay types, quests, and appearance customization items to the mix.

Age of Empires Online will launch with Greek and Eqyptian civilizations, and will be the first entry in the long-running series to feature persistent gameplay (i.e., your city will evolve and earn resources even when you're logged off). The game also boasts PvP functionality as well as cooperative play on the vast majority of its quests.

You can learn more about the game, as well as sign up for beta, at the official website.

MassivelyAge of Empires Online gameplay, microtransactions detailed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empiresage-of-empires-onlinebooster-packsboostersf2pfree-to-playMicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosmmortspersistent-worldpremium-civilizationpvpquestsReal-Time-StrategyrtsstrategyTue, 25 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Asheron Recall: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-asheron-recall-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-asheron-recall-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-asheron-recall-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's hard being the youngest child -- you get the hand-me-downs, suffer through swirlies by older siblings, and eventually develop such a neurosis that it requires seven different brands of horse tranquilizers to make it through the day. Not that I would actually know, being an oldest child and all. But I suppose it would be a hard-knock life.

In a couple ways, Asheron's Call was the youngest of the three MMO siblings that comprised the first major MMO generation. Ultima Online, the big brother, had prestige and legacy behind it, and middle child EverQuest quickly became the most popular at school. And then there was Asheron's Call, poking its head on the scene in late 1999 as a cooperative project between developer Turbine and publisher Microsoft. AC never got the recognition of Ultima Online nor the numbers of EverQuest, but this scrappy title became a fan favorite and endured even to this day -- beyond its own sequel, believe it or not.

Instead of plowing through a stale history report of Asheron's Call today, I thought it'd be fun to come up with a list of the eight most unique aspects of this fairly innovative 11-year-old MMO. Ah lists, how I adore thee -- let me count the ways. Eight ways, to be precise!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Asheron Recall: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Asheron Recall: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac2allegiance-systemasherons-callasherons-call-2asherons-call-for-dinnerasherons-whisper-of-sweet-nothingsasherons-yodelcrypticderethdnddungeons-and-dragonseqeventseverquestfealty-systemfeaturedfiunlistslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrosoftmosswartolthoiracial-skillsseamless-worldskill-basedstar-trek-onlinestostory-arcthe-game-archaeologisttolkienturbineultima-onlineundeaduoworld-of-warcraftzombiesTue, 05 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Microsoft making a play for Linden Lab]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/01/rumor-microsoft-making-a-play-for-linden-lab/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/01/rumor-microsoft-making-a-play-for-linden-lab/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/01/rumor-microsoft-making-a-play-for-linden-lab/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If most of the horrific violence that happens in the ocean takes place unseen beneath the waves, then the same goes for the massive acquisitions that happen unseen behind boardroom doors.

Yesterday, Tateru Nino posted a rumor on her blog that several Linden Lab employees were saying that Microsoft was making a bid to purchase the company: "Funny as that might seem on the face of it, a small number of Linden Lab staff are today spreading the story that Linden Lab is now entertaining offers for sale, and that Microsoft has actually presented one."

TechEye.net seconded the rumor, noting that as the Linden Lab UK office closed down this week, an employee tweeted: "A little birdie told me that Microsoft may have silently offered to buy Linden Lab this week."

Linden Lab runs the popular virtual world Second Life, which has seen its share of troubles lately. So far, Linden Lab is neither confirming nor denying the rumor.

MassivelyRumor: Microsoft making a play for Linden Lab originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-gateslinden-lablinden-lab-ukmicrosoftrumorsecond-lifetateru-ninotecheye.netFri, 01 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you play a Halo MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-a-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-a-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-a-halo-mmo/#commentsFiled under: ,

More than a few of us here at Massively dabble with single-player games when we're not on the clock, whether it be real-time strategy, roleplaying, first-person shooters, or some genre-bending hybrid. Every so often, a major release comes along that transcends its particular niche in the game industry and gets everyone talking.

Love it or hate it, Halo: Reach is such a title. Released to much critical acclaim this week, the title is currently chewing its way up the sales charts as bazillions of gamers trade Master Chief for Noble Six and partake of Bungie's swansong in the series that put them (as well as Microsoft Games and the Xbox) on the map.

The question of the day, dear readers, is twofold: Are you checking out Reach, and more appropriately, would you play a Halo MMO?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you play a Halo MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungeehalohalo-reachmaster-chiefMicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosnoble-6noble-sixopinionsingle-playertdgthe-daily-grindWed, 15 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft announces Age of Empires Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/microsoft-announces-age-of-empires-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/microsoft-announces-age-of-empires-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/microsoft-announces-age-of-empires-online/#commentsFiled under: ,

The first bit of interesting MMO news from Gamescom 2010 belongs to Microsoft, as the software giant has announced the latest entry in the venerable Age of Empires franchise. Age of Empires Online will offer players the chance to take their city-building adventures to the next level via a persistent online capital that grows even when its owner is offline.

The new title also features co-op multiplayer questing, trading, and a leveling mechanic in addition to story-based gameplay. Age of Empires Online will also feature free online gameplay via the Games for Windows platform, as well as a new graphical style that represents something of a stylistic departure from past titles in the series.

Interested in what the new title looks like? Check out our gallery of gameplay screenshots below, and be sure to watch the trailer here!

Gallery: Age of Empires Online

MassivelyMicrosoft announces Age of Empires Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empiresage-of-empires-onlinebreakingGames-for-Windowsgamescom-2010microsoftReal-Time-StrategyrtsstrategyTue, 17 Aug 2010 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV not due for the Xbox 360 according to Hiromichi Tanaka]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/final-fantasy-xiv-not-due-for-the-xbox-360-according-to-hiromich/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/final-fantasy-xiv-not-due-for-the-xbox-360-according-to-hiromich/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/final-fantasy-xiv-not-due-for-the-xbox-360-according-to-hiromich/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Final Fantasy XI isn't just one of the only console MMOs in existence, it's also the most successful of the lot, due in part to the wide spread of available platforms. Since the game has long been playable on the Xbox, there were several Final Fantasy XIV fans (or Xbox 360 owners) hoping it would eventually come out on that console as well. But it's not happening, and according to a recently translated interview from 4players.de, the reason rests squarely with Microsoft.

When asked in an interview why Final Fantasy XIV wasn't appearing on Microsoft's console, Hiromichi Tanaka explained that Microsoft was unwilling to work with Square-Enix to deal with the Xbox Live setup. As he put it, it seemed the company made a one-time exception with Final Fantasy XI to get the console in people's minds as an online platform, but now that it's established the gates are closed. There are currently no plans to adapt the game for the console, but it will still be coming out for the PC in late September, with a Playstation 3 release due at some point after that. Check the interview here (if you can read German), and the translated highlights can be found here.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV not due for the Xbox 360 according to Hiromichi Tanaka originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-mmoconsole-mmosconsolesdevelopmentffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivhiromichi-tanakainterviewsmicrosoftplaystation-2playstation-3squaresquare-enixtranslationsxboxxbox-360xbox-liveMon, 12 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO tops Japan's sales charts on the Xbox 360]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/mmo-tops-japans-sales-charts-on-the-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/mmo-tops-japans-sales-charts-on-the-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/mmo-tops-japans-sales-charts-on-the-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In the world of console gaming, Japan tends to strongly support their hometown champions -- although whether or not the sprawling multinational corporate behemoths of Nintendo and Sony actually need that suppport is debatable. Microsoft's Xbox 360 has generally faced slow sales in the nation and a lack of popular games on the platform. But it's gotten a boost from the strong sales of Monster Hunter Frontier Online, an MMO exclusive to the platform that's made it to the top of the Japanese sale charts. Not out of all Xbox games -- out of the entire country.

The newest installment of the long-running series is a port of a 2007 PC version, beating out several other strong contenders for the countrywide sales figures. Although the Monster Hunter series has been popular in Japan, there's no word on the MMO being released outside of the country. Still, it seems a good sign that you can sell good numbers for a ported game on an unpopular console -- something Square-Enix may well want to consider for the future.

MassivelyMMO tops Japan's sales charts on the Xbox 360 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomconsole-mmosfranchisesgame-salesmhfomicrosoftmonster-huntermonster-hunter-frontier-onlinenintendosales-chartssales-figuressonysquaresquare-enixxboxxbox-360Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What if...? Ten canceled MMOs that could've changed history]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What if...? Some of the most intriguing questions known to mankind start with those two words, as well as the most maddening. What if...? An entire genre known as "alternate history" is derived from these questions, with scholars and average blokes alike speculating on what might have happened if things went just a little differently. What if Hitler got the bomb first? What if Microsoft developed the iPod instead of Apple? What if Abraham Lincoln decided to see a different play that night?

When it comes to MMORPGs, what if's can drive one up the wall. In this volatile genre, more projects have started, canceled, launched, struggled, faded and morphed into new creations than most of us know. Today, we want to look at 10 MMOs that were axed before their launch, 10 MMOs that could've changed gaming history as we know it... if only they got the chance to prove themselves.

Let's take a journey, you and I, through history itself, and ponder the greatest of questions: How would the MMO industry be different if these titles had made it to release? Click the first picture on the gallery below to start.

Gallery: What if...? Ten canceled MMOs that could've changed history

1. True Fantasy Live Online2. Ultima Worlds Online: Origin3. Halo Online4. Imperator Online

MassivelyWhat if...? Ten canceled MMOs that could've changed history originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-historycancelledclimaxcrypticeafeaturedgods-and-heroeshaloimperatorjagexlevel-5marvel-universe-onlinemechscapemicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosmiddle-earth-onlinemythicMythic-Entertainmentmythicaoriginperpetual-entertainmentRichard-Garriottrunescapestar-trek-onlinesuper-hero-squad-onlinetrue-fantasy-live-onlineultima-onlineultima-online-worlds-originswarhammer-onlinewhat-ifThu, 10 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Virtual Whirl: More Marriott, less Microsoft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/the-virtual-whirl-more-marriott-less-microsoft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/the-virtual-whirl-more-marriott-less-microsoft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/the-virtual-whirl-more-marriott-less-microsoft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's certainly taking time for people, organizations and businesses to learn how to obtain benefits from virtual environments, and it will take quite some time yet to figure out how to optimize those results. On the plus side, there are many hundreds of thousands of people working on that.

Working out how to effectively operate and manage virtual environments for large numbers of people, well, that's actually taking a lot longer. There are far fewer people actually involved in the process, and the same wheels are being reinvented over and over - and quite often, they seem to be square ones.

Continue reading The Virtual Whirl: More Marriott, less Microsoft

MassivelyThe Virtual Whirl: More Marriott, less Microsoft originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsculturefeaturedlinden-labmarriottmicrosoftmmo-industrysecond-lifethe-virtual-whirltherethere.comSat, 24 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA adds veteran industry talent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/tera-adds-veteran-industry-talent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/tera-adds-veteran-industry-talent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/tera-adds-veteran-industry-talent/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

En Masse Entertainment isn't messing around, judging by today's announcement regarding several game industry heavyweights joining forces with the publisher of the forthcoming TERA MMORPG. "We want En Masse Entertainment to serve as a magnet for creative talent. As we build toward the launch of TERA, we are adding veteran strength to all facets of the company to ensure a topnotch action MMO experience for our customers," said CEO Dr. Jae-Heon Yang.

New TERA team members include Aaron LeMay, a veteran of major action franchises including Halo and Saint's Row. Also signing on are Matt Atwood, former Global Public Relations Lead at BioWare and responsible for overseeing both Dragon Age and Mass Effect. David Noonan, a former Dungeons and Dragons game designer and Aion writer also joins the TERA crew, as does Microsoft Xbox Live Operations Center veteran Markus Schweig.

Head on over to the official TERA forums for the full press release.

MassivelyTERA adds veteran industry talent originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-lemayaionbiowaredavid-noonandragon-ageen-masse-entertainmenthaloindustry-veteransmarkus-schweigmass-effectmatt-atwoodmicrosoftsaints-rowTERAxbox-liveMon, 12 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard, NCsoft talent form developer En Masse Entertainment]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/blizzard-ncsoft-talent-form-developer-en-masse-entertainment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/blizzard-ncsoft-talent-form-developer-en-masse-entertainment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/blizzard-ncsoft-talent-form-developer-en-masse-entertainment/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The MMO industry, despite some setbacks over the past year or so, has been growing at a steady rate for some time and doesn't show much sign of slowing. It's hard to argue that two of the most influential companies in that success have been Blizzard Entertainment and NCsoft, with the former keeping a stable of several successful games and the latter running a game well-known enough to not need a mention. So when staffers from both companies join up to form a new development studio, it's worth paying some attention to what the company is doing.

En Masse Entertainment, as reported by our sister site Joystiq, has just announced their formation as a company. Their staff includes talent from the aforementioned studios as well as Microsoft, ArenaNet, and Electronic Arts. According to the official press release, their first project is bringing the Korean MMORPG TERA to western audiences -- which might sound like another free-to-play game coming over until you note both the stunning visuals and the fact that it's slated to be a subscription model "like other triple-A titles." We'll be keeping a close eye on the new studio -- it could be a combination that produces some interesting results.

MassivelyBlizzard, NCsoft talent form developer En Masse Entertainment originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmenteaelectronic-artsen-masse-entertainmentmicrosoftncsoftstudiosteraWed, 24 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft warns users of worm that targets MMO players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/microsoft-warns-users-of-worm-that-targets-mmo-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/microsoft-warns-users-of-worm-that-targets-mmo-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/microsoft-warns-users-of-worm-that-targets-mmo-players/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Remember how we always tell you to remain vigilant against malicious programs that can compromise your MMO account's security? Well, it seems we now have more reason to remain vigilant.

Microsoft's latest security intelligence report covers the resurgence of worm type viruses and specifically mentions one that targets MMO players -- Taterf. As a worm, Taterf attempts to divine the user's account name and password through keystroke logging, reading the active memory, and even injecting itself into the game client. Either way, by the end of it, you end up naked and goldless. Hrm, we wonder if Taterf has been masquerading itself as our last girlfriend.

Continue reading Microsoft warns users of worm that targets MMO players

MassivelyMicrosoft warns users of worm that targets MMO players originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-securitybreakingkeyloggermicrosoftnot-tateru-ninopostload-of-innuendosecurity-warningtaterfviruswe-love-tateru-ninowormWed, 04 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony, Turbine, Jagex, Blizzard, and NCsoft named in patent infringement lawsuit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/sony-turbine-jagex-blizzard-and-ncsoft-named-in-patent-infri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/sony-turbine-jagex-blizzard-and-ncsoft-named-in-patent-infri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/sony-turbine-jagex-blizzard-and-ncsoft-named-in-patent-infri/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


It seems to be a World of Lawsuits (TM) recently in our industry. Bloggers are being sued for libel, NCsoft is being sued for patent infringement, Linden Labs is being sued for trademark violations, Turbine is suing Atari, and now five companies are all being sued over a patent dispute.

The Boston Globe has reported that Paltalk Holdings Inc. has filed a complaint in Texas against Sony Corp., Activision Blizzard Inc., Turbine Inc., NCsoft Corp., and Jagex Ltd. all for games that violate their patent on computers sharing data so that all users can see the same virtual environment. The games in question are EverQuest, World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Guild Wars, and RuneScape (in order of the companies as named above.)

What makes this lawsuit different from the standard patent shakedowns that we've been reporting on is that the patent has already been successfully used in court. Paltalk has already sued, and won against, Microsoft.

Continue reading Sony, Turbine, Jagex, Blizzard, and NCsoft named in patent infringement lawsuit

MassivelySony, Turbine, Jagex, Blizzard, and NCsoft named in patent infringement lawsuit originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardbreakingeverquestguild-warshalohalo-2jagexlawsuitlegallord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrosoftncsoftpaltalksettlementsoesony-corpturbineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 16 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic's Jack Emmert baffled by lack of MMOs on Xbox 360]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/28/cryptics-jack-emmert-baffled-by-lack-of-mmos-on-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/28/cryptics-jack-emmert-baffled-by-lack-of-mmos-on-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/28/cryptics-jack-emmert-baffled-by-lack-of-mmos-on-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A number of massively multiplayer online game developers have touted the fact that their titles will be playable on both PC and Xbox 360 but, with rare exceptions, they've failed to deliver on MMOs for this console. But can the blame for this really be laid solely at the feet of the developers? That seems to be the typical reaction, as many of us get frustrated over these broken promises. However, looking at the various titles that were aiming for 360 and missed, perhaps we should look at what all of these stories have in common: Microsoft. (Lest the fires of console fanboy rage blaze out of control, we're not exactly inundated with PlayStation 3 MMOs either.)

Patrick Garratt from VG247 recently spoke with Jack Emmert from Cryptic Studios about this issue, and his perspective on playing ball with Microsoft to get Champions Online on the 360. Emmert stated that Champions Online for Xbox is almost ready to go, but lack of action on Microsoft's part is holding up the project.

Continue reading Cryptic's Jack Emmert baffled by lack of MMOs on Xbox 360

MassivelyCryptic's Jack Emmert baffled by lack of MMOs on Xbox 360 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelschampions-onlineconsole-mmoconsolescryptic-studiosinterviewsjack-emmertmicrosoftmmo-industrypatrick-garrattsuper-herosuperherovg247xbox-360Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redefining MMOs: Pesky Persistence]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/14/redefining-mmos-pesky-persistence/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/14/redefining-mmos-pesky-persistence/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/14/redefining-mmos-pesky-persistence/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,


Here in Redefining MMOs we've been over terminology, working with lore, the place of soloing in our online games, players acting as developers, and attempting to get away from the carbon copy feel of the genre. With all of that in mind, where could we possibly head to next? Well, how about dealing with persistence?

One persistent world holding thousands of players simultaneously, a world that continues even when you log off. That was the dream, wasn't it? Having an insane number of players all occupying the same game space? Having you and 100 of your closest friends (or perhaps enemies) battling it out over loot, bosses, pvp, and anything else the game had to offer? Persistence has long been one of the central aspects of the MMO genre, where "one continuous world" rules over all. So is persistence what defines an MMO or is it not that clear cut? Perhaps persistence is nothing more than a pesky piece of unpleasant pie and maybe we shouldn't define our genre by it as we do now.

In this issue of Redefining MMOs, I'm going to tackle the thorny issue of persistence, from its definition down to what we perceive the word to mean. I'm also going to include a discussion on two very different games -- 1 vs. 100 and Chromehounds -- and put both to the MMO persistence test. Then, as the article all comes together, I'm going to tackle the biggest question of them all: "Does persistence matter?" If you have an opinion on this week's subject, feel free to leave a comment on page 3 or even write your own "Redefining MMOs" blog post and leave a comment with the URL.

Continue reading Redefining MMOs: Pesky Persistence

MassivelyRedefining MMOs: Pesky Persistence originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-vs-1001-vs-100-betaaventurineccpchromehoundsdarkfalldarkfall-onlineeve-onlinefeaturedgame-designguild-warsjoystiqfeaturesmicrosoftpersistenceredefining-mmossegashadowbaneultima-onlinexbox-360xbox-liveFri, 14 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[System requirements revealed for Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/system-requirements-revealed-for-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/system-requirements-revealed-for-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/system-requirements-revealed-for-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Cryptic today revealed the minimum and recommended specs for Champions Online and they contain some happy and interesting surprises. Happy, because the overall requirements are fairly low, especially if you're the kind of person who plays MMOs on any sort of regular basis. Interesting, because for a game coming out a little under two months before Windows 7 hits retail, there's strangely no mention of support for the new Microsoft operating system.

We know that the current beta runs on Windows 7, but that's true of many older games released in the Vista era. Given the low upgrade prices currently being offered and the positive buzz surrounding the new OS, there'll probably be a decent amount of early adopters come October 22nd. Still, beyond that small curiosity, we'd have to say the required and recommended specs for Champions Online are definitely good. As an added bonus, this makes another delay beyond September highly unlikely -- as does the announced open beta, we suppose.

Check out the minimum and recommended system requirements after the break.

Continue reading System requirements revealed for Champions Online

MassivelySystem requirements revealed for Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataribetabreakingchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosmicrosoftoctoberopen-betaseptembersystem-requirementssystem-specswindows-7Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST