Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Developers, players, and respect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/ask-massively-developers-players-and-respect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/ask-massively-developers-players-and-respect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/ask-massively-developers-players-and-respect/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Darkfall
Welcome back to Ask Massively We're pleased you could join us on the deck of the Massively yacht for today's edition. You should really try a mojito. It's the best.

In between drinks today, we're talking about respect -- the earned kind, not the given kind. Don't worry; I'm not talking about respect you have for us or even for each other. (We all know that's non-existent.) I'm talking about the respect game studios have (and don't have) for MMO gamers in general.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Developers, players, and respect

MassivelyAsk Massively: Developers, players, and respect originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelyboycottboycottsbrianna-royce-ask-massivelydarkfalldarkfall-unholy-warsfeaturedhumormassively-metametamonoclegatengeopinionpromisesrespectunholy-warsThu, 31 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Gearing up for SWTOR Update 1.5]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/hyperspace-beacon-gearing-up-for-swtor-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/hyperspace-beacon-gearing-up-for-swtor-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/hyperspace-beacon-gearing-up-for-swtor-update-1-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon Gearing up for SWTOR Update 15
Star Wars: The Old Republic fans have been anticipating this week since the middle of the summer, and many players who dropped the game shortly after launch are looking forward to trying it out again. Veteran players are most likely familiar with how gear progression works in this game, but those returning will probably need a refresher course. After all, BioWare has made some significant changes, especially to PvP, since the game launched. It's quite understandable if you return to the game and are completely lost when considering how viable your current gear is.

Today, I'm going to speak to the returning players and help them put their gear to rights once Update 1.5 launches. If you are a solo PvEer who hasn't looked too hard at endgame gear progression, a PvPer who hasn't looked at the PvE side much, or a raider who wants to dabble in PvP, this mini-guide will help you get started and will give you the gear-progression goals you should shoot for.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Gearing up for SWTOR Update 1.5

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Gearing up for SWTOR Update 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassic-mmoeaelectronic-artsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgalaxiesgame-updategeargear-progressionhyperspace-beaconlucasartsNGEnovember-15opinionpatchPvEPvPsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.5Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE's John Smedley expresses regrets over SWG mishaps]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/soes-john-smedley-expresses-regrets-over-swg-mishaps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/soes-john-smedley-expresses-regrets-over-swg-mishaps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/soes-john-smedley-expresses-regrets-over-swg-mishaps/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies
Star Wars Galaxies may be no more, but its legacy lives on in memories, discussion, and hindsight analysis. Sony Online Entertainment's John Smedley had a frank talk with Industry Gamers in which he owns up to the mistakes of how the studio handled the title, particularly surrounding the much-maligned Combat Upgrade and New Game Enhancements.

What would Smedley do if he could go back and give it another try? His first regret is launching the game before the space combat system was done, and his second is that SOE didn't talk and listen to its players more. "We would have encouraged more in-depth discussion with the community surrounding the idea of any game modifications," he said.

Smedley is highly optimistic for the studio's future, particularly in its fervent belief in the free-to-play business model: "We think that 'Free to Play, Your Way' is our future. Giving players choices is the theme of how we're moving forward as a company, which means greater flexibility for our player base."

MassivelySOE's John Smedley expresses regrets over SWG mishaps originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combat-upgradecommunitycuf2pfree-to-playjohn-smedleynew-game-enhancementsngeplayersregretssmedsmedleysoesony-online-entertainmentspace-combatstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgWed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - Butterflies included especially for Jef
When SOE announced that Star Wars Galaxies would be sunsetted by the end of the year, many players despaired. They gave up. They saw their long years (eight years!) of play turn to dust. But others looked on the impending closure as incentive to do all those things they'd been putting off, all the activities they just hadn't gotten around to. There hadn't been time. The game is too big for anyone to do it all.

And that's precisely why Star Wars Galaxies is a legend among sandbox fans despite the NGE disaster. It's a living museum of great MMO ideas from the past, of player-driven economies, of open-world housing, of high-end, game-supported roleplay, of roaming in a game that lets you dictate the terms of your play. It's a rare relic you should see in the flesh, today, right now, before it's gone. You can pick up a weapon and fight in any MMO (excepting A Tale in the Desert, that is), but there are so many things you can do in Star Wars Galaxies that you can't do anywhere else with the same level of immersion. And I'm going to tell you which 10 you should do first... before it's too late.

Continue reading Ten things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone

MassivelyTen things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tabappearance-tabarmoratabatmospheric-flightcantinachat-bubbleschronicleschronicles-systemcityclothingcosmetic-outfitcraftingdanceremoteentertainerfeaturedhistoryhousehousingimage-designerinstrumentithorianjtljump-to-lightspeedmayormoodsmusicianngeopen-world-housingpilotplayer-cityplayer-run-cityroleplayroleplayingsandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-warsy-and-iconicstarshipsunsetswgswtorthe-old-republictortradervendorWed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Surviving the craftpocalypse]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/02/the-anvil-of-crom-surviving-the-craftpocalypse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/02/the-anvil-of-crom-surviving-the-craftpocalypse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/02/the-anvil-of-crom-surviving-the-craftpocalypse/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom header - big angry man with a battleaxe
So last week we started talking a bit about Age of Conan's 2012 crafting revamp. I laid out a few things that foul up the current system -- from a tradeskiller's point of view, naturally -- but I didn't quite get around to talking about solutions.

Though that's on the to-do list, I may not get around to it this week either, since a few mails and some forum discussions brought up a couple of interesting tangential points that I hadn't considered.

Surprisingly, I got email from folks who aren't really looking forward to the big tradeskill upheaval that Funcom game director Craig Morrison hinted at in the August development update. Even more mind-boggling was the fact that these folks aren't even crafters.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Surviving the craftpocalypse

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Surviving the craftpocalypse originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-craftingage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-craftingaoc-ngeaoc-unchainedchill-pillschillaxcraftingcrafting-revampcraftpocalypseeconomyf2pfantasyfeaturedfeedbackfree-to-playfuncomin-game-economyngeopinionreader-feedbacksurviving-the-craftpocalypsethe-anvil-of-cromtradeskill-revamptradeskillingtradeskillsvirtual-worldsSun, 02 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When have changes overwhelmed you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-daily-grind-when-have-changes-overwhelmed-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-daily-grind-when-have-changes-overwhelmed-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-daily-grind-when-have-changes-overwhelmed-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ask most Star Wars Galaxies fans what the problems were with the NGE, and you're likely to get a list that dwarfs most screenplays. But it's hard to argue that one of the major failings was that it was trying to make too many changes to the core of the game in too short a span of time. Even if the changes were good ones -- and many players were of the mind that they weren't -- it was a massive shift in a game without enough time to adapt to all the alterations.

Few MMO players would argue that games never need to change, if only to remove parts of the gameplay that are unintentionally broken. But changes that rush on too fast can leave players disoriented, unhappy, and more than a little confused. So when has the pace of change in a game overwhelmed your ability to cope? Was it a major change like World of Warcraft's massive overhaul of the old world, or even something simple but far-reaching like City of Heroes' Enhancement Diversification?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: When have changes overwhelmed you? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-changeschangechangescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxgame-mechanicsngeopinionoverhaulspatchesretoolsrevampssea-changestar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindupdatesworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 08 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite SWG memory?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-swg-memory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-swg-memory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-swg-memory/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So yeah, millions of sandbox fans cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Something terrible has happened, yada yada. By now the news of Star Wars Galaxies' untimely demise has circled round the interwebs a few million times.

What better time, then, to get on with a bit of nostalgia, amirite? Whether you're a dyed-in-the-wool Pre-CU-loving NGE-hating John-Smedley-cussing veteran, a former player who took a break and planned on returning one day, or a newly interested curiosity-seeker a bit late to the party, chances are you've got an SWG memory or two in your back pocket (along with all your droids and speeder bikes).

Today's Daily Grind is pretty simple. What's your favorite SWG memory? Tell us. Tell us now (or we'll force you to watch Attack of the Clones).

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite SWG memory? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantooine-theyre-on-dantooinegame-discussiongamer-discussionmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsngenoooooooooopinionpre-cusandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgswg-shutting-downtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 25 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

This week, the venerable Star Wars Galaxies celebrates its eighth year of existence. I was there in the beginning -- before the beginning, in fact. I did what a lot of you early SWG players probably did: I had a guild and a guild city, multiple accounts, a booming business as a chef, and a character who could entertain and fight. Even then, we realized how different SWG was from its immediate predecessors like EverQuest and Dark Age of Camelot. We'd returned to the earlier age of Ultima Online, of persistent worlds (as the term was used back then). It was more a world than a game, and in it we could roleplay whatever we liked, to a point. Nowadays, we'd call it a sandbox.

Old-school MMO gamers know well that the sandbox is under attack. Some will blame it on EverQuest, some on World of Warcraft, some on the free-to-play phenomenon. Among the Massively commenters, there's a large contingent of gamers who consider SWG's own NGE to be the beginning of the end of the classic sandbox. I can't say they're wrong when it comes to the philosophy governing new MMOs, but the sandbox isn't dead yet.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingeighth-anniversaryfeaturedgalaxiesgame-developmenthaters-gonna-hatejohn-smedleylucasartsluke-skywalkernew-game-enhancementsngenostalgiaopinionpersistent-worldpre-ngepwsandboxsmedleysoapboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgtcgthe-soapboxthemeparktrading-card-gameuncle-owenuncle-owen-experienceveteranswhinersTue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Allods Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/rise-and-shiny-recap-allods-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/rise-and-shiny-recap-allods-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/rise-and-shiny-recap-allods-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Oh, Allods Online. You poor, misunderstood beast. Those who love you speak very little, while those who once loved you and were burned for whatever reason... well, they speak the most. I tried to keep this in mind when I took an "official" look at (or re-visit in) the game. Allods has been called many, many things since first rearing its beautiful head, but no one seems to talk about how fun, or not fun, it is. Generally all you hear about are cash-shop woes.

I already have a character that I never leveled past 11, so I logged him in and got right to it. Despite all the patches, fixes, tweaks and cash-shop rearranges that went on since I last actively played, the game seemed pretty much the same. It was still beautiful, ran well, and sounded nice. So what was I looking for? What would I notice that I had not noticed before?

Click past the cut and I'll tell you all about it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Allods Online

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Allods Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allods-onlinebeau-hindmancash-shopf2pfeaturedfinal-fantasy-xifree-to-playftpgpotatolinden-labLiveStreamngesecond-lifestar-wars-galaxiesWorld-of-WarcraftzentiaSun, 08 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Death penalties]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/the-perfect-ten-death-penalties/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/the-perfect-ten-death-penalties/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/the-perfect-ten-death-penalties/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Death penalties belong in that tier of MMO discussion topics that is reserved for the most controversial subjects, along with skimpy armor and the New Game Enhancements. Death, as we know well, comes for us all with big, nasty, pointy teeth. But for some reason, we are not fans of it, neither in real life nor in online games.

One of the reasons death penalties continue to be a divisive subject is that they used to be brutal beyond belief in MMOs back in the olden days of yore. As the MMO genre progressed, the penalties were lightened and experimented with in an effort to avoid driving players barking mad because of them. So we've ended up with two camps: one group of gamers who campaign for harsh death penalties to make the world seem exciting and dangerous, and another group that campaigns for lenient penalties in the interests of sanity.

So today we're going to go through 10 of the most-used types of death penalties in MMOs, starting with the most brutal and ending with the most lenient. Stay for the after-column party as well, as you'll get a taste for this debate in the comments section!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Death penalties

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Death penalties originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccity-of-heroescohdarkfallde-levelingdeathdeath-penaltiesdeath-penaltydelevelingdiablo-2diablo-iidofuseveeve-onlineeverquestfeaturedfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigrim-reaperguild-warsgwhot-pocketitem-repairjedinew-game-enhancementsngeparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenpermadeathpermanent-deathporchepre-trammelresurrection-sicknessrez-sicknessskimpy-armorstar-wars-galaxiesthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentrammelultima-onlinexp-debtThu, 24 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you roll back a portion of your favorite MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-daily-grind-would-you-roll-back-a-portion-of-your-favorite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-daily-grind-would-you-roll-back-a-portion-of-your-favorite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-daily-grind-would-you-roll-back-a-portion-of-your-favorite/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Jagex is making headlines lately with its trailblazing Wilderness vote. Whether you're a fan of the long-running Runescape MMO or not, you have to admit that it's pretty cool that developers would leave an enormous and game-altering decision up to the players. Aside from that novelty, the potential rollback got us to thinking about sweeping changes to our favorite MMOs, and whether or not we'd reverse them given a Jagex-style choice.

Whether it's earthquakes like Ultima Online's Trammel or Star Wars Galaxies' NGE, or subtler and more recent tweaks like Age of Conan's removal of Tortage PvP, the MMO landscape is littered with changes both large and small. Are there any features of your favorite MMO that you'd revert or roll back if you could? Which ones and why?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you roll back a portion of your favorite MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocgame-discussiongamer-discussionjagexmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsngeopinionrunescapestar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindtrammelUltima-Onlineuowildernesswilderness-voteThu, 30 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the year that was 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-year-that-was-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-year-that-was-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-year-that-was-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Earlier in the year when I started this column, I realized two things. First, I'd be giving myself as much as any of you a crash-course education in older MMOs, particularly with some of the more fringe titles that I'd never really explored up to this point. And second, it would be a challenge to find the right mix of elements to do these MMOs justice.

So before we look back at all the games this column covered in 2010, I'd like to ask each and every one of you to take a minute and drop a comment about what you'd like to see The Game Archaeologist do next. What titles would you love to see honored in 2011? What features are the most interesting to you -- dev interviews, player interviews, history overviews, photo galleries, first impression playthroughs, or links to community fansites and blogs? What could I add to make The Game Archaeologist even better?

I also want to take a minute to thank the readers, players and developers who have contributed to this column so far. While there are MMOs that get a lion's share of the press these days, we at Massively are committed to spotlighting as many of these games as possible, particularly if there's a passionate community and dev team behind them. I've loved hearing your stories and hope that in passing them along, perhaps we've opened a door or two to games that you might've never considered before.

So let's hop in our hot air balloon and soar over the year that was 2010!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the year that was 2010

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the year that was 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Anarchy-Onlineaoaolbbsbulletin-board-systemdaocdark-age-of-camelotdnddoor-gamesdungeons-and-dragonseaea-mythicend-of-the-year-2010featuredfuncomgary-gygaxjagexjickkingdom-of-loathingmark-jacobsmr-skullheadmythicMythic-Entertainmentneverwinter-nightsnew-game-enhancementsngepvprichard-garriottrunescapesoestar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-game-archaeologistthe-simsthe-sims-onlinetsoturbineultima-onlineuowinter-holiday-2010wookiee-loveTue, 28 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are your MMO regrets?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-mmo-regrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-mmo-regrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-mmo-regrets/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"Regrets, I've had a few -- but then again, too few to mention," Frank Sinatra once sang. "I did what I had to do and followed through without exemption."

Tell me all about it, brother.

Most of us have accumulated regrets from our gaming experiences over the years. Perhaps you didn't jump on board a terrific title back in its hayday and now can only experience it in its twilight years. Maybe there's a guild with which you built up tight relationships -- and then you let those relationships fall to the wayside as your interest in the game faltered. It could even be something as small as choosing a class ill-suited to you but refusing to give it up after you put a heap-load of time into it.

What do you regret doing -- or not doing -- in MMOs? And more importantly, how have you been able to live with yourself ever since? Perhaps we should start a Massively Regret Recovery support group. Anyone who purchased Star Wars Galaxies' Trials of Obi-Wan right before the NGE is invited to be the keynote speaker of the first session.

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What are your MMO regrets? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cultureFrank-Sinatranew-game-enhancementsngeopinionregretregretsstar-wars-galaxiessupport-groupswgtdgthe-daily-grindthe-trials-of-obi-wanTrials-of-Obi-wanWed, 08 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMO cataclysms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/the-perfect-ten-mmo-cataclysms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/the-perfect-ten-mmo-cataclysms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/the-perfect-ten-mmo-cataclysms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Today sees the launch of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, which represents a destructive "reboot" button on the world of Azeroth. The old has been made new by virtue of fiery explosions that have rent the very earth in twain, and WoW gamers will have to find their footing all over again. As you might imagine, it's made one big-ass mess, which is compounded by the fact that there are no janitor classes in the game to sweep it up (the next hero class, perhaps?).

However, the notion of an in-game cataclysm is hardly the sole domain of Activision-Blizzard; on the contrary, large-scale apocalypses pop up all the time in MMOs. After all, nothing grabs the attention like the end of the world (but hey, you still feel fine)!

In a list that in no way is meant to capitalize on any expansions that may or may not be on the market, we're going to strap on our Kevlar suits, slather our arms with 1000 SPF sunblock, and take a brief tour of 10 worlds that have dated cataclysms -- and lived to tell the tale.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO cataclysms

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO cataclysms originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week seven years ago, Star Wars Galaxies launched onto the screens of thousands of computers, then crashed a couple hours later. Hey, what can they say? Sony Online Entertainment nor any other MMORPG developer had attempted to touch this beloved intellectual property before. It was an exciting adventure into the unknown -- a step into the greatest Star Wars story of all time: yours!

As an avid SWG player myself, I have survived the Combat Upgrade, the New Game Enhancements, and even server merges. When I started, there was not a single Jedi in the game. Now they run rampant, yet I still play. For some reason, despite its age and flaws, this launch into the galaxy far, far away keeps calling me. Why is that? To find my answers, I thought it best to sit and discuss this with other SWG enthusiasts. Maybe they will understand why even after seven years this game is like a tractor beam to wayward players, and what the future may hold for this world that LucasArts and SOE made. I explored everywhere from cantinas to starports to find heroes of "a long time ago" who were willing to speak to me. Luckily, I found seven such space explorers. Follow me after the break to see what these stalwart fans had to say about their favorite game.

Continue reading SWG: Flowing with the Force for 7 years!

MassivelySWG: Flowing with the Force for 7 years! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combat-upgradefeaturedLucasArtsngesoeStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgWed, 23 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The players (part 2)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Did you hear this wildly overplayed news story about Darth Vader lately? According to a group of French psychiatrists and psychologists who have way too much time on their hands and not enough free press coverage, they broke down Vader's personality and "discovered" that he had borderline personality disorder.

Pardon my meme, but O RLY? Sure, the guy killed kids, committed domestic abuse, went on an extreme power trip, betrayed his mentor, tortured one of his kids and tried to kill the other, choked any underling who failed him and struggled with sexual repression -- but thank goodness that we have professionals around to tell us the obvious. Now, if those psychiatrists can turn their attention to George Lucas and his making of Howard the Duck, we'd be making progress.

Anyway, continuing from my history retrospective of Star Wars Galaxies and last week's interview with the first batch of SWG vets, the Game Archaeologist now ventures into a subculture long believed to be extinct: post-NGE players who love the game. Join me in welcoming our newest expedition members: Bill "Flynne Cordova" Van Malsen, Alex "Danick Jett" Wiberg, Stephanie "Jao" Koehler and Earth Eternal's Andrew "Titas Lightdust" Sipotz. Never tell them the odds and they'll get you there safe every time.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The players (part 2)

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The players (part 2) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bio-engineercreature-handlercudarth-vaderdurnisentertainerfeaturedgeorge-lucasholy-grailhoward-the-duckinterviewjump-to-lightspeedkiller-bunnynew-game-enhancementsngeo-rlypvprodiansandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgtcgteras-kasithe-game-archaeologisttwilekwookieeyodaTue, 15 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The players (part 1)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I think we can put to bed the rumor that Star Wars Galaxies is dead on its feet, considering the avalanche of emails sent my way asking to be interviewed. Last week's history retrospective sparked a desire in many players to share their experiences and personal epics, and it was not uncommon to read emails longer than this column from players excited to reminisce. There's a lot of love for SWG, both out among MMO players and here in the Massively office (we have at least three confirmed SWG addicts on the team).

When I began this series, I thought that it would be dominated by NGE and nothing else, yet the responses I've read tend to focus on the positives of the title instead of that one ugly month. It might not have been the Star Wars experience everyone wanted, but if one looks hard enough, apparently there's something for everyone in SWG. Sam Schneider encapsulated many opinions perfectly with this: "Despite its problems, and what I believe people mostly remember it for (and I certainly do), the game did allow you do truly create your own Star Wars experience. You weren't Han Solo, you weren't Luke Skywalker, you weren't Leia -- you were YOU."

Unfortunately, I could only interview a small fraction of the people who wrote in, so I randomly chose a handful of players to represent the (mostly) pre-NGE crowd for this week, and a handful of (mostly) post-NGE gamers for next week's column. This week we're talking with Adam "Vayde" Mostel, Jaume "Tsotha Lanti" Sabater, Kate "Syena Runningrider" and Paris "Iweos" Wright.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The players (part 1)

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The players (part 1) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cueverquestfeaturedhan-soloi-could-use-a-good-kissinterviewjedijump-to-lightspeednew-game-enhancementsngeretrospectiveroleplayingsandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstormtrooperswgthe-game-archaeologisttwilekTue, 08 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The history]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-history/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Each month, the Game Archaeologist dusts off one MMORPG of yesterday and investigates while hanging on to his hat.

From the ancient lands of Ultima to a galaxy far, far away, the Game Archaeologist is always on the move, looking for the next treasure trove to uncover. Some say that covering Star Wars Galaxies is a moot point: that the true game as it was is dead, and that with The Old Republic on the horizon, SWG is all but passé. Yet through the steamy jungles of Kashyyyk to the dangerous dunes of Tatooine, there is evidence of passion, play and Imperial Stormtroopers shooting all willy-nilly.

It's weird to think that in early 2003, the MMO genre was almost an entirely different creature. World of Warcraft was still over a year away, and the most successful developer at the time (Sony Online Entertainment, along with Verant) had teamed up with LucasArts to create a Star Wars game above all other games. A killer IP, a beefy development team, and incredible fan-fueled hype made Star Wars Galaxies THE game to watch as it raced toward launch -- even IGN crowed in 2000 that SWG could become "one of the biggest games of all time."

Join us now as we hop back to the wild frontier of the early 2000s and peruse the first seven years of Star Wars Galaxies' run. It's had its highs, its lows, and a three-letter acronym that became one of the most infamous MMO events ever -- but no matter what your opinion, the Force has been strong with this title indeed.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The history

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The history originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logging into Guild Wars for the weekly guild night this Tuesday saw a bit of an unwelcome surprise; the personal fallout of the latest in a very long line of skill balancing patches. As a Mesmer, I'd generally done quite well out of these in recent months; a somewhat less popular class than most, they had seen quite a bit of improvement over a number of months, but this latest patch saw 'Visions of Regret' and 'Cry of Pain', two very potent skills I use almost all the time, significantly reined in.

Of course the initial reaction was one of personal indignation, coupled with envy at the perceived winners of this round of adjustments. It isn't fair! A moment of reflection however and I began to consider more than just my own side of the thing, and perhaps for the improvement of the wider game, the changes to these specific skills might indeed have been warranted, and in any event, those imposing the changes were sure to have far more data at their disposal, and a view of a much larger picture than me.

Balance is something all MMOs seek for themselves and their players, and yet very few achieve a state of equilibrium, in which all players share equal potential, equal possibility and equal enjoyment. Can the cycle of buffs and nerfs ever please everyone, or is an continual procession of patches a sign of life and vibrancy that the single player off-line game lacks?

Continue reading A Cycle of Change...

MassivelyA Cycle of Change... originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asherons-callbalancebufffeaturedguild-warsnerfngepatchesstar wars galaxiesStarWarsGalaxiesFri, 26 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[With friends like these: What sci-fi has, and doesn't have, going for it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/07/with-friends-like-these-what-sci-fi-has-and-doesnt-have-goin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/07/with-friends-like-these-what-sci-fi-has-and-doesnt-have-goin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/07/with-friends-like-these-what-sci-fi-has-and-doesnt-have-goin/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Let's face it: The sci-fi MMOG space is pretty bleak. I want Star Wars: The Old Republic to set the world on fire as much as the next guy, but long and nefarious is the path to massively-multiplayer righteousness, and so far, no one's really gotten the futuristic thing right.

Over the 12 or so years that graphical MMOGs have been around, two could be considered a success: Anarchy Online, which recovered from a catastrophic launch; and EVE Online, whose launch was nearly as bad as AO's, but luckily no one was around to notice at the time. That's two games over more than a decade. Conversely, three of the original four fantasy MMOGs were successful: Ultima Online, which is still around; EverQuest, which engendered a sequel and is emulated today by World of Warcraft; and Asheron's Call, which also inspired a sequel. And nowadays, you can barely walk without stepping in some fantastic goop, be it WoW, EverQuest II, or Warhammer Online, to name just a few.

Continue reading With friends like these: What sci-fi has, and doesn't have, going for it

MassivelyWith friends like these: What sci-fi has, and doesn't have, going for it originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineasherons-callbiowareblizzardccpcyberpunk-2020eaelectronic-artseqeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-2featuredfuncomimperatorjumpgatemythicneocronngesci-fishadowrunsigilsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtortabula-rasaultima-onlinewarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 07 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A nostalgic look back on the Star Wars Galaxies beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/27/star-wars-galaxies-a-nostalgic-look-back-on-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/27/star-wars-galaxies-a-nostalgic-look-back-on-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/27/star-wars-galaxies-a-nostalgic-look-back-on-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With Star Wars Galaxies, unbelievably, celebrating its fifth anniversary (and winner of the Spinal Tap, "Where are they now?" category, 2008) I was asked to reflect on my experiences in the beta program. Most likely, time healed a lot of wounds and I've probably got my new rose-colored glasses on, so forgive me I'm overly nostalgic. Like a lot of people, I'd applied to the beta program and would compulsively hit the refresh button on my webmail client whenever Kevin O'Hara (Q3PO) sent out the "we added more testers" e-mails. On February 18, 2003 (clearly, I keep too many e-mails to pull that one up) I got my acceptance letter and promptly ordered the CDs.

Read on for an account of my love/hate relationship with Star Wars Galaxies' Beta program.

Continue reading A nostalgic look back on the Star Wars Galaxies beta

MassivelyA nostalgic look back on the Star Wars Galaxies beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betafeaturedfifth-anniversarygames-that-could-have-been-a-contenderjoystiqfeatureslucasartsngesoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgswg-fifth-anniversaryFri, 27 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dredging up the past - the Star Wars Galaxies NGE re-examined]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/dredging-up-the-past-the-star-wars-galaxies-nge-re-examined/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/dredging-up-the-past-the-star-wars-galaxies-nge-re-examined/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/dredging-up-the-past-the-star-wars-galaxies-nge-re-examined/#commentsFiled under: , ,

To say that the Star Wars Galaxies update known as the NGE is controversial would be a fantastic understatement. Almost certainly the biggest change to a live MMO ever, the New Game Enhancements were a bold attempt by the SOE-Austin studio to relaunch the game with an entirely different aesthetic. To this day players who went through the changeover have strong opinions about the title, something you've probably noted if you've read the comments on our SWG posts.

One of the developers involved in that project, Dan Rubenfield, has been been getting back into blogging recently after a period of quiet. His recent posts have been very confrontational, "calling out" MMO developers and offering some harsh words for players that dislike RMT practices. One of his most recent posts has caused a lot of eyebrows to raise, as he takes on the Star Wars Galaxies NGE in the post "In which I try to speak honestly about History." As you might imagine, reaction has been strong across the board. Read on after the cut for full details.

Continue reading Dredging up the past - the Star Wars Galaxies NGE re-examined

MassivelyDredging up the past - the Star Wars Galaxies NGE re-examined originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlucasartsnew-game-enhancementsngesoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgswg-ngeMon, 16 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Those poor, poor designers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/player-vs-everything-those-poor-poor-designers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/player-vs-everything-those-poor-poor-designers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/player-vs-everything-those-poor-poor-designers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I've gotta hand it to MMOG designers. They really kind of get shafted. They spend weeks, months, and years fine-tuning tiny aspects of gameplay that you never even notice or care about (like the amount of silver that level 12 murlocs drop), coming up with interesting quests, trying to innovate the game enough to keep us interested, and developing a stream of content that's regular and enthralling enough to satisfy our all-encompassing hunger for more, more, MORE! While they do this, they have to pay attention to a million other things: time constraints, budget constraints, balance considerations, community expectations, and their pushy producers who want them to get the job done now, even if it means they can't include all of these cool features they have in mind.

When they finally put the finishing touches on this labor of love that they've slaved away on for so, so long, they deliver it out into the excited arms of the community that's been eagerly awaiting the game since they announced what they were working on in pre-alpha. What happens then? Worst case scenario, everyone hates the game and it sinks like a stone to the trash pile of the bargain bin (along with the shattered hopes and dreams of the entire team that worked on the game). But even in the best case scenario, everyone loves the game for about two weeks until they notice all the little flaws that they don't like about your particular design. Then, they start picking it apart bit by bit. "Why didn't you do this this way?" they ask. "Why didn't you make this quest reward better? Why are Mages better than Rogues? Why isn't my +3 sword worse than a +3 axe against Ents? Here's how I think you should fix this awful, terrible, no-good, very bad game design."

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Those poor, poor designers

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Those poor, poor designers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 May 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conancommunicationcommunitycomplaintcomplaintsdesigndesignerdesignersdevelopmentfeaturedgame-designgame-designersngeplayer-vs-everythingstar-wars-galaxiesThu, 01 May 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: May the Farce be with you.]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/ask-massively-may-the-farce-be-with-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/ask-massively-may-the-farce-be-with-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/ask-massively-may-the-farce-be-with-you/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away....
Once more into the breach, dear friends. It's time, once again, for another edition of Ask Massively. Some of the more astute readers of this column might already have an educated guess as to what this week's Ask Massively is going to cover. In case you require a well-placed smite from the ol' "Clue-by-Four", read on and gain enlightenment.

Dear Darth Massive,
Why is it that any Role Playing Game set in the Star Wars universe seems to fail miserably? I would think that even a retarded monkey could make a Star Wars based MMORPG successful. Is the franchise jinxed? Is Lucas to blame? Sony has a pretty good track record with MMORPGs, yet every mention I hear of Star Wars Galaxies makes it sound like the worst game ever to hit the shelves. I don't even know what NGE is, but apparently it causes the same reaction in SWG players that garlic and crosses do in vampires.

Help me, Obi Wan Massively, you're my only hope.
-Laura T.

Well Laura, or can we call you Mrs. T? We're not sure how someone can lay claim to "Obi Wan" and "Darth" in the same email, but it seems like a fascinating reference to the duality of the human soul. The answer to your questions are a little more complex than you might think. After the jump, we'll be happy to take a closer look at why the Star Wars franchise appears to have such a difficult time translating to a multiplayer environment.

If you would like to seek knowledge, be smitten by 'Ye Olde Clue-by-Four", or just have an answer to a simple question that has been bugging you for some time, feel free to drop us a line at ask AT massively DOT com or stop by our tipline and let it fly. We now have enough fake "Genuine, Authentic, Honest-to-god" Rolex offers that we are considering becoming an authorized reseller. Please don't send us any more.

Continue reading Ask Massively: May the Farce be with you.

MassivelyAsk Massively: May the Farce be with you. originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 May 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlucaslucasartsngesoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgThu, 01 May 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's gift guide for the Star Wars Galaxies player]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/massivelys-gift-guide-for-the-star-wars-galaxies-player/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/massivelys-gift-guide-for-the-star-wars-galaxies-player/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/massivelys-gift-guide-for-the-star-wars-galaxies-player/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

They say pet owners look like their pets. There are enough people who put stock in their horoscope to see it put in the daily newspaper. Heck, even which Hogwarts House you identify with probably says something about you. So why not your Massively Multiplayer game of choice? Over the next few weeks we at Massively are going to do our level best to help you make holiday gift giving easy. We'll run down some of the player archetypes you might have among your friends, based on the games they play. We'll give you gift ideas perfect for that type of player and (if it seems right) even some in-game presents that might fit well with their play style.

Today I've got a pile of gift ideas for that rare breed: the Star Wars Galaxies player. Playing a much-maligned game can be hard, but the folks still participating in the story of the galaxy far, far away have their reasons. Maybe it's the crafting, maybe it's the twitch combat ... maybe it's the awesome player housing. For that player - be they Jedi or Bounty Hunter, Sith or Savior - we have an idea that'll keep them happily humming John Williams music on December 25th.

Read on for our gift ideas, and (please) toss out your own in the comments!

Continue reading Massively's gift guide for the Star Wars Galaxies player

MassivelyMassively's gift guide for the Star Wars Galaxies player originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orcs and Elves are all well and good, but some of us are more attracted to a mythical future than to a mythical past. Sci-Fi is trendy again, in case you hadn't heard. From Tabula Rasa to Star Trek Online (we hope), the future belongs to, well ... the future. But what about the past of the future? Sorry; this is getting more verbally confusing than a Voyager time paradox episode. Let's put it this way: click through the jump to see Massively's top 5 Sci-Fi MMOs to date!

Can you think of any tragic omissions? To paraphrase a character from pop culture, "Science Fiction is neither Science nor Fiction. Discuss!"

Continue reading Massively's Top 5 Sci-Fi MMOs

MassivelyMassively's Top 5 Sci-Fi MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineccpeaearth-and-beyondeve-onlinefeaturedfuncomjoystiqfeaturesjump-to-lightspeedlistnew-game-enhancementsngeplanetsidesci-fiscience-fictionsoestar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiestabula-rasatop-5westwoodTue, 27 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST