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[Some Assembly Required: City of Heroes' Mission Architect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/some-assembly-required-city-of-heroes-mission-architect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/some-assembly-required-city-of-heroes-mission-architect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/some-assembly-required-city-of-heroes-mission-architect/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required
The few. The proud. The quest writers.

At the best of times, the fruits of their labors guide us along in our progression of a local or global story, immersing us in the world. Even the nefarious "kill 10 rats" versions can be mini stories that pull players in when done well. But how many of us have ever had a "I could do better than that" moment or have simply wanted to live out a personal story or share in a customized grand adventure with our friends? Someone wished upon the right star because with features like the Mission Architect in City of Heroes you can do just that.

I am just going to come right out and say it -- the quest builder is one of the greatest boons ever for player-generated content in MMORPGs. Besides housing, it is the feature du jour for the creative crowd; I honestly can't see how any game can actually go without one. During this latest round of Choose My Adventure, I had the opportunity to check out the system in City of Heroes and revel in the creativity of others as well as try my hand at developing missions. And I tell you, it is addicting.

Feel like trying your hand at shaping some stories for heroes (and villains) to star in? Stick with me, kid, and you'll be directing your own missions in no time.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: City of Heroes' Mission Architect

MassivelySome Assembly Required: City of Heroes' Mission Architect originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgame-mechanicsmissionmission-architectmission-creatorncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospgcplayer-contentplayer-created-missionsplayer-generated-contentplayer-made-questssandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredsuperherosuperheroesFri, 25 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: The last mile]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/choose-my-adventure-the-last-mile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/choose-my-adventure-the-last-mile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/choose-my-adventure-the-last-mile/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Choose My Adventure road trip
You haven't steered me wrong. At least, not yet.

I am pretty sure there is that nagging worry at the back of the Massively writers' minds when they give themselves over to the masses for Choose My Adventure. Sure, there is an element of mystery and excitement, but what if... just what if the majority manifests an evil streak and sends you careening over an embankment to your virtual doom? Or banishes you to tasks that would make you want to lobotomize yourself with your mouse -- things like run Death From Below repeatedly? Thankfully, you all spared me from such torture. And with this week's tour of the Mission Architect system in City of Heroes, you definitely steered me right -- this is my favorite aspect of the game yet!

I am glad to say that my trust in you all has not been unfounded, and I will speak on your behalf to the others. The fact is, I have enjoyed our little road trip immensely and am sad it must come to an end. So let's take one last cruise through City of Heroes together before you drive off into the sunset with Eliot.

Gallery: CMA: City of Heroes

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: The last mile

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: The last mile originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseschoose-my-adventureChoose-my-adventure-city-of-heroeschoose-my-adventure-cohchoose-my-adventure-mj-guthriecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscmacohcovcoxdecoratingf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalleriesgalleryhands-onhousingmission-architectncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-missionspollpollsreaders-choicescreenshotssuperherosuperheroesvotevotingWed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/why-i-play-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/why-i-play-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/why-i-play-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

City of Heroes
When I first sampled City of Heroes, I was just recovering from a nasty break-up with Star Wars Galaxies and looking for a new roleplaying paradise. What I found after a month was that I had a lot more fun planning my next character using the little booklet that came with the box than I actually did grinding my way up through the levels. That early version of the game... was not good.

Fast-forward a few years to the Paragon Studios takeover and the implementation of the Mission Architect. I fell in love all over again. It took several years (and all the improved content those years enabled), but the game eventually became something I wanted to play.

And I'm going to tell you why.

Continue reading Why I Play: City of Heroes

MassivelyWhy I Play: City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architect-entertainmentcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcustomizationf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommission-architectncsoftnostalgiaopinionparagonparagon-studiossuperherosuperheroeswhy-i-playWed, 07 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
If you are perusing this column, chances are you are a fan of virtual worlds and the sandbox genre. Join the club! (Dues will be due on the third Tuesday.) The aspect that compels many aficionados to delve into a game is the ability to make an impact on the world in some small respect instead of making them into Hive Member 1593072 running a static, predetermined gauntlet. How that impact is accomplished, however, varies; there are multiple features that can facilitate it, and which ones are considered most important depends on the player.

With the loss of one of the best sandbox games just last month, some players may be feeling a void. Others still are looking/hoping for the "ultimate" sandbox that contains nearly every virtual world feature. Certainly, there are some upcoming games that make some drool-worthy promises, but what about playing something now? There are actually games out on the market that have at least one aspect of the genre, if not more.

To start off the new year, Some Assembly Required looks at some of the top features of virtual worlds and lists games that incorporate these features. While this list isn't exhaustive (considering the sheer number of games when you include all of the smaller free-to-play titles, I'd run out of column space!), it is a comprehensive enough overview to point you toward some games worth playing that perhaps you hadn't considered before.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaionaion-gameAnarchy-Onlineaocccpccp-eveccp-gameschampions-onlinecharacter-creationcharacter-customizationcity-of-heroescocohcraft-of-godscraft-of-the-godscraftingcrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalleden-eternaleq-1eq-2eq-ieq-iieveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineever-quest-1ever-quest-2ever-quest-iever-quest-iieverquest-1everquest-2everquest-ieverquest-iifallen-earthfeaturedfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiflyffFuncomglitchguild-housinghousingking-of-kings-3liden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroluna-onlinemabinogimission-architectnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionnotorious-gamesparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesplanetsideplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-missionsplayer-housingplayer-run-economyrunescapeRyzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoe-eq-1soe-eq-2soe-eq-isoe-eq-iisome-assembly-requiredsony-eq-1sony-eq-2sony-eq-isony-eq-iisquare-enixst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineturbineTurbine-EntertainmentUltima-OnlineUOvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvirtual-worldwar-of-the-immortalswizard-101xbox-360XsyonFri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Issue #1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/some-assembly-required-issue-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/some-assembly-required-issue-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/some-assembly-required-issue-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hello folks and welcome to the preview issue of Some Assembly Required. Massively has a whole host of MMORPG-specific columns for your perusal, as well as a few general jaunts that veer off the beaten path to examine several different aspects of our crazy hobby. Some Assembly Required falls into this latter category, and every two weeks either myself or MJ Guthrie will be taking you on various deep dives into the world of player-generated content.

What's player-generated content? Well that's part of what makes this venture so exciting. Player-generated content is often seen as some sort of nebulous activity exclusive to sandbox games. Others take it to mean roleplay. Still others see it as unrestricted PvP and the metagame machinations surrounding it. For our purposes, player-generated content encompasses all of these as well as anything and everything that showcases the creativity of both individual players and entire communities.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Issue #1

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Issue #1 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architectfeaturedfoundrymission-architectopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsar-jef-reahardsome-assembly-requiredstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-foundryFri, 08 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Looking back on busy times for City of Heroes with the development staff]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/looking-back-on-busy-times-for-city-of-heroes-with-the-developme/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/looking-back-on-busy-times-for-city-of-heroes-with-the-developme/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/looking-back-on-busy-times-for-city-of-heroes-with-the-developme/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's been so much going on with City of Heroes over the past few months -- we've seen a new spin on older content and the anniversary and the new endgame system engaging the game's players in new content. It's a lot to take in all at once, and it's easier to process when you have the chance to talk it over with some of the development staff.

During a special NCsoft event, our own Bree Royce had just such a chance to get some questions answered directly by the development team about Issue 20, the Incarnate system, and the state of the game both at present and going forward. Matt Miller and Nate Birkholz shared reflections on what has worked and what has gone a bit awry in the development, something that should be of interest to every City of Heroes player. Sadly, the discussion does not include any zombie catgirls -- just the parts that worked and the parts that wound up being problems.

Continue reading Looking back on busy times for City of Heroes with the development staff

MassivelyLooking back on busy times for City of Heroes with the development staff originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxendgamefeaturedfuture-patchesincarnate-systemincarnate-trialsincarnatesinterviewissue-19issue-20issue-21mission-architectncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchespraetoriapraetorianpraetorian-invasionweekly-strike-targetFri, 20 May 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Architect overload]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-architect-overload/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-architect-overload/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-architect-overload/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If there's one thing that constantly amazes me, it's how many great ideas exist that I would never have come up with on my own. Playing through Mission Architect in City of Heroes just drives that point home -- as a longtime fan of superheroes in general and the game in particular, it's not as if I don't have ideas of my own. And then I have a stack of arcs sitting on my desk (metaphorically) that don't even use any of the same conceptual space but are filled with even better ideas. That's inspiring.

After several sources of delay -- including fatigue, patch releases, internet problems, chupacabra, and continuity resets -- I've finally had enough time to dive into some of the arcs that I've had submitted to me and really give them the attention they deserve. What follows are my sometimes-disconnected thoughts on the various arcs, some tips and opinions, and how I'm going to handle the mountain of arcs I still have left to play through. Plus future arcs, since I can't leave well enough alone.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Architect overload

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Architect overload originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxfeaturedmamission-architectncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosplayer-generated-contentWed, 08 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Saturday Livestream: City of Heroes' mission architect [Updated!]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/saturday-livestream-city-of-heroes-mission-architect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/saturday-livestream-city-of-heroes-mission-architect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/saturday-livestream-city-of-heroes-mission-architect/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Are you a City of Heroes fan or former fan? Are you curious about the state of the classic superhero MMO, its player-created content, or its combat mechanics? Massively's got just the thing for you, and you won't even need to leave your browser to check it out.

On Saturday, November 20th, at 3 p.m. EST (noon PST), Massively will be hosting a livestream of City of Heroes designed to tour a slice of the Architect Entertainment system and test the effects of particle-effects overload on your retinas. Massively's City of Heroes columnist Eliot Lefebvre and I will be joined by Balázs Kiss, better known to fans as @Zaphir, the winner of Dr. Aeon's most recent Architect Challenge. Along with a few plucky guildies who'll round out our group, we'll be playing through @Zaphir's Who Dares Wins arc (#454805), chatting about the arc and the game, and answering your questions.

Just super-jump your way over to Massively TV on Saturday to join us for the fun! And if you've got a favorite arc of your own, remember to mail it off to Eliot for possible inclusion in an upcoming article. See you there!

[Edit: Thanks for coming out, everyone! The livestream is over, but it's available on Massively TV and just after the cut! Look for more CoH AE goodies in Eliot's column!]

Continue reading Saturday Livestream: City of Heroes' mission architect [Updated!]

MassivelySaturday Livestream: City of Heroes' mission architect [Updated!] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcarchitect-entertainmentcity-of-heroesCity-of-VillainsCOHCoVcoxdr-aeoneventeventsLiveStreammassively-tvmission-architectmission-architect-contestmission-arcsncsoftparagon-studioswho-dares-winzaphirFri, 19 Nov 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Steal me]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-steal-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-steal-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-steal-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A while back, a reader suggested that I talk about the five things that City of Heroes ought to steal from other games, inspired by a column written by our inimitable Ryan Green for a different game. (I've sadly lost the original mail through various cleanups of my inbox, so if the reader in question might speak up, that would be great.) In the wake of the big upgrades coming with Issue 19, now is a wonderful time to take a closer look at the things that would make fine additions from elsewhere.

Of course, part of the reason this took a while (as the reader noted in the mail) was that, truth be told, there are a lot of systems that Paragon Studios was either the first or darn near the first to innovate. How many games even have content-generation at the level of the Mission Architect? But there are still places where City of Heroes could take a lesson or two that (hopefully) wouldn't require rewriting the entire game from the ground up.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Steal me

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Steal me originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxddodesigndungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedff14ffxivfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicsideaslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromechanicsmission-architectncsoftopinionother-gamesparagonparagon-studiosstar-trek-onlinestoworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 13 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Five features STO should "borrow" from other MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/captains-log-five-features-sto-should-borrow-from-other-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/captains-log-five-features-sto-should-borrow-from-other-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/captains-log-five-features-sto-should-borrow-from-other-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hi, everybody! (Hi, Dr. Nick!) Thanks for tuning in to another edition of Captain's Log, where we laud and lament the finer points of Star Trek Online each and every Thursday. Last week sure was fun, wasn't it? Nothing gets the comments pumping like defending the work of Cryptic Studios, amirite?

This week, I feel like having a little more fun. These are exciting times for MMO-lovers, and I admit my eye -- and my playing time -- have gone a-wanderin' of late. So I got to thinking this week about which features from other MMOs I would most like to see implemented in STO. Keep reading, because I'm going to tell them to you! And then I'm going to demand that you suggest your own features in the comments!

Continue reading Captain's Log: Five features STO should "borrow" from other MMOs

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Five features STO should "borrow" from other MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcity-of-heroesCOHcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaniel-stahldc-universe-onlinedcuoeve-onlineeverquestfeaturedffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfun-with-imaginationlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromind-grapesmission-architectmonster-playPokemonromrunes-of-magicsehlatst-onlineStar-Trekstar-trek-gaghStar-Trek-MMOstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstosto-craftingsto-diplomacysto-featuressto-future-featuressto-non-combatsto-qsto-tribblesstupid-stupid-dinosaur-planetswgswtortargtrek-onlineunbridled-speculationWorld-of-WarcraftwowThu, 16 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Paragon Studios spills the secrets of success]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/paragon-studios-spills-the-secrets-of-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/paragon-studios-spills-the-secrets-of-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/paragon-studios-spills-the-secrets-of-success/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a day and age when brand-new MMOs can run into serious trouble within the first few months following launch, it's remarkable to consider that City of Heroes has endured the test of time, studio transitions and competition, and still be running strong in the grand old year of 2010. Recently, the folks at Paragon Studios sat down with Gamasutra to celebrate CoH's six-year milestone, and pontificate on why the title succeeded when others failed.

Senior producer Jesse Caceres and art lead David Nakayama shared particular pride in how CoH has grown and adapted over the years. One of the examples they cite is their recent "Ultra Mode" upgrade to the graphics engine, which allows players to pump up the pretty visuals that would've been all but impossible in 2004. Another reason for their success, according to the pair, is that the team worked hard to provide gamers with play choices, such as the ability to roll a villain or to create their own adventures through the Mission Architect system.

Caceres has an additional idea regarding the game's longevity: its community. "I don't know if it's just the nature of our game or what, but our community is very mature... I think that kind of back-and-forth and that discourse that we have with our player base is one of the reasons why we have such a dedicated following."

You can read the full interview and glean all of Paragon Studios' secrets at Gamasutra.

MassivelyParagon Studios spills the secrets of success originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-rogueCity-of-VillainscohDavid-Nakayamagamasutrainterviewjesse-caceresmission-architectparagon-studiosultra-modeThu, 19 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes returns to the Cathedral in Issue 18]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/city-of-heroes-returns-to-the-cathedral-in-issue-18/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/city-of-heroes-returns-to-the-cathedral-in-issue-18/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/city-of-heroes-returns-to-the-cathedral-in-issue-18/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

We know that Going Rogue is going live for City of Heroes players in August, and that means a new major patch for the game. We know that the update will be Issue 18, followed by the much-discussed Issue 19 that finishes the Incarnate System and expands the endgame. What we haven't known until now is exactly what Issue 18 will contain other than expansion content -- and while it's unlikely that many of the game's players would be skipping out on the expansion, there's always the chance. The development team has broken that silence, however, revealing some of the additions to the game with the new update, including the long-awaited return of the Cathedral of Pain.

Yes, Issue 18 will see the return of the Cathedral of Pain trial after a nearly four-year hiatus. Players can expect the trial to have been heavily rewritten while maintaining the same basic framework, the location itself being one of the core sanctums for Rularuu the Ravager. Beyond that is the addition of the Tips system, additions to Mission Architect, and the ability to trade inspirations between heroes and villains. Take a look at the official site for more previews of the next free update to City of Heroes, and take a look at the gallery for some more shots of Praetoria and the revamped Cathedral.

Gallery: City of Heroes Issue 18 screenshots

The new Cathedral of PainHeroes launching into actionA group shot of some Going Rogue heroesIn honor of the Emperor himself

MassivelyCity of Heroes returns to the Cathedral in Issue 18 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cathedral-of-paincity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcoh-issue-18coh-issue-19covcoxfree-updatesgoing-roguegrincarnate-systemissue-18issue-19mission-architectncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchespraetoriaupdatesThu, 08 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Questions versus answers, no holds barred!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/a-mild-mannered-reporter-questions-versus-answers-no-holds-bar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/a-mild-mannered-reporter-questions-versus-answers-no-holds-bar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/a-mild-mannered-reporter-questions-versus-answers-no-holds-bar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We interrupt your regularly-scheduled guide to playing a spider for a number of questions and answers, and possibly several comic book sound effects! (Okay, it's not exactly "interrupting" anything when I said that it would be here this week, but humor me.) As usual, the community has taken the opportunity to ask me a number of City of Heroes questions, and I have used my magical time-looker-forward tube to find the vast majority of the answers. So with that having been said, let's get into the down and dirty, shall we?

Superfan asked:
"Massively suspects the game has only 40,000 active subscibers right now?"

No, the quick math done by one Massively writer suggested it as a possible figure, based on some generous margins and assuming everyone's subscription is on a one-month-recurring basis as opposed to the plethora of other subscription pricing plans available. The goal was to create a vague idea of how many subscribers on an active basis the game might have at the moment, since we no longer get actual subscription numbers for the game.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Questions versus answers, no holds barred!

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Questions versus answers, no holds barred! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonusbonusescity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxfeaturedgoing-roguelevelingmission-architectncsoftparagonparagon-studiospre-orderpre-purchasesubscribersWed, 02 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: We're all in this together]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-were-all-in-this-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-were-all-in-this-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-were-all-in-this-together/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Community can be a funny thing. We pick the community we're in -- in this case, City of Heroes -- but we don't pick any of the other members. Sometimes they're all really stand-out folks, and sometimes... well, sometimes your choices are between Flower Power, Slug-fest, and Hammer Time. Lucky for us, the community that's formed itself around our favorite superhero MMO is pretty darn good at its worst and outright awesome most of the time. (And a proper shout-out to our community for the game right here, while I'm at it.)

To be fair, we're a bit on the lean side at the moment. After all, we're not getting another update for a couple of months and we almost all know it. Issue 17 is pretty awesome, but we also know that Going Rogue is just around the corner, and so most of us are focused a bit more on the future. But we've still got a lot to talk about in our day-to-day adventures. That both helps everyone to feel that much more welcome, and it helps facilitate this week's look at some of the noteworthy community threads that have been cropping up lately.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: We're all in this together

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: We're all in this together originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcommunitycovcoxexpansionsfeaturedfinancialgoing-rogueissue-17itemsmission-architectparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesparagon-studiossubscriberssuper-boostsuper-boosterusable-itemWed, 19 May 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Everybody needs a question answered sometime]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-everybody-needs-a-question-answered-so/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-everybody-needs-a-question-answered-so/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-everybody-needs-a-question-answered-so/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If you haven't read Jason Vuic's excellent history of the Yugo, you're doing yourself a disservice -- at least, if you have any interest in terrible cars, history, or just the crazy stylings of Malcolm Bricklin. What does that have to do with today's bevvy of City of Heroes questions, hot on the heels of our anniversary? Well, not everyone can afford the Batmobile. There are places where the Paragon Monorail (aka Justice Mass Transit) won't take you. And on those occasions, well, you truly wish that you'd just dropped the ten dollars on the Martial Arts booster or taken the darn travel power. Onward!

Dashel asked:
"When will Blasters get more secondaries, original or proliferated?"

Soon! Maybe. I've heard tell that we may well be due for another wave of powerset proliferation with the release of Going Rogue, although that's far from a confirmed fact. So Blasters can expect to get some more love there. But we don't have any idea of exactly when we'll see more secondaries as opposed to more primary sets. The trouble is that as Blasters have been designed, they have the undesirable trait that Masterminds share: they've got a setup for one of their sets that nobody else shares.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Everybody needs a question answered sometime

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Everybody needs a question answered sometime originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 May 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypescarscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxfarminggrindingmission-architectparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioespowerset-proliferationpowersetspraetoriaproliferationsuperheroesterrible-carstraveltravel-powersultra-modeyugoWed, 05 May 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Issue 17 of City of Heroes goes live with launch trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/issue-17-of-city-of-heroes-goes-live-with-launch-trailer-embarg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/issue-17-of-city-of-heroes-goes-live-with-launch-trailer-embarg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/issue-17-of-city-of-heroes-goes-live-with-launch-trailer-embarg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Today is a big day for City of Heroes. Not only is it the six-year anniversary of the game, with celebrations taking place both in-game and out, it's also the launch of the much-awaited Issue 17. Dubbed "Dark Mirror," the update features the graphical tweaks collectively known as Ultra Mode, as well as new story arcs and missions, improvements to Mission Architect, and a whole host of additional changes. It's also the release of the awaited Demon Summoning powerset, which is available to everyone who has prepurchased the upcoming Going Rogue expansion.

Behind the cut is the official trailer for the update, which should help whet the appetite of any fans anxiously awaiting the update to complete downloading. Aside from highlighting the visuals of Ultra Mode in real-time, it shows off some of the mission content, including the full-scale war against the Freakshow pictured above. There's also the doppelgangers and the Positron task force to show off -- and only a couple more months until the game's second major expansion. Click on past the cut to see the trailer, and enjoy the new changes that help keep City of Heroes fresh six years out.

Continue reading Issue 17 of City of Heroes goes live with launch trailer

MassivelyIssue 17 of City of Heroes goes live with launch trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdark-mirrordemon-summoningdoppelgangersfreakshowgoing-rogueissue-17mission-architectparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioespatchespowersetstask-forcetrailersultra-modeupdatesWed, 28 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Six (years) in the city]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-six-years-in-the-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-six-years-in-the-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-six-years-in-the-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's strange to think that City of Heroes is older than my car. But that's only the tip of the iceberg, as the game is six years old as of today and still running strong. Oh, sure, there are some signs of aging here and there, some parts that don't fit quite as well as they did back when it launched... but the game holds up pretty darn well. And that's astonishing, considering that it launched a full year before the game that generally gets the credit for starting new paradigms of MMO design.

Of course, you can go further back and point out that a lot of the "innovations" that The Game Which Shall Not Be Named included were present beforehand, and you'd be correct. But after the EverQuest era of game design, City of Heroes stood as a vanguard of a new design philosophy. It was a game with unparalleled customization at the time, a game that put forth the idea that you could be just as cool at Level 1 as you could at max level. So how have things changed? How far have we come in the years? There's almost too much to cover to go over everything... but we can hit the big points.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Six (years) in the city

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Six (years) in the city originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdinosaursexpansionsfeaturedgame-changesgoing-roguemission-architectparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioespatchesretrospectivesystemsupdatesWed, 28 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Glorious roundup of community motherland]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/a-mild-mannered-reporter-glorious-roundup-of-community-motherla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/a-mild-mannered-reporter-glorious-roundup-of-community-motherla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/a-mild-mannered-reporter-glorious-roundup-of-community-motherla/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I am still deeply disappointed that we do not have more Russia-themed content... well, anywhere, but especially in City of Heroes. Having grown up during the end of the Cold War, I want more fur coats and red stars and winter wastelands with nuclear missiles. Yes, it's stereotypical, but so are steampunk Prussians, holdovers from the Third Reich, and robed sword-wielding cultists. Wouldn't it be lovely?

Now, much as I might like to, my love of the odd post-Cold War Russian image that's now been inserted unceremoniously into pop culture is not the point of today's article. No, today we're focusing on a straight roundup of all the community discussions that have been taking place of late, and, as always, there's plenty to talk about. While the news about Going Rogue has slowed slightly, Issue 17 is just around the corner, and the City of Heroes community hasn't stopped finding things to talk about over the past six years anyhow. Jump on past the cut for highlights of the glorious motherland of community.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Glorious roundup of community motherland

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Glorious roundup of community motherland originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxfeaturedgoing-rogueissue-17mission-architectparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioespower-poolsresurrectionskillsspellsultra-modeWed, 21 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Architectural concerns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/a-mild-mannered-reporter-architectural-concerns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/a-mild-mannered-reporter-architectural-concerns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/a-mild-mannered-reporter-architectural-concerns/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The big news for City of Heroes over the past week (at least at the time of writing) was the rather borked Mission Architect fix that went live. Well-intentioned, sure, but still borked beyond all comprehension. There's nothing like losing out on experience gained because of rescuing hostages to make players feel like they're welcomed to try out player-created content.

But let's not kid ourselves: this is not exactly a unique occurrence. We've been having problems involving some combination of Mission Architect and farming more or less since it launched, and that was back on Issue 14. A year out, you would kind of expect that they'd fix the basic problem of people trying to get something for nothing... but here we are, and the team is still rocking back and forth on the feature. If you're one of the players who prefer the farming style, nowadays it likely feels like more trouble than it's worth.

So naturally, I decided to take a look at Mission Architect and what it means for City of Heroes today. Specifically, both why it's important that the team does their best to keep it balanced, and why said balancing is pointless and a waste of time. (I love arguing self-defeating premises.)

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Architectural concerns

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Architectural concerns originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbrokencity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxexploitsfarmingfeaturedissue-14mission-architectparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioespatchesWed, 14 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mission Architect fix goes haywire in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/mission-architect-fix-goes-haywire-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/mission-architect-fix-goes-haywire-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/mission-architect-fix-goes-haywire-in-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With any player-generated content system, a game becomes a struggle between two equal and opposing forces: the designers who want to cram in every possible exploit to get the best possible rewards with the least possible effort, and those who just want to make really neat story arcs. City of Heroes recently dropped a small patch in the hopes of fighting something that had been a target for exploits, and unfortunately the latter group got caught in the crossfire.

In short, the patch was designed to target allied NPCs in missions who didn't attack, but buffed the player characters to the gills in order to make missions easier. Unfortunately, caught in the crossfire were almost any missions that involved things other than enemies, up to and including missions where players would rescue hostages. Needless to say, player response has not been kind.

Sean "Dr. Aeon" McCann was quick to give an official statement on the matter, explaining that the idea was to implement a temporary fix that would prevent current farming, with a more permanent one coming around Issue 17's launch. (Although we don't have a specific date on that, it's been generally pegged for early this month.) Until then, City of Heroes players might find themselves advised to take a break from Mission Architect for a little while.

[ Thanks to Steve for the tip! ]

MassivelyMission Architect fix goes haywire in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-issue-17city-of-villainscohcovcoxcrossfiredr-aeonexploitissue-17mission-architectparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioespatchsean-dr-aeon-mccannsean-mccannFri, 09 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2010: City of Heroes panel reveals many things]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/pax-east-2010-city-of-heroes-panel-reveals-many-things/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/pax-east-2010-city-of-heroes-panel-reveals-many-things/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/pax-east-2010-city-of-heroes-panel-reveals-many-things/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Unpacking the City of Heroes panel at PAX East is a big deal: there were huge amounts of information being thrown around, and a lot of new pieces of information to process. For that matter, there was far more than anyone expected, with information about the full spread of new issues up to Issue 19 and the reveal of Matt "Positron" Miller's heretofore unrevealed new endgame system. The panel as a whole featured a huge breadth of information about the game from concept into the future, and was filled with people long before the official start time, with fans vocally professing their adoration for the team the whole way through.

We had the good fortune to be front and center at the theatre, and once we started taking notes we didn't really stop until the event was over. At the panel were lead designer Melissa Bianco, former lead designer and current lead system designer Matt Miller, art lead David Nakayama, and development producer Jesse Caceres. They opened off with a discussion of the game's history from launch back in 2004 to the present. The changeover from Cryptic to Paragon Studios was discussed in brief, mentioning that four of the major launch employees (Miller, Bianco, CW Bennet, and Brian Clayton) were still with Paragon even after the change.

Continue reading PAX East 2010: City of Heroes panel reveals many things

MassivelyPAX East 2010: City of Heroes panel reveals many things originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-heroes-issue-17city-of-heroes-issue-18city-of-heroes-issue-19city-of-heroes-ultra-modecity-of-villainscohcovcoxcryptic-studiosdavid-nakayamaexpansionsfeaturedgoing-rogueissue-17issue-18issue-19jesse-caceresmatt-positron-millermelissa-biancomelissa-war-witch-biancomission-architectnew-powersetspanelsparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesparagon-studiospax-2010pax-east-2010powersetsultra-modeSun, 28 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Return of community news]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-return-of-community-news/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-return-of-community-news/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-return-of-community-news/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

There's quite a bit to crow about in the City of Heroes community of late. Since the last time we've taken a look at the community, we've had a huge amount of new information about the next expansion, a double XP weekend, and the usual regimen of alien invasions and parallel universes. (July's release of Going Rogue will greatly increase the parallel universe portion.) And if you live on the east coast, you also have the opportunity to meet the Paragon Studios crew without traveling to the other side of the country!

Have I mentioned that I live on the east coast?

So next week, expect a very weary me to be dishing out a whole bunch of news from PAX East, as I'm going to be following the crew around like a forlorn puppy. But that's then and this is now. Today, we're going to be looking at some of the interesting community threads that have popped up over the last month, from the serious to the amusing.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Return of community news

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Return of community news originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>characterscity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohconceptscovcoxdevelopmentdouble-xp-weekendeconomyfeaturedgoing-roguemelissa-biancomission-architectmoralityparagonparagon-cohparagon-studiospax-east-2010player-generated-contentWed, 24 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: How skirmishes have changed LotRO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/the-road-to-mordor-how-skirmishes-have-changed-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/the-road-to-mordor-how-skirmishes-have-changed-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/the-road-to-mordor-how-skirmishes-have-changed-lotro/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Every Friday, The Road to Mordor brings you the latest in Lord of the Rings Online news, guides and analysis.

In the last couple years, MMO developers have been addressing the problem of stagnant mid- and end-game play by giving gamers various forms of repeatable content. Warhammer Online proposed PvP scenarios, World of Warcraft launched their Dungeon Finder, City of Heroes added in Mission Architect, and with the advent of the Siege of Mirkwood expansion, LotRO invented skirmishes.

While not identical in form or function, each of these systems is similar in a few ways: they are instantly accessible, they promote easy grouping, they encourage ad nauseum replay, and they offer an alternative way to gain XP and levels. Not to mention that while each of these features has seen criticism, they are greatly embraced by the playerbase and enjoyed by millions daily.

One could argue -- and I guess I am that one -- that skirmishes were LotRO's hole card for Mirkwood, the big "hook" that grabbed players' attention and imaginations. While not a complete game-changer, skirmishes have undeniably altered the face of the game and impacted many players' experiences, for better or worse. So let's face this change head-on and see how skirmishes have fared since last December's debut.

Pick up a lute and play me a merry song, for we'll need all the courage to hit the jump and come out on top!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: How skirmishes have changed LotRO

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: How skirmishes have changed LotRO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroesdungeon-finderfeaturedlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-skirmishlotro-skirmishesmirkwoodmission-architectpvp-scenariossiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishestolkienWarhammer-Onlineworld-of-warcraftFri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Issue 17 details for City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/new-issue-17-details-for-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/new-issue-17-details-for-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/new-issue-17-details-for-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you play City of Heroes, you're looking forward to the upcoming Issue 17. We've heard some of what can be expected from the big pre-expansion drop, but much of it was cloaked in vague terms -- improvements that didn't have any hard data attached to them, like the promise of new missions and UI revisions. But the official site has put up a page on the coming features for the update, and it helps clarify some things we didn't know about, as well as offering some excellent news besides. And it promises the end of Positron's dreaded unending task force! (It'll still be there, but it will be split into two parts and improved all around.)

Continue reading New Issue 17 details for City of Heroes

MassivelyNew Issue 17 details for City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsanimationscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcoh-issue-17contentcovcoxenhancementsgraphicsinfamyinfluencemailmission-architectmissionsparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioestask-forceWed, 24 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultra Mode, new powersets, and new issue coming to City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/ultra-mode-new-powersets-and-new-issue-coming-to-city-of-heroe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/ultra-mode-new-powersets-and-new-issue-coming-to-city-of-heroe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/ultra-mode-new-powersets-and-new-issue-coming-to-city-of-heroe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dr. Aeon is as good as his word and better yet. We're not just getting Ultra Mode prior to the launch of City of Heroes: Going Rogue, we're getting a whole cavalcade of new things. City of Heroes players who have been holding off on pre-ordering the expansion are being given good reason not to dawdle, as pre-order customers will get access to the powersets in March and April. While an exact date of release has not been given, we are now being told that Going Rogue is expected to release in July, meaning we have a pretty clear idea of when we can start switching sides.

But hold on to your hats, because there's still a lot more. Issue 17 is also going to bring the biggest change to Epic Archetypes since they were introduced: they will now unlock at level 20. That's a thirty-level drop and makes playing one as your main more fesable than ever. Oh, and we're promised new UI improvements, Mission Architect improvements, and more missions and badges. And that's not even touching on the promise of Going Rogue's collector's edition... suffice it to say that there's a lot to look forward to for City of Heroes players, and there looks to be quite a bit to talk about in the near future.

Gallery: City of Heroes Issue 17 Screenshots

MassivelyUltra Mode, new powersets, and new issue coming to City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-issue-17city-of-villainscohcollectors-editioncovcoxepic-archetypegoing-rogueissue-17mission-architectnew-powersetsparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesTue, 09 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New City of Heroes Mission Architect contest leaves everyone powerless]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/new-city-of-heroes-mission-architect-contest-leaves-everyone-pow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/new-city-of-heroes-mission-architect-contest-leaves-everyone-pow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/new-city-of-heroes-mission-architect-contest-leaves-everyone-pow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If there's one storyline that comic book writers love coming back to, and there certainly is, it's the idea of the main characters losing their abilities. Seeing whether or not heroes can overcome challenges without their gifts, or if villains are as dangerous when merely mortal, gives a lot of definition to normally superhuman antics. It's time for creators in City of Heroes to take on that trope, because the latest Mission Architect contest is all about taking the power away from the best-known champions of the city or the isles.

The contest, running until February 24th, requires an arc centered around a known figure losing their powers, be they hero or villain. If that's not enough to capture the feel, though, the arc is meant for the lowest possible level band of 5-10. There's also a brief reminder that part of the goal is to stretch one's legs, and that the best arcs will likely incorporate features not generally found in low-level content. As with the prior contest, the prize is a permanent title and a potential Developer's Choice pick for the arc, so City of Heroes players should start thinking about what would be a fun way to be unempowered.

MassivelyNew City of Heroes Mission Architect contest leaves everyone powerless originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcontestcovcoxdr-aeonmission-architectmission-architect-contestparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioessean-dr-aeon-mccannsean-mccannThu, 04 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview sheds more light on latest City of Heroes guest authors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/interview-sheds-more-light-on-latest-city-of-heroes-guest-author/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/interview-sheds-more-light-on-latest-city-of-heroes-guest-author/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/interview-sheds-more-light-on-latest-city-of-heroes-guest-author/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With the recent introduction of three new arcs in the guest author series, City of Heroes gets to enjoy a bit more time in the limelight thanks to the Mission Architect system. The arcs are currently available on the live servers, and while they won't provide weeks of enjoyment, they'll certainly pass a fair bit of time and be a fun ride in the process. Gamepro recently had the opportunity to talk to the newest guest authors about their experience working on the arcs and playing the game.

If there's one unifying strand to all of the author comments, it's that working on Mission Architect doesn't just help create content, it forces creators to train themselves to write better. With limitations on how much speech can appear and when, all three authors mention that it forces the story down to its essentials. But it's not a limiting factor in making things weaker -- rather, it forces you to craft something that's entertaining even without a lot of flowery dialogue.

The full interview also covers each author's experiences in balancing the arcs, as well as Ms. Lackey's discussion of her history as a player. Whether you've already experienced the new City of Heroes arcs or have yet to take them for a spin, it's clear that a great deal of thought and effort went into them.

MassivelyInterview sheds more light on latest City of Heroes guest authors originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austin-grossmancity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxguest-authorguest-author-programmercedes-lackeymission-architectncsofttroy-hickmanThu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes announces next guest authors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/city-of-heroes-announces-next-guest-authors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/city-of-heroes-announces-next-guest-authors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/city-of-heroes-announces-next-guest-authors/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Back in October, City of Heroes players got a treat in the form of three arcs created by high-profile creative minds. The Guest Author program used the Mission Architect system and gave players the enjoyment of working through missions scripted by authors known outside of the realm of Paragon City. We haven't heard much about the program since then, and so it might have seemed as if the feature had been forgotten, but it turns out it was simply in brief hibernation, as the official site has announced the next group of writers.

Mercedes Lackey (known for her series of fantasy novels set in Valdemar), Troy Hickman (known for the meta-superhero series Common Grounds), and Austin Grossman (longtime writer of video games and author of Soon I Will Be Invincible) make up the next batch of guest writers crafting their own arcs in City of Heroes. Two of the arcs should be live today (assuming you're reading this on January 26th), according to a small supplementary piece which includes a few words from Sean McCann. It's good to see the game continuing to emphasize and enhance the experience of user-created content, and players should look forward to some high-profile names continuing to take their swing at it.

MassivelyCity of Heroes announces next guest authors originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austin-grossmancity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdr-aeonguest-authormercedes-lackeymission-architectparagon-studiossean-dr-aeon-mccannsean-mccanntroy-hickmanTue, 26 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The community of architects in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/10/the-community-of-architects-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/10/the-community-of-architects-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/10/the-community-of-architects-in-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If there's one thing that City of Heroes has become known for, it's the Mission Architect system. The player-generated content spans a huge number of adventures, ranging from the silly to the sublime. It's also robust enough in its search function that it's essentially added another venue of content into the game. The official site recently highlighted a feature in The Escapist, interviewing a number of community members and acclaimed users of the system about its ups, downs, and the overall experience.

The system has faced a few problems -- abuse of it early on led to bans and some content removal, since it's easy when creating content to be too generous with the rewards and too light with the difficulty. There's also the issue of inappropriate content, and of course the possibility that a large portion of what's available just isn't all that good. The full piece highlights some of the better arcs available (including more than a few Developer's Choice missions, which were selected as being good enough to qualify as official content), as well as the efforts and reasoning behind the more popular creators and what they've built. Matt Miller was quoted as saying that players did in one day with the system what it took the developers five years to accomplish. Quite an argument in favor of player-created content, that.

MassivelyThe community of architects in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcontent-abusecovcoxdevelopers-choicematt-millermatt-positron-millermission-architectparagon-studiosplayer-generated-contentpositronSun, 10 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why You Should Be Playing City of Heroes: Content on demand]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/28/why-you-should-be-playing-city-of-heroes-content-on-demand/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/28/why-you-should-be-playing-city-of-heroes-content-on-demand/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/28/why-you-should-be-playing-city-of-heroes-content-on-demand/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


With all the talk about the Skirmish system in Lord of the Rings Online and the World of Warcraft dungeon finder, it's hard to argue that people don't really like having the option to simply pick up and start playing something. Both of these systems thrive on the strength of their pick-up-and-play nature -- you don't have to wait to find a group, you just jump right into content without any slowdown. The obvious question, then, becomes "why didn't someone notice that people like to just jumping in and playing the darn game?"

Of course,the full answer is a bit less obvious but no less true: someone did. Several someones, in fact. Paragon Studios and Cryptic before them both realized how much people like to just pick up and go. That's why City of Heroes currently sports three different systems to allow you or a full team access to content quickly, ranging from reliving your character's greatest triumphs to fighting Nazi vampires on the moon.

Continue reading Why You Should Be Playing City of Heroes: Content on demand

MassivelyWhy You Should Be Playing City of Heroes: Content on demand originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdungeon-finderfeaturedflashbackinstant-contentlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromission-architectncsoftnewspaper-missionopinionparagonparagon-studiosplayer-made-contentpolice-scannerskirmishwowMon, 28 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mission Architect contest launched in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/12/mission-architect-contest-launched-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/12/mission-architect-contest-launched-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/12/mission-architect-contest-launched-in-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


If you like creating content, the Mission Architect system in City of Heroes offers a lot of venues for your creativity, and it's certainly one of the most-touted features of the game. Now, you might be able to get more than just the joy of having other people play through your creation as a prize. There's a new contest on the official site that promises to be the first in a series, allowing a lucky designer to receive a special title and possibly even the coveted Designer's Choice award for their mission.

Sound like your sort of contest? There's a single catch -- you have to work within a given theme. In this case, the mission arc has to involve a hero doing evil for the greater good. That's a theme so ripe for exploration that we're all but certain several people came up with mission arcs just reading the line, so if you're firing on all cylinders take a look at the official rules and then get cracking. The contest ends on December 7th, plenty of time for crafting whatever story you think is best -- and considering City of Heroes: Going Rogue will be out before we know it, the submissions may wind up being more appropriate than you think. Considering that... well, who knows what winning might do for your future? Best to get to work.

MassivelyMission Architect contest launched in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcontestscovcoxgoing-roguemission-architectnews-itemsplayer-created-contentreal-world-eventsThu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews City of Heroes' newest architect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/massively-interviews-city-of-heroes-newest-architect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/massively-interviews-city-of-heroes-newest-architect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/massively-interviews-city-of-heroes-newest-architect/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sean "Dr. Aeon" McCann is the newest member of the City of Heroes team, having wowed Paragon with his recent outstanding work on Mission Architect. We got a chance to congratulate Dr. Aeon directly, and took the opportunity to talk with him about his new position. He gives us a look at how he made the leap from player to team member, how he's settling in to his new role, and all about the fun of working on Mission Architect.

Follow along after the jump for a look into the "greatest mind the world has ever known."

Continue reading Massively interviews City of Heroes' newest architect

MassivelyMassively interviews City of Heroes' newest architect originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescohinterviewInterviewsmission-architectncsoftparagon-studiossean-mccannMon, 02 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes announces Guest Author Program for Mission Architect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/06/city-of-heroes-announces-guest-author-program-for-mission-archit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/06/city-of-heroes-announces-guest-author-program-for-mission-archit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/06/city-of-heroes-announces-guest-author-program-for-mission-archit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


No doubt it's Champions Online that seems to be getting the superhero MMO headlines of late in the gaming press, both for the new title's release and for some of the issues they've had in relation to that launch. But competition is generally a good thing from a gamer's perspective, and City of Heroes is also stepping up their game, particularly in regards to the Mission Architect.

When the devs introduced the Mission Architect to City of Heroes, it was their first step towards embracing player-generated content and adding new dimensions to the game experience. They've announced that the next step with Mission Architect is to have a Guest Author Program where "comic book notables try their hand at mission design." NCsoft says the program will "invite influential writers and aspiring game or story designers" to collaborate with the City of Heroes devs and bring these missions into the game.

Continue reading City of Heroes announces Guest Author Program for Mission Architect

MassivelyCity of Heroes announces Guest Author Program for Mission Architect originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captain-dynamiccity-of-heroesguest-author-programlolbatmission-architectncsoftparagon-studiosred-vs-bluerooster-teethscott-kurtzsuper-herosuperheroSun, 06 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SDCC 09: City of Heroes devs on the future of player-created content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/26/sdcc-09-city-of-heroes-devs-on-the-future-of-player-created-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/26/sdcc-09-city-of-heroes-devs-on-the-future-of-player-created-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/26/sdcc-09-city-of-heroes-devs-on-the-future-of-player-created-con/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


This week marked the annual pilgrimage to Comic-Con International in San Diego for the comics and gaming faithful, and a number of superhero MMO developers were there as well to whip the fanboys (and girls) into a frenzy. When you think about it, comic conventions are as big for superhero games as other events like E3 and PAX. Massively was on the ground at SDCC this year and among the games we took a look at was, not surprisingly, City of Heroes.

We caught up with City of Heroes game designers Joe Morrissey and Matt "Positron" Miller who shared with us a bit about how things have changed in the game in recent months, and gave us some info about the content and features on the way in Issue 16: Power Spectrum.

Gallery: SDCC09: City of Heroes

Continue reading SDCC 09: City of Heroes devs on the future of player-created content

MassivelySDCC 09: City of Heroes devs on the future of player-created content originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcomic-concomic-con-2009customizationissue-16joe-morrisseymatt-millermission-architectnc-norcalparagon-studiospositronpower-customizationpower-spectrumsdcc-09superheroesSun, 26 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redefining MMOs: Player developers!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/redefining-mmos-player-developers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/redefining-mmos-player-developers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/redefining-mmos-player-developers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A few weeks ago, we at Massively started the weekly "Redefining MMOs" series, a collection of articles examining how the MMO genre has been redefined during the current generation of games and where it's headed in the next. So far, we've looked at the terminology we use to refer to MMOs, how the art of storytelling has changed over the years, and the rise of the "massively singleplayer" online game. In this week's article, I examine what happens when players are given the reigns of an MMO or have a hand in part of its development. If you have something important to say on the topic, feel free to post a comment on page 3 or even write your own "Redefining MMOs" blog post and leave a comment with the URL.

Traditionally, all content for an MMO is designed by the game's development studio and players have no direct influence on its creation. The idea of handing the reigns of an MMO to its players is considered heresy and we shudder to think of what horrible quests and areas players would construct if given a chance. But is our aversion justified or is it something developers should strive to overcome? Certainly Second Life has successfully capitalised on letting players develop almost every aspect of its virtual world but could successful mainstream MMOs make use of it too? City of Heroes, EVE Online and even World of Warcraft are prime examples which suggest they can. All three of these games have handed at least some part of the game's development over to players, with incredibly promising results.

In this article, I look at these three successful examples of players being allowed to develop aspects of an MMO. I then go on to explain why this works and how the next generation of MMOs could learn from these pioneering feats.

Continue reading Redefining MMOs: Player developers!

MassivelyRedefining MMOs: Player developers! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonblizzardcities-xlcity of heroescity-of-heroesCityOfHeroescohcommunitiescommunityeveeve-onlinemissionmission architectmission-architectMissionArchitectoutpostsposRedefining-mmosuiworld of warcraftworld-of-warcraftWorldOfWarcraftwowThu, 23 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Additional Mission Architect slots for City of Heroes now available]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/additional-mission-architect-slots-for-city-of-heroes-now-availa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/additional-mission-architect-slots-for-city-of-heroes-now-availa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/additional-mission-architect-slots-for-city-of-heroes-now-availa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Hey there, look, we need to talk. We've seen you deleting and restarting your custom created missions in City of Heroes for a while now. At this point, we think you've probably recreated the entire 52 storylines a couple times over. It's too hard for us to watch you slave away for hours before getting another idea and starting all over again. That's why we're here to tell you that Paragon Studios has announced the sale of additional Mission Architect slots. You can now add one, two or five extra slots for $5.99, $9.99, and $19.99 respectively.

So please, stop giving us that puppy dog look every time your creative juices begin to percolate. Especially when, for the price of a DVD, you can max out your available mission slots at eight -- eight! In another few months, we suspect you'll be asking for 16, though.

MassivelyAdditional Mission Architect slots for City of Heroes now available originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescohcustom-contentmission-architectmissionsncsoftparagon-studiosWed, 08 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rampant farming forces Paragon Studios to remove City of Heroes badges]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/rampant-farming-forces-paragon-studios-to-remove-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/rampant-farming-forces-paragon-studios-to-remove-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/rampant-farming-forces-paragon-studios-to-remove-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


When City of Heroes brought us Issue 14, they also brought something rather unique to the MMO space with the Mission Architect -- the ability for players to create their own mission scenarios and share them with other players. Unfortunately, when many games offer achievements of some sort, there are people who figure out ways to cheat the system and farm them out... which, sadly, has proven to be the case with City of Heroes.

Synapse (aka Phil Zeleski) from the City of Heroes development team addresses this in a recent blog post. He writes: "We really didn't want the Mission Architect to be an environment that encourages farming for XP, Rewards or Badges, and we thought long and hard about the current Architect badge situation. Ultimately we'd like it to be a place where you go to play great player created content." To keep the Mission Architect system in keeping with their initial goals, Paragon Studios is removing the badges commonly farmed from the game, 90 of them in all, which he lists in his post.

Continue reading Rampant farming forces Paragon Studios to remove City of Heroes badges

MassivelyRampant farming forces Paragon Studios to remove City of Heroes badges originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsbadgescity-of-heroescohfarmingforumsgame-mechanicsissue-14mission-architectparagon-studiosphil-zeleskisuper-herosynapseSun, 24 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Matt "Positron" Miller prepares his radioactive banhammer against mission architect abusers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/matt-positron-miller-prepares-his-radioactive-banhammer-agains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/matt-positron-miller-prepares-his-radioactive-banhammer-agains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/matt-positron-miller-prepares-his-radioactive-banhammer-agains/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Mission architect -- an amazing system that allows a very creative player-base to finally take the reigns of creation and make amazing in-game arcs that feature personalized stories, personalized characters, farming, well made.... wait, what?

Yes, you heard that right, people have already began to leverage City of Heroes's architect system into nothing more than powerleveling tool, and the community doesn't find that to be too enjoyable. Luckily, Matt "Positron" Miller, the lead designer, has already stepped up with a post to the community on the City of Heroes message board about how they plan on dealing with these problems.

The team wishes to remove the rewards some characters may have gained through powerleveling, all the way up to removing access to characters that were solely leveled up via mission architect exploits. Past working on a player by player bases, some badges will be changed while others may be removed entirely due to the exploiting groups surrounding them. Lastly, but certainly not least, the team will be proactively banning missions that are created to exploit the system.

For Matt's full plan, check out his post over on the City of Heroes message board.

MassivelyMatt "Positron" Miller prepares his radioactive banhammer against mission architect abusers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architectbadgesbanhammerbanningcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsexploitglitchingmatt-millermatt-positron-millermission-architectpositronpower-levelingstory-arcTue, 05 May 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes: Architect Edition giveaway]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/city-of-heroes-architect-edition-giveaway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/city-of-heroes-architect-edition-giveaway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/city-of-heroes-architect-edition-giveaway/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Everyone's favorite superhero MMO, City of Heroes, turns five years old today! And while NCsoft is holding their own celebrations, at Massively we're marking the occasion by giving away three copies of the game's new Architect Edition (worth approximately $20). So for those of you who've not yet gotten in on the fun that is the character creation mini-game (or Mission Architect, the expanded character creation mini-game which allows you to build your own in-game mission arcs), here's your chance!

To enter, just reply to this post with a comment telling us what kind of mission you'd like to make in City of Heroes. Will your mession feature ninjas? Zombies? Velociraptors? [Editor's note: we're not actually sure if missions can feature velociraptors. As mankind's ultimate enemy, they'd obviously be overpowered.] You may enter once per calendar day and all entries must be submitted by 9AM Eastern on Saturday, May 2nd, 2009. So you've the rest of the week to think about it! Three lucky winners will be chosen at random to receive a copy of City of Heroes: Architect Edition. Eligibility is restricted to the legal residents of the 50 United States (including DC) and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years of age or older. You can find complete rules and restrictions for this giveaway here. And, of course, good luck!

MassivelyCity of Heroes: Architect Edition giveaway originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architect-editioncohcovcoxgiveawaymission-architectncsoftTue, 28 Apr 2009 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes player created content surpasses dev's in 24 hours]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/18/city-of-heroes-player-created-content-surpasses-devs-in-24-hour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/18/city-of-heroes-player-created-content-surpasses-devs-in-24-hour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/18/city-of-heroes-player-created-content-surpasses-devs-in-24-hour/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It seems as though Paragon Studios have hit content gold with their Issue 14 free update and its Mission Architect system. In the short span of just one day, the City of Heroes community has made more content for the game than has been built during the entirety of the game's life. And even though initial excitement is bound to sizzle down as time passes, we can't wait to see what kinds of missions come out of the players who stick with it over the coming weeks and months.

Something that caught our eye was the fact that 70% of all player created content uses custom enemies made with the character creator. If there's one thing you notice after playing an MMO long enough, it's that all the enemies you fight start to become stale no matter how wonderfully designed they may be -- it's inevitable. With this update, however, there's no telling what strange creation you'll end up fighting when a new mission hits the list.

The launch definitely seems to have exceeded everyone's expectations, and what's really encouraging is that this is only the beginning for custom created game content in not only City of Heroes, but MMOs as a whole.

MassivelyCity of Heroes player created content surpasses dev's in 24 hours originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcontentissue-14mission-architectncsoftparagon-studiosSat, 18 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST